702 Again There Was Division Because of Jesus’ Words, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 10:17-21 with the Recenter With Christ app 

The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ. 

Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.

Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate.

Scripture for Meditation

John 10

NABRE 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.” 19 Again there was a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He is possessed and out of his mind; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one possessed; surely a demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?”

ESV 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” 19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Meditation on Scripture:

Jesus is in absolute unity with the will of the Father. He did the right thing all the time. Yet that did not stop the people from accusing him of having a demon possess him. What a strange world we live in, were the very sinless Son of God was so profoundly misunderstood by people who heard him speak. Those who were right next to him. They heard the words and many of them saw amazing deeds done and yet they wondered. They didnt understand. Human understanding is a gift from God but it is also incredibly limited when compared to the understanding of the infinite. I have had a chance to study some amazingly complex and beautiful things. I studied Math in college. There are some very deep and abstract ideas that humans are able to understand. I had many professors who became subject matter experts on exactly what they studied. In fact math goes so deep that there were often few people in the whole world that were as familiar with their sliver of understanding as they were. And this is only what we know right now. When compared with the kind of understanding God possess, the depth of understanding is pitiful. 

There are people you know who you don't understand. WE don't understand the depth of the people we know. Equally, there are people who don't understand you and what your needs and wants are. IN some ways we are surprised by this when it happens. When people we know misunderstand us so profoundly we feel wronged in some way and yet this is a reflection of the same weakness of understanding that we ourselves hold. If Jesus was accused of having a demon possess him how likely is it that you will understand everyone you encounter? Or how likely is it that everyone will understand you. I think this is one of the reasons why God asks us to be forgiving and to try and not judge others. We don't have enough insight to judge others fairly. With that siad there are times when we can have insight that maybe just maybe helpful to them and they may have insight for us as well but it is Jesus who holds the judgement role because he has all the facts and knows the depths of every human heart. 

As you ponder relationships in life that are a bit upside down reflect on the limits of human understanding and reach out to the infinite understanding of God to bridge the gap. Embrace God’s love in your heart and let go of the judgement of others, both toward them and from them. Trust yourself to a God who was willing to be so profoundly misunderstood himself and may that comfort your human misunderstandings. 

Meditation of Prayer:

Pray as directed by the Spirit.

Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him.

Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm:

I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials.

Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life:

This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast

Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind? 

FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: [email protected] Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

NABRE

17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.”

19 Again there was a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He is possessed and out of his mind; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one possessed; surely a demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?”

702 Again There Was Division Because of Jesus’ Words, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 10:17-21 with the Recenter With Christ app 

The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ. 

Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.

Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate.

Scripture for Meditation

John 10

NABRE 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.” 19 Again there was a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He is possessed and out of his mind; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one possessed; surely a demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?”

ESV 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” 19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Meditation on Scripture:

Jesus is in absolute unity with the will of the Father. He did the right thing all the time. Yet that did not stop the people from accusing him of having a demon possess him. What a strange world we live in, were the very sinless Son of God was so profoundly misunderstood by people who heard him speak. Those who were right next to him. They heard the words and many of them saw amazing deeds done and yet they wondered. They didnt understand. Human understanding is a gift from God but it is also incredibly limited when compared to the understanding of the infinite. I have had a chance to study some amazingly complex and beautiful things. I studied Math in college. There are some very deep and abstract ideas that humans are able to understand. I had many professors who became subject matter experts on exactly what they studied. In fact math goes so deep that there were often few people in the whole world that were as familiar with their sliver of understanding as they were. And this is only what we know right now. When compared with the kind of understanding God possess, the depth of understanding is pitiful. 

There are people you know who you don't understand. WE don't understand the depth of the people we know. Equally, there are people who don't understand you and what your needs and wants are. IN some ways we are surprised by this when it happens. When people we know misunderstand us so profoundly we feel wronged in some way and yet this is a reflection of the same weakness of understanding that we ourselves hold. If Jesus was accused of having a demon possess him how likely is it that you will understand everyone you encounter? Or how likely is it that everyone will understand you. I think this is one of the reasons why God asks us to be forgiving and to try and not judge others. We don't have enough insight to judge others fairly. With that siad there are times when we can have insight that maybe just maybe helpful to them and they may have insight for us as well but it is Jesus who holds the judgement role because he has all the facts and knows the depths of every human heart. 

As you ponder relationships in life that are a bit upside down reflect on the limits of human understanding and reach out to the infinite understanding of God to bridge the gap. Embrace God’s love in your heart and let go of the judgement of others, both toward them and from them. Trust yourself to a God who was willing to be so profoundly misunderstood himself and may that comfort your human misunderstandings. 

Meditation of Prayer:

Pray as directed by the Spirit.

Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him.

Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm:

I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials.

Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life:

This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast

Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind? 

FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: [email protected] Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

ESV 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Edit: The initial audio didnt get fully processed and was much quieter than normal. This should resolve that but will require you to redownload the episode if you dowloaded it the first night.

700 There Shall Be One Fold and One Shepherd, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 10:14-16 with the Recenter With Christ app 

The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ. 

Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.

Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate.

Scripture for Meditation

John 10

NRSVCE 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 

ESV 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Meditation on Scripture:

I grew up in the desert. It was hot and dry. As an adventurer prone young man I spent a lot of time in the desert, hiking and doing other outside activities. From time to time we would encounter barb wire fences as well we would see cows out in the desert that would feed on the desert bushes and the very little dry grass. They usually were alone or with a very small number of other cows. I often remember wondering were those cows were from. Were they part of a herd? The conditions in the desert did not support dense cattle but they were part of a herd. They were just very spread out. 

As I read this scripture I thought of a large spread out flock split up across miles and miles of rough ground with some grass here and there. Jesus pronounced that we are called to the his flock. I sometimes wonder if there was a herd of sleep large enough would all the sheep understand that they are in the same flock? The sheep are not who determine who is part of the flock. That is the shepherd. We are spread across better and more challenging terrain and we are separated in ways that seem very meaningful to us. Yet God is the one that calls us. 

During this time of the year there are family gatherings and different social demands, or the longing for greatly missed social connections attempt to draw us away from His peace, ponder this, we are called to the same flock. As we set arbitrary distinctions between each other we ultimately are not the ones at the final judgement that determines who is part of the flock. That is God’s role. I invite you to reach into the love that God has for you and share that with others. What greater thing is there to be grateful for than the knowledge that we can be unified with God due to His grace. 

Meditation of Prayer:

Pray as directed by the Spirit.

Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him.

Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm:

I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials.

Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life:

This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast

Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind? 

FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: [email protected] Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

698 I Have Come That They Might Have Life More Abundantly, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 10:10-13 with the Recenter With Christ app 

The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ. 

Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.

Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate.

Scripture for Meditation

John 10

NIV 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

KJV 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.  13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

Meditation on Scripture:

In the previous verses Jesus called himself the sheep gate. shortly after he calls himself the good shepherd. These back to back references highlight something interesting. They demonstrate God’s ability to keep us spiritually safe as well as his desire to be with us as we grow. The gate of the sheep is where those sheep come in and out. The threatening world is held back by the safety of the wall and the gate is what allows the sheep to find that safety but also to go out to be fed and experience the growth the sheep need. 

The shepherd, on the other hand, goes with the sheep. He watches over them and chases away predators. The shepherd would face risk for the sheep. He would guide them to good food and water. He would help them if they got stuck and lead them back if they got lost. Jesus declares himself The Good Shepherd defends the sheep. A normal shepherd may risk his life for the sheep Jesus as the Good Shepherd would guarantee his own death and yet that is not the end of the metaphor. Jesus, as The Good Shepherd, stays with us as we feed. He goes to where we need to go to grow, then as the gate Jesus allows us to go in and come out from protection. As the good shepherd he is with us as we face the peril of the world. Jesus is both our path to safety as well as growth. He came not just to give us life, but to give it more abundantly. Fortunately and unfortunately that doesn't look like the life we would make for ourselves many times. Trust in God to not only give you life, but to give it more abundantly. 

Meditation of Prayer:

Pray as directed by the Spirit.

Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him.

Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm:

I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials.

Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life:

This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast

Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind? 

FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: [email protected] Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

NIV 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

NASB 10 “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 2 But the one who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he puts all his own sheep outside, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

694 His Sheep Hear His Voice, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 10:1-4 with the Recenter With Christ app 

The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ. 

Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.

Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate.

Scripture for Meditation

John 10

NASB 10 “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 2 But the one who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he puts all his own sheep outside, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

NIV “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

Meditation on Scripture:

You, spending these moments with the Lord, are responding to his voice. Of the many ways we respond to his voice through academic study, prayer, meditation, service, and a thousand other ways, we live out this scripture. We respond to His voice as His sheep. Jesus shows us the way by which we can walk. He shows us how to follow His word. His spirit lifts, inspires, and transforms us. Jesus declares himself to be our shepard and we respond to His voice, as his sheep. 

He goes ahead of us and we follow. We go in and out. He knows each one of us and what we need. He knows His sheep. He knows you. He calls you by name. Jesus has taken the right to break whatever boundaries prevent you from progress toward Him and His love. Let whatever hardship you have in life, whatevers stressors have their perfect work in your to draw you to the arms of the loving shepherd. There is no place we can run where he cannot find us and will not pursue, eventually to catch us in loving arms and hold us in a warm embrace. Regardless of what lost wilderness you roam in, know the love of your shepard never fail.s In moments like this when we focus on His love and presence we can hear that voice in our lives, and we can see that lived out in us, His sheep. Additionally in these moments we can discern God’s will for us in other moments of our lives. 

What is God calling us to? How does God’s unwavering love lift you to greater heights? What is God calling you to? How will this moment of peace and love with God pour out into the rest of your life? Ponder that for a moment now.  

Meditation of Prayer:

Pray as directed by the Spirit.

Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him.

Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm:

I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials.

Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life:

This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast

Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind? 

FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: [email protected] Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod