Rev. Summer Joy Gross

16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; 
 he drew me out of deep waters. 
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, 
 from my foes, who were too strong for me. 
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, 
 but the Lord was my support. 
19 He brought me out into a spacious place; 
 he rescued me because he delighted in me.

16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. 17 He rescued me from my powerful ...

Psalm 18: 16-19 Slow Word Lectio Divina

I remain confident of this: 
 I will see the goodness of the Lord 
 in the land of the living. 
 
Wait for the Lord; 
 be strong and take heart 
 and wait for the Lord. 
 
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I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

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I call it your Slow Weekend Starter Kit.

Psalm 27:13-14 Slow Word Lectio Divina

A 3 R practice from Terry Wardle's Every Breath We Take based on Psalm 127:2b in The Message, "Don't you know, God enjoys giving rest to those he loves?" 
 
Find more great practices like this at patreon.com/thepresenceproject.

A 3 R practice from Terry Wardle's Every Breath We Take based on Psalm 127:2b in The Message, "Don't you know, God enjoys giving rest to those he loves?"

Find more great practices like this at patreon.com/thepresenceproject.

Ps 127:2b, a 3 R practice: Rest, Receive, Respond

Unless the Lord builds the house, 
 those who build it labor in vain. 
Unless the Lord watches over the city, 
 the watchman stays awake in vain. 
2 It is in vain that you rise up early 
 and go late to rest, 
eating the bread of anxious toil; 
 for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Unless the Lord builds the house,
    those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
    and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
    for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Psalm 127: 1-2 ESV lectio divina

All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy. 
 
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of lo

Romans 8:22-28 The Message Lectio Divina

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 
 
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:16-19 Slow Word Lectio Divina

“Arise, my love, my beautiful one, 
 and come away, 
11 for behold, the winter is past; 
 the rain is over and gone. 
12 The flowers appear on the earth, 
 the time of singing has come, 
and the voice of the turtledove 
 is heard in our land. 
13 The fig tree ripens its figs, 
 and the vines are in blossom; 
 they give forth fragrance. 
Arise, my love, my beautiful one, 
 and come away. 
14 O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, 
 in the crannies of the cliff, 
let me see your face, 
 let me hear your voice, 
for your voice is sweet, 
 and your face is lovely. 
15 Catch the foxes[e] for us, 
 the little foxes 
that spoil the vineyards, 
 for our vineyards are in blossom.”

“Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
    and come away,
11 for behold, the winter is past;
    the rain is over and gone.
12 The flowers appear on the earth,
    the time of singing has come,
and the voice of the turtledove
    is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree ripens its figs,
    and the vines are in blossom;
    they give forth fragrance.
Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
    and come away.
14 O my dove, in the clefts of the rock,
    in the crannies of the cliff,
let me see your face,
    let me hear your voice,
for your voice is sweet,
    and your face is lovely.
15 Catch the foxes[e] for us,
    the little foxes
that spoil the vineyards,
    for our vineyards are in blossom.”

Song of Song 2: 10-15 Lectio Divina for spring

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene 
 
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic,  “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and

Holy Week Lectio Divina - Easter - John 20:11-18

Truly my soul finds rest in God; 
 my salvation comes from him. 
2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; 
 he is my fortress, I shall never be shaken. 
 
3 How long will you assault me? 
 Would all of you throw me down – 
 this leaning wall, this tottering fence? 
4 Surely they intend to topple me 
 from my lofty place; 
 they take delight in lies. 
With their mouths they bless, 
 but in their hearts they curse.[b] 
 
5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; 
 my hope comes from him. 
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; 
 he is my fortress, I shall not be shaken.

Truly my soul finds rest in God;
    my salvation comes from him.
2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I shall never be shaken.

3 How long will you assault me?
    Would all of you throw me down –
    this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4 Surely they intend to topple me
    from my lofty place;
    they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
    but in their hearts they curse.[b]

5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
    my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I shall not be shaken.

Psalm 62: 1-6 Lectio Divina

The Valley of Dry Bones 
37 The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” 
 
I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” 
 
4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath[a] enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

The Valley of Dry Bones
37 The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”

4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath[a] enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

Ezekiel 37:1-6  Lectio Divina

23 For as I walked around [Athens] and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. 
 
24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[a] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’[b]

23 For as I walked around [Athens] and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[a] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’[b]

Acts 17:23-28 Slow Word Lectio Divina

Join the Presence Project. Get more lectio divinas and spend time with others hungry for the Presence of God. 
 
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Join the Presence Project. Get more lectio divinas and spend time with others hungry for the Presence of God.

Join the newsletter list here: https://mailchi.mp/fffd904c4a73/slow-weekend-starter-kit
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Join the lectio divina , small groups and the Table of the Beloved here:
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Exodus 33: 13-17 lectio divina "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here."

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 
 
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 
 
Find more lectio divinas with Summer Joy Gross here at The Presence Project patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepresenceproject

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Find more lectio divinas with Summer Joy Gross here at The Presence Project patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepresenceproject

Philippians 4: 4-8 lectio divina

Spend time in Isaiah 61 to refocus your life's mission with Christ's. 
 
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Spend time in Isaiah 61 to refocus your life's mission with Christ's.

Receive lectio divinas like this by joining Summer Gross' Presence Project newsletter or joining the patreon.com/thepresenceproject at the $5 level.

Isaiah 61: 1-3 Slow Word Lectio Divina

Because we all need the compassion of the Good Shepherd. 
 
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” 
 
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Because we all need the compassion of the Good Shepherd.

36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

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Matthew 9: 36-38 Lectio Divina

You who bring good news to Zion, 
 go up on a high mountain. 
You who bring good news to Jerusalem, 
 lift up your voice with a shout, 
lift it up, do not be afraid; 
 say to the towns of Judah, 
 “Here is your God!” 
See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, 
 and he rules with a mighty arm. 
See, his reward is with him, 
 and his recompense accompanies him. 
He tends his flock like a shepherd: 
 He gathers the lambs in his arms 
and carries them close to his heart; 
 he gently leads those that have young.

You who bring good news to Zion,
    go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,
    lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
    say to the towns of Judah,
    “Here is your God!”
See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
    and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense accompanies him.
He tends his flock like a shepherd:
    He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
    he gently leads those that have young.

Isaiah 40: 9-11 slow word lectio divina

Join the Handel's Messiah Advent Devotional Series here: 
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Job 19:23-27 
Oh, that my words were recorded, 
 that they were written on a scroll, 
that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, 
 or engraved in rock forever! 
I know that my Redeemer lives, 
 and that in the end he will stand on the earth. 
And after my skin has been destroyed, 
 yet in my flesh I will see God; 
I myself will see him 
 with my own eyes—I, and not another. 
 How my heart yearns within me!

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Job 19:23-27
Oh, that my words were recorded,
    that they were written on a scroll,
that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead,
    or engraved in rock forever!
I know that my Redeemer lives,
    and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
    yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
    with my own eyes—I, and not another.
    How my heart yearns within me!

Job 19:23-27 Lectio Divina

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, 
 and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. 
See, darkness covers the earth 
 and thick darkness is over the peoples, 
but the Lord rises upon you 
 and his glory appears over you. 
Nations will come to your light, 
 and kings to the brightness of your dawn. 
 
“Lift up your eyes and look about you: 
 All assemble and come to you; 
your sons come from afar, 
 and your daughters are carried on the hip. 
Then you will look and be radiant, 
 your heart will throb and swell with joy; 
the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, 
 to you the riches of the nations will come. 
Herds of camels will cover your land, 
 young camels of Midian and Ephah. 
And all from Sheba will come, 
 bearing gold and incense 
 and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
    and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

“Lift up your eyes and look about you:
    All assemble and come to you;
your sons come from afar,
    and your daughters are carried on the hip.
Then you will look and be radiant,
    your heart will throb and swell with joy;
the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,
    to you the riches of the nations will come.
Herds of camels will cover your land,
    young camels of Midian and Ephah.
And all from Sheba will come,
    bearing gold and incense
    and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.

Isaiah 60: 1-6 Lectio Divina

Comfort, comfort my people, 
 says your God. 
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, 
 and proclaim to her 
that her hard service has been completed, 
 that her sin has been paid for, 
that she has received from the Lord’s hand 
 double for all her sins. 
 
3 A voice of one calling: 
“In the wilderness prepare 
 the way for the Lord[a]; 
make straight in the desert 
 a highway for our God.[b] 
4 Every valley shall be raised up, 
 every mountain and hill made low; 
the rough ground shall become level, 
 the rugged places a plain. 
5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, 
 and all people will see it together. 
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 
 
Join patreon.com/thepresenceproject for more lectio divinas including Isaiah 40:6-8 and Isaiah 40:9-11. Can you hear the strains of Handel's Messiah?

Comfort, comfort my people,
    says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
    that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
    double for all her sins.

3 A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
    the way for the Lord[a];
make straight in the desert
    a highway for our God.[b]
4 Every valley shall be raised up,
    every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
    the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Join patreon.com/thepresenceproject for more lectio divinas including Isaiah 40:6-8 and Isaiah 40:9-11. Can you hear the strains of Handel's Messiah?

Isaiah 40: 1-5 slow word lectio divina

55 “Come, everyone who thirsts, 
 
come to the waters; 
 
and he who has no money, 
 
come, buy and eat! 
 
Come, buy wine and milk 
 
without money and without price. 
 
 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, 
 
and your labor for that which does not satisfy? 
 
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, 
 
and delight yourselves in rich food. 
 
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55 “Come, everyone who thirsts,

come to the waters;

and he who has no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without price.

 2  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.

(Subscribe for a weekly lectio slid into your inbox right here:
https://mailchi.mp/fffd904c4a73/slow-weekend-starter-kit)

Rev. Summer Joy Gross Videos