Awakenings Prayer Institute

Home
United States
Everett, WA
Awakenings Prayer Institute

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Awakenings Prayer Institute, Religious Center, 2625 Hoyt Avenue, Everett, WA.

Awakenings Prayer Institute engages participants in a 2 year learning community centered in reflective prayer, spiritual formation and the art of soul friendship.

03/29/2023

We got home yesterday evening around 5:00. What an adventure it was! Stay tuned for an update. Meanwhile, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS! 🙏

03/23/2023

Wes, Kathryn, our friends, Phil & Linda, and I are driving to Warren, Oregon this weekend. We will bring a seminar on contemplative prayer to about 40 people at a church down there. Please pray for safe travel, good fellowship, and that we would all be drawn closer to our amazing God.

01/27/2023

On our way to Spokane.

01/26/2023

We made it! We are now just a few minutes until dinner. Camp Bighorn is beautiful.

01/25/2023

On our way to Camp Bighorn in Plains, Montana.

09/02/2020

M E D T A T I O N O N 1 1 9 - Fifth Stanza - he
Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight (Psalm 119:35).

On Monday the Lord led Kathryn and me into two adventures that showed us that we are stronger than we think. Our first adventure involved taking a sea-kayak tour. Our second involved a hike up a challenging headland. This just a few weeks past my knee surgery!
One of our favorite places is Rosario State Park. It’s just north of Deception Pass, the gateway to Whidbey Island. The headlands jut out into the sea, calling up memories of our voyage into the Western Hebrides in Scotland. Last time we were at Rosario we noticed kayakers out amongst the kelp beds. “Let’s try that some time!” we said.

Who knew that a week later, we would find ourselves snapped into a two-person sea-going kayak, partial wetsuit strapped on, life preservers zipped tight, my feet on the rudder pedals, and paddles in hand. Our highly capable guide got us situated, and off we went, following in his expert wake. Across Bowman Bay. Beneath the Rosario Headlands. Amongst the kelp beds. Watching harbor seals sunning themselves. Turning into the wake of the boats motoring past. Looking up to where we had walked before. It was a very different view.

Afterward, Kathryn and I decided to walk the trail heading south toward Deception Pass. We anticipated a nice flat stroll between two headlands. But as it turned out, we were soon climbing steep trails leading to the top! And that on creaky knees! My goal for physical therapy for my knee was to be hiking by the end of August. Here we were at the beginning of August, and walking up a steep, rocky trail. Climbing over a tree that was blocking the trail. Pulling ourselves upward by grasping the roots of another tree. It was a challenge!

But we were rewarded with unique views of Deception Pass Bridge. Who knew? Who knows the rewards that await us as we persevere through challenges? The Lord knows. He knew we could handle the challenges. We could paddle across the bay. We could climb a rocky headland. We could enjoy the open sea. We could marvel at the views.

What challenges are you facing? Are they taxing your strength?
Follow the direction of the Lord. Move on through the challenge. As you do, may you find many delights.
Shalom,
Pastor Wes

08/31/2020

M E D I T A T I O N O N P S A L M 1 1 9 Fourth Stanza - daleth

Running hard with our hearts wide open.

I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free. (Psalm 119:32)

Someone has said that the task of discipleship is to grow a great soul and give it away to the world. That is what we are seeing in the life of our ancient prayer partner in Psalm 119. Earlier in this stanza, our author found himself in a tight place (vs 25). He felt trapped, hemmed in. Emotionally, physically, spiritually drained. But then he opened up to the Lord and found a fresh start. A new conversation. A firm resolve.

Now he’s energized. And he’s taking on the world. He’s running hard. With an open heart. A wide-open heart. Unhampered by fear. Overflowing with love. Joyful in speaking God’s truth.

How do we get there? How do we sustain it?

When we run hard with Jesus, our energy can be clouded over. Disappointment can creep in. Shortfalls can rob us of joy. Pain can arise and inflict a sense of fear. We can shut down. What then?
Return to the beginning point: To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32). Believe him. Hold fast to what he’s said. Just like the author of Psalm 119. Learning, loving, and living the truth of God.

But some may ask what truth? Everyone seems to have their own truth these days. But Jesus points us to the truth that is him. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life…” What a statement! Jesus reveals his way, his truth, his life. It is the life we need. The truth we need. The path of peace upon which we run.

Tune your spirit to ponder his truth each day. See it with the eyes of your heart. Feel the power of it in your emotion. Then take a step onto the path of peace. Stretch your legs. And run! Run with Jesus.
Shalom,
Pastor Wes

08/26/2020

M E D I T A T I O N O N P S A L M 1 1 9 - Third Stanza - gimel
A Camel and the Goodness of God
Do good to your servant and I will live; I will obey your word. Psalm 119:17

Tapping into the extravagant goodness of the Lord can see us through the most difficult challenges of life. We learned that this stanza of Psalm 119 is based upon the Hebrew letter gimel. The word gimel means to do good, or to provide a benefit. It was fun to learn that the same Hebrew letters, G-M-L, make up the word that means camel: Gamal. See it?

To an ancient traveler in the deserts of the Middle East, a camel is an extraordinary, life-saving benefit from the Lord! In blistering hot weather, a camel can travel for eight to ten days on his last drink of water. Sure, he takes in up to 32 gallons at the filling station, but that water can carry him where no human can tread! We can die of thirst in the same conditions in just a couple of days! And in the cool months of winter, the camel can survive for up to six months on the water that he gets just from chomping on palm fronds! Pretty handy pack animal, I would say. A vivid example of the goodness of God.

Tell me, what good gifts from the Lord sustain you each and every day? Take time to thank him!

Among the best gift ever, is that like the camel, we can travel long and far as we drink deeply of the well of Christ. Jesus said, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. (John 7:37-39)

Drink deeply from the Lord each day. See how far he carries you!
Pray: Be good to me, Lord. Carry me through the deserts of this life.
Shalom,
Pastor Wes

08/19/2020

M E D I T A T I O N O N P S A L M 1 1 9 - Second Stanza - beth
How do you make firm decisions that stick?
This week we are pondering Psalm 119:10, the key verse for the bet or beyit section of Psalm 119. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.

As you may recall, the Hebrew word beyit means House, or Home. We all need to make firm decisions to review God’s plans and build our spiritual house accordingly. When we seek God with all our heart, we engage our emotion, our desires, and our will. When our hearts are stirred by the Lord, we are ready to make decisions that last.

But what can we do when we get started on a spiritual project but then lose heart? What then?

Go back to the desire that motivated the change. Seek God through the energy of that desire.

We invite you to ponder your emotions and direct them toward the Lord. Your hopes. Your fears. Your loves. Your joys. As we recognize the emotion we are feeling and immerse it in the awareness of God’s Presence, our decisions gain power. We feel called into habits that build a great life.

For example, because we’ve been strengthened by the Presence of God’s love, we chose faithfulness in our marriage, energy for our kids and grandkids, ability to take time with a neighbor in need.
Jesus stirs our emotion when he washes us clean from all sin, puts his Spirit into our hearts, and assures us of the gift of heaven. Such reality renews us each day. Christ invites us to deepen our habit of dependence upon him.

So seek God’s will. Before you seek the opinion of man, research the Word of the Lord. Chose to follow Christ daily. Weekly. For a lifetime.

May your decisions build a solid life!

Shalom,
Pastor Wes

08/11/2020

M E D I T A T I O N O N P S A L M 1 1 9 - First Stanza aleph
Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees. Psalm 119:5
What a great verse to start our meditations on Psalm 119. Written down by an ancient worshipper. It’s a prayer expressing his longing for a more consistent life with God.
I hope this prayer has found its way into your heart this week. I hope that you have felt increased longing for a greater obedience to the Lord’s revealed will.
I hope that you have felt that longing extend outward to others on your prayer list!
I’m glad we can express our longings to the Lord in this way.
Now I would like to invite you to turn that prayer further outward to our troubled nation.
“Oh, Lord, that the people of my country were steadfast in obeying you.”
What a transformation that would be.
• That those who are fighting COVID would be steadfast in obeying the Lord’s decrees.
• That those who are longing for racial justice would be steadfast in obeying the Lord’s decrees.
• That our local leaders, our police, fire and other first responders would be steadfast in obeying the Lord’s decrees.
Will you pray it with me?

08/07/2019

The next Creatives Gathering will be on September 23 at 6:30 at the Johnson home. Bring something from your creative repertoire to share and invite your creative friends.

Address

2625 Hoyt Avenue
Everett, WA
98201

Telephone

+14254220645

Website

http://AwakeningsPrayer.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Awakenings Prayer Institute posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Place Of Worship

Send a message to Awakenings Prayer Institute:

Shortcuts

Address
Telephone
Alerts
Contact The Place Of Worship
Claim ownership or report listing

Want your place of worship to be the top-listed Place Of Worship in Everett?