Tag: Healing

Transforming Fear Into Love – Rays of Hope Day 6: World YMCA Week of Prayer

World YMCA/YWCA Week of Prayer started Sunday Nov 8, this prayer is led by Tim Hallman, Director of Christian Emphasis, YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana USA

For a short prayer on transforming fear into love, click on the pic

Day 6: Rays of Hope Week of Prayer World YMCA/YWCA – Transforming Fear Into Love

For more YMCA devotional content, click on the pic

DAY 6: TRANSFORMING FEAR INTO STRONG VULNERABILITY AND LOVING TRUST
Devotion By: María Lucía Uribe, Arigatou International Geneva Executive Director

BIBLICAL INSPIRATION: Psalm 23 – A Psalm of David
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
• What prevents you from putting your trust in God?
• What holds you back when you try to make yourself vulnerable?
• What benefits have you experienced when you put your trust completely in God?
• Do some of the ‘benefits’ that David describes in the Psalm speak to you?
How and which ones?
• How can you help others who are experiencing distress, anxiety, depression due to the current situation, to regain strength and build resilience through trusting God?
• How can you become one of the signs that God provides to its people to restore them, protect them and transform them?”

Weaving Fabric of Support For One Another – Day 5: World YMCA Week of Prayer

World YMCA/YWCA Week of Prayer, started Sunday Nov 8, this prayer is led by Tim Hallman, Director of Christian Emphasis, YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana USA

For a short prayer on weaving fabrics of support, click on the pic

Day 5 Rays of Hope Week of Prayer World YMCA/YWCA – Weaving Fabrics of Support

For more YMCA devotional content click on pic

DAY 5: WEAVING FABRICS OF SUPPORT
Devotion By: Rebecca Daniel, Indian Theologian Based in Geneva, working for the Lutheran World Federation & Nicole Ashwood, World Council of Churches Programme Executive, Just Community of Women and Men

BIBLICAL INSPIRATION: Exodus 1:15 – 16, 19 -22; 2:1-9A, 10B; 3:9A, 10B, 12B
15 “The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live.” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20 So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and became very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. 22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every boy that is born to the Hebrews you shall throw into the Nile, but you shall let every girl live.” 2 1Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months. 3 When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it
with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. 4 His sister stood at a distance, to
see what would happen to him. 5 The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” 8 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Yes.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. 9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.” 10 … She named him Moses, “because,” she said, “I drew him out[c] of the water.” 3 9 The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I … will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” “I will be with you; and … you shall worship God on this mountain.”

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
• The dialogue takes place between women of difference classes and ethnicities all collaborating to break the cycle of violence in their context. Has this happened in your context?
• In Exodus 3:10; God instructs Moses to overturn injustice. Moses’ protectors were also instructed by God to combat GBV. Is God instructing you to do likewise? Who are the persons who influenced you toward combatting GBV?
• What can you do to make a difference now, and with whom might you collaborate?”

Rays of Hope World YMCA/YWCA Week of Prayer Intro

Click on pic to watch a short 30 second intro to Rays of Hope

Enjoy the introduction video to Rays of Hope World YMCA/YWCA Week of Prayer starting Sunday Nov 8, by Tim Hallman, Director of Christian Emphasis, YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana USA

A prayer is available each day, corresponding to the daily theme. Subscribe to the blog to automatically receive the prayer each day this week, and future blogposts.

THEME 2020
Rays of Hope: creating resilient communities through practical spirituality


For more info on the World YMCA/YWCA Week of Prayer visit https://www.ymca.int/wop2020/

“Since 1904, the World YMCA and World YWCA have traditionally collaborated together for the World Week of Prayer and World Fellowship. Celebrated each year on the second week of November, both organisations join efforts to produce a booklet with a theme, a set of bible studies for each day, and an annual bible reading plan so that communities around the world can come together in prayer for a specific cause linked to current realities.”

“This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world immeasurably. It has exposed unjust structural systems and demonstrated how a global emergency affects lives disproportionally, especially those who are more vulnerable to inequalities. We are therefore called upon to reflect on all the good things in our lives, and challenged to take action to rebuild a world that promotes justice, love and peace in our communities and beyond.”

“The pandemic has also come with new opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. It has shed light and helped us see what is truly essential in our lives, how can we rediscover ourselves and how can we best invest our time spreading kindness and supporting those in need, including investing in our own mental and physical health.”

“This year, the World YMCA and World YWCA- Week of Prayer and World Fellowship will be an invitation to journey together throughout the week, reflecting on how to move from our individual calling to the collective for transformation to happen in times of the current global pandemic.”