Being Podcast

Welcome to our journey through the Psalms.  Today's Meditation is a Lectio Divina (scripture meditation, see the very first podcast for an explanation of Lectio Divina) of Psalm 13.

The Psalms are a reminder that we're not alone.  They show us the vulnerable moments in life, the moments of thanking God and the moments of questioning him.  In this passage we see David experiencing tragedies through life, but his redemptive view at the end of it.  I hope this passage can be a reminder to you that you're not alone, in your questions or in your praises.

Psalm 13

O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
    How long will you look the other way?
How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
    with sorrow in my heart every day?
    How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
    Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
    Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.
But I trust in your unfailing love.
    I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord
    because he is good to me.

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Welcome to our journey through the Psalms.  Today's Meditation is a Lectio Divina (scripture meditation, see the very first podcast for an explanation of Lectio Divina) of Psalm 139:1-18.  This is a beautiful reflection of David's encounter with God's presence.

In this moment, David is gratefully reminding himself that God's presence is available in the highs and lows, that God's love was present before he was even born, and that God cares about him dearly.

Psalm 139:1-18

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

O Lord, you have examined my heart

    and know everything about me.

You know when I sit down or stand up.

    You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

You see me when I travel

    and when I rest at home.

    You know everything I do.

You know what I am going to say

    even before I say it, Lord.

You go before me and follow me.

    You place your hand of blessing on my head.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

    too great for me to understand!

I can never escape from your Spirit!

    I can never get away from your presence!

If I go up to heaven, you are there;

    if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.

If I ride the wings of the morning,

    if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

even there your hand will guide me,

    and your strength will support me.

I could ask the darkness to hide me

    and the light around me to become night—

    but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.

To you the night shines as bright as day.

    Darkness and light are the same to you.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body

    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,

    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

You saw me before I was born.

    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out

    before a single day had passed. 

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.

    They cannot be numbered!

I can’t even count them;

    they outnumber the grains of sand!

And when I wake up,

    you are still with me!

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Welcome to our journey through the Psalms!  Today's Meditation is a Lectio Divina (scripture meditation, see the very first podcast for an explanation of Lectio Divina) of Psalm 23.

This passage is very familiar for many, but I hope our meditation allows it to be illuminated and revitalized, and that you can be encouraged by it.

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
    he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3     He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
    forever.

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Hello There!

Welcome to the Being podcast!  The Being podcast is a spiritual meditation podcast to give you a moment in the week to breathe, rest, and just... be.  There's a quote that says "you're a human being, not a human doing", and that emphasizes my hope for you with this podcast!

Meditation has been helpful for me mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and a form of meditation called "Lectio Divina" was incredibly moving for me at different moments of my life.  But when I went to search for it... I didn't find much!  Just some very old or poorly recorded sermons or a random video explaining what it was... So like many things, I thought, well if it's not out there, maybe I should create it!

This podcast is just a welcome to it, and a brief cover of what Lectio Divina is!  Lectio Divina is an ancient monastic practice in the Christian faith of allowing Scripture to come alive through the reading and meditating of it.  The four parts are Lectio ("read"); Meditatio ("meditate"); Oratio ("pray"); Contemplatio ("contemplate").  In each Lectio Divina I'll read a passage out loud for you to listen to.  The first time through you'll simply listen to it and let it be read over you, without attempting to decipher, translate, or understand it.  Almost try to FEEL the passage as it's read aloud.  Then the next time reading through, you'll simply look for a word or phrase that sticks out to you, and acknowledge it.  After finishing the reading you'll call to mind that word or phrase.  The 3rd time reading through the scripture you will then ask the question "What does God want to speak to me through this word or phrase?".  Lastly, you'll ask the question "What does this mean for me today?" or "What can I do with this thing God is speaking to me in my day?".

I hope you enjoy it, and I hope it's fruitful for you!

Remember, you're a human being,
not a human doing.

- Matt V.

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