April 16 Prayer & Reflection

Wednesday:  Years and years ago at Calvary Church during Holy Week, there was a special place of prayer and meditation specifically designed to quiet people's hearts and minds in preparation for the coming Easter Sunday; but also to reflect on the week prior to the resurrection of Jesus. This place was usually set aside in the chapel, with areas to kneel and pray, read Scripture, and just quietly think. It was set up kind of like a garden, with lots of beautiful plants and quiet music.

I remember after Easter one year, many people talking about how they wished there was a designated quiet spot in the church where anyone could come at any time just to think and pray, surrounded by quiet beauty. What spun out of those desires turned into our "Prayer Garden". I remember that after the Easter weeks were ended, Pastor suggested we take an "offering" to see if we could raise funds to build a permanent place of quietude. I believe that one offering netted $250,000! The Prayer Garden was built from those funds.

This year, Calvary set up several places for prayer and reflection. They centered it around the seven "I am's" in the Gospel of John: "I am the Bread of Life," "I am the Good Shepherd," "I am the Gate," "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life," "I am the Vine," "I am the Resurrection and the Life," and "I am the Light of the World."  Anyone could go and visit these seven different sites--they were quite interactive too--from this Sunday until Thursday evening. 

I met several ladies from my small group at Monday Night Bible study at 2:00 Wednesday afternoon, and we walked through the displays together. I took a few pictures--not at all inclusive--but so that I can remember what this looked like in the future.

"I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays his life down for the sheep." John 10.11

"I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10.9-10

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14.6

Inside picture frames were these little doors that you could open. This one: We say, "It all depends on me."

But when you open the door, you read what the Truth is--

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15.5

"I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die." John 11.25

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8.12

I think if I had opportunity to walk through all of this again, I would enjoy doing it alone and going at my own pace. Since I was with other ladies, I didn't feel I could just stop and hold everyone up. That's okay, though. It was nice to be with them. Margaret introduced me to a friend of hers, Sondra, who was there with us. It's always nice to meet another friend.

Thank you, Lord, that You are such a wonderful Savior. Thank you for Calvary Church and the leadership that encourages and directs its people to seek You everyday.