Encountering God: Receiving a Mission

Reading:

“Moses was minding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, priest of Midian. He led the flock along the side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the flame of a burning bush. Moses noticed that, although the bush was on fire, it was not being burnt up; so, he said to himself, ‘I must go across to see this wonderful sight. Why does not the bush burn away?’

When the Lord saw that Moses had turned aside to look, He called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses.’ And Moses answered, ‘Yes, here I am.’ God said, ‘Come no nearer; take off your sandals; the place where you are standing is holy ground…’

The Lord then said, ‘I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard their outcry against their slave-masters. I have taken heed of their sufferings and have come down to rescue them from the power of Egypt…I will send you to Egypt…I will send you to Pharaoh, and you shall bring my people out of Egypt.’

‘But who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ God answered, ‘I am with you…’ (From Exodus 3:1-5, 7-8a, 10-11.)”

Biblical Note:

Earlier in his life, Moses had showed his readiness to sacrifice for his people. He had killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave and then fled, finding refuge in the land of Midian. At the time of this passage he had just adjusted to the life of a shepherd. Now he meets God in the form of the messenger Angel in the flame. Moses is awed, but also receptive. He is modest; therefore, he experiences some doubts and frustrations at receiving this mission. But God promises to be present. It is clear that this is God’s project, not one left to Moses, and God enables Moses’ modesty to be transformed into the humility of faith.

Meditation (to be read slowly):

Close your eyes. Become quiet and take a few slow, deep breaths. Become aware of yourself as a shepherd walking along tending your flock…you are walking along, and you notice something which catches your attention because of its awe…you turn aside, and as you turn, you hear God speak to you…God speaks your name…you respond…God tells you to take off your shoes, for this is holy ground; you do that…God tells you that he has seen some concern in your life or the life of others. He mentions this and you listen…He informs you that you can do something about it, and you listen…you question what you can do…

Allow yourself to ask any questions that you want…share any doubts that you might feel or any other concerns or hopes…allow God to reassure you that He is with you always…allow yourself to sense this…communicate anything else that feels necessary…

When you are ready, finish your dialogue with God and continue herding your flock…as you are tending your flock, think back on what has occurred and let it soak in…when you are ready, open your eyes.

Debriefing

Give attention to the guidance received for action and take the next step…

(Source: Opening to God: Guided Imagery Meditation and Scripture. By Carolyn Stahl.)

Looking for more support? Please reach out to me at laura.lies@streamsgrace.com

July 1, 2020

Finding & Fulfilling Your Mission

Finding Your Mission

“The number one deadly fear of people is having lived a meaningless life.

We must understand the urgency and importance of our mission if we are to fulfill it.

Your mission is always bigger than your current role.

It is highly probable that you are already living your mission at some level.

This oddly miraculous place of fulfillment.

Your mission will be well suited to your personality.

We must use our talents or lose them.

We must vision the future, and thus help to create it, if we are to successfully accomplish our mission.

The very moment you realize you are frustrated with a situation is your ‘point of power.’

What would you do if you were ten times bolder?

Holding up ‘what is’ next to the vision of ‘what could be.’ The mind has one desire, and that is to see only one image. It therefore goes into overdrive trying to integrate the two, and it will put most of its energy toward the picture that is most often viewed.

Fulfilling Your Mission

Wisdom comes from realizing how much you do not know and taking the time to get what you need.

Recognize when your ‘moment to act’ has arrived and act boldly with honor and courage.

Fear is always present when you undertake a new cause.

Living out your talents and gifts is the most honorable gift you can offer the world.

If you don’t do it, is there something in you that may die?”

In all you do, be the master. And do not spoil the honor that is rightly yours. Ecclesiastes 33:23

Source

The Path: Creating your Mission Statement for Work and Life. By Laurie Beth Jones.

Would you like to chat further? Please reach out to me at laura.lies@streamsgrace.com

June 16, 2020

Building Your Field of Dreams: For Such a Time as This

Building Your Field of Dreams:

For Such a Time as This

Building a Deeper Belief in You

“As though God is saying, ‘I have got more for you, Beloved. Do not settle. Do not live a little life. There is so much more of you to experience. Do not settle for an inch less.’

This deep, inner restlessness is called Divine Discontent. A persistent, loving nudge that guides me to awaken to my own, true desires.

To put into words the dream that my mind has already built.

Grow. Grow. Grow. Become. Become. Become. All I can be. There I something wonderful and majestic in me. Something beyond my wildest dreams.

I contain much, much more than I know. God has endowed me with beauty, wonder, and unlimited potential for expression.

There is something in me that is yearning for greater expression. Each of us is much greater than our current expression of ourselves.

Hearing Your Call

Accepting the treasure of the True Self that I already possess. A voice ‘in here’ calling me to be the person I was born to be, to fulfill the original selfhood given me at birth by God.

What is the thread of purposefulness that runs through my life?

What underlying role do I return to play again and again?

How am I allowing my life to ‘speak’ these days?

God calls anyone with ears to hear.

Vocation is about who I am and who I am called to become.

Vocation is the recognition that God has a claim on my life and calls me to participate in the continuing transformation of the world.

A calling is made possible by intellectual and personal gifts shaped by the historical moment and the crossing of self and society.

Growing the Dream

‘There is no planet, sun or star that could hold you if you but knew who you are.’

Ralph Waldo Emerson.

If you are still breathing, God still has plans for you.

‘The people who get in on this world are those who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they cannot find them, make them.’ George Bernard Shaw

Step outside my safe, little world and break through my self-imposed barriers. God is not the one limiting me.

Open my mind and triumphantly roar, celebrating the possibilities that exist within me.

It is always too early to abandon hope.

Deep within me, my life, my divine pattern is urging me to express myself. Practice listening. Soul’s sensing will lead me to my dream.

What is distracting me from my dream?

Suppose my dream was not impossible. What would be the first thing I would do?

And the next thing? And so on…

If I did not believe it was impossible, what would I do?

What will my dream look like when it comes to fruition?

I have been given the capacity to grow whatever life I choose.

God’s gift of inspiration may reveal itself only one idea at a time. God reveals the next step as I advance. Constantly moving one step closer to my greater self.

My current dream will lead me to even greater dreams, if I am willing to take each step as it appears.

Support that I cannot create for myself will come to me through my willingness to be guided by God, to go to the edge of the light I can see and take another step.

It can feel uncomfortable to stretch and grow. Acknowledge fear. Accept her as my companion, not my master.

The knowing Voice of God persistently nudges me in the direction of my highest good, by way of the path that often confounds the logical mind.

No one can cut open my cocoon for me, because it is through the struggle that I develop the strength to fly free.

The greatest impact comes not from achieving my dream, but from awakening to the person I become as I step into it.

The field is ready. The seed is good. Your life is willing. Plant, my friend. Your harvest is assured.”

Sources:

Building Your Field of Dreams. By Mary Manin Morrissey.

Practicing Your Path: A Book of Retreats for an Intentional Life. By Holly W. Whitcomb

Would you like to chat further? Please reach out to me at laura.lies@streamsgrace.com

June 9, 2020

Starting a Spiritual Direction Practice: The Time is Now

Just three short years ago, after months of resistance and intentional discernment, by God’s grace, I launched a Spiritual Direction practice. Now, supporting a full-time practice of 40 directees, publishing nearly 60 blog posts, and over 6,500 unique visitors to the website, I share the resources that have been the most helpful in building my practice. May my sharing inspire and encourage you to consider stepping out in faith, to start something new, to bless a desperate world, for such a time as this. The time is now.

On the attached document you will find:

Book and Web Resources—Sage counsel tailored to the Spiritual Director and others in the field of encouragement.
Websites to list on—Searchable websites that help to connect seekers with you.
Business Startup Resources—Business planning and administrative resources to support you.

If after reviewing these resources you would like to meet on a live video call for personal consultation to further discuss the possibility of your getting started in private practice, and/or the possibility of partnering together, please feel free to drop me an email at laura.lies@streamsgrace.com

Bless you dear one,

Laura Lies

Certificate in Spiritual Direction

Certificate in Inbound Marketing from HubSpot Academy