Definitions
affective-influenced by or resulting from the emotions
ontological-of or relating to essence or the nature of being
Discussion
1. Reflect on a conversion/reversion moment in your own life. How where your eyes opened to God's work?
2. Which of the three key steps (Be Aware/Understand/Take Action) seems the most challenging?
3. How aware are you of your own interior spiritual experience?
4. Share an experience in which you felt certain you were doing God's will. What were the signs?
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
(Foreward) Introduction-The Text of the Rules
Definition
laconic (page 4)-concise
1. Are you familiar with St. Ignatius of Loyola and his Spiritual Exercises? What experience(s) if any have you had with Ignatian prayer?
2. Reflect on an experience in your own life when the reality of daily interactions contrasted with the peace and joy of your spiritual life (like Tolstoy's character Levin).
3. How are you able to remain contemplative even in the midst of action?
4. Which rule most interests you? Which reflects your current spiritual state?
laconic (page 4)-concise
1. Are you familiar with St. Ignatius of Loyola and his Spiritual Exercises? What experience(s) if any have you had with Ignatian prayer?
2. Reflect on an experience in your own life when the reality of daily interactions contrasted with the peace and joy of your spiritual life (like Tolstoy's character Levin).
3. How are you able to remain contemplative even in the midst of action?
4. Which rule most interests you? Which reflects your current spiritual state?
Discernment of Spirits
Select podcasts are available at Discerning Hearts.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Chapter 20: Serving in God's Strength
1. How do you encourage your children to reach out in service to others?
2. What things do you do as a family to live in the presence of God on a daily basis?
3. Reflect on an experience where you were limited in trying to do God's will your way. How did things change when you gave God control?
4. When has your motherhood been an act of trust?
Action point-
Read Luke 15:1-7 [Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.] In this passage, what was the attitude of the Pharisee and the scribe about "sinners"? What does Jesus' story indicate about how God feels about "sinners" or "lost sheep"? Make a list of people that your family can pray for and seek to reach out to. Choose one and pray together regularly for this person.
2. What things do you do as a family to live in the presence of God on a daily basis?
3. Reflect on an experience where you were limited in trying to do God's will your way. How did things change when you gave God control?
4. When has your motherhood been an act of trust?
Action point-
Read Luke 15:1-7 [Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.] In this passage, what was the attitude of the Pharisee and the scribe about "sinners"? What does Jesus' story indicate about how God feels about "sinners" or "lost sheep"? Make a list of people that your family can pray for and seek to reach out to. Choose one and pray together regularly for this person.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Chapter 19: Serving with Hardworking Hands
1. How do you reconcile your vocational ideals with reality?
2. Which "mundane realities" pose a stumbling block for you? How do you overcome them?
3. When have you been pushed past your perceived capabilities? What did you gain from the experience?
4. How does your family serve others?
Action Point-
Try to think of some people you meet everyday-in your church, your neighborhood, etc.-who could use some love and care. Come up with a plan to minister to those people's needs together. (Your children's ideas may surprise and challenge you!)
2. Which "mundane realities" pose a stumbling block for you? How do you overcome them?
3. When have you been pushed past your perceived capabilities? What did you gain from the experience?
4. How does your family serve others?
Action Point-
Try to think of some people you meet everyday-in your church, your neighborhood, etc.-who could use some love and care. Come up with a plan to minister to those people's needs together. (Your children's ideas may surprise and challenge you!)
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Chapter 18: Serving with a Willing Heart
1. What gifts do you see in your children? How do you nurture them?
2. How can we help our children develop empathy and compassion?
3. When do you insist your children serve?
4. Reflect on how the sin in your life makes you resist responsibility.
Action Point-
In Luke 10: 30-37, Jesus tells the parable of the good Samaritan [Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, `Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."] Read this story to your children. Ask them why this Samaritan, who was not a religious Jew, was considered to be the one who did God's will. What does this teach us about how God wants us to act in our daily lives?
2. How can we help our children develop empathy and compassion?
3. When do you insist your children serve?
4. Reflect on how the sin in your life makes you resist responsibility.
Action Point-
In Luke 10: 30-37, Jesus tells the parable of the good Samaritan [Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, `Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."] Read this story to your children. Ask them why this Samaritan, who was not a religious Jew, was considered to be the one who did God's will. What does this teach us about how God wants us to act in our daily lives?
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Chapter 17: Compassionate Harvest-a Model for Service
1. In what ways do we live out the redemptive kindness of God in service to the needy and downtrodden in society? In our family?
2. How can we help our children look at other people through Jesus' eyes and respond as He did?
3. Share an example of an interruption that turned out to be a ministry opportunity.
4. Jesus never asks us to do what he has not already been willing to do. John 15:13 [Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.] states the Lord's definition of the greatest love a person could give. How did he show this kind of love for us? If you strive to follow his example, how would it change the way you parent your children?
Action Point-
Name three ways in which you have laid down your own life (goals, time or expectations) for your children. In what specific areas do your children need to learn how to lay down their own lives and expectations so they can become mature and ready to serve God?
2. How can we help our children look at other people through Jesus' eyes and respond as He did?
3. Share an example of an interruption that turned out to be a ministry opportunity.
4. Jesus never asks us to do what he has not already been willing to do. John 15:13 [Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.] states the Lord's definition of the greatest love a person could give. How did he show this kind of love for us? If you strive to follow his example, how would it change the way you parent your children?
Action Point-
Name three ways in which you have laid down your own life (goals, time or expectations) for your children. In what specific areas do your children need to learn how to lay down their own lives and expectations so they can become mature and ready to serve God?
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