Restore2Revive

Tag: Christian Mystics

  • To know and be known

    To know and be known

    This journey of life with you

    Is mysterious in every way

    Through the highs and through the lows

    Into the valley, along meandering roads

    Sometimes hidden – sometimes dark

    This is the way that leads to courage

    No place I’d rather be

    Than here in your love

    Trusting you through the unknown

    For you will light the way

    Each and every day

    To stop – to pray, to seek your face

    Father help me to find the way

    To make sense of the call to walk this way

    Where there are no well worn paths

    The rugged road with stoney ground

    Your footsteps by my side

    This is the way – walk in it

    Holding your hand to help and guide

    For I will lead you and never forsake you

    I will be your light in the dark

    There is a way that leads to life

    Sometimes through stormy seas

    Sometimes through the wilderness

    Trust me – for I Am who I say I Am

    The Alpha and Omega

    The beginning and the end

    There are no other gods before me

    I am the one who was – and is – and is to come

    Through the ancient ways I will teach you

    Where tapestry displays the glory of God

    The beauty of God and Christ’s humanity

    Let me teach you more about the sacred way

    How to care for the soul

    How to follow me where others fear to go

    There is an ancient way

    That leads to life

    There is a narrow gate

    A way through to follow me

    Many have lost there way

    And I’ve come that you may know

    The way that leads to life

    I have come that you may know about

    The kingdom of God

    On earth as it is in heaven

    Let me know you

    That you may know me

    For it is in knowing yourself

    That I am known

    And it is in knowing God

    That you are known

    This beautiful dance between us

    This longing to know God

    To be known by God

    Reveals more about who I am

    And more about – who is God?

  • The secret place – Teresa of Avila

    Following a previous blog post on “The Great Argentine Revival” – here’s another story about prayer from the 16th century. Teresa of Avila, a Spanish nun who had a tremendous influence on many peoples lives – leaving a spiritual legacy behind her.

    Growing up as a teenager Teresa was torn by influences of society and her status within the city of Avila. She decided to try and withdraw into a more quiet Christian life – which involved moving into a convent. But for Teresa things didn’t unfold as expected. The convent failed to become the place where she would find intimacy with God. Despite still having a wrestle with many worldly distractions she had a number of supernatural experiences and over time was eventually allowed by those more superior to her – to lead a movement within the Carmelite Order. Teresa joined efforts with John of the Cross and together they set up –  not only a reformed religious order but also a body of writing that remain to this day – extraordinary spirituality.

    She has written books that pave a pathway of contemplative Christianity providing guidance on how to grow closer to God, through the practice of prayer, a holy life, the prayer of quiet and transformational intimacy with God. Some have found her material hard to grasp but this women has impacted generations – of people seeking God and her legacy still lives on.

    A woman of prayer – that was central to her story of intimacy and friendship with God. She sacrificed many ordinary comforts for the sake of pursing intimacy with God and remained faithful in the station where God placed her and called her to be. A women who was faithful in the secret place with God and this became her dwelling place. Here we find another remarkably inspiring story in the life of  a women who modelled what years of faithfulness and dedication in the secret place can accomplish.