L'abri and "Prayed For"

This morning's meditation in the Northumbria book was very good and seems to encapsulate the passion behind both the abbey as well as Mars Hill in Dallas.


But in addition to these conversations and discussions, something else was happening.
People were finding it hard to 'shake off' what they were living through.

They were there while we were praying for things that they later found had been given ...

They were being given (not by us, but by God's answers to prayers) a demonstration that God exists ...

It was a combination which could never be 'planned' or 'put on' as an exhibit ... it had to be real.

... a completely new work ... would never have been possible if we had not been uprooted completely in every way, and if in that uprooting we had not decided to pray for God's solution and leading every step of the path as it wound through unknown territory.

We also prayed that if it grew, God would send us the workers of His choice, rather than our trying to advertise or get people to help us ... So not to advertise, but simply to pray that God will send those of His choice, and keep others away, is a different way of doing things.

We don't say everyone ought to work this way, we simply say we feel we were led by God to do this as a demonstration that He is able to bring the people to a place - even a tiny out-of-the-way place ... and only to bring the ones He wants to have there for His purposes.
Edith Schaeffer

Today we prayed for:

a brother, on his way to Boston, for safe passage;

friends, having lost a baby, for peace;

a sister, for grace in the journey;

a new friend, for answers to questions.

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Guests and "Prayed For"

Today Neight's sister and her two daughters are with us. We'll be going to the Dallas World Aquarium among other really cool stuff.

Today we prayed for:

A nephew, going into high school, against temptation;

A boss, for wisdom in her business;

A friend, for rest in his grief;

A brother, for rest;

A cousin, for salvation and mercy.

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Prayed For

The abbey will be moving in a month. We thank God for his provision and care for us. The new house will be perfect for us. Plenty of rooms to sleep in, offer hospitality in, relax in and pray in. Please pray for us in the coming transition.

Today we prayed for:

a sister, for healing;

a sister, for travelling mercies for her and her daughters;

a couple, for grace as new parents and wisdom for the coming days;

a sister, for grace as she returns to school.

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Prayed For

This morning we prayed for:

a friend, for wisdom in his walk;

parent, for health and provision;

a boss, for patience, wisdom and rest.

The baby we have been praying for passed away after her surgery. Please pray for her parents, just kids themselves, for peace and that their hearts would heal from the pain of this leg of the journey.

This morning's Oswald Chambers was especially pointed. I am posting it for a friend.

God’s Purpose or Mine?

He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side . . . —Mark 6:45

About this cover

We tend to think that if Jesus Christ compels us to do something and we are obedient to Him, He will lead us to great success. We should never have the thought that our dreams of success are God’s purpose for us. In fact, His purpose may be exactly the opposite. We have the idea that God is leading us toward a particular end or a desired goal, but He is not. The question of whether or not we arrive at a particular goal is of little importance, and reaching it becomes merely an episode along the way. What we see as only the process of reaching a particular end, God sees as the goal itself.

What is my vision of God’s purpose for me? Whatever it may be, His purpose is for me to depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay calm, faithful, and unconfused while in the middle of the turmoil of life, the goal of the purpose of God is being accomplished in me. God is not working toward a particular finish— His purpose is the process itself. What He desires for me is that I see "Him walking on the sea" with no shore, no success, nor goal in sight, but simply having the absolute certainty that everything is all right because I see "Him walking on the sea" ( Mark 6:49 ). It is the process, not the outcome, that is glorifying to God.

God’s training is for now, not later. His purpose is for this very minute, not for sometime in the future. We have nothing to do with what will follow our obedience, and we are wrong to concern ourselves with it. What people call preparation, God sees as the goal itself.

God’s purpose is to enable me to see that He can walk on the storms of my life right now. If we have a further goal in mind, we are not paying enough attention to the present time. However, if we realize that moment-by-moment obedience is the goal, then each moment as it comes is precious.

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Prayed For

Today we prayed for:

a brother, for grace as a new father;

friends, for grace as new parents and wisdom for the future.

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Prayed For

Today we prayed for:

a friend, for her business and her relationships with her family;

six friends and their families in Ft. Worth, for wisdom in the journey and peace in their midst;

a baby, whose suregery should be today, the doctors and her family, for God's kingdom to come in their lives;

a brother, that God would supply his needs.

Christ, as a light
illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield
overshadow me.
Christ under me;
Christ over me;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light;
Christ as a shield;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Prayed For

Today we prayed for:

A brother, for faith in the journey;

A brother, for peace in the journey in a time of transition;

A baby and her family, that tomorrow's surgery would be the last;

A friend, for wisdom in her business and family.

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Prayed For

This morning we prayed for:

a child in pain, and in need of relief

a beloved brother a half a world away, for protection from further attacks


May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.

Prayed For

Today we prayed for:

A friend, for sabbath rest

A baby, whose surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, and her family

Friends, for their house to sell

A new-family-to-be, that delivery go well and God would bless the new one in the world

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.

Prayed For

Today we prayed for:

A baby and her family, for healing;

A sister, trying to work full-time without giving up nursing her newborn son;

Our brothers and sisters in the Middle East, for eyes to see the kingdom, and their enemies to know the goodness of God;

Friends and strangers who will gather to seek the kingdom at Tribal Awakening.


May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Prayed For

Today we prayed for:

A friend who needs rest and wisdom;

Another friend to know freedom in obedience and sonship

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.


In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayed For

Today we prayed for:

A baby, just months out of the womb, having surgery today.  It will be her third.

Her parents, just children themselves, for peace

The doctors, for wisdom

Christ, as a light
illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield
overshadow me.
Christ under me;
Christ over me;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light;
Christ as a shield;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.

Tribal Awakening Conference, July 21 & 22 (9 Days Left)

Family,

Just 9 days until Tribal Awakening!

Joseph Cartwright, Neil Cole, Mike Roberts and I will be leading out the sessions to discuss how the tribes of denominations, organic churches, business professionals and artists can connect on deeper levels for the kingdom movement of Jesus.

If you are planning on coming out, please reply to this email and let us know so we can get a handle on how many to prepare for.  We're excited to see what comes from the relationships that are built as a result of our time together.  Please visit the blog/journal on the website for some thoughts on Sustainability.

Registration is $30/person, $50/couple.  Childcare will be provided during the sessions.

Visit the WEBSITE for all the details, email us if you have any questions.

Grace and Peace!
Justin Nygren

Prayed For

Today we prayed for:

An old friend, that she may know Christ;

A baby, 3 months old, going for her second surgery;

A father and pastor, going through a divorce;

A sister, for peace in the midst of a trial.

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you.

From Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest" today:

We are not here to develop a spiritual life of our own, or to enjoy a quiet spiritual retreat. We are here to have the full realization of Jesus Christ, for the purpose of building His body.

My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace, Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.

Prayed For

Today we prayed for:

A coworker, for joy and freedom from anger;

A sister, for justice and support;

A wife, for healing;

A friend, who's facing divorce and has three children.


May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you
Wherever He may send you...

Thanks

It looks like the abbey has found it's next landing pad. We've put in application for a 2500 sq ft house about 15 minutes from our current location. It is in Richardson, not too far north of Dallas proper (where our work in the arts takes place) and not too far south of Mars Hill's current gathering locations.

There are 2 bedrooms downstairs where Jefe and Nocho will stay and 2 more upstairs where the abbess, our baby and I will stay.

There are 2 living areas downstairs. One will be the "everyone" place for music, tv (grr), instruments, computers, etc. The other will be the "quiet" space for prayer, retreat, solitude, reading and the like.

Upstairs there is a 3rd living area that will start out as a living area/play room for Aidan and will double as a hospitality room for travellers and guests. If you need a place to crash after August, make sure to touch base because that is what the room is for. Or, if you know someone who is coming through town and would rather save the $ than stay in a hotel, send them our way.

We will hear back today or tomorrow wether the application is accepted. Will keep posted.

Thanks to God who hears our prayers and knows, better than we do, the desires of our hearts.

May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

Prayed For

Today we prayed for:

A friend on his way home, for grace in his marriage and wisdom as a father,

An orphan, for eyes to see God's Fatherhood and wisdom to take good steps.

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Prayed For

Today we prayed for:

Our living situation.  Our lease is up soon and we're looking for a larger place.  We'll be looking at a place today at 10am.

Family and baby, for healing and a soon return home.

A boss, for healing from strepp.

A neighbor who is getting married today.

May the peace of the Lord Jesus go with you today.
May he bring you home rejoicing
At the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing
Once again into our doors.
(From "Celtic Daily Prayer", The Northumbria Community)

Prayed For

Today we prayed for-
Don and Carissa, their new family and their new adventures
A sister's second day back at work after a new baby
Healing for a baby and strength for her family
Friends that get in touch after years of silence

I had an insight, an illumination if you will, about part of our prayer last night.  It is the part in the Northumbria prayer book that says,

" Christ as a light, illumine...me." 

Yes, Lord, shine in me. 

Light me up! 

Dispell darkness inside of me and through me.

Prayed For

At prayer this morning we prayed for
Josh Ramos, preparing to leave for Boston to go to Gordon Conwell.  For grace to get stuff done before he goes.
Burkhalter family, as they reach out to extend the kingdom in their neighborhood.
Friend of neight:  Family and their daughter.  Healing, grace and peace.

May the peace of God go with you today,
Christ above you,
Christ below you,
Christ beside you,
To your left and to your right.

Justin