August 12, 2021

Heartfelt Prayers: Act of Petition

Steve's B-Log / /
Praying

Act of Petition

Give me yourself, O my God, give yourself to me. Behold I love you, and if my love is too weak a thing, grant me to love you more strongly. I cannot measure my love to know how much it falls short of being sufficient, but let my soul hasten to your embrace and never be turned away until it is hidden in the secret shelter of your presence. This only do I know, that it is not good for me when you are not with me, when you are only outside me. I want you in my very self. All the plenty in the world which is not my God is utter want. Amen.

— St. Augustine

Reflection:

Behold — Where are the eyes of your heart drawn into this prayer?
Believe — How is your faith strengthened in this prayer?
Belong — Who are you recalling as you pray this prayer?
Become — What is God inviting you to receive and thereby become as you pray this prayer?

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Spiritual Friendship | Discerning God in Friendship and Direction Episode 01

Discerning God in Friendship and Direction, The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Richard Plass

“Our long-standing spiritual friendship has been a tapestry woven together by the grace of God.” —Rich Plass

Our host and guest have been friends and brothers in Christ for nearly 50 years. They speak authoritatively about the importance of friendship for all of us in the body of Christ. Recounting their shared history, they dovetail their reflections with the biblical text and a mature understanding of what makes for healthy, intentional, life-transforming friendship. They consider how friends are made and how they lead us into a healthy walk with God. Fresh insights are offered about being receivable, not reactionary, in loving and trusting ways.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net

 

Spiritual Friendship | Discerning God in Friendship and Direction Episode 01 Read More »

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Mitzi Mak

Selah-West Faculty & Emmaus Faculty

Mitzi started her professional life as a high school social studies teacher. She and her husband Jerry then served cross-culturally for ten+ years, living abroad first in India and then Kurdistan, N. Iraq. In addition to being a Spiritual Director, she now serves as a Formation and Care pastor in her local church in Houston, TX. She has graduated from LTI’s Selah Spiritual Direction training as well as LTI’s Emmaus Formational Leadership Program.

Mitzi enjoys engaging conversation, reading fiction, doing jigsaw/crossword puzzles, ocean gazing and exploring the world with Jerry through food and travel.

God has two main callings in Mitzi’s life: to care for those who care for others and to be a guide in helping others have a healthy relationship with the Trinity – recognizing God’s loving presence and activity in their lives and how to faithfully respond.

“Selah was a transformative experience for me – allowing the contemplative within to emerge and to beautifully co-exist with my extraverted personality.“