This marks the eighth episode in a long series devoted to "The Private Christian Journey." This week we take a very deep dive into Job and Joseph's story. We are wondering "what if I am afraid of God." These stories give us much wisdom in this regard.

SERIES SUMMARY: The Private Christian Journey refers to our private walk with God. (As opposed to our public and viewable walk with God). This is where we encounter His love for us and the free gifts He gives us, developing a secure attachment to our heavenly Father. We first looked at the power that exists in our ability to choose. (Like choosing to accept His free gifts) But also look at the complicating factor of "The Rider and the Elephant" as coined by Jonathan Haidt. Next we looked at the character of God both as God the Father and Jesus. We get to CHOOSE to get to know him. We choose to put our hope and trust in Him as we train the elephant. (See how the skills build upon each other?). In the forth week we looked at how we respond to His free gifts, and choosing to ASK GOD FOR HELP. We then built our private space to encounter God. Next we explored the definition of integrity and last time we looked at Lectio Divina, a way to read the Bible as a love letter, rather than boring textbook.

This marks the seventh episode in a long series devoted to "The Private Christian Journey." This week we are back to our Sacred Rhythm series and look at the ancient practice of Lectio Divina. We learn scripture can be experienced like a love letter rather than a boring textbook. This episode takes a deep dive in the multistep process that should feel like dancing with God.

SERIES SUMMARY: The Private Christian Journey refers to our private walk with God. (As opposed to our public and viewable walk with God). This is where we encounter His love for us and the free gifts He gives us, developing a secure attachment to our heavenly Father. We first looked at the power that exists in our ability to choose. (Like choosing to accept His free gifts) But also look at the complicating factor of "The Rider and the Elephant" as coined by Jonathan Haidt. Next we looked at the character of God both as God the Father and Jesus. We get to CHOOSE to get to know him. We choose to put our hope and trust in Him as we train the elephant. (See how the skills build upon each other?). In the forth week we looked at how we respond to His free gifts, and choosing to ASK GOD FOR HELP. We then built our private space to encounter God. Next we explored the definition of integrity.

This marks the sixth episode in a long series devoted to "The Private Christian Journey." This refers to our private walk with God. (As opposed to our public and viewable walk with God). This is where we encounter His love for us and the free gifts He gives us. We first looked at the power that exists in our ability to choose. (Like choosing to accept His free gifts) But also look at the complicating factor of "The Rider and the Elephant" as coined by Jonathan Haidt. Next we looked at the character of God both as God the father and Jesus. We get to CHOOSE to get to know him. We choose to put our hope and trust in Him as we train the elephant. (See how the skills build upon each other?). In the forth week we looked at how we respond to His free gifts, and chosing to ASK GOD FOR HELP. Last week we built our private space to encounter God. This week we step away from Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton to explore the definition of integrity. We look to Joshua’s text to see God’s integrity and consider Israel’s. We next explore who we want as friends and partners. Integrity or not? (Remembering that we also cannot expect perfection.)

This marks the fifth episode in a long series devoted to "The Private Christian Journey." This refers to our private walk with God. (As opposed to our public and viewable walk with God). This is where we encounter His love for us and the free gifts He gives us. We first looked at the power that exists in our ability to choose. (Like choosing to accept His free gifts) But also look at the complicating factor of "The Rider and the Elephant" as coined by Jonathan Haidt. Next we looked at the character of God both as God the father and Jesus. We get to CHOOSE to get to know him. We choose to put our hope and trust in Him as we train the elephant. (See how the skills build upon each other?). In the forth week we looked at how we respond to His free gifts, and last week we chose to ASK GOD FOR HELP. This is the second episode where we adapt the book Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton. We explore choosing to create time for solitude with God. We assess our readiness to attach to God. If our worldly attachments are insecure, we will look at God through that same filter. We see Jesus demonstrate solitude as well. We walk through an exercise to build a mental place to be alone with God.

This marks the forth episode in a long series devoted to "The Private Christian Journey." This refers to our private walk with God. (As opposed to our public and viewable walk with God). This is where we encounter His love for us and the free gifts He gives us. We first looked at the power that exists in our ability to choose. (Like choosing to accept His free gifts) But also look at the complicating factor of "The Rider and the Elephant" as coined by Jonathan Haidt. Next we looked at the character of God both as God the father and Jesus. We get to CHOOSE to get to know him. We choose to put our hope and trust in Him as we train the elephant. (See how the skills build upon each other?). In the forth week we looked at how we respond to His free gifts, and this week is ASKING GOD FOR HELP. This is also the first episode where we adapt the book Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton. She runs a center devoted to contemplative prayer. We discuss trusting God enough to allow His help. We also look at the emotionally healthy task of asking Jesus/God for help. We need to do the work of connecting with what we need. But until that point we can rely on the Holy Spirit to help. The Blind Bartimaeus story on Mark 10:46-52 is our spiritual anchor. We also take a hard look at the Good Shepherd metaphor in this process and then take a nod from nature with the process of metamorphosis that butterflies undergo. We too transform like this especially with the help of God.

This is Part 4 in the Private Christian Journey series. Building on our ability to choose and seeking the character of God, this week we focus on accepting gifts from God. We review the biblical stories where God gives free gifts (Joseph, Job and Jesus). We then look at the origin of our shame, fear and distance from God in the first couple [Adam and Eve.] Finally, we see the path to reconciliation with God that is possible through Jesus.

This marks the second episode in a long series devoted to "The Private Christian Journey." This refers to our private walk with God. (As opposed to our public and viewable walk with God). This is where we encounter His love for us and the free gifts He gives us. We first look at the power that exists in our ability to choose. (Like choosing to accept His free gifts) But also look at the complicating factor of "The Rider and the Elephant" as coined by Jonathan Haidt. Last week we became aware of our elephant and then realized the Christian task is inviting Jesus to be the shepherd we "choose" to help us retrain our elephant from worldly training toward more Christ-like training. This week we look at the character of God both as God the father and Jesus. We get to CHOOSE to get to know him. We choose to put our hope and trust in Him as we train the elephant. (See how the skills build upon each other?)

Follow our daily devotionals on Instagram @lpcministries TikTok @littlepiecesclub and twitter @ClubPieces

This marks the first in a long series of episodes devoted to "The Private Christian Journey." This refers to our private walk with God. (As opposed to our public and viewable walk with God). This is where we encounter His love for us and the free gifts He gives us. We first look at the power that exists in our ability to choose. (Like choosing to accept His free gifts) But also look at the complicating factor of "The Rider and the Elephant" as coined by Jonathan Haidt. We first become aware of our elephant and then realize the Christian task is inviting Jesus to be the force we "choose" to help us retrain our elephant from worldly training toward more Christ-like training.

In this seventh and last part of our series on grieving we explore forgiveness and reconciliation. Even after the stage of acceptance, a bitterness of blame can linger. We look at the three main "targets" for this blame: God, Self, Other. After considering each one, we explore forgiveness as the antidote for this (easier said than done). More importantly accepting that "unforgiveness" is natural and understandable is essential, but also having the hope that it isn't permanent and we are in control of forgiving people with our choices. Reconciliation also is briefly considered. After people have hurt us, reconciliation is a choice between the two people, and sometimes the wise choice is to not reconcile or at least partially reconcile. The key, of course, to forgiveness is understanding the story and context of Jesus.

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In this fifth part of our series on grieving we explore bargaining. We give kids and teens a chance to become aware of how bargaining might show up in their own thinking. We also talk about "The Divorced Kid's Promise" an understandable but burdensome promise children often make to keep their own children from experiencing divorce and how this can be a crushing expectation in the adult years. The biblical example is Jesus bargaining with God before crucifixion. We also review the circles of concern and influence to help us focus on finding the choices that we can influence (talking about feelings) and those that we are only aware of (why parent's divorced).

There are journal prompts to consider and a worksheet found on our Facebook group site.

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