Being interviewed by the Rev Kate Bottley at Wycliffe Hall for Songs of Praise.
Happy 100 anniversary to BRF, the Bible Reading Fellowship! (Scroll down to learn how to win a copy of The BRF Book of 365 Bible Reflections.)
Today, BBC1’s Songs of Praise will feature a programme on “The Power of the Bible,” including an exploration of this wonderful ministry of BRF. I’m delighted to be part of it, including meeting Alison Taylor from New Zealand via zoom, when we chat about how God used one of my notes in New Daylight during a time of crisis. It airs at 13.15 and will be available on iPlayer afterwards – I think, however, that only people in the UK will be able to watch it. You can watch a clip here.
It was in 2008 that I received an invitation to contribute to New Daylight – my first commission for Bible reading notes. Little did I realize that I was landing on my favourite type of writing, or that a decade later I would have published over 1000 of them in various forms. I’m so grateful. I love writing for New Daylight and Day by Day with God – they remain firm favourites.
Would you like to win a copy of the wonderful BRF 365 Book of Bible Reflections? I have one to give away, and will announce how you can win in my newsletter on 1 February. If you don’t receive my monthly missive, you can sign up here.
Happy birthday, BRF! I look forward to continuing the celebrations with you in 2022. Grateful to be associated with you all.
I simply adore Keren’s description of contemplative prayer. She shares how she’s come to practice centering prayer – focusing on God while giving herself to him. And how he meets her so lovingly in this practice. I love her grace-filled advice about what happens when the mind wanders too. I highly recommend her book, Recital of Love; she carries on the tradition of contemplation from friends such as Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and Julian of Norwich. It’s a gift for me to share this with you today!
When I first began giving time to God as an offering, just ten minutes a day to begin with, I had no idea the practice of centering prayer existed, or that it might be Christian. I was simply sick and exhausted by my chronic illness and fed up with coming to God with torrents of words, requests and intercessions.
This didn’t seem like the deep or rich relationship that Jesus spoke of. When he asked the Father for something, it was clear that this was because of their relationship, not the sum of it. I wanted that. So, I closed the door, my eyes and my mouth (Matthew 6:6).
Centering prayer is essentially about staying still and silent, quieting your mind, letting your thoughts go and focusing on God. One thing many teachers recommend on beginning this practice is to have a prayer word to focus on, or something to bring you back to God when your mind wanders. Whilst this is fine, as is using the Jesus Prayer (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner) to recalibrate, I would rather advise those starting out simply not to worry about what the mind is doing. It’s going to chatter away, especially to start with. We are not used to being still or quiet. We are not used to not being the focus.
As Martin Laird tells us in Into the Silent Land (the first book of his wonderful trilogy about contemplative prayer) to worry about all of that which is passing by is like a mountain being concerned with the weather. Clouds are gonna cloud. Just let them. When we give time to God, he is doing something wonderful whether we know it or not. As with all God things, not much if any of it is down to us. All he needs is your yes.
Yes, Lord, this time is yours. Yes, Lord, this heart is yours. Yes, Lord, this will is yours. Do as you please.
As my practice has developed, what I have discovered is that no effort beyond setting time aside is required. No concentration. It doesn’t make any difference how tightly I close my eyes. This is not a wishing well. Also, although I’m centering God in this process, his centre is everywhere and circumference is nowhere (as St Bonaventure described it). It makes more sense to me to consider centering as only the beginning of the process, as a gateway into contemplative prayer. It is more like falling than finding a centre. We fall into God.
Keren is a gifted artist, as you can see in her painting, which I share with her permission, “Scarborough Fair”
A more helpful analogy for me is understanding the presence of God as what St. John of the Cross calls “a sea of love.” God is like water running beneath and through all things, and we let go of ourselves and drop into that deep, vibrant, moving flow.
In that contemplative place, we find connection, not only to God and his creation, but to the deepest parts of ourselves, and to others. It is like being part of a synaptic network. We can suddenly sense and see our place in the universe.
At the same time as we relinquish our egotism and see our smallness, we discover we are utterly beloved and held close to God’s heart. And that everyone else is too. That we are all together and one in his love. “He (Christ) is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” as Colossians 1:17 puts it. Or as Julian of Norwich wrote, “The love of God creates in us such a oneing that when it is truly seen, no person can separate themselves from another person.” It is wonderfully affirming to know.
Spending time in this place means I can be joyful about the success of others, I can hold their pain and suffering before God with more empathic grace, and I can also allow God to nurture my own giftings, knowing they are meant for sharing. In these deep places we are sometimes given visions, seeings, understandings, we might be led into intercession, or gently corrected on our perceptions or behaviours. These things are not so much sought as given. In that place, everything is grace. This deepening prayer connects all of us within that “oneing.”
The only thing I regret about giving God those ten minutes a day was that I didn’t begin sooner. And the only thing I would warn others embarking on contemplative prayer about is that you might love it and its source so much, that ten minutes will grow into far more.
Keren Dibbens-Wyatt is a chronically-ill contemplative, writer and artist. She has a passion for prayer, poetry, story and colour. Her writing features regularly in literary journals (Fathom, Amethyst Review, The Blue Nib) and on spiritual blogs (Contemplative Light, Godspace). She is the author of the bookRecital of Love (Paraclete Press, 2020). Keren lives in England and suffers from M.E., which keeps her housebound and out of the trouble she would doubtless get into otherwise.
Order 7 Ways to Prayhere, including in the US, UK, and Australia. You’ll also find lots of resources for small groups – videos and a leader’s guide – here.
Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp.
He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.
Psalm 147:7–8
Photos on social media of all of that snow in the States sparks memories of tromping joyfully in the freshly fallen wonder of it all. The snowfall comes with challenges too—such as power outages. That’s life, isn’t it; glory and beauty and challenge and hardship, all wrapped up together.
Why not take a few moments to ponder some words from the Psalms and use my dad’s painting as a way to pray? Let your eye fall where it will as you ask God to lead you in prayer. Turn over the words from Scripture in your mind and heart. Rest and know that the God who set the world into being loves you.
[Image: By Leo Boucher. Used with permission; all rights reserved. A watercolor of blues, whites, and black featuring evergreen trees and swirls of clouds.]
I’m humbled by Kathleen’s wonderful post about how she’s come to pray with the ancient practices I outline in my book, 7 Ways to Pray. When writing I prayed so much that it would be a means of introducing some of these time-tested practices to people who might not only not have heard of them, but were suspicious of them. What a gift that God has used my book in her life in this way! Whether you’ve prayed in some of these ways for years or are not sure about them, I believe you’ll appreciate hearing more from her.
My particular Christian denomination used to pride itself on not—no, never—using set prayers. We wouldn’t touch traditional, handed-down-through-the-centuries prayers with anything but disdain. We were smug about it; superiorly smug in our thinking that prayer was just something you did off the top of your head. We were sure we knew all anyone needed to know about prayer.
Due to travel and relocating overseas I eventually changed denominations, but I happily managed to carry some of that attitude with me. Not for me were the stuffy old ways of prayer, I thought. I’ve had to work hard at staying closed-minded about the beautiful traditions of the ancient church, but denominational prejudice reigned well into my fifties.
That all changed on an unmentionable birthday when I blessed myself with attending a workshop on prayer. Truthfully, I didn’t pay much attention to the topic, I just wanted to hear the speaker, Amy Boucher Pye. She started the morning with an introduction to the concept of lectio divina. “Lectio what?” I said, remembering childhood teaching about the repetition of words that would put you to sleep. It turned out that not only did I stay awake, but as Amy introduced this new-to-me way of prayer something was coming alive in my spirit. I even acknowledged quietly to myself that often I had used Scripture to prove a point in discussion, just not considered the Word as a basis of praying.
Deciding to learn more, I attended one of Amy’s online retreats on lament. This was the year I lost a very precious relative and I was beside myself trying to figure out how to pray. Amy’s teaching on lament became art form powerfully pulling me closer to the King of Kings. She draws you in to the world, the history, and the creativity of prayer. In her book, 7 Ways to Pray Amy introduces the ancient ways in a way that intrigues and you just want to know more and experience more. I was astounded that God really did know what to do with my grief, my anger.
Yet, as I read this 7 Ways to Pray, I wondered “How can I trust these forms of prayer? What really is a lectio divina? Examen? Who is Ignatius? Won’t I just get bogged down in dark ages faith?” I pondered all this even as I was beginning to see changes in my prayer life. I needed assurance that while I had been taught to disregard tradition from the early days of my childhood, I was heading in a direction that pleased God. It’s hard to stand on tradition when you don’t believe in it.
In 7 Ways to Pray Amy faces these issues head on with clear guidance as to what prayer does in your life. Amy writes that prayer is meant to bring you closer to Jesus, and that when we pray, we see the “collaboration” and “uniting of our desires with the Holy Spirit”. This seems to be the test of a good prayer. In learning these ancient ways of prayer, you notice if you are coming closer to Jesus.
As you look at each chapter you are invited to see what draws you closer to your Lord. Creativity? Understanding of the Word of God? As someone who has never journeyed this way before, I found Amy’s writing to be a trusted friend as she shares her own experience of stepping into the ways of saints past who inspire the future. She writes to clarify, to enable the journey of others, not cloak in unrelatable mystery. I suggest you take 7 Ways to Pray and use it as a workbook. This is not a book to sit on a shelf. It’s to be used actively. Get your pencil, get your highlighters out and take note of what sparks your imagination. Write in the margins. Stick tabs on paragraphs that jump out at you. Have a go with one chapter, then the prayer in a next chapter. You will meet prayers that have been developed over the ages right down to this this age and see what happens.
While “top-of-your-head prayers” will always pop into daily life, I’m glad I’ve given myself the gift not only of the book 7 Ways to Pray, but the time in which to explore the ancient ways of prayer that Amy has made accessible even to a know-it-all like me.
Kathleen McAnear Smith just launched her website Global Grandmas. She is using what she learned in 7 Ways to Pray to enjoy the adventure of praying for her grandchildren as well as the wider family. Her book Beyond Broken Families encourages prayer for healing 21st century family life. This past year she was appointed as a Director of Families in Global Transition.
Order 7 Ways to Prayhere, including in the US, UK, and Australia. You’ll also find lots of resources for small groups – videos and a leader’s guide – here.
I invite you to spend some time praying with my dad’s painting, which he entitled, “Winter’s Day.” Yes, he lives in Minnesota where they enjoy scenes just like this. I miss the sunshine gleaming on the snow, the sound of the crunch under your boots, the brightness of everything covered in white.
Mind you, I noticed some buds on the trees today on my sunny walk and noticed some daffodils shooting up, and that made me glad…
Back to the painting. You could ponder a verse from Psalm 51, the song David cries out to God in repentance:
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7, NIV)
Spend some time asking God to reveal any sins that you could be freed from through confessing them to God. Receive his forgiveness and revel in being made whiter than snow.
[Image: By Leo Boucher. Used with permission; all rights reserved. A group of evergreen trees in wintertime, with snow on the ground and the sun creating evocative reflections.]
Welcome back to the 7 Ways to Pray blog series! I welcome Juliet Mitchell, who shares a beautiful picture of being safe and secure under God’s wings – whatever happens. Enjoy!
In 2019 my husband and I decided on a joint 50th birthday journey to New Zealand to visit my brother and cousins. My husband suggested that we take not only our daughter who has learning difficulties but my elderly father too, so that he could see his son. What a journey! We were kept safe despite a near car collision and a landslide that demolished the road we travelled on just an hour before we arrived.
The prayer practice I used then, and have since reading some of Amy’s book, is lectio divina. This is a 4-step practice of choosing a Bible passage to read, meditating on the passage or a word from the passage, praying asking the Holy Spirit to speak and lastly, listening to hear what the Holy Spirit has to say to us from God’s word. The passage I had dwelt on was from psalm 91:
‘He will cover you with His feathers, under His wings you will find refuge.’ Psalm 91:4
The Lord had shown me in a picture that even the tiniest feather from one of His mighty wings was enough to keep me safe. Enough to cover me, for His wings were huge, immense and powerful. To be in awe of! We were safe.
Fast-forward a year later to March 2020 and our lands and nations were facing a new threat as well as restriction on life. Nobody was able to make plans to travel to see distant family, certainly not with vulnerable and elderly family members. The Lord knew Coronavirus was coming, and I believe He had enabled our journey the year before. An opportunity to let each other know we loved one another.
Our second trip, just recently taken, saw us fly to Spain to visit elderly and poorly family we’d not seen for nearly three years. Again, I was reminded of:
‘Under His wings you will find refuge.’ (Psalm 91:4)
We were kept safe. We flew home a day before the region we were staying in closed to UK travelers, due to the advancing nature of the Omicron variant of Coronavirus. An opportunity again to let those we love know just that.
Perhaps I received this picture from this scripture for these two occasions as the Lord in His tender mercy kept safe our family. However, as I dwell again in prayer in this verse, I feel I should stay right beneath even the tiniest feather of His huge wings. Under a wing that more than covers me and those He has given me to love.
Juliet Mitchell is a wife and parent-carer who enjoys writing poems and short stories, usually to entertain her daughter. You can find her on Facebook.
Order 7 Ways to Prayhere, including in the US, UK, and Australia. You’ll also find lots of resources for small groups – videos and a leader’s guide – here.
I missed out writing about what I read in 2020, but want to join in with this yearly look back at a life in books. (Here are other years.) I read some 50 books in 2021 – down from 2020 but still a good number. I love reading and so yes, this may be more than you read – or of course less! Too often I read too fast, so I’m not saying my number is a gold star of achievement. I respect and laud those of you who read slowly and digest a work fully and thoughtfully.
I read most of my books on my e-reader, as often I’m reading works that aren’t yet published. I love a print copy when it’s a theology book that I want to underline and highlight, especially because I’m a visual learner so often can picture a passage later. That’s also why I can’t listen to many non-fiction books, because the words wash over me and leave me soon after I’ve heard them. I have experimented over the past couple of years with audio books, and find I enjoy listening to novels. In fact three of my four top reads from the general market are those I listened to.
For the highlights of the books I’ve read, I give you two books I birthed (and yes I’m proud of them!), five books I endorsed, four top picks from my monthly selections for the Woman Alive Book Club (you can find my selections from September onwards here with the full reviews), and three general-market novels I most enjoyed with one honorable mention.
2 Books I Birthed
7 Ways to Pray: Time-Tested Practices to Encounter God (NavPress/Form, 2021)
A hands-on guide for prayer – a book I wanted to write about for many years. Check it out if you haven’t already. If you have read it, could you please write a review?
Celebrating Christmas: EmbracingJoy through Art and Reflections (BRF/Credo, 2021)
The lovely 25-entry book to celebrate Christmas, with my dad’s lovely artwork and my reflections. As it’s the eighth day of Christmas you still have time to read it this Christmas season! Again, if you’ve read it, could you please leave a review online?
5 Books I Endorsed
What a privilege to be asked for endorsement for some amazing books! Following are my endorsements. Just a few additional notes: I’m a huge fan of Sharon Garlough Brown – I adore all of her books. If you’re new to her, start off with Sensible Shoes and then enjoy the other three books in that series before you move onto Wren and Katharine in this series. I got to give a blurb for my lauded teacher! That was amazing. Gemma Simmonds was my tutor on Ignatius at Heythrop College where I did my MA in Christian spirituality, so I was super chuffed to read and endorse her book!
I commend each of these – enjoy!
Feathers of Hope by Sharon Garlough Brown (IVP, 2022)
A novel by Sharon Brown feels like a gift, and even more so when we reenter the lives of characters we’ve come to love. Meeting Katherine, Wren, and the others again feels like a reunion with dear friends. One where we eschew the small talk and dive right into matters of the heart for a soul-strengthening conversation. Join in with this ordinary and extraordinary community of followers of Christ where no subject is too messy and love is given and received, sometimes awkwardly but always with grace and forbearance.
Journey to Love by Matt Mikalatos (NavPress, 2021)
We all want to love and be loved. But what does that mean? Through winsome stories and heartfelt reflections, Matt Mikalatos gently probes what love looks like as he welcomes us on a life-changing journey. Don’t miss not only reading this book but putting it into practice. You’ll never be the same!
Dancing at the Still Point by Gemma Simmonds (Form, 2021)
A joyful, freeing guide to retreats with fully accessible practices to suit a range of personalities. An approachable companion, Gemma Simmonds provides all we need for an enriching time with God. I can’t wait to try it out!
They’ll Never Read That by Tony Collins (Malcolm Down Publishers, 2022)
A fascinating account of the who’s who of Christian publishing in Britain from one who has lived through the highs and lows – not only learning firsthand from the legendary Edward England but experiencing redundancy from both sides of the table. In engaging prose, Tony Collins shares a behind-the-scenes look at the making of books and magazines that shaped the lives and faith of thousands. Entertaining and informative.
The Whole Christmas Story by Jo Swinney (BRF, 2021)
During Advent we can become so mired in shopping and planning, parties and church services, that we lose our focus on why we’re dashing round. Jo Swinney’s book of Bible-based reflections provides a refreshing antidote as she helps us to step back and take a Google Earth view of the God’s grand narrative. Build in some time this year to journey with her about why Jesus was born in Bethlehem – your celebration of Christmas will be all the richer and sweeter.
4 Top Recommendations from the Woman Alive Book Club
I recommended fiction and non-fiction in the book club this year, enjoying, for instance, Patricia Raybon’s jaunt into a cozy mystery (All That Is Secret). For as much as I appreciate fiction, however, I see that my top reads include three memoirs and one spirituality book.
A Burning in my Bones by Winn Collier (WaterBrook/Authentic, 2021)
The winsome authorized biography of Eugene Peterson. An excerpt from my review:
Winn’s book isn’t hagiography; he presents Peterson’s blind spots as well as his wisdom and grace. For instance, for many years Peterson gave too much to the church to the expense of his family – his daughter once counted him being gone for 27 nights in a row. But the picture that emerges is of a man deeply committed to God and his living Word, a pastor poet who approached his work with love. I highly recommend this book.
Paul: A Biography by Tom Wright (HarperOne/SPCK, 2018)
Yes, I was a bit behind in reading this one by the renowned New Testament scholar. I loved it. Here’s an excerpt from my review:
It’s certainly not too late to read this wonderful biography; I highly recommend it. My only critique is that it’s a bit wordy at times – I wish it had been slimmed down to reduce the tangents and repetitions. That’s a small criticism though, for Paul: A Biography will help you appreciate this fascinating early pillar of the church, one who met Jesus on the road to Damascus and who was changed forever from a man who persecuted the followers of Jesus to one who proclaimed his message of good news.
Where the Light Fell by Philip Yancey (Convergent/Hodder, 2021)
A compelling and well-written account of one wounded by Christians who finds healing and belonging through our loving, saving God. Excerpt from my review:
What especially struck me was Yancey’s comment that “deconstructing a person is easier than constructing one”. Through the mentorship of a godly father figure and his years of searching for truth through his writing, he’s succeeded in putting together a robust faith in a loving God who does not reflect the angry god of his childhood. Therefore, his memoir could be especially helpful to those grappling with painful experiences of Church or Christians who have wounded them. The paths that he and his brother have taken in their lives reveal starkly contrasting ways to deal with a false picture of God.
Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren (IVP, 2021)
A wonderful look at the Anglican compline; she writes with the fresh eyes and enthusiasm of one who has come to liturgical prayers later in life, digging deeply into these words that have withstood the test of time. Excerpt from my review:
I highly recommend this book whether or not you appreciate liturgical prayers. Her writing is deep, thoughtful and poetic without being inaccessible. Although at times she’s America-focused, this bent is not overly distracting. She includes some wonderful prayer exercises at the end, along with questions to discuss or ponder.
3 Favorite General-market Novels and 1 Honorable Mention
The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J Ryan Stradal
My US editor told me about this book, mentioning it during a zoom call, and I thought he said Logger Queen. You know, maybe a relative of Paul Bunyan? But no, he meant Lager, and even though I didn’t know what an IPA was (oops – not an IPO like I just wrote! Ha!), I loved, loved, loved this book.
Here’s my review: I listened to this book on Audible, and at times found the listening a frustrating experience because I wanted to race ahead in the book (the narrator did a great job, by the way). I loved this story and its characters. I found it somewhat surprising that the author is a man, for its the women who shine; the women who succeed.
If you’re from Minnesota and have moved away, like I have, reading it will make you smile and feel nostalgic. People walking past me in North London would have seen me grinning and laughing, and must have wondered what was up, especially as my earbuds were hidden by my hair.
I loved it, even though I don’t drink beer and I even had to look up what an IPA is.
Anxious People by Frederik Backman
I finished listening to this wonderful novel on the drive back from leading a retreat at Penhurst Retreat Centre and so enjoyed the whole experience. What a delight – even though, yes, it’s about anxious people.
A bank robber robs a cashless bank… an unlikely premise for such a wonderful book. Surprising, endearing, lovely – even if the probability of some of it was unlikely.
Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce
Another delightful book to listen to. All I noted for my review was, “So fun and quirky. Really enjoyed it.” I loved Miss Benson and her grand adventure to find a particular beetle across the world, and the friends she met along the way.
Honorable Mention: The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare
I really enjoyed getting to be part of Adunni’s world in Nigeria, although it was harrowing. Following her move from her village to Lagos was fascinating.
But… I felt a bit manipulated as a reader with all of the stuff she experiences in her journey. Child marriage, her friend dying by the river, all of the happenings at Big Madam’s house – how she managed to make it through all of that intact and growing and not bitter seemed a stretch. I felt a bit like the author had an agenda in her fiction – which I never like.
But I’ve highlighting the novel because the writing was engaging and I really warmed to Adunni.
It brings me great joy to wish you a happy Christmas! Whether you’re experiencing unadulterated joy with the gathering of your dreams or you’re feeling sad about changed plans – or somewhere in between – may you know the wonder of the Gift of Christmas, Jesus, God and Man.
I’m grateful to know that so many of you have been enjoying my dad’s art (and yes, my reflections) in Celebrating Christmas. I know many have read it during Advent, but I wonder if it’s best read starting today on the eve of the season of Christmas – read two a day during today and the twelve days of Christmas, sitting under the tree with something hot and mulled in your hand.
May you know peace and laughter and joy and wonder and rest. As we in my family adjust to a different Christmas, we’re grateful for so many prayers and well-wishes.
I’m pausing the prayer guest blog series for a few weeks over the holiday period; I look forward to sharing some more wonderful contributions later in January. Here’s a prayer from Celebrating Christmas for this Advent season.
As we move toward Christmas, we can become overwhelmed with plans and carol concerts and baking and shopping and wondering whether or not to host that Christmas meal in these pandemic times. We can overlook the reason for all of this activity – Jesus being born.
Why not stop for a few moments and ponder the earthly vessel who hosted his earlier life, Mary? I love this painting of my dad’s – one similar to it appears in Celebrating Christmas. To be honest, I can’t remember why we chose that one over this one just now – you’ll have to check out the book to compare the differences!
You can use this painting as a prompt for prayer. Spend some time asking God to speak to you, perhaps reading through the story in Luke’s gospel of the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary with God’s special invitation. You could open your heart to any invitations God might have for you – perhaps to collaborate with him on a new project or perhaps simply to spend some time enjoying each other’s presence.
May we like Mary respond to God, saying, “Be it done unto me according to your word.”
To buy a copy of Celebrating Christmas, see purchase options here.
[Image – painting by Leo Boucher. Used with permission. All rights reserved.}
