Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Opening Prayer
Jesus
You emptied yourself for us on the Cross
You sacrificed all you had for our sins
You poured out your blood
and you gave your life freely
We are humbled by the power of Your actions.
We are strengthened by Your Word.
We are in awe of Your mercy and grace.

Journal/Reflection Questions
Numbers 21:4b-9
• How does God use the bad situation to show good? Does He offer these kinds of solutions to you in your life today?
• What is the moral of the story here? What is God trying to say?

Philippians 2:6-11
• Do you think Jesus didn’t seek equality with God because He subconsciously knew He was God?
• How could someone seek equality with God? What would that look like? Is it possible?
• Are there people you have put up in a place of honor like God? What makes this so? How can you begin to move toward putting God and God alone first in your life?

John 3:13-17
• What are you willing to risk in order to be a follower of Christ? What did Nicodemus risk? Did his risk pay off?
• Are there things you consider worth dying for in this world today?

General Questions for Journaling
• Have you experienced good things coming out of bad situations? Where was God in this instance?
• Consider the symbolism in this First Reading. What do the snakes represent? What does the staff represent? What is ailing the people? What do they suffer from? How is this similar or different from today?
• Has God ever told you to do something you thought didn’t make any since like He did to the people in the desert? What can you do to listen to these requests and follow them even if they sound strange in the ways of the world?
• How does Jesus show humility in the scriptures this week? What can we learn from his example?
• Define poverty. Is it simply the lack of something or is there more too it?
• How might you be in poverty in your life right now?
• In the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly shows us how to pray. Reflect on the examples you can remember and try to put one or more of them into action.

Closing Prayer
Leader: When we recognize you in the everyday…
ALL: We turn our eyes toward heaven!
Leader: When we allow ourselves to surrender to your will…
ALL: We turn our eyes toward heaven!
Leader: When we consciously draw ourselves into unity with you…
ALL: We turn our eyes toward heaven!

Challenge for the Week: A tradition in the Catholic Church during Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter, is to gather together to venerate the cross. The word ‘venerate’ means to show great respect. The cross is one of the major symbols of Christianity and is displayed in most if not all places Christians gather to worship. Many Christians will have a cross hung somewhere in their home and others will wear the symbol on their clothing or as an accessory. The cross carries with it the understanding that it unites us to Christ and to one another. However, there is an even deeper meaning which we sometimes over look. The cross is not simply a symbol of Christianity but all that Christianity stands for because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Catholics take this reverence one step further and display the cross with Christ crucified, the crucifix, to remind us of the sins Jesus suffered and died for in order for us to be forgiven. But it doesn’t just stop there. We venerate the cross because that is the symbol of all of the sins Jesus carried, we should still be taking our sins to the cross. Then, like Jesus, we should leave them at the cross and be resurrected from the sin into everlasting life. The cross reminds us of the promise of heaven but it is also a portal to heavenly life here on earth. The challenge this week is simple, look for the cross in the community. When you see a cross, give thanks and praise to God. If someone is wearing a cross, acknowledge it. We don’t only need to venerate the cross on Good Friday, but each and every day!

23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father
May we understand the power of prayer.
Help us to come to you with all we need.
Gather our prayers with others,
let us pray for one another
so our prayers become ONE.

Journal/Reflection Questions
Ezekiel 33:7-9
• How can you recognize a present day prophet? Do they exist?
• Is there an injustice you see which you can help shed light onto? How does God lead you to take action?
• How will God hold us accountable for our sins? How will He hold us accountable for the sins of others?

Romans 13:8-10
• In your own words, define the whole law? What is it Jesus asks of us? Are you capable?
• How do you imagine you will be judged? On how much you love your neighbor or how much you do for your neighbor? How are those two things different?

Matthew 18:15-20
• Reflect on a time when you witnessed the power. What was the situation? Was it a prayer answered because of community prayer such as a prayer chain or a prayer service? Share the experience.
• Do you think it is possible for two people to agree on something, pray for it and for God to grant them the prayer? Explain.

General Questions for Journaling
• How can a person speak truth in the world without sounding as if they are calling someone out? Is it possible to find a happy medium?
• How does your life bear witness to the goodness of God?
• If you could give yourself a grade for how well you keep the commandments, what would your grade card say?
• How have you experienced divine love? Is there someone in your life in need of divine love? How can you give it to them?
• Make a list of the things you love about yourself. Is it easy or difficult to come up with 10 things?
• Jesus said to love one another…even when it is difficult. Are you shutting yourself off from a relationship or relationships because you fear getting hurt?
• Have you been hurt in a relationship but haven’t reconciled with the person? Stop ignoring. Figure out a solution to make the wrong that was done right.
• Is there a relationship you need to give some attention to this week? Something in need of repair?
• How do you know God is present in prayer? In a relationship?

Closing Prayer
Leader: Lord you are present in all things
ALL: May we not ignore the gentle nudges of our heart.
Leader: Lord you are present in all things
ALL: May we not ignore the gentle whisper in our soul.
Leader: Lord you are present in all things
ALL: May we not ignore the gentle invitation of faith.

Challenge for the Week: Too often we let our emotions get the best of us and when someone says something that hurts us or someone we love, we want to hurt them in return. However, this is not how we show each other love. We need to think before we speak. There is so much sarcasm in conversation these days and people just say things, hurtful things and for some reason we think it is funny. However, it is not funny…sarcasm hurts. This week, as you go about your everyday activities be mindful of how much sarcasm you use and how much you hear. What is really being said? Why is it being used? Reflect on it and see if you are able to find any truth in it.

Opening Prayer
Lord
You came to find the lost.
You came to rescue the imprisoned.
You came to save the sinner.
May we allow ourselves to surrender.
May we allow ourselves to struggle.
May we allow ourselves to sacrifice;
So we may rely on YOU and
allow YOU to come to our aid!

Journal/Reflection Questions
Jeremiah 20:7-9
• Are there places where suffering happens which need to spoke about? Are there places where light needs to be shown on the darkness? What injustices are happening in the world which you are called to speak out about?
• Does oppression happen in this world? Who do you know is oppressed? How do you know? What do you do about it? Do you suffer from oppression?

Romans 12:1-2
• How do you know God is driving your actions or if you are following your own desire? How can you tell which way God is calling you to go?
• Compare and contrast the feelings of consolation and desolation. How would you describe your current state?

Matthew 16:21-27
• How do you feel when you lose something? How would you describe the process of letting go of the thing you lost?
• How do you feel when you find something? How would you describe the process of finding a place for the thing you found?

General Questions for Journaling
• Are there injustices in the world which break your heart? Are there injustices which occur that cause your gut to ache? Is the Holy Spirit calling you to do something about it?
• Describe what a “fire burning in your heart” might look, feel like. Have you ever experienced a burning in your heart? What did you do about it?
• How do you think God uses your suffering? Reflect on a time when you suffered but you were able to see God in it.
• Have you ever been thankful for suffering? What was the circumstance? Why were you thankful?
• How would a person “unite” their suffering with the suffering of Christ?
• How does one “lose” their life? What is Jesus saying you will gain?
• What does Jesus say you “find”? Have you ever caught a glimpse of what you will find?
• Reflect on this statement…”You can’t take anything with you when you die…that is why a hearse doesn’t have a trailer hitch.”

Closing Prayer
Leader: Teach us to be more loving to our neighbor;
ALL: May we decrease so YOU may increase!
Leader: Teach us to fill ourselves with YOUR Word;
ALL: May we decrease so YOU may increase!
Leader: Teach us to let go of the things of this world;
ALL: May we decrease so YOU may increase!

Challenge for the Week: When you see poverty in the world, you might think, what can I do? Especially when you see pictures of villages in third world countries who have no running water, no sanitation system, and no source of support to supply basic needs for survival. It is heart breaking for anyone to see another human suffer. You might consider how you can help and get discouraged because you think the load is too much for one person to carry. On the contrary, God wouldn’t put something on your heart to do if He didn’t believe you could do it. Plus you are not called to change the whole world all by yourself…Jesus did that already! Spend time in prayer this week to help you determine how God wants to use you to help right an injustice in the world. Then research a way you can help make a difference with someone either in a third world country or in your own community; where ever God is directing you. When everyone does just a little, it is just enough to make a huge difference.

Opening Prayer

Faithful Lord

You created us with a deep desire to seek YOU.

and we can never be completely satisfied

until we are filled by only YOU.

May we never give up the search for YOU

until we truly know this type of satisfaction.

No one knows us or loves us the way YOU do.

Journal/Reflection Questions

 Isaiah 22:19-23

• How does God show His authority in this reading?  How can you allow God to have authority over your life?  Who has authority now?
• This scripture is speaking of the coming of Jesus.  How can you shed light onto each statement with the knowledge and understanding you have of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection

Romans 11:33-36

• How might you seek to know what God is thinking?  How does one “know God’s mind”?
• Do you see God’s plan for you?  What makes you know for sure this is the path God intends for you?

Matthew 16:13-20

• Why would Jesus ask this question?  What do you think He was seeking?
• How do you describe who Jesus is to your friends and family?

General Questions for Journaling

• What qualities do you respect in a leader?  Are the qualities different depending upon what they are leading?  The Country?  They Church?  The Company where you work?

• Is the work you do or the job you have one you choose or one you “fell into”?  Could this have any bearing on your attitude toward it?

• Do you feel you are using the gifts God gave you in order to complete the tasks required of your job?  Are you fulfilling your vocation in the position you hold?  Do you feel as though God choose you to do the work you do?

• Are there things you value more than Christ?  Do you tell others about your relationship with Christ?  What keeps you from telling others of Christ?

• How can you be in Christ?  With Christ?  And Through Christ?

• What have you learned about Jesus which you want to preserve within yourself?  How can you be in unity with HIM?

• How is it that Jesus makes Peter the “ROCK” on which to build His church but Peter denies knowing Jesus three times?  How does this make you feel?  Disheartened?  Encouraged?

• What qualities of Peter make him the perfect example of a disciple?

   

   

   

Closing Prayer

Leader:  We have all been chosen to serve;

ALL:  may we fulfill the task you have called us to.

Leader:  We struggle with our faith and knowledge of you;

ALL:  may we find you in all the things in our lives.

Leader:  We stumble and fall, we make bad choices;

ALL:  may we always hold onto YOU!

Challenge for the Week:  When making a large purchase such as a washer and dryer or a car or a house, how long to do you spend researching it, looking it over, weighing out the pros and cons of the purchase?  Who are the people you might ask for advice or help in making such an important decision?  When it comes to our faith, whom do you turn to about important decisions, to whom do you ask the important questions?  Do you give it the same depth of attention, looking at where God is working in your life in every little detail?  Do you seek counsel from God when making decisions about what is happening in your life and listen to His response?  God doesn’t need to seek anyone’s counsel but it would be wise for us to seek HIS!

OR

St Ignatius of Loyola set the rule to “seek God in all things”.  This is a challenge to seek God in all things especially when choosing the TV show or movie to watch, the book to read or the music to listen to.  Where is God in the things you do the most?

Opening Prayer
Infinite Lord
May we be courageous in our faith.
May we persistent in our prayer.
May we be fearless in our works.
May we be boundless in love.
Fill us with Your grace and mercy through Your Word.

Journal/Reflection Questions
Isaiah 56:1, 6-7
• How do you show mercy in your life? To whom do you show mercy? How does it compare to God’s boundless mercy?
• How might the world be different if we truly lived life knowing God’s grace and mercy were endless?
Romans 11:13-15, 29-32
• What feelings or emotions do you feel knowing God will never stop loving you?
• Describe the power of mercy. What does it offer? How do we receive it? Where does it come from? Who can have it?
Matthew 15:21-28
• What surprises you about this scripture passage? How does this fall in line with or go against who you know Jesus to be?
• What does the phrase, “even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters” mean? What exactly was the woman saying?

General Questions for Journaling
• Reflect on a time when you were excluded from something. How did it feel? What did you do about it? Would you do the same thing again or would you do something differently?
• Have you ever intentionally excluded someone from something? What was the reason? Is there a circumstance in which excluding someone is acceptable?
• Has there ever been an occasion when you felt excluded within your faith community? What was it that made you feel separated? How might the scriptures this week help you heal?
• Have you ever seen a disobedient child? How do you discipline him/her? Do you love them less because they are disobedient?
• Do you judge others’ faith simply by looking at them? Do you compare yourself to them?
• How would you judge a woman begging at the feet of Jesus? Have you ever done the same thing?
• Where in your life should you be more persistent? In prayer? Good works? Self-discipline? Encouragement?

Closing Prayer
Leader: Great is my faith
ALL: when I seek YOU before all other things.
Leader: Great is my faith
ALL: when I listen when YOU call my name.
Leader: Great is my faith
ALL: when I serve others and show YOUR love.

Challenge for the Week: We can learn so much from this Canaanite woman. She doesn’t back down, she remains calm and she kneels before Jesus and asks for help. How often do we just nonchalantly ask Jesus to help us with something in prayer? Are the things you pray for simply a list of wants and needs or are they true desires? Do you pray with persistence and fervor? When you attend Mass or Sunday Worship listen intently to the prayers of the faithful, the petitions of the community. Set your mind to faithfully listen and put emotion and feeling into the prayer intentions so that you pray them with your whole being.
OR
Let us learn from the Canaanite woman how our faith can save and not back down from what we believe in when challenged. Too often even those whom we might consider “the faithful” will give up and back down when their faith gets too hard. It’s easy to be called a Christian when we are sitting in the pew on Sunday morning but when the rubber hits the road on Sunday afternoon, are we still as strong in our faith beliefs and practices as we were when we were in church? Jesus challenges us at times just like He is testing this woman. He tests her so she might exercise her faith to the fullest extent. Where is Jesus challenging you to be stronger in your faith?

Opening Prayer – 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Father,
Before us are many paths to choose;
Some are worn, some hard to navigate.
Many leave us feeling pain, sorrow or regret.
Others fill us with great joy and satisfaction.
Sharpen our senses to seek YOU on the path ahead of us.
Then even when the waves crash against us,
YOU are there when we reach out.
May we seek YOU in each new dawn,
in each raindrop and in every shining star.

Journal/Reflection Questions
1Kings 19:9, 11-13
Reflect on a time in your life when you experienced an “earthquake”, a “great wind” or a “fire”. When did you see God in the situation? Was it before, during or after the event?
Do you hear God in the “whispers” of life? Where does God whisper to you? What does He use to share His message with you in a whisper?

Romans 9:1-5
Are there some in your family whom cause you “great sorrow” or “constant anguish” because of their belief or unbelief? What can you learn from St Paul in this scripture that might help?
Are there some people whom you need to separate or be “cut off” from in order to be a better follower of Christ? How can you relate to St Paul in this scripture?

Matthew 14:22-33
Is your faith on a solid rock or on sinking sand? What can you learn from Peter to help you stay steady? How does this look in your everyday life?
What causes you to sink in your faith? Name some of the weights that drag you down.

General Questions for Journaling
Can God calm your fears or worries like He calm’s the sea? When have you experienced God’s calming power?
Would you describe your faith as strong? Would you be able to stand back up like Peter?
Jesus went up the mountain to pray. Do you have a sacred place where you like to go to pray? What makes it sacred?
How does God invite you to step out of the boat?
Are you able to distinguish when God is in the wind, the fire and the earthquake and when He is not? How close do you think you need to be in order to know the difference?
What forces work against you in building your faith? What do you struggle with in order to keep the faith?
Would you say you trust Jesus? Share an example in your life which shows how you trust Jesus.

Closing Prayer
Leader: When I am feeling lost and alone…
ALL: Fix my eyes on Jesus!
Leader: When I don’t know which way to turn…
ALL: Fix my eyes on Jesus!
Leader: When I stumble and fall and sink…
ALL: Fix my eyes on Jesus!
Leader: When I am so full of joy I overflow…
ALL: Fix my eyes on Jesus!
Leader: When I feel fulfilled and satisfied…
ALL: Fix my eyes on Jesus!
Leader: When I stand up for what I believe…
ALL: Fix my eyes on Jesus!

Challenge for the Week: Many people live in the “in between” of faith where they believe but don’t practice their beliefs with intention OR they practice so hard they are frustrated with the results. We need to seek to find a healthy balance of living out and practicing the beliefs. When scripture says we must love our neighbor and pray for our enemies, it sounds beautiful and practical. However, how many believers actually put the words into practice? Do we love everyone, even those who hurt us or persecute others? When a tragedy happens do we immediately begin to pray for the victims and not the perpetrators? Consider where your faith and your belief intersect.

Opening Prayer – 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Creator God
You give us a hunger and a thirst
only YOU can satisfy.
May we come to understand
how YOUR Word is what we need.
Fill us with YOUR mercy and grace;
complete us and make us whole.
Our searching is over!

Journal/Reflection Questions
Isaiah 55:1-3
• What picture does this scripture paint? What images show abundance?
• When have you felt satisfied? Describe the feeling.
Romans 8:35, 37-39
• What keeps you away from God? How do you support the relationship? How do you hurt the relationship?
• How do you remain close to those you love? Those on earth? Those in heaven?
Matthew 14:13-21
• Where is God in this scripture? In what ways?
• How are you called to be like the crowd? What do you have to share with others?

General Questions for Journaling
• What do you thirst for? What do you hunger for?
• What does your soul ache for? Have you ever felt so strongly about something or needed something so much you ached?
• God satisfies. How many ways can you list?
• What is your definition of riches? How does God provide you with riches in your life?
• How do you communicate with God? How does God communicate back?
• How does working on your relationship with God differ from your other relationships? How is it similar?
• What is your definition of the promises of Christ?

Closing Prayer – Words to the song, “Come to the Water” by John Foley S.J.
ALL: Oh let all who thirst,
let them come to the water.
And let all who have nothing,
let them come to the Lord.
Without money, without price,
why should you pay the price?
Except for the Lord?

And let all who seek,
let them come, to the water.
And let all who have nothing,
let them come to the Lord.
without money, without strife,
why should you spend your life?
Except for the Lord?

And let all who toil,
let them come to the water;
and let all who are weary,
let them come to the Lord.
All the who labor without rest,
how can your soul find rest?
Except for the Lord?

And let all the poor,
let them come to the water.
Bring then ones who are laden
bring them all to the Lord.
Pray the children without might,
easy the load and light.
Come to the Lord, Come to the Lord
Come to the Lord, Come to the Lord

Challenge for the Week: In the summer, many of us are guests or host a potluck or picnic where everyone brings something to contribute to the meal. Part of the fun of a potluck is to see what others bring, make a favorite dish or to have the chance to try out a new recipe. Even if there are several types of salads or duplicate dishes, there is always plenty of food and no one is left hungry. There is also always plenty leftover. Imagine how this is similar to the feeding of the 5,000. They weren’t invited to a potluck but they attended one. We hear the story of the boy with some fish and bread who was generous enough to step forward with the little he had to share with the crowd but I believe it was because of his example others contributed what they had too. We must realize that even though we think what we have to give is not enough, when we allow God into our lives and have the courage to step out in faith, He satisfies and completes us. Show generosity in some way this week by sharing with someone what you have to give. Bring more than simply a food dish with you to the next potluck, bring a generous heart full of the love of Jesus and see what miracles happen!

Opening Prayer – 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Heavenly Father
Guide us and teach us
to know what it means to be a treasure
Open our eyes
to the treasures you have given to us each day
Lead us to seek
the treasures you have waiting for us in Your Word;
a heart of gold,
an attitude lined with silver
and infinite wealth.

Journal/Reflection Questions
1Kings 3:5,7-12
• The word understanding in Hebrew means obedient. What are your definitions of the words understanding and obedient? How do they differ? How are they similar?
• How does this scripture passage model prayer for us? Does Solomon do all of the talking? How does God respond? How is this similar or different to how you pray?
• King Solomon is noted as being a very wise person. How does his wisdom show through in this scripture?
Romans 8:28-30
• Have there been experiences in your life where able to relate to this adage of “all things work together for good?” Can you see where God was/is in the experience?
• Does this scripture mean that when bad things happen, God is not there? How would you explain what this scripture means to some who has experienced darkness, abandonment or loss in their life?
Matthew 13:44-52
• What does the phrase “kingdom of God” mean to you?
• How do you hear God speaking to you in your life? Is it a whisper? A shout? How do you respond?

General Questions for Journaling
• Is there anyone in your life whom you would describe as having an “understanding heart?” What qualities does this person have that lead you to this decision?
• How might your community, your job, your school, your country change if it was required for people in leadership to have an understanding heart?
• What do you treasure? People? Moments? Things?
• What do you think God treasures? What evidence is there of your belief?
• Do you think there are buried treasures? Could there be treasures buried within a person? What might be some treasures buried within you?
• How does this statement make you feel? “Your salvation was sold at a great price.” What does it mean?

Closing Prayer – Solomon’s Prayer
ALL: Therefore give to Your servant
an understanding heart
to judge Your people,
that I may discern
between good and evil.

Challenge for the Week: Spend time this week breaking down each request in this prayer. How can you put this prayer into practice so it isn’t just a bunch of words we pray? As you are discerning the actions you should take to bring this prayer to life, pray it each morning, each noon-time and before you go to bed. It is short enough that we might be able to memorize it quickly and add it to our daily prayers from now on.

Opening Prayer – 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time
God of great patience
May we learn from Your Word
how to be more tolerant of our failings
and the faults of others.
Your Word tell us that when we seek You,
the Holy Spirit fills us with what we lack
Help us to see ourselves and others through Your eyes;
Lord, Jesus, make us whole in YOU!

Journal/Reflection Questions
Wisdom 12:13, 16-19
• Is there someone in your life in need of justice or mercy? How can this scripture shed light on the situation?
• What does the act of repentance show of God’s character?
Romans 8:26-27
• Where did you learn how to pray? Who taught you? What did you learn?
• Can you recall a time recently when the Holy Spirit came to your aid? How do you know the Holy Spirit helped you?
Matthew 13:24-43
• What reason is given for keeping the weeds? How does this affect your understanding of love? What are you being challenged to do in your life with this understanding?
• Consider how this parable parallels the scripture in Matthew about the final days when the sheep and the goats are separated. Make a list of all the similarities.

General Questions for Journaling
• Did someone teach you how to weed a garden? How was this done? How did you know which growth were weeds and which were not? How is this similar in relationships?
• Can you identify some of the weeds growing within you right now? What actions do you take to keep more weeds from growing or taking root?
• Do you identify yourself by your actions? Would you consider yourself basically good or basically bad? What is this based on?
• Can weeds be good? What can you learn from the weeds? Do they have a purpose?
• Is there someone in your life which you dubbed a “weed”? Seek the beauty within them.
• Are you quick to judge the faults/weeds of others? How can you learn from God’s patience to change your actions?
• Be honest. Is there someone from whom you need to seek forgiveness? Can you find it within yourself to repent for the wrong you have done, or the hurt you have caused?

Closing Prayer
Leader: You listen to our grumblings;
ALL: Still you answer our prayers.
Leader: You watch us as we stumble;
ALL: Still you pick us up when we fall.
Leader: You see us turn away from you;
ALL: Still you call us into Your kingdom.
Leader: Thank YOU for Your tolerance;
ALL: May we strive to follow your example.

Challenge for the Week: The scripture suggests we “try and try again”. When we fail, we turn to God to repent and then continue to press on. This is difficult to do when we are faced with adversity. Good athletes practice for hours to perfect their skills to become better. Take a lesson from them and choose a new practice to help you get rid of the weeds in your life and be diligent about it. Make a decision to create a new “good” habit. Don’t focus on trying to get rid of a bad one, simply plant a good habit, cultivate it and put your focus on making it grow. Don’t feel guilty if you mess up or skip a day, repent and try again…keep trying each day to grow. In time, the practice of good will help weed out the bad.

Opening Prayer – 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time
God of all creation;
Make us good rich soil for planting so your Word may settle in and grow.
May we find You in each experience even when we must face rocky ground or thorny bushes.
Help us reach and stretch each new day to put forth great fruit, worthy of the kingdom!

Journal/Reflection Questions
Isaiah 55:10-11
• What does this tell us about God’s Word? Explain how this works.
• What is the purpose of rain? How is it a metaphor for God’s grace?
Romans 8:18-23
• In child birth, good comes from suffering; are there other examples of good coming from suffering? Share.
• What is the importance of Christians knowing the message Saint Paul is leaving? How can you apply it to your life right now?
• Should pain and suffering be avoided? Is it even possible? What could come from avoiding pain?
Matthew 13:1-23
• Are there things you add to your live which choke or prick causing you not to grow? Are there rocks in your way which you aren’t sure how to get around? Where are the weeds in your life? How can you get rid of these obstacles or avoid them in your life?
• If your heart was a garden, what would it look like? What would be growing there? Consider the types of flowers, bushes or trees that would occupy your garden and why.
• Is God concerned about quality or quantity? What insight does this scripture give you?

General Questions for Journaling
• Have you ever contemplated the changing of the season? What never ceases to astonish you each time a new season passes into another?
• If God put so much thought into the changing of the seasons and perfected the dying and rising of each element of nature, why do you still doubt there is a plan or purpose for your life?
• Compare your life to soil. What would you be made of? Clay? Sand? Dry? Manure? With what do you fertilize?
• In society today, it is easy to get wrapped up in the “now” and at the end of the day we aren’t any closer to the goals God has put in front of you. Do you know the goals God has for your life? How do you cultivate those goals each day? Are you adding fertilizer to them?
• When was the last time you listened to your heart? What does it sound like? How do you know what your “heart’s desire is”?
• Is there something you are currently hoping for? Is this hope in line with your “heart’s desire”?

Closing Prayer
Leader: We are like seeds which struggle to burst open.
ALL: Lord, may we plant seeds of faith.
Leader: We are like budding sprouts who break through the soil.
ALL: Lord, may we sprout new growth and not be left in the dark.
Leader: We are like leaves covered with morning dew.
ALL: Lord, may we be refreshed by Your Word.
Leader: We are like flowers which bloom and fill the earth with beauty.
ALL: Lord, may our lives leave a beautiful aroma wherever You might lead us.

Challenge for the Week: Make time to search for a moment of beauty in nature for each of the four seasons, summer, fall, winter and spring. You can seek them on the internet, in magazines or books, or even in your own family photo albums. Spend time this week meditating on these four seasons; all very different but all very much the same. What speaks to you in each of these seasons? What emotions are evoked? Are there specific people you think of as you reflect on a specific season? What significance do the seasons have in your life? What can you do to make a habit of recognizing something of beauty in nature each day? Open your eyes!