“The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalm 51: 17
These days many people are struggling. Some struggles are common for we all share the human condition. And yet there are struggles that are unique to each individual, because we cannot know what each person is dealing with, unless they tell us about it. I cannot know what you had to deal with in the past year nor what you had to overcome in order to come to this point. But God does. God knows our hearts.
Normally in Lent we say that we join Jesus in the desert. Having gone through a number of lockdowns since March 2020, and being in lockdown – at least in Ireland – still, the image of a desert may not be as inspiring. We have had our shares of the desert moments throughout the year.
Lent also coincides with Spring in Ireland. It order to burst into bloom, flower-seeds need to rest in the dark of the soil, let go of what they know, and embark on the journey of growth. As they do that, gradually small shoots come out on the surface, and with the support of sunshine, water and nutrients, they grow into beautiful flowers.
Can you notice areas in your life that are undergoing a similar journey?
I like to think of Isaiah 61 as we start Lent,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good need to the poor. He has sent me….. to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”
Jesus is the one who has been anointed & who exchanges the difficult realities into those where His glory shines forth. This is especially true for the Holy Week, so when we come to it this year, let us allow Him to bring healing into our lives and to lead us through our difficulties, towards His glory.
Until then, it may be helpful to look at this Lent this way: not that we are joining Jesus in the desert but instead He is joining us in our own deserts. And His presence makes all the difference.
© Dr Iva Beranek
Online Healing Service, 9th June 2021
CMH:I would like to invite you to our Online Service of Wholeness and Healing on Wednesday, 9th June 2021 via Facebook live.
You can find our Facebook page here: facebook.com/CMHIreland/.
If you would like us to pray for someone during the service, please email their first name by Tuesday lunchtime, 8th June 2021, to iva@ministryofhealing.ie.
Resurrection, when Jesus walks through a closed door. Guided prayer
Posted on: /in Thoughts /by CMH_Admin2020I invite you to pray with Resurrection stories that the Gospel writers tell us about.
Praying with the Resurrection helps us to see its reality in our own lives.
Find a quiet place where you can sit comfortably. Put your feet firmly on the ground, with your back straight.
Know that God is with you.
Allow silence and God’s presence within it to sip into your soul.
In one of the accounts John tells us,
Read the passage again.
Take 10-15 minutes and pray with it.
What word(s) stand out for you?
If it helps you, be free to close your eyes and imagine yourself in the scene.
Where are you when Jesus walks through a closed door?
How do you feel?
Engage with Jesus. Tell Him how you are.
Listen to what He tells us.
Stay with Jesus for as long as you would like.
When you are ready, finish this time of prayer with the Lord’s prayer.
If the prayer spoke to you, you can repeat it at another time, or choose a different Scripture to pray with.
Easter blessings.
© Dr. Iva Beranek
The Power of Presence on Zoom, 17th April 2021
The Power of Presence via Zoom is an opportunity to find rest in God’s presence and restoration of our soul in the midst of worries of life. We would like to invite you to our next session which takes place on Saturday, 17th April 2021 at 11am.
Facilitators are Carol Casey and Dr Iva Beranek.
We will do something slightly different on this day.
Iva will lead an introductory prayer session, and Carol will lead two main prayer session, a Healing Prayer Circle.
Carol explains that this day will be “like taking time to sit by the lake shore with the One who loves us, to Come and Rest“.
Places are limited, so if you would like to attend please register at iva@ministryofhealing.ie.
Online Healing Service, 31st March 2021
Lent, when Jesus enters our desert
Posted on: /in Thoughts /by CMH_Admin2020These days many people are struggling. Some struggles are common for we all share the human condition. And yet there are struggles that are unique to each individual, because we cannot know what each person is dealing with, unless they tell us about it. I cannot know what you had to deal with in the past year nor what you had to overcome in order to come to this point. But God does. God knows our hearts.
Normally in Lent we say that we join Jesus in the desert. Having gone through a number of lockdowns since March 2020, and being in lockdown – at least in Ireland – still, the image of a desert may not be as inspiring. We have had our shares of the desert moments throughout the year.
Lent also coincides with Spring in Ireland. It order to burst into bloom, flower-seeds need to rest in the dark of the soil, let go of what they know, and embark on the journey of growth. As they do that, gradually small shoots come out on the surface, and with the support of sunshine, water and nutrients, they grow into beautiful flowers.
Can you notice areas in your life that are undergoing a similar journey?
I like to think of Isaiah 61 as we start Lent,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good need to the poor. He has sent me….. to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”
Jesus is the one who has been anointed & who exchanges the difficult realities into those where His glory shines forth. This is especially true for the Holy Week, so when we come to it this year, let us allow Him to bring healing into our lives and to lead us through our difficulties, towards His glory.
Until then, it may be helpful to look at this Lent this way: not that we are joining Jesus in the desert but instead He is joining us in our own deserts. And His presence makes all the difference.
© Dr Iva Beranek
The Power of Presence on Zoom, 20th March 2021
The Power of Presence via Zoom is an opportunity to find God’s peace and restoration in the midst of worries of life. We would like to invite you to our session which takes place on Saturday, 20th March 2021 at 11am.
Facilitators are Carol Casey and Dr Iva Beranek.
In this session Iva will offer a talk on “Beauty as a pathway to God”.
Places are limited, so if you would like to attend please register at iva@ministryofhealing.ie.
The Power of Presence on Zoom, 27th February 2021
As we enter the season of Lent, we would like to invite you to join us for the Power of Presence, which takes place on Saturday, 27th February 2021 at 11am through Zoom.
Facilitators are Carol Casey and Dr Iva Beranek.
This session includes a talk on Centering Prayer which will be given by Carol.
“Centering Prayer is a simple way of coming to sit with God. It is a way to move beyond thinking, to go deeper, to open our hearts to the love of God and to receive healing wherever it is needed. It does not replace other kinds of prayer. Rather it adds depth of meaning to all prayer. It is like a thread that keeps us connected to the Divine.”
The Power of Presence on Zoom, 6th February 2021
The Power of Presence via Zoom is an opportunity to find peace, rest and restoration in the midst of worries of life. Our next session will take place on Saturday, 6th February 2021, at 11am.
In this session there will be a short talk on Our inner goodness, by Dr. Iva Beranek.
Facilitators are Carol Casey and Dr Iva Beranek.
Places are limited, so if you would like to attend please register at iva@ministryofhealing.ie.
© photo by Iva Beranek
Online Healing Service, 1st February 2021
The Power of Presence on Zoom, 16th January 2021
We would like yo invite you to join us in an hour and a half session on Zoom, where we come to be nurtured in God’s presence. The Power of Presence will take place on Saturday, 16th January 2021, at 11am on Zoom.