Amy Boucher Pye

Author: Amy Boucher Pye

  • Praying with a Painting – Jesus the Vine


    [Image: By Leo Boucher. Used with permission; all rights reserved. Pen and watercolor with Jesus at the center, surrounded by leaves and vines.]

    Today we move away from Watercolor Wednesday to welcome a new series, Praying with a Painting. I’m still going to be featuring my dad’s wonderful artwork, but want to use it as a jumping point for prayer.

    One form of praying with the help of an image is visio divina, which is Latin for sacred seeing, and many weeks we’ll use this slow, thoughtful form of engaging prayerfully. Other weeks we’ll find different ways to interact with the paintings. I hope that these posts will provide you a mini-retreat during your busy day.

    Today we’re thinking about Jesus the Vine, which is what he calls himself in John 15, in what’s known as the Last Discourse. He and his friends have eaten their last supper together, and as they walk from the upper room to the Garden of Gethsemane, he shares with them of life in the kingdom. Yes, he’ll be going away, but he will be sending the Advocate, the Spirit to be with them. As part of this discussion he also calls himself the Vine and his friends the branches, and that as they abide in him they will bear fruit.

    Join me in praying with this painting?

    1. Still yourself before God, asking him to surround you with his presence.
    2. You may wish to start with reading John 15:1–17, to have the passage in your mind.
    3. As you look at the painting, notice what strikes you in it. Spend a few moments gazing at that part of the image and welcome God to speak to you. Notice what thoughts appear in your mind – if you find yourself distracted, just note the matter if you need to and then gently return yourself to the task.
    4. Respond to God, offering any praises, questions, intercessions, petitions, statements of thanks. You might want to affirm that Jesus is the Vine and that you are connected to him. That his Spirit flows through you, and that with him you can produce luscious fruit that lasts.
    5. Take a few moments to rest in God’s presence.

  • Watercolor Wednesday: The gift of daily habits

    A watercolor with pen painting of farm buildings - a barn and silos - and a farm house, set in green countryside.
    By Leo Boucher. Used with permission; all rights reserved.

    Watercolor Wednesday is back!

    Today I’m thinking about farms, especially those in Minnesota and Iowa, as my parents were both raised on them in these states. I appreciate their work ethic which developed over many years of doing daily chores – the cows simply had to be milked and fed every day.

    How does a daily discipline inform your life? Do you have daily habits that you embrace – not only brushing your teeth and bathing (I hope), but daily rhythms of delight, such as going for a walk or listening to music?

  • Praying with a Painting: He washes their feet

    A watercolor of Jesus kneeling down before one of the disciples, washing his feet. The other disciples surround this scene.
    By Leo Boucher. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

    I so enjoyed working with my dad on our forthcoming art/reflections book, Celebrating Christmas, which will be released this September, that I asked him if he’d consider painting some scenes for Lent. Here’s one that he created for tomorrow, Maundy Thursday, when Jesus takes the role of a servant and washes his friends’ feet.

    A wonderful prayer practice is to study the painting as a prayer, asking God through his Spirit to lead you. Or you could place yourself in the story – what do you see, hear, smell, and experience as Jesus washes the feet? Are you one of the disciples or an onlooker? What do you feel?

    May you know God’s love as we enter into this wonderful, amazing, heartrending story as we approach Easter.

  • My burden is light

    Come, beloved,
    I know you’re tired.
    I know you’re weary.
    I know you’re burdened.

    Come. I’ll give you rest.

    Here’s my yoke—
    take it and learn from me.
    You know I’m gentle,
    caring, and humble.
    You’ll find rest;
    Rest for your soul.

    My yoke is easy—
    you’re constrained under it
    but I bear the load.
    My burden is light—
    I do the heavy lifting.

    © Amy Boucher Pye; after Matthew 11:28–30

  • Watercolor Wednesday: Do not worry

    By Leo Boucher. Used with permission; all rights reserved.

    You know the excitement of opening the door to big bunch of gorgeousness in the form of flowers? Yes, it’s better when it’s a surprise and you eagerly search out the card, wondering who sent them. But I’ve managed to be surprised in a minor sort of way when I’ve received the flowers I’ve ordered with some birthday money, for I forget exactly when I have arranged for them to come. That rush of excitement still surprises me.

    I’m enjoying the scent of lilies in my study from my latest delivery,* and today my dad sent across this painting from some flowers my mom got for them. Lovely synergy.

    When I think of lilies in the Bible, I immediately think of Jesus telling his friends not to worry:

    Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

    “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!” (Luke 12:22–28, NIV)

    Don’t worry about your life, Jesus says. If God decorates the grass of the field with these gorgeous and fragrant flowers, how much more does he care for us. That’s a reminder I’ve needed today—even though it took me two lily appearances to realize it!

    How about you? Might you consider taking a moment to read through Jesus’ words and personalize them, as if he was talking to you?

    * I have some half-price codes for Freddie’s Flowers if you are in the UK and are interested. You have to sign up but can cancel at any time.

  • When things don’t go to plan

    I recently came across a document filed away in Evernote entitled, “Dream schedule for book writing and publishing,” which I penned initially in late 2016. I had set myself a course of the books I wanted to write—along with the MA in Christian spirituality I was in the thick of then in 2016.

    My dreams haven’t been realized according to that schedule. Although I released a small-group guide last year, I haven’t published a “proper” book for all these five years. I also thought that I wasn’t ready to write my “big” book—that’s the “Nudges of Grace” at the end of the list. I thought I needed to turn to the other books, on what I saw as more niche topics, before I could handle the book on prayer.

    I’ve not kept to my schedule, but I see the grace in those years—the time to think and develop through my master’s degree, the opportunity to recover after spending myself in that academic pursuit along with the other stuff going on in our lives at that time, the other speaking and writing I was able to do. We aren’t machines and we can trust in God’s grace when things don’t go to (our) plan.

    I like to say that God is my Publishing Director, in the phraseology of Psalm 23 (as I write in this blog). I can understand now how I’ve needed that time to develop and grow as a person and as a writer. Now I am ready to release the “Nudges of Grace” book, which will be published as the far better title of 7 Ways to Pray this autumn by NavPress in the States and SPCK/Form in the UK. It incorporates so much of what I learned in the MA, along with my years of leading retreats and prayer exercises.

    I also get to partner with my dad in what I’m seeing as a bonus book, Celebrating Christmas, which is a combo of his fantastic art and my reflections in a beautiful four-color book (also coming this autumn, published here in the UK by BRF). The book was an idea of the lovely people at BRF, and that we can publish a four-colour in the tough times of retail I see as a gift.*

    You might feel anxious, if you’re a writer, to be making progress on your dream publishing schedule. Substitute writer for lots of other situations—for when you can see your far-flung friends and family, when you get that promotion, when you recover from the latest health concern, when you can reopen, and so on. The challenge for us all is to stay present in the moment. For Christians, to abide with Christ right here and right now, practicing his presence and trusting him for the hard stuff while rejoicing with him over the good stuff.

    May you know God’s love and care—wherever you find yourself on your schedule.

    * I’d better use the British spelling to honour my publisher!

  • Watercolor Wednesday: Spring forth into beauty

    By Leo Boucher. Used with permission; all rights reserved.

    Spring is in the air—although here in Britain it’s felt like a Fool’s Spring at times, with cold winds whipping through us while we go out for our daily walk. Yet the flowers are blooming all around, and from my study window I can see a group of daffodils swaying in the breeze. Beauty is there for us to see when we slow down and take it in.

    May you experience beauty today, in whatever form you find it.

  • The Lord is my Producer

    Personalizing Psalm 23 is a gift that keeps on giving. You can see my other renditions here. I love how we can take these ancient words and adapt them to where we’re at.

    This morning I wrote the above take on it as I prepare to lead an online retreat, as I feel tired and needing God’s help and reassurance. I had the image of him being my producer, speaking in my earpiece as a news presenter would have the producer in the backroom giving guidance. How amazing to have the Holy Spirit being the one to give us prompts!

    How would you adapt Psalm 23 for your needs today?

  • Watercolor Wednesday: By the brook we go

    By Leo Boucher. Used with permission; all rights reserved.

    Snow on Sunday, a new painting on Wednesday! I love my dad’s rendition of the snowy brook, the photo of which I took at the weekend, with its stark and vibrant colors.

    Take a moment to walk along the gurgling waters as you feel glops of snow dropping off the trees while carefully picking your way along the icy path.

    The photo I snapped on Sunday.

  • New Lent resource: The Prayers of Jesus

    Looking for resources for Lent? Looking for someone to give a talk on the prayers of Jesus during Lent?

    I’ve written an interactive small-group resource for Lent called The Prayers of Jesus, published by CWR (Waverley Resources) in which we explore 6 of the 7 prayers of Jesus in the gospels. It gives you the tools for leading the session, such as prayers, activities, background on the particular prayer of Jesus, discussion questions, and a prayer activity for the group.

    I’m really excited about it because I’m excited about the prayers of Jesus! I’m especially thrilled that I was able to add the prayer activities to this format, for when we make time to pray together, we find that God responds in amazing ways.

    Would you like me to zoom into your meeting/service during Lent to give a talk? I have a limited number of spaces available. I’m not charging a fee to come but I’d be grateful if I could supply the booklets to your small groups. Contact me if you’re interested.

    The resource goes for £6 each. Here’s my discount plan:

    • 1-6 copies, 16% discount, £5 each plus postage
    • 7-9 copies, 21% discount £4.75 each plus postage
    • 10 or more, 25% discount, £4.50 each plus postage

    With postage to the UK:

    • 1 = £6.53
    • 2 = £11.99
    • 3 = £16.99
    • 4 = £22.70
    • 5 = £27.70
    • 6 = £33
    • 7 = £36.25
    • 8 = £41
    • 9 = £45.75
    • 10 = £48
    • (above 10 contact me)

    If you’re not in the UK, I am happy to explore options, but postage might be prohibitive.