Latest / Abide Meditation App / Guided Sleep Meditation for Insomnia (Sleep_ Relaxation_ Calm your Mind) Zacchaeus_ No Condemnation

Transcript

Guided Sleep Meditation for Insomnia (Sleep_ Relaxation_ Calm your Mind) Zacchaeus_ No Condemnation · Abide Meditation App

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Find rest as you listen to this peaceful bedtime story.
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: For more Bible stories that bring you refreshing sleep, download
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: the Abide app in the iTunes or Google Play store.
• 0:13
  Speaker 2: How would you feel if Jesus stopped turn to you
• 0:18
  Speaker 2: and whispered softly, hurry up, come to me, my child. Well,
• 0:24
  Speaker 2: welcome to this time of quiet, relaxing Christian guided meditation
• 0:29
  Speaker 2: tonight on Abide. Close your eyes as I pray this
• 0:34
  Speaker 2: prayer over you from God's word. Dear peaceful Father, thank
• 0:39
  Speaker 2: you for peace, for your care, your love, your mercy,
• 0:45
  Speaker 2: your salvation. As this one, this child of yours, finds
• 0:49
  Speaker 2: sleep tonight as they sleep in bed, let them feel
• 0:53
  Speaker 2: your presence over them. Let them sleep in bed under
• 0:57
  Speaker 2: your wings. And it's in GeSe this name I pray
• 1:00
  Speaker 2: over them. Amen. And now let's begin by familiarizing ourselves
• 1:08
  Speaker 2: with the passage from Luke, chapter nineteen, verse one through ten.
• 1:13
  Speaker 2: Just rests softly as you listen to me read you
• 1:15
  Speaker 2: this bedtime story. Jesus is entering Jericho and was just
• 1:22
  Speaker 2: passing through. In this ancient Palestinian town near the Jordan
• 1:27
  Speaker 2: River lives a man named Zachias. He is a chief
• 1:32
  Speaker 2: tax collector, and is very rich. He hears that Jesus
• 1:36
  Speaker 2: is passing through today and is hoping to see this
• 1:38
  Speaker 2: rabbi that everyone has been talking about. The problem is,
• 1:43
  Speaker 2: Zachias is pretty short and he's nervous he won't be
• 1:47
  Speaker 2: able to see above the crowd. So he has an idea.
• 1:52
  Speaker 2: Sachias runs ahead and climbs up into a sycamore tree
• 1:56
  Speaker 2: just inside a walled garden in the middle of town.
• 1:59
  Speaker 2: He thinks maybe from that vantage point he will be
• 2:03
  Speaker 2: able to see this rabbi from Capernaum, and sure enough
• 2:08
  Speaker 2: he can. He sees the crowds approaching following Jesus, and
• 2:14
  Speaker 2: when Jesus comes to the garden, he looks up and
• 2:16
  Speaker 2: says to him, Zachias, hurry and come down, for I
• 2:22
  Speaker 2: must stay at your house today. So he hurries and
• 2:26
  Speaker 2: comes down, and Jesus receives him joyfully. And when the
• 2:30
  Speaker 2: others in the crowd see this, they all start to
• 2:33
  Speaker 2: grumble a little bit. The rabbi is going in to
• 2:36
  Speaker 2: be the guest of a man who is a sinner.
• 2:40
  Speaker 2: But Zachias stands and says to the Lord, behold, Lord,
• 2:46
  Speaker 2: the half of my goods I give to the poor,
• 2:50
  Speaker 2: and if I have defrauded anyone of anything. I restore
• 2:54
  Speaker 2: it fourfold. Then Jesus says to him, today, salvation has
• 3:01
  Speaker 2: come to you and this house, since you also are
• 3:04
  Speaker 2: a son of Abraham, because I, the son of Man,
• 3:09
  Speaker 2: have come to seek and to save the lost. This
• 3:15
  Speaker 2: is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
• 3:19
  Speaker 2: Pause here for a moment as you recall this scene,
• 3:22
  Speaker 2: as you feel the Holy Spirit breathing peace and tranquility
• 3:27
  Speaker 2: over you. Pause here for just a few moments. Make
• 3:30
  Speaker 2: no mind of the time tonight. I will watch the clock.
• 3:35
  Speaker 2: Just ponder and breathe softly as you feel transported, as
• 3:39
  Speaker 2: you feel transformed into this story. Settle there now. So now,
• 3:52
  Speaker 2: visualize this peaceful afternoon scene unfolding in your mind's eye.
• 3:58
  Speaker 2: Imagine yourself in the scene. Imagine being Zachias. You sense
• 4:04
  Speaker 2: the scene around you. Can you feel the early afternoon
• 4:09
  Speaker 2: sun hitting your face, the coolness of the breeze as
• 4:14
  Speaker 2: you sit high up in the sycamore tree, the leaves
• 4:18
  Speaker 2: rustling around you. You look around the town. You see
• 4:24
  Speaker 2: the buildings, smoke rising from fires being started for dinner.
• 4:31
  Speaker 2: You see people wandering about, talking, laughing, searching. You were
• 4:39
  Speaker 2: sitting high on a sturdy branch, your arms wrapped tightly
• 4:44
  Speaker 2: around the trunk of the tree, steadying yourself. Pause here
• 4:49
  Speaker 2: for a moment in this scene and just feel its peace.
• 5:04
  Speaker 2: You know from the soft whispered conversations around you that
• 5:07
  Speaker 2: Jesus and the crowds are approaching. You sense that this
• 5:12
  Speaker 2: new Rabbi is on his way. If given the opportunity,
• 5:16
  Speaker 2: what would you say to him? Do you feel worthy
• 5:19
  Speaker 2: to even look at him? You are a tax collector.
• 5:24
  Speaker 2: No one wants to be near you. But will Jesus
• 5:29
  Speaker 2: Will he judge you as others have? Will Jesus show
• 5:34
  Speaker 2: you the mercy that you seek, the mercy, the love
• 5:40
  Speaker 2: and forgiveness that you seek, and the mercy and the
• 5:45
  Speaker 2: love and forgiveness you crave from others? Will Jesus offer
• 5:50
  Speaker 2: that to you? You begin to whisper, Son of David, Jesus,
• 5:57
  Speaker 2: please have mercy on me, Son of David, Jesus, Rabbi,
• 6:04
  Speaker 2: please have mercy on me. Son of David Jesus, Please
• 6:10
  Speaker 2: have mercy on me. Pause here and let this be
• 6:14
  Speaker 2: your prayer as the Holy Spirit guides you to sleep.
• 6:18
  Speaker 2: Whisper it for a few moments until I return. Son
• 6:21
  Speaker 2: of David Jesus, have mercy on me, son of David. Jesus,
• 6:29
  Speaker 2: have mercy on me. Here he is, finally, this rabbi
• 6:38
  Speaker 2: everyone has been talking about. Everyone is clamoring for his attention.
• 6:42
  Speaker 2: But the crowd is too thick, voices too loud. He
• 6:45
  Speaker 2: will never see you, surely never hear you. But you
• 6:50
  Speaker 2: whisper again, Rabbi, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.
• 6:56
  Speaker 2: And suddenly, quite suddenly, Jesus stops. He stands still, the Messiah,
• 7:05
  Speaker 2: the Lord, the creator of the universe, your savior. He
• 7:10
  Speaker 2: stops and stands still for you. He turns his head
• 7:16
  Speaker 2: and looks up at you. How humbling is that you
• 7:21
  Speaker 2: should be the one kneeling and looking up at him?
• 7:24
  Speaker 2: But here is this Rabbi looking up at you. In
• 7:29
  Speaker 2: a moment that feels like an eternity, you hear Jesus say,
• 7:33
  Speaker 2: hurry and come down, for I must stay at your
• 7:37
  Speaker 2: house today. What are your emotions? Do you doubt he
• 7:43
  Speaker 2: is talking to you? Does shame drop your eyes? Does
• 7:49
  Speaker 2: fear cause you to look away? You slowly slide out
• 7:53
  Speaker 2: of the tree and drop to the ground. You feel
• 7:56
  Speaker 2: your blanket of shame drop from your shoulders. You walk
• 8:00
  Speaker 2: towards the soothing voice of Jesus. You feel the weight
• 8:05
  Speaker 2: of your cloak of guilt slip off of your head
• 8:08
  Speaker 2: and mind. You feel the peaceful voice of Jesus transform you.
• 8:13
  Speaker 2: As you step closer towards him. You feel Jesus's arms
• 8:18
  Speaker 2: embrace you, his hands on your shoulders, his hands sliding
• 8:24
  Speaker 2: up to cradle your face, and you hear his soothing
• 8:27
  Speaker 2: voice whisper in your ear. I want you, I want
• 8:32
  Speaker 2: to stay with you. I have chosen you. You feel
• 8:40
  Speaker 2: abandonment transform into approval. You feel aggravation become feelings of
• 8:47
  Speaker 2: abiding and resting in the presence of Jesus, and you
• 8:51
  Speaker 2: tell him, behold Lord, half of my goods I give
• 8:56
  Speaker 2: to the poor. And if I have defrauded any one
• 8:59
  Speaker 2: of anything, I restore it now fourfold that you can
• 9:04
  Speaker 2: visualize it again in Jesus's eyes. Yes, but it is
• 9:09
  Speaker 2: you that I want. It is you I want to
• 9:13
  Speaker 2: stay with. It is you I have chosen. It is
• 9:20
  Speaker 2: you I give release from fear this evening, and it
• 9:24
  Speaker 2: is you I grant well being. It is you I
• 9:30
  Speaker 2: give rest tonight. I am here for you, dear child,
• 9:41
  Speaker 2: dear peaceful and RESTful father. Bring this one, your child,
• 9:46
  Speaker 2: rest and sleep tonight. Keep them from tossing, keep them
• 9:51
  Speaker 2: from turning. Lord, God, you never sleep. Lord, God, you
• 9:57
  Speaker 2: never slumber. So watch over this your child tonight as
• 10:03
  Speaker 2: they sleep. Bring peace to their churning mind. Comfort their
• 10:09
  Speaker 2: mind from spinning, and soothe their heart. Calm them tonight,
• 10:16
  Speaker 2: Give them sweet rest in your arms in Jesus name. Amen,
• 10:27
  Speaker 2: God is covering you. Tonight. God is completely protecting you
• 10:33
  Speaker 2: with his strength. You are protected under his wings. Tonight.
• 10:40
  Speaker 2: You can find rest under his wings. Tonight. You can
• 10:45
  Speaker 2: find refuge in the loving arms of God. Tonight. God's
• 10:52
  Speaker 2: faithfulness is your shield. Tonight. God's faithfulness is a war
• 11:00
  Speaker 2: all protecting you from harm, so that you can rest
• 11:04
  Speaker 2: tonight in God's presence. Tonight. In God's arms, you have
• 11:12
  Speaker 2: no need of fear. Tonight you are in the presence
• 11:17
  Speaker 2: and resting in the arms of the creator of the universe. Tonight,
• 11:26
  Speaker 2: Let this resting child feel your wings over them tonight
• 11:31
  Speaker 2: as they rest. Let this sleeping child feel the shield
• 11:37
  Speaker 2: of your arms protecting them from fear and harm. Tonight,
• 11:42
  Speaker 2: Let this peaceful soul feel the wall protecting them from harm. Tonight,
• 11:49
  Speaker 2: the wall built lovingly by you the creator of the universe,
• 11:56
  Speaker 2: the creator that sits down now by the side of
• 11:59
  Speaker 2: this child as they sleep in Jesus name, Amen, as
• 12:10
  Speaker 2: you rest, may you be blessed by the living God
• 12:14
  Speaker 2: that transforms. May the Holy Spirit guide your dreams. Let
• 12:20
  Speaker 2: me pray for you now as you fall asleep. O,
• 12:24
  Speaker 2: Peaceful and Loving Father, Be merciful to this one, O God,
• 12:29
  Speaker 2: because of your constant love, because of your great mercy,
• 12:33
  Speaker 2: Wipe away their sins, wash away all evil, and make
• 12:38
  Speaker 2: them clean from their sin. To night to night, let
• 12:42
  Speaker 2: them hear the sounds of joy and gladness. Create in
• 12:46
  Speaker 2: them to night a pure heart, O God, Give them
• 12:50
  Speaker 2: again the joy that comes from your salvation. God, grant
• 12:55
  Speaker 2: this one peace in Jesus name. Amen. So continue to
• 13:02
  Speaker 2: pace your breathing now, as you continue to rest in
• 13:06
  Speaker 2: the presence of God. Just breathe, just imagine and dream,
• 13:22
  Speaker 2: and now glory be to the Father and to the
• 13:24
  Speaker 2: Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in
• 13:27
  Speaker 2: the beginning, is now and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
• 13:49
  Speaker 2: Dear Peaceful Father, thank you for peace, for your care,
• 13:54
  Speaker 2: your love, your mercy, your salvation. As this one, this
• 14:00
  Speaker 2: child of yours, finds sleep tonight as they sleep in bed,
• 14:05
  Speaker 2: let them feel your presence over them. Let them sleep
• 14:09
  Speaker 2: in bed under your wings. And it's in Jesus' name
• 14:13
  Speaker 2: I pray over them. Amen. And now let's begin by
• 14:20
  Speaker 2: familiarizing ourselves with the passage from Luke, chapter nineteen, verse
• 14:24
  Speaker 2: one through ten. Just rest softly as you listen to
• 14:27
  Speaker 2: me read you this bedtime story. Jesus is entering Jericho
• 14:34
  Speaker 2: and was just passing through. In this ancient Palestinian town
• 14:39
  Speaker 2: near the Jordan River lives a man named Zachias. He
• 14:44
  Speaker 2: is a chief tax collector and is very rich. He
• 14:48
  Speaker 2: hears that Jesus is passing through today and is hoping
• 14:51
  Speaker 2: to see this rabbi that everyone has been talking about.
• 14:55
  Speaker 2: The problem is, Zachias is pretty short and he's nervous
• 14:59
  Speaker 2: he won't be able to see above the crowd, so
• 15:03
  Speaker 2: he has an idea. Sachias runs ahead and climbs up
• 15:07
  Speaker 2: into a sycamore tree just inside a walled garden in
• 15:11
  Speaker 2: the middle of town. He thinks maybe from that vantage
• 15:15
  Speaker 2: point he will be able to see this rabbi from Capernaum,
• 15:19
  Speaker 2: and sure enough he can. He sees the crowds approaching
• 15:24
  Speaker 2: following Jesus, and when Jesus comes to the garden. He
• 15:29
  Speaker 2: looks up and says to him, Zachias, hurry and come down,
• 15:34
  Speaker 2: for I must stay at your house today. So he
• 15:38
  Speaker 2: hurries and comes down, and Jesus receives him joyfully. And
• 15:43
  Speaker 2: when the others in the crowd see this, they all
• 15:45
  Speaker 2: start to grumble a little bit. The rabbi is going
• 15:49
  Speaker 2: in to be the guest of a man who is
• 15:51
  Speaker 2: a sinner. But Zachias stands and says to the Lord. Behold, Lord,
• 15:59
  Speaker 2: the half of my goods I give to the poor.
• 16:03
  Speaker 2: And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore
• 16:07
  Speaker 2: it fourfold. Then Jesus says to him, today salvation has
• 16:14
  Speaker 2: come to you and this house, since you also are
• 16:17
  Speaker 2: a son of Abraham, because I, the son of Man,
• 16:22
  Speaker 2: have come to seek and to save the lost. This
• 16:28
  Speaker 2: is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
• 16:32
  Speaker 2: Pause here for a moment as you recall this scene,
• 16:35
  Speaker 2: as you feel the Holy Spirit breathing peace and tranquility
• 16:40
  Speaker 2: over you. Pause here for just a few moments. Make
• 16:43
  Speaker 2: no mind of the time tonight, I will watch the clock.
• 16:48
  Speaker 2: Just ponder and breathe softly as you feel transported, as
• 16:52
  Speaker 2: you feel transformed, into this story. Settle there now. So
• 17:04
  Speaker 2: now visualize this peaceful afternoon scene unfolding in your mind's eye.
• 17:11
  Speaker 2: Imagine yourself in the scene. Imagine being Zachias. You sense
• 17:17
  Speaker 2: the scene around you. Can you feel the early afternoon
• 17:22
  Speaker 2: sun hitting your face, the coolness of the breeze as
• 17:27
  Speaker 2: you sit high up in the sycamore tree, the leaves
• 17:31
  Speaker 2: rustling around you. You look around the town. You see
• 17:37
  Speaker 2: the buildings, smoke rising from fires being started for dinner.
• 17:44
  Speaker 2: You see people wandering about, talking, laughing, searching. You were
• 17:52
  Speaker 2: sitting high on a sturdy branch, your arms wrapped tightly
• 17:57
  Speaker 2: around the trunk of the tree, steadying your pause here
• 18:02
  Speaker 2: for a moment in this scene, and just feel it's peace.
• 18:17
  Speaker 2: You know from the soft whispered conversations around you that
• 18:20
  Speaker 2: Jesus and the crowds are approaching. You sense that this
• 18:25
  Speaker 2: new Rabbi is on his way. If given the opportunity,
• 18:29
  Speaker 2: what would you say to him? Do you feel worthy
• 18:32
  Speaker 2: to even look at him? You are a tax collector.
• 18:37
  Speaker 2: No one wants to be near you. But will Jesus?
• 18:42
  Speaker 2: Will he judge you as others have? Will Jesus show
• 18:47
  Speaker 2: you the mercy that you seek? The mercy, the love
• 18:53
  Speaker 2: and forgiveness that you seek, and the mercy and the
• 18:58
  Speaker 2: love and forgiveness you cray from others. Will Jesus offer
• 19:03
  Speaker 2: that to you. You begin to whisper, Son of David, Jesus,
• 19:10
  Speaker 2: please have mercy on me, Son of David Jesus, Rabbi,
• 19:17
  Speaker 2: please have mercy on me. Son of David Jesus, Please
• 19:23
  Speaker 2: have mercy on me. Pause here and let this be
• 19:27
  Speaker 2: your prayer as the Holy Spirit guides you to sleep.
• 19:31
  Speaker 2: Whisper it for a few moments until I return. Son
• 19:34
  Speaker 2: of David, Jesus, have mercy on me, Son of David, Jesus,
• 19:42
  Speaker 2: have mercy on me. Here he is finally this Rabbi
• 19:51
  Speaker 2: everyone has been talking about. Everyone is clamoring for his attention.
• 19:55
  Speaker 2: But the crowd is too thick, voices too loud. He
• 19:58
  Speaker 2: will never see you, surely never hear you. But you
• 20:03
  Speaker 2: whisper again, Rabbi Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.
• 20:09
  Speaker 2: And suddenly, quite suddenly, Jesus stops. He stands still, the Messiah,
• 20:18
  Speaker 2: the Lord, the creator of the universe, your Savior. He
• 20:23
  Speaker 2: stops and stands still for you. He turns his head
• 20:29
  Speaker 2: and looks up at you. How humbling is that you
• 20:34
  Speaker 2: should be the one kneeling and looking up at him.
• 20:37
  Speaker 2: But here is this Rabbi looking up at you. In
• 20:42
  Speaker 2: a moment that feels like an eternity, you hear Jesus say,
• 20:46
  Speaker 2: hurry and come down, for I must stay at your
• 20:50
  Speaker 2: house today. What are your emotions? Do you doubt he
• 20:56
  Speaker 2: is talking to you? Does shame drop your eyes? This
• 21:02
  Speaker 2: fear cause you to look away. You slowly slide out
• 21:06
  Speaker 2: of the tree and drop to the ground. You feel
• 21:09
  Speaker 2: your blanket of shame drop from your shoulders. As you
• 21:13
  Speaker 2: walk towards the soothing voice of Jesus. You feel the
• 21:18
  Speaker 2: weight of your cloak of guilt slip off of your
• 21:21
  Speaker 2: head and mind. You feel the peaceful voice of Jesus
• 21:25
  Speaker 2: transform you. As you step closer towards him. You feel
• 21:29
  Speaker 2: Jesus's arms embrace you, his hands on your shoulders, his
• 21:36
  Speaker 2: hands sliding up to cradle your face, and you hear
• 21:39
  Speaker 2: his soothing voice whisper in your ear. I want you,
• 21:45
  Speaker 2: I want to stay with you. I have chosen you.
• 21:52
  Speaker 2: You feel abandonment transform into approval. You feel aggravation become
• 21:59
  Speaker 2: feeling of abiding and resting in the presence of Jesus,
• 22:04
  Speaker 2: and you tell him. Behold Lord, half of my goods
• 22:08
  Speaker 2: I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded
• 22:11
  Speaker 2: any one of anything, I restore it now fourfold. But
• 22:17
  Speaker 2: you can visualize it again in Jesus's eyes. Yes, but
• 22:22
  Speaker 2: it is you that I want. It is you I
• 22:26
  Speaker 2: want to stay with. It is you I have chosen.
• 22:32
  Speaker 2: It is you I give release from fear this evening,
• 22:37
  Speaker 2: and it is you I grant well being. It is
• 22:42
  Speaker 2: you I give rest Tonight. I am here for you,
• 22:47
  Speaker 2: dear child, dear peaceful and RESTful Father. Bring this one,
• 22:58
  Speaker 2: your child, rest and sleep tonight. Keep them from tossing,
• 23:04
  Speaker 2: keep them from turning. Lord God, you never sleep, Lord God,
• 23:10
  Speaker 2: you never slumber. So watch over this your child tonight
• 23:15
  Speaker 2: as they sleep. Bring peace to their churning mind. Comfort
• 23:22
  Speaker 2: their mind from spinning, and soothe their heart. Calm them tonight.
• 23:29
  Speaker 2: Give them sweet rest in your arms in Jesus' name. Amen.
• 23:40
  Speaker 2: God is covering you tonight. God is completely protecting you
• 23:46
  Speaker 2: with his strength. You are protected under his wings. Tonight.
• 23:53
  Speaker 2: You can find rest under his wings. Tonight you can
• 23:58
  Speaker 2: find refuse in the loving arms of God. Tonight. God's
• 24:05
  Speaker 2: faithfulness is your shield. Tonight. God's faithfulness is a wall
• 24:13
  Speaker 2: protecting you from harm, so that you can rest tonight
• 24:19
  Speaker 2: in God's presence. Tonight, in God's arms, you have no
• 24:25
  Speaker 2: need of fear. Tonight you are in the presence and
• 24:30
  Speaker 2: resting in the arms of the creator of the universe. Tonight,
• 24:39
  Speaker 2: Let this resting child feel your wings over them tonight
• 24:44
  Speaker 2: as they rest. Let this sleeping child feel the shield
• 24:50
  Speaker 2: of your arms protecting them from fear and harm. Tonight.
• 24:55
  Speaker 2: Let this peaceful soul feel the wall protecting them from harm. Tonight,
• 25:02
  Speaker 2: the wall built lovingly by you, the creator of the universe,
• 25:09
  Speaker 2: the creator that sits down now by the side of
• 25:12
  Speaker 2: this child as they sleep. In Jesus name, Amen, as
• 25:23
  Speaker 2: you rest, may you be blessed by the living God
• 25:27
  Speaker 2: that transforms. May the Holy Spirit guide your dreams. Let
• 25:33
  Speaker 2: me pray for you now as you fall asleep, Oh,
• 25:37
  Speaker 2: peaceful and Loving Father, Be merciful to this one, O God,
• 25:42
  Speaker 2: because of your constant love, because of your great mercy,
• 25:46
  Speaker 2: wipe away their sins, wash away all evil, and make
• 25:51
  Speaker 2: them clean from their sin. Tonight, tonight, let them hear
• 25:55
  Speaker 2: the sounds of joy and gladness. Create in them tonight
• 26:00
  Speaker 2: a pure heart o, God, give them again the joy
• 26:04
  Speaker 2: that comes from your salvation. God, grant this one peace
• 26:10
  Speaker 2: in Jesus' name. Amen. So continue to pace your breathing
• 26:16
  Speaker 2: now as you continue to rest in the presence of God.
• 26:22
  Speaker 2: Just breathe, just imagine and dream. And now glory be
• 26:36
  Speaker 2: to the Father and to the Son and to the
• 26:38
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now
• 26:43
  Speaker 2: and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Dear Peaceful Father,
• 27:07
  Speaker 2: thank you for peace, for your care, your love, your mercy,
• 27:13
  Speaker 2: your salvation. As this one, this child of yours, finds
• 27:17
  Speaker 2: sleep tonight as they sleep in bed, Let them feel
• 27:22
  Speaker 2: your presence over them. Let them sleep in bed under
• 27:26
  Speaker 2: your wings. And it's in Jesus' name I pray over them. Amen.
• 27:32
  Speaker 2: And now let's begin by familiarizing ourselves with the passage
• 27:37
  Speaker 2: from Luke chapter nineteen, verse one through ten. Just rest
• 27:41
  Speaker 2: softly as you listen to me read you this bedtime story.
• 27:47
  Speaker 2: Jesus is entering Jericho and was just passing through. In
• 27:52
  Speaker 2: this ancient Palestinian town near the Jordan River lives a
• 27:57
  Speaker 2: man named Zachias. He is a chief tax collector and
• 28:01
  Speaker 2: is very rich. He hears that Jesus is passing through
• 28:05
  Speaker 2: today and is hoping to see this rabbi that everyone
• 28:08
  Speaker 2: has been talking about. The problem is, Zachias is pretty
• 28:13
  Speaker 2: short and he's nervous he won't be able to see
• 28:16
  Speaker 2: above the crowd, so he has an idea. Sachius runs
• 28:21
  Speaker 2: ahead and climbs up into a sycamore tree just inside
• 28:25
  Speaker 2: a walled garden in the middle of town. He thinks
• 28:28
  Speaker 2: maybe from that vantage point he will be able to
• 28:32
  Speaker 2: see this rabbi from Capernaum, and sure enough he can.
• 28:38
  Speaker 2: He sees the crowds approaching following Jesus, and when Jesus
• 28:43
  Speaker 2: comes to the garden, he looks up and says to him, Zachias,
• 28:48
  Speaker 2: hurry and come down, for I must stay at your
• 28:51
  Speaker 2: house today. So he hurries and comes down, and Jesus
• 28:55
  Speaker 2: receives him joyfully, And when the others in the crowd
• 29:00
  Speaker 2: see this, they all start to grumble a little bit.
• 29:03
  Speaker 2: The rabbi is going in to be the guest of
• 29:05
  Speaker 2: a man who is a sinner. But Psachias stands and
• 29:11
  Speaker 2: says to the Lord, behold, Lord, the half of my
• 29:15
  Speaker 2: goods I give to the poor, and if I have
• 29:20
  Speaker 2: defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it. Fourfold. Then Jesus
• 29:26
  Speaker 2: says to him, today, salvation has come to you and
• 29:30
  Speaker 2: this house, since you also are a son of Abraham,
• 29:34
  Speaker 2: because I, the son of Man, have come to seek
• 29:39
  Speaker 2: and to save the lost. This is the word of
• 29:43
  Speaker 2: the Lord. Thanks be to God. Pause here for a
• 29:48
  Speaker 2: moment as you recall this scene, as you feel the
• 29:51
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit breathing peace and tranquility over you. Pause here
• 29:57
  Speaker 2: for just a few moments. Make no mind of the
• 30:00
  Speaker 2: time tonight. I will watch the clock. Just ponder and
• 30:04
  Speaker 2: breathe softly as you feel transported, as you feel transformed
• 30:09
  Speaker 2: into this story. Settle there now. So now visualize this
• 30:22
  Speaker 2: peaceful afternoon scene unfolding in your mind's eye. Imagine yourself
• 30:27
  Speaker 2: in the scene. Imagine being Zachias. You sense the scene
• 30:33
  Speaker 2: around you. Can you feel the early afternoon sun hitting
• 30:39
  Speaker 2: your face, the coolness of the breeze as you sit
• 30:43
  Speaker 2: high up in the sycamore tree, the leaves rustling around you.
• 30:50
  Speaker 2: You look around the town. You see the buildings, smoke
• 30:55
  Speaker 2: rising from fires being started for dinner, people wandering about, talking, laughing, searching.
• 31:07
  Speaker 2: You were sitting high on a sturdy branch, your arms
• 31:11
  Speaker 2: wrapped tightly around the trunk, of the tree, steadying yourself.
• 31:17
  Speaker 2: Pause here for a moment in this scene and just
• 31:20
  Speaker 2: feel its peace. You know from the soft whispered conversations
• 31:35
  Speaker 2: around you that Jesus and the crowds are approaching. You
• 31:39
  Speaker 2: sense that this new Rabbi is on his way. If
• 31:43
  Speaker 2: given the opportunity, what would you say to him? Do
• 31:47
  Speaker 2: you feel worthy to even look at him? You are
• 31:50
  Speaker 2: a tax collector. No one wants to be near you.
• 31:55
  Speaker 2: But will Jesus? Will he judge you as others have?
• 32:01
  Speaker 2: Will Jesus show you the mercy that you seek, the mercy,
• 32:06
  Speaker 2: the love and forgiveness that you seek, and the mercy
• 32:13
  Speaker 2: and the love and forgiveness you crave from others? Will
• 32:17
  Speaker 2: Jesus offer that to you? You begin to whisper, Son
• 32:23
  Speaker 2: of David Jesus, please have mercy on me, Son of
• 32:29
  Speaker 2: David Jesus, Rabbi, please have mercy on me. Son of
• 32:35
  Speaker 2: David Jesus, Please have mercy on me. Pause here and
• 32:41
  Speaker 2: let this be your prayer as the Holy Spirit guides
• 32:44
  Speaker 2: you to sleep. Whisper it for a few moments until
• 32:48
  Speaker 2: I return, Son of David Jesus, have mercy on me,
• 32:54
  Speaker 2: Son of David Jesus, Have mercy on me. Here he is, finally,
• 33:05
  Speaker 2: this Rabbi everyone has been talking about. Everyone is clamoring
• 33:09
  Speaker 2: for his attention. But the crowd is too thick, voices
• 33:13
  Speaker 2: too loud. He will never see you, surely never hear you.
• 33:18
  Speaker 2: But you whisper again, Rabbi Jesus, son of David, have
• 33:23
  Speaker 2: mercy on me. And suddenly, quite suddenly, Jesus stops. He
• 33:30
  Speaker 2: stands still, the Messiah, the Lord, the creator of the universe,
• 33:37
  Speaker 2: your savior. He stops and stands still for you. He
• 33:43
  Speaker 2: turns his head and looks up at you. How humbling
• 33:48
  Speaker 2: is that you should be the one kneeling and looking
• 33:51
  Speaker 2: up at him. But here is this Rabbi looking up
• 33:55
  Speaker 2: at you. In a moment that feels like an eternity,
• 34:00
  Speaker 2: you hear Jesus say, hurry and come down, for I
• 34:05
  Speaker 2: must stay at your house today. What are your emotions?
• 34:11
  Speaker 2: Do you doubt he is talking to you? Does shame
• 34:15
  Speaker 2: drop your eyes? Does fear cause you to look away?
• 34:21
  Speaker 2: You slowly slide out of the tree and drop to
• 34:23
  Speaker 2: the ground. You feel your blanket of shame drop from
• 34:27
  Speaker 2: your shoulders. As you walk towards the soothing voice of Jesus.
• 34:32
  Speaker 2: You feel the weight of your cloak of guilt slip
• 34:36
  Speaker 2: off of your head and mind. You feel the peaceful
• 34:39
  Speaker 2: voice of Jesus transform you as you step closer towards him.
• 34:44
  Speaker 2: You feel Jesus's arms embrace you, his hands on your shoulders,
• 34:51
  Speaker 2: his hands sliding up to cradle your face, and you
• 34:55
  Speaker 2: hear his soothing voice whisper in your ear. I want you,
• 35:00
  Speaker 2: I want to stay with you. I have chosen you.
• 35:08
  Speaker 2: You feel abandonment transform into approval. You feel aggravation become
• 35:14
  Speaker 2: feelings of abiding and resting in the presence of Jesus,
• 35:19
  Speaker 2: and you tell him, behold Lord, half of my goods
• 35:24
  Speaker 2: I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded
• 35:27
  Speaker 2: any one of anything, I restore it now fourfold that
• 35:32
  Speaker 2: you can visualize it again in Jesus's eyes. Yes, but
• 35:37
  Speaker 2: it is you that I want. It is you I
• 35:41
  Speaker 2: want to stay with. It is you I have chosen.
• 35:48
  Speaker 2: It is you I give release from fear this evening,
• 35:52
  Speaker 2: and it is you I grant well being. It is
• 35:58
  Speaker 2: you I give rest tonight. I am here for you,
• 36:03
  Speaker 2: dear child, dear peaceful and RESTful father. Bring this one,
• 36:14
  Speaker 2: your child, rest and sleep tonight. Keep them from tossing
• 36:19
  Speaker 2: keep them from turning. Lord, God, you never sleep. Lord God,
• 36:26
  Speaker 2: you never slumber. So watch over this your child tonight
• 36:31
  Speaker 2: as they sleep. Bring peace to their churning mind. Comfort
• 36:37
  Speaker 2: their mind from spinning, and soothe their heart. Calm them tonight,
• 36:44
  Speaker 2: Give them sweet rest in your arms in Jesus name. Amen,
• 36:56
  Speaker 2: God is covering you. Tonight. God is completely protecting you
• 37:02
  Speaker 2: with his strength. You are protected under his wings. Tonight.
• 37:08
  Speaker 2: You can find rest under his wings. Tonight. You can
• 37:14
  Speaker 2: find refuge in the loving arms of God. Tonight. God's
• 37:20
  Speaker 2: faithfulness is your shield. Tonight. God's faithfulness is a wall
• 37:28
  Speaker 2: protecting you from harm, so that you can rest tonight
• 37:34
  Speaker 2: in God's presence. Tonight. In God's arms, you have no
• 37:40
  Speaker 2: need of fear. Tonight you are in the presence and
• 37:45
  Speaker 2: resting in the arms of the creator of the universe. Tonight,
• 37:55
  Speaker 2: Let this resting child feel your wings over them. Tonight
• 37:59
  Speaker 2: as they rest, Let this sleeping child feel the shield
• 38:05
  Speaker 2: of your arms protecting them from fear and harm. Tonight,
• 38:10
  Speaker 2: Let this peaceful soul feel the wall protecting them from harm. Tonight,
• 38:18
  Speaker 2: the wall built lovingly by you, the creator of the universe,
• 38:24
  Speaker 2: the creator that sits down now by the side of
• 38:27
  Speaker 2: this child as they sleep. In Jesus' name. Amen. As
• 38:39
  Speaker 2: you rest, may you be blessed by the Living God
• 38:42
  Speaker 2: that transforms. May the Holy Spirit guide your dreams. Let
• 38:48
  Speaker 2: me pray for you now as you fall asleep, Oh
• 38:52
  Speaker 2: Peaceful and Loving Father, Be merciful to this one, Oh God,
• 38:57
  Speaker 2: because of your constant love, because of your great mercy,
• 39:01
  Speaker 2: wipe away their sins, wash away all evil, and make
• 39:06
  Speaker 2: them clean from their sin. Tonight tonight, let them hear
• 39:11
  Speaker 2: the sounds of joy and gladness. Create in them tonight
• 39:15
  Speaker 2: a pure heart. O God, give them again the joy
• 39:19
  Speaker 2: that comes from your salvation. God, grant this one peace
• 39:25
  Speaker 2: in Jesus name. Amen. So continue to pace your breathing
• 39:31
  Speaker 2: now as you continue to rest in the presence of God.
• 39:37
  Speaker 2: Just breathe, just imagine and dream. And now glory be
• 39:51
  Speaker 2: to the Father and to the Son and to the
• 39:54
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now
• 39:58
  Speaker 2: and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Dear Peaceful Father,
• 40:22
  Speaker 2: thank you for peace, for your care, your love, your mercy,
• 40:28
  Speaker 2: your salvation. As this one, this child of yours, finds
• 40:33
  Speaker 2: sleep tonight as they sleep in bed, let them feel
• 40:37
  Speaker 2: your presence over them. Let them sleep in bed under
• 40:41
  Speaker 2: your wings. And it's in Jesus' name I pray over them. Amen.
• 40:48
  Speaker 2: And now let's begin by familiarizing ourselves with the passage
• 40:53
  Speaker 2: from Luke, chapter nineteen, verse one through ten. Just rest
• 40:57
  Speaker 2: softly as you listen to me read you this time story.
• 41:02
  Speaker 2: Jesus is entering Jericho and was just passing through. In
• 41:07
  Speaker 2: this ancient Palestinian town near the Jordan River lives a
• 41:12
  Speaker 2: man named Zakias. He is a chief tax collector and
• 41:16
  Speaker 2: is very rich. He hears that Jesus is passing through
• 41:20
  Speaker 2: today and is hoping to see this rabbi that everyone
• 41:24
  Speaker 2: has been talking about. The problem is, Zachias is pretty
• 41:28
  Speaker 2: short and he's nervous he won't be able to see
• 41:31
  Speaker 2: above the crowd, so he has an idea. Sachias runs
• 41:36
  Speaker 2: ahead and climbs up into a sycamore tree just inside
• 41:40
  Speaker 2: a walled garden in the middle of town. He thinks
• 41:44
  Speaker 2: maybe from that vantage point he will be able to
• 41:47
  Speaker 2: see this rabbi from Capernaum, and sure enough he can.
• 41:53
  Speaker 2: He sees the crowds approaching following Jesus, and when Jesus
• 41:58
  Speaker 2: comes to the garden, looks up and says to him Zachias,
• 42:03
  Speaker 2: hurry and come down, for I must stay at your
• 42:06
  Speaker 2: house today. So he hurries and comes down, and Jesus
• 42:11
  Speaker 2: receives him joyfully. And when the others in the crowd
• 42:15
  Speaker 2: see this, they all start to grumble a little bit.
• 42:18
  Speaker 2: The rabbi is going in to be the guest of
• 42:21
  Speaker 2: a man who is a sinner. But Zachias stands and
• 42:26
  Speaker 2: says to the Lord. Behold, Lord, the half of my
• 42:31
  Speaker 2: goods I give to the poor, and if I have
• 42:35
  Speaker 2: defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. Then Jesus
• 42:41
  Speaker 2: says to him, today salvation has come to you and
• 42:45
  Speaker 2: this house, since you also are a son of Abraham,
• 42:50
  Speaker 2: because I, the son of Man, have come to seek
• 42:54
  Speaker 2: and to save the lost. This is the word of
• 42:59
  Speaker 2: the Lord. Thanks be to God. Pause here for a
• 43:03
  Speaker 2: moment as you recall this scene, as you feel the
• 43:07
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit breathing peace and tranquility over you, Pause here
• 43:12
  Speaker 2: for just a few moments. Make no mind of the
• 43:15
  Speaker 2: time tonight, I will watch the clock. Just ponder and
• 43:19
  Speaker 2: breathe softly as you feel transported, as you feel transformed
• 43:25
  Speaker 2: into this story. Settle there now, So now visualize this
• 43:37
  Speaker 2: peaceful afternoon scene unfolding in your mind's eye. Imagine yourself
• 43:42
  Speaker 2: in the scene. Imagine being Zacheus. You sense the scene
• 43:48
  Speaker 2: around you. Can you feel the early afternoon sun hitting
• 43:54
  Speaker 2: your face, the coolness of the breeze as you sit
• 43:59
  Speaker 2: high up in the sycamore tree, the leaves rustling around you.
• 44:05
  Speaker 2: You look around the town. You see the buildings, smoke
• 44:10
  Speaker 2: rising from fires being started for dinner. You see people
• 44:15
  Speaker 2: wandering about, talking, laughing, searching. You were sitting high on
• 44:24
  Speaker 2: a sturdy branch, your arms wrapped tightly around the trunk
• 44:28
  Speaker 2: of the tree, steadying yourself. Pause here for a moment
• 44:34
  Speaker 2: in this scene and just feel It's peace. You know
• 44:48
  Speaker 2: from the soft whispered conversations around you that Jesus and
• 44:52
  Speaker 2: the crowds are approaching. You sense that this new Rabbi
• 44:56
  Speaker 2: is on his way. If given the opportunity, what would
• 45:00
  Speaker 2: you say to him? Do you feel worthy to even
• 45:04
  Speaker 2: look at him? You are a tax collector. No one
• 45:08
  Speaker 2: wants to be near you. But will Jesus? Will he
• 45:13
  Speaker 2: judge you as others have? Will Jesus show you the
• 45:18
  Speaker 2: mercy that you seek, the mercy, the love and forgiveness
• 45:24
  Speaker 2: that you seek, And the mercy and the love and
• 45:29
  Speaker 2: forgiveness you crave from others. Will Jesus offer that to you?
• 45:35
  Speaker 2: You begin to whisper, Son of David, Jesus, please have
• 45:42
  Speaker 2: mercy on me, Son of David Jesus, Rabbi, please have
• 45:48
  Speaker 2: mercy on me, Son of David Jesus, Please have mercy
• 45:54
  Speaker 2: on me. Pause here and let this be your prayer
• 45:58
  Speaker 2: as the Holy Spirit God you to sleep. Whisper it
• 46:02
  Speaker 2: for a few moments until I return. Son of David, Jesus,
• 46:08
  Speaker 2: have mercy on me, Son of David Jesus, have mercy
• 46:13
  Speaker 2: on me. Here he is finally this Rabbi everyone has
• 46:22
  Speaker 2: been talking about. Everyone is clamoring for his attention. But
• 46:26
  Speaker 2: the crowd is too thick, voices too loud. He will
• 46:30
  Speaker 2: never see you, surely never hear you. But you whisper again,
• 46:35
  Speaker 2: Rabbi Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. And suddenly,
• 46:42
  Speaker 2: quite suddenly, Jesus stops. He stands still, the Messiah, the Lord,
• 46:50
  Speaker 2: the creator of the universe, your savior. He stops and
• 46:55
  Speaker 2: stands still for you. He turns his head and looks
• 47:01
  Speaker 2: up at you. How humbling is that you should be
• 47:05
  Speaker 2: the one kneeling and looking up at him. But here
• 47:08
  Speaker 2: is this Rabbi looking up at you. In a moment
• 47:13
  Speaker 2: that feels like an eternity, you hear Jesus say, hurry
• 47:18
  Speaker 2: and come down, for I must stay at your house today.
• 47:24
  Speaker 2: What are your emotions? Do you doubt he is talking
• 47:27
  Speaker 2: to you? Does shame drop your eyes? Does fear cause
• 47:34
  Speaker 2: you to look away? You slowly slide out of the
• 47:37
  Speaker 2: tree and drop to the ground. You feel your blanket
• 47:41
  Speaker 2: of shame drop from your shoulders as you walk towards
• 47:45
  Speaker 2: the soothing voice of Jesus. You feel the weight of
• 47:49
  Speaker 2: your cloak of guilt slip off of your head and mind.
• 47:54
  Speaker 2: You feel the peaceful voice of Jesus transform you. As
• 47:57
  Speaker 2: you step closer towards him. You feel Jesus's arms embrace you,
• 48:03
  Speaker 2: his hands on your shoulders, his hands sliding up to
• 48:08
  Speaker 2: cradle your face, and you hear his soothing voice whisper
• 48:12
  Speaker 2: in your ear. I want you. I want to stay
• 48:16
  Speaker 2: with you. I have chosen you. You feel abandonment transform
• 48:25
  Speaker 2: into approval. You feel aggravation become feelings of abiding and
• 48:32
  Speaker 2: resting in the presence of Jesus, and you tell him,
• 48:36
  Speaker 2: behold Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor.
• 48:41
  Speaker 2: And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore
• 48:44
  Speaker 2: it now fourfold. But you can visualize it again in
• 48:49
  Speaker 2: Jesus's eyes. Yes, but it is you that I want.
• 48:56
  Speaker 2: It is you I want to stay with. It is
• 49:00
  Speaker 2: you I have chosen. It is you I give release
• 49:05
  Speaker 2: from fear this evening, and it is you I grant
• 49:10
  Speaker 2: well being. It is you I give rest tonight. I
• 49:16
  Speaker 2: am here for you, dear child, dear peaceful and RESTful Father.
• 49:28
  Speaker 2: Bring this one, your child, rest and sleep tonight. Keep
• 49:33
  Speaker 2: them from tossing, keep them from turning. Lord God, you
• 49:38
  Speaker 2: never sleep, Lord, God, you never slumber. So watch over
• 49:45
  Speaker 2: this your child tonight as they sleep. Bring peace to
• 49:50
  Speaker 2: their churning mind. Comfort their mind from spinning, and soothe
• 49:56
  Speaker 2: their heart. Calm them tonight. Give them sweet rest in
• 50:02
  Speaker 2: your arms in Jesus name. Amen. God is covering you tonight.
• 50:14
  Speaker 2: God is completely protecting you with his strength. You are
• 50:20
  Speaker 2: protected under his wings tonight. You can find rest under
• 50:26
  Speaker 2: his wings Tonight. You can find refuge in the loving
• 50:32
  Speaker 2: arms of God tonight. God's faithfulness is your shield. Tonight.
• 50:41
  Speaker 2: God's faithfulness is a wall protecting you from harm, so
• 50:46
  Speaker 2: that you can rest Tonight in God's presence Tonight. In
• 50:53
  Speaker 2: God's arms, you have no need of fear. Tonight you
• 50:59
  Speaker 2: are in the presence and resting in the arms of
• 51:03
  Speaker 2: the creator of the universe. Tonight, Let this resting child
• 51:12
  Speaker 2: feel your wings over them tonight as they rest. Let
• 51:17
  Speaker 2: this sleeping child feel the shield of your arms protecting
• 51:22
  Speaker 2: them from fear and harm. Tonight, Let this peaceful soul
• 51:28
  Speaker 2: feel the wall protecting them from harm. Tonight, the wall
• 51:34
  Speaker 2: built lovingly by you, the creator of the universe, the
• 51:40
  Speaker 2: creator that sits down now by the side of this child.
• 51:44
  Speaker 2: As they sleep in Jesus' name. Amen, as you rest,
• 51:55
  Speaker 2: may you be blessed by the Living God that transforms.
• 52:00
  Speaker 2: May the Holy Spirit guide your dreams. Let me pray
• 52:04
  Speaker 2: for you now as you fall asleep. Oh, peaceful and
• 52:08
  Speaker 2: Loving Father, be merciful to this one, O God, because
• 52:13
  Speaker 2: of your constant love, because of your great mercy, wipe
• 52:17
  Speaker 2: away their sins, wash away all evil, and make them
• 52:22
  Speaker 2: clean from their sin. To night to night, let them
• 52:26
  Speaker 2: hear the sounds of joy and gladness. Create in them
• 52:30
  Speaker 2: to night a pure heart, O God, give them again
• 52:34
  Speaker 2: the joy that comes from your salvation. God, grant this
• 52:39
  Speaker 2: one peace in Jesus Name. Amen. So continue to pace
• 52:46
  Speaker 2: your breathing now as you continue to rest in the
• 52:50
  Speaker 2: presence of God. Just breathe, just imagine and dream. And
• 53:06
  Speaker 2: now glory be to the Father and to the Son
• 53:09
  Speaker 2: and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning,
• 53:12
  Speaker 2: is now and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
• 53:36
  Speaker 2: Dear peaceful Father, thank you for peace, for your care,
• 53:40
  Speaker 2: your love, your mercy, your salvation. As this one, this
• 53:46
  Speaker 2: child of yours, finds sleep tonight as they sleep in bed,
• 53:52
  Speaker 2: let them feel your presence over them. Let them sleep
• 53:55
  Speaker 2: in bed under your wings. And it's in Jesus Name
• 53:59
  Speaker 2: I pray over them. Amen. And now let's begin by
• 54:06
  Speaker 2: familiarizing ourselves with the passage from Luke, chapter nineteen, verse
• 54:10
  Speaker 2: one through ten. Just rests softly as you listen to
• 54:13
  Speaker 2: me read you this bedtime story. Jesus is entering Jericho
• 54:20
  Speaker 2: and was just passing through. In this ancient Palestinian town
• 54:25
  Speaker 2: near the Jordan River lives a man named Zachias. He
• 54:30
  Speaker 2: is a chief tax collector and is very rich. He
• 54:34
  Speaker 2: hears that Jesus is passing through today and is hoping
• 54:37
  Speaker 2: to see this rabbi that everyone has been talking about
• 54:41
  Speaker 2: the problem is. Zachias is pretty short, and he's nervous
• 54:45
  Speaker 2: he won't be able to see above the crowd, so
• 54:49
  Speaker 2: he has an idea. Sachias runs ahead and climbs up
• 54:53
  Speaker 2: into a sycamore tree just inside a walled garden in
• 54:57
  Speaker 2: the middle of town. He thinks maybe from that vantage
• 55:01
  Speaker 2: point he will be able to see this rabbi from Capernaum,
• 55:05
  Speaker 2: and sure enough he can. He sees the crowds approaching
• 55:11
  Speaker 2: following Jesus, and when Jesus comes to the garden, he
• 55:15
  Speaker 2: looks up and says to him, Zachias, hurry and come down,
• 55:20
  Speaker 2: for I must stay at your house today. So he
• 55:24
  Speaker 2: hurries and comes down, and Jesus receives him joyfully. And
• 55:29
  Speaker 2: when the others in the crowd see this, they all
• 55:32
  Speaker 2: start to grumble a little bit. The rabbi is going
• 55:35
  Speaker 2: in to be the guest of a man who is
• 55:37
  Speaker 2: a sinner. But Zachias stands and says to the Lord, behold, Lord,
• 55:45
  Speaker 2: the half of my goods I give to the poor,
• 55:50
  Speaker 2: and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore
• 55:53
  Speaker 2: it fourfold. Then Jesus says to him, today salvation has
• 56:00
  Speaker 2: come to you and this house, since you also are
• 56:04
  Speaker 2: a son of Abraham, because I, the son of Man,
• 56:08
  Speaker 2: have come to seek and to save the lost. This
• 56:14
  Speaker 2: is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
• 56:18
  Speaker 2: Pause here for a moment as you recall this scene,
• 56:21
  Speaker 2: as you feel the Holy Spirit breathing peace and tranquility
• 56:26
  Speaker 2: over you. Pause here for just a few moments. Make
• 56:29
  Speaker 2: no mind of the time tonight. I will watch the clock.
• 56:34
  Speaker 2: Just ponder and breathe softly as you feel transported, as
• 56:38
  Speaker 2: you feel transformed into this story. Settle there now. So
• 56:50
  Speaker 2: now visualize this peaceful afternoon scene unfolding in your mind's eye.
• 56:57
  Speaker 2: Imagine yourself in the scene. Imagine being Zachias. You sense
• 57:03
  Speaker 2: the scene around you. Can you feel the early afternoon
• 57:09
  Speaker 2: sun hitting your face, the coolness of the breeze as
• 57:14
  Speaker 2: you sit high up in the sycamore tree, the leaves
• 57:18
  Speaker 2: rustling around you. You look around the town. You see
• 57:23
  Speaker 2: the buildings, smoke rising from fires being started for dinner.
• 57:30
  Speaker 2: You see people wandering about, talking, laughing, searching. You were
• 57:38
  Speaker 2: sitting high on a sturdy branch, your arms wrapped tightly
• 57:43
  Speaker 2: around the trunk of the tree, steadying yourself. Pause here
• 57:48
  Speaker 2: for a moment in this scene and just feel its peace.
• 58:03
  Speaker 2: You know from the soft whispered conversations around you that
• 58:06
  Speaker 2: Jesus and the crowds are approaching. You sense that this
• 58:11
  Speaker 2: new rabbi is on his way. If given the opportunity,
• 58:15
  Speaker 2: what would you say to him? Do you feel worthy
• 58:19
  Speaker 2: to even look at him? You are a tax collector.
• 58:23
  Speaker 2: No one wants to be near you. But will Jesus
• 58:28
  Speaker 2: Will he judge you as others have? Will Jesus show
• 58:33
  Speaker 2: you the mercy that you seek, the mercy, the love
• 58:39
  Speaker 2: and forgiveness that you seek, and the mercy and the
• 58:44
  Speaker 2: love and forgiveness you crave from others. Will Jesus offer
• 58:49
  Speaker 2: that to you? You begin to whisper, Son of David Jesus,
• 58:56
  Speaker 2: Please have mercy on me, Son of David Jesus, Rabbi,
• 59:03
  Speaker 2: please have mercy on me. Son of David Jesus, Please
• 59:09
  Speaker 2: have mercy on me. Pause here and let this be
• 59:13
  Speaker 2: your prayer as the Holy Spirit guides you to sleep.
• 59:17
  Speaker 2: Whisper it for a few moments until I return. Son
• 59:20
  Speaker 2: of David Jesus, have mercy on me, Son of David Jesus,
• 59:28
  Speaker 2: have mercy on me. Here he is finally, this rabbi
• 59:37
  Speaker 2: everyone has been talking about. Everyone is clamoring for his attention.
• 59:41
  Speaker 2: But the crowd is too thick, voices too loud. He
• 59:45
  Speaker 2: will never see you, surely never hear you. But you
• 59:49
  Speaker 2: whisper again, Rabbi Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.
• 59:55
  Speaker 2: And suddenly, quite suddenly, Jesus stops. He stands still, the Messiah,
• 1:00:04
  Speaker 2: the Lord, the creator of the universe, your savior. He
• 1:00:09
  Speaker 2: stops and stands still for you. He turns his head
• 1:00:16
  Speaker 2: and looks up at you. How humbling is that you
• 1:00:20
  Speaker 2: should be the one kneeling and looking up at him.
• 1:00:23
  Speaker 2: But here is this Rabbi looking up at you. In
• 1:00:28
  Speaker 2: a moment that feels like an eternity, you hear Jesus say,
• 1:00:32
  Speaker 2: hurry and come down, for I must stay at your
• 1:00:37
  Speaker 2: house today. What are your emotions? Do you doubt he
• 1:00:42
  Speaker 2: is talking to you? Does shame drop your eyes? Does
• 1:00:48
  Speaker 2: fear cause you to look away? You slowly slide out
• 1:00:53
  Speaker 2: of the tree and drop to the ground. You feel
• 1:00:56
  Speaker 2: your blanket of shame drop from your shoulders as you
• 1:00:59
  Speaker 2: walk towards the soothing voice of Jesus. You feel the
• 1:01:04
  Speaker 2: weight of your cloak of guilt slip off of your
• 1:01:07
  Speaker 2: head and mind. You feel the peaceful voice of Jesus
• 1:01:11
  Speaker 2: transform you. As you step closer towards him. You feel
• 1:01:16
  Speaker 2: Jesus's arms embrace you, his hands on your shoulders, his
• 1:01:22
  Speaker 2: hands sliding up to cradle your face, and you hear
• 1:01:26
  Speaker 2: his soothing voice whisper in your ear. I want you,
• 1:01:31
  Speaker 2: I want to stay with you. I have chosen you.
• 1:01:38
  Speaker 2: You feel abandonment transform into approval. You feel aggravation become
• 1:01:45
  Speaker 2: feelings of abiding and resting in the presence of Jesus,
• 1:01:50
  Speaker 2: and you tell him, behold Lord, half of my goods
• 1:01:54
  Speaker 2: I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded
• 1:01:58
  Speaker 2: anyone of anything, I restore it now fourfold that you
• 1:02:03
  Speaker 2: can visualize it again in Jesus's eyes. Yes, but it
• 1:02:08
  Speaker 2: is you that I want. It is you I want
• 1:02:12
  Speaker 2: to stay with. It is you I have chosen. It
• 1:02:19
  Speaker 2: is you I give release from fear this evening, and
• 1:02:23
  Speaker 2: it is you I grant well being. It is you
• 1:02:29
  Speaker 2: I give rest tonight. I am here for you, dear child,
• 1:02:40
  Speaker 2: dear peaceful and RESTful father. Bring this one, your child,
• 1:02:45
  Speaker 2: rest and sleep tonight. Keep them from tossing, keep them
• 1:02:51
  Speaker 2: from turning. Lord God, you never sleep, Lord, God, you
• 1:02:57
  Speaker 2: never slumber. So watch over this your child tonight as
• 1:03:02
  Speaker 2: they sleep. Bring peace to their churning mind. Comfort their
• 1:03:08
  Speaker 2: mind from spinning, and soothe their heart. Calm them tonight,
• 1:03:15
  Speaker 2: give them sweet rest in your arms in Jesus' name. Amen,
• 1:03:26
  Speaker 2: God is covering you. Tonight. God is completely protecting you
• 1:03:32
  Speaker 2: with his strength. You are protected under his wings. Tonight.
• 1:03:39
  Speaker 2: You can find rest under his wings. Tonight. You can
• 1:03:44
  Speaker 2: find refuge in the loving arms of God. Tonight. God's
• 1:03:51
  Speaker 2: faithfulness is your shield. Tonight. God's faithfulness is a wall
• 1:03:59
  Speaker 2: protect you from harm, so that you can rest tonight
• 1:04:05
  Speaker 2: in God's presence. Tonight, in God's arms, you have no
• 1:04:11
  Speaker 2: need of fear. Tonight you are in the presence and
• 1:04:16
  Speaker 2: resting in the arms of the creator of the universe. Tonight.
• 1:04:25
  Speaker 2: Let this resting child feel your wings over them. Tonight
• 1:04:30
  Speaker 2: as they rest, Let this sleeping child feel the shield
• 1:04:36
  Speaker 2: of your arms protecting them from fear and harm. Tonight,
• 1:04:41
  Speaker 2: Let this peaceful soul feel the wall protecting them from harm. Tonight,
• 1:04:49
  Speaker 2: the wall built lovingly by you, the creator of the universe,
• 1:04:55
  Speaker 2: the creator that sits down now by the side of
• 1:04:58
  Speaker 2: this child as they sleep. In Jesus name, Amen, as
• 1:05:10
  Speaker 2: you rest, may you be blessed by the Living God
• 1:05:13
  Speaker 2: that transforms. May the Holy Spirit guide your dreams. Let
• 1:05:19
  Speaker 2: me pray for you now as you fall asleep, Oh
• 1:05:23
  Speaker 2: peaceful and Loving Father, Be merciful to this one, Oh God,
• 1:05:28
  Speaker 2: because of your constant love, because of your great mercy,
• 1:05:32
  Speaker 2: wipe away their sins, wash away all evil, and make
• 1:05:37
  Speaker 2: them clean from their sin. Tonight, tonight, let them hear
• 1:05:41
  Speaker 2: the sounds of joy and gladness. Create in them tonight
• 1:05:46
  Speaker 2: a pure heart, O God, give them again the joy
• 1:05:50
  Speaker 2: that comes from your salvation. God, grant this one peace
• 1:05:56
  Speaker 2: in Jesus name. Amen. So continue to pace your breathing
• 1:06:02
  Speaker 2: now as you continue to rest in the presence of God.
• 1:06:08
  Speaker 2: Just breathe, just imagine and dream. And now glory be
• 1:06:22
  Speaker 2: to the Father and to the Son and to the
• 1:06:24
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now
• 1:06:29
  Speaker 2: and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Dear Peaceful Father,
• 1:06:53
  Speaker 2: thank you for peace, for your care, your love, your mercy, yourself.
• 1:07:00
  Speaker 2: As this one, this child of yours, finds sleep tonight
• 1:07:06
  Speaker 2: as they sleep in bed, let them feel your presence
• 1:07:09
  Speaker 2: over them. Let them sleep in bed under your wings.
• 1:07:13
  Speaker 2: And it's in Jesus' name I pray over them amen,
• 1:07:18
  Speaker 2: and now let's begin by familiarizing ourselves with the passage
• 1:07:23
  Speaker 2: from Luke, chapter nineteen, verse one through ten. Just rest
• 1:07:28
  Speaker 2: softly as you listen to me read you this bedtime story.
• 1:07:33
  Speaker 2: Jesus is entering Jericho and was just passing through. In
• 1:07:38
  Speaker 2: this ancient Palestinian town near the Jordan River lives a
• 1:07:43
  Speaker 2: man named Zachias. He is a chief tax collector and
• 1:07:47
  Speaker 2: is very rich. He hears that Jesus is passing through
• 1:07:51
  Speaker 2: today and is hoping to see this rabbi that everyone
• 1:07:54
  Speaker 2: has been talking about. The problem is, Zachias is pretty
• 1:07:59
  Speaker 2: short and he's nervous he won't be able to see
• 1:08:02
  Speaker 2: above the crowd, so he has an idea. Sachius runs
• 1:08:07
  Speaker 2: ahead and climbs up into a sycamore tree just inside
• 1:08:11
  Speaker 2: a walled garden in the middle of town. He thinks
• 1:08:14
  Speaker 2: maybe from that vantage point he will be able to
• 1:08:18
  Speaker 2: see this rabbi from Capernaum, and sure enough he can.
• 1:08:24
  Speaker 2: He sees the crowds approaching following Jesus, and when Jesus
• 1:08:29
  Speaker 2: comes to the garden, he looks up and says to him, Zachias,
• 1:08:34
  Speaker 2: hurry and come down, for I must stay at your
• 1:08:37
  Speaker 2: house today. So he hurries and comes down, and Jesus
• 1:08:41
  Speaker 2: receives him joyfully. And when the others in the crowd
• 1:08:46
  Speaker 2: see this, they all start to grumble a little bit.
• 1:08:49
  Speaker 2: The rabbi is going in to be the guest of
• 1:08:52
  Speaker 2: a man who is a sinner. But Zachias stands and
• 1:08:57
  Speaker 2: says to the Lord. Behold, LORDRD, the half of my
• 1:09:01
  Speaker 2: goods I give to the poor. And if I have
• 1:09:06
  Speaker 2: defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. Then Jesus
• 1:09:12
  Speaker 2: says to him, today, salvation has come to you and
• 1:09:16
  Speaker 2: this house, since you also are a son of Abraham,
• 1:09:21
  Speaker 2: because I, the son of Man, have come to seek
• 1:09:25
  Speaker 2: and to save the lost. This is the word of
• 1:09:30
  Speaker 2: the Lord. Thanks be to God. Pause here for a
• 1:09:34
  Speaker 2: moment as you recall this scene, as you feel the
• 1:09:38
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit breathing peace and tranquility over you. Pause here
• 1:09:43
  Speaker 2: for just a few moments. Make no mind of the
• 1:09:46
  Speaker 2: time tonight. I will watch the clock. Just ponder and
• 1:09:50
  Speaker 2: breathe softly as you feel transported, as you feel transformed
• 1:09:56
  Speaker 2: into this story. Settle there now. So now visualize this
• 1:10:08
  Speaker 2: peaceful afternoon scene unfolding in your mind's eye. Imagine yourself
• 1:10:13
  Speaker 2: in the scene. Imagine being Zachias. You sense the scene
• 1:10:19
  Speaker 2: around you. Can you feel the early afternoon sun hitting
• 1:10:25
  Speaker 2: your face, the coolness of the breeze as you sit
• 1:10:30
  Speaker 2: high up in the sycamore tree, the leaves rustling around you.
• 1:10:36
  Speaker 2: You look around the town. You see the buildings, smoke
• 1:10:41
  Speaker 2: rising from fires being started for dinner. You see people
• 1:10:46
  Speaker 2: wandering about, talking, laughing, searching. You were sitting high on
• 1:10:55
  Speaker 2: a sturdy branch, your arms wrapped tightly around the trunk
• 1:10:59
  Speaker 2: of the tree, steadying yourself. Pause here for a moment
• 1:11:04
  Speaker 2: in this scene and just feel It's peace. You know
• 1:11:19
  Speaker 2: from the soft whispered conversations around you that Jesus and
• 1:11:22
  Speaker 2: the crowds are approaching. You sense that this new Rabbi
• 1:11:27
  Speaker 2: is on his way. If given the opportunity, what would
• 1:11:31
  Speaker 2: you say to him? Do you feel worthy to even
• 1:11:35
  Speaker 2: look at him? You are a tax collector. No one
• 1:11:39
  Speaker 2: wants to be near you. But will Jesus? Will he
• 1:11:44
  Speaker 2: judge you as others have? Will Jesus show you the
• 1:11:49
  Speaker 2: mercy that you seek, the mercy, the love and forgiveness
• 1:11:55
  Speaker 2: that you seek, and the mercy and the love and
• 1:12:00
  Speaker 2: forgiveness you crave from others? Will Jesus offer that to you.
• 1:12:06
  Speaker 2: You begin to whisper, Son of David, Jesus, please have
• 1:12:12
  Speaker 2: mercy on me, Son of David Jesus. Rabbi, please have
• 1:12:19
  Speaker 2: mercy on me, Son of David Jesus, Please have mercy
• 1:12:25
  Speaker 2: on me. Pause here and let this be your prayer
• 1:12:29
  Speaker 2: as the Holy Spirit guides you to sleep. Whisper it
• 1:12:33
  Speaker 2: for a few moments until I return. Son of David Jesus,
• 1:12:38
  Speaker 2: have mercy on me, Son of David Jesus, have mercy
• 1:12:44
  Speaker 2: on me. Here he is, finally, this Rabbi everyone has
• 1:12:53
  Speaker 2: been talking about. Everyone is clamoring for his attention. But
• 1:12:57
  Speaker 2: the crowd is too thick, voices too loud. He will
• 1:13:00
  Speaker 2: never see you, surely never hear you. But you whisper again,
• 1:13:05
  Speaker 2: Rabbi Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. And suddenly,
• 1:13:12
  Speaker 2: quite suddenly, Jesus stops. He stands still, the Messiah, the Lord,
• 1:13:20
  Speaker 2: the creator of the universe, your savior. He stops and
• 1:13:26
  Speaker 2: stands still for you. He turns his head and looks
• 1:13:32
  Speaker 2: up at you. How humbling is that you should be
• 1:13:36
  Speaker 2: the one kneeling and looking up at him. But here
• 1:13:39
  Speaker 2: is this Rabbi looking up at you. In a moment
• 1:13:44
  Speaker 2: that feels like an eternity. You hear Jesus say, hurry
• 1:13:49
  Speaker 2: and come down, for I must stay at your house today.
• 1:13:54
  Speaker 2: What are your emotions? Do you doubt he is talking
• 1:13:58
  Speaker 2: to you? Does shame drop your eyes? Does fear cause
• 1:14:04
  Speaker 2: you to look away? You slowly slide out of the
• 1:14:08
  Speaker 2: tree and drop to the ground. You feel your blanket
• 1:14:12
  Speaker 2: of shame drop from your shoulders as you walk towards
• 1:14:15
  Speaker 2: the soothing voice of Jesus. You feel the weight of
• 1:14:20
  Speaker 2: your cloak of guilt slip off of your head and mind.
• 1:14:24
  Speaker 2: You feel the peaceful voice of Jesus transform you as
• 1:14:27
  Speaker 2: you step closer towards him. You feel Jesus's arms embrace you,
• 1:14:34
  Speaker 2: his hands on your shoulders, his hands sliding up to
• 1:14:39
  Speaker 2: cradle your face, and you hear his soothing voice whisper
• 1:14:43
  Speaker 2: in your ear. I want you. I want to stay
• 1:14:47
  Speaker 2: with you. I have chosen you. You feel abandonment transform
• 1:14:56
  Speaker 2: into approval. You feel aggravation become feelings of abiding and
• 1:15:02
  Speaker 2: resting in the presence of Jesus, and you tell him,
• 1:15:07
  Speaker 2: behold Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor.
• 1:15:12
  Speaker 2: And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it.
• 1:15:15
  Speaker 2: Now fourfold, but you can visualize it again in Jesus's eyes. Yes,
• 1:15:23
  Speaker 2: but it is you that I want. It is you
• 1:15:27
  Speaker 2: I want to stay with. It is you I have chosen.
• 1:15:34
  Speaker 2: It is you I give release from fear this evening,
• 1:15:38
  Speaker 2: and it is you I grant well being. It is
• 1:15:44
  Speaker 2: you I give rest tonight. I am here for you,
• 1:15:49
  Speaker 2: dear child, Dear peaceful and RESTful Father. Bring this on
• 1:16:00
  Speaker 2: your child, rest and sleep tonight. Keep them from tossing,
• 1:16:06
  Speaker 2: keep them from turning. Lord God, you never sleep, Lord God,
• 1:16:12
  Speaker 2: you never slumber. So watch over this your child tonight
• 1:16:17
  Speaker 2: as they sleep. Bring peace to their churning mind. Comfort
• 1:16:23
  Speaker 2: their mind from spinning, and soothe their heart. Calm them tonight,
• 1:16:31
  Speaker 2: Give them sweet rest in your arms in Jesus name. Amen.
• 1:16:42
  Speaker 2: God is covering you tonight. God is completely protecting you
• 1:16:48
  Speaker 2: with his strength. You are protected under his wings tonight.
• 1:16:54
  Speaker 2: You can find rest under his wings Tonight. You can
• 1:17:00
  Speaker 2: find refuge in the loving arms of God tonight. God's
• 1:17:07
  Speaker 2: faithfulness is your shield tonight. God's faithfulness is a wall,
• 1:17:14
  Speaker 2: protecting you from harm, so that you can rest tonight
• 1:17:20
  Speaker 2: in God's presence. Tonight. In God's arms, you have no
• 1:17:26
  Speaker 2: need of fear. Tonight you are in the presence and
• 1:17:32
  Speaker 2: resting in the arms of the creator of the universe. Tonight,
• 1:17:41
  Speaker 2: Let this resting child feel your wings over them tonight
• 1:17:45
  Speaker 2: as they rest. Let this sleeping child feel the shield
• 1:17:51
  Speaker 2: of your arms protecting them from fear and harm. Tonight.
• 1:17:56
  Speaker 2: Let this peaceful soul feel the protecting them from harm. Tonight,
• 1:18:04
  Speaker 2: the wall built lovingly by you, the creator of the universe,
• 1:18:10
  Speaker 2: the creator that sits down now by the side of
• 1:18:13
  Speaker 2: this child as they sleep. In Jesus' name, Amen, as
• 1:18:25
  Speaker 2: you rest, may you be blessed by the living God
• 1:18:28
  Speaker 2: that transforms. May the Holy Spirit guide your dreams. Let
• 1:18:34
  Speaker 2: me pray for you now as you fall asleep, Oh
• 1:18:38
  Speaker 2: peaceful and Loving Father, Be merciful to this one, O God,
• 1:18:43
  Speaker 2: because of your constant love, because of your great mercy,
• 1:18:48
  Speaker 2: wipe away their sins, wash away all evil, and make
• 1:18:52
  Speaker 2: them clean from their sin. Tonight, tonight, let them hear
• 1:18:57
  Speaker 2: the sounds of joy and gladness. Create in them tonight
• 1:19:01
  Speaker 2: a pure heart of God. Give them again the joy
• 1:19:05
  Speaker 2: that comes from your salvation. God, grant this one peace
• 1:19:11
  Speaker 2: in Jesus name. Amen. So continue to pace your breathing
• 1:19:17
  Speaker 2: now as you continue to rest in the presence of God.
• 1:19:23
  Speaker 2: Just breathe, just imagine and dream. And now glory be
• 1:19:37
  Speaker 2: to the Father and to the Son and to the
• 1:19:40
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now
• 1:19:44
  Speaker 2: and ever shall be world without end. Amen. How would
• 1:19:56
  Speaker 2: you feel if Jesus stopped turn to you and whispered softly,
• 1:20:02
  Speaker 2: hurry up, Come to me, my child. Well, welcome to
• 1:20:07
  Speaker 2: this time of quiet, relaxing Christian guided meditation. Tonight on abide,
• 1:20:14
  Speaker 2: close your eyes as I pray this prayer over you
• 1:20:17
  Speaker 2: from God's word. Dear peaceful Father, thank you for peace,
• 1:20:23
  Speaker 2: for your care, your love, your mercy, your salvation. As
• 1:20:28
  Speaker 2: this one, this child of yours, finds sleep tonight as
• 1:20:34
  Speaker 2: they sleep in bed, let them feel your presence over them.
• 1:20:38
  Speaker 2: Let them sleep in bed under your wings. And it's
• 1:20:41
  Speaker 2: in Jesus name I pray over them. Amen. And now
• 1:20:48
  Speaker 2: let's begin by familiarizing ourselves with the passage from Luke
• 1:20:52
  Speaker 2: chapter nineteen, verse one through ten. Just rest softly as
• 1:20:56
  Speaker 2: you listen to me read you this bedtime story. Jesus
• 1:21:01
  Speaker 2: is entering Jericho and was just passing through. In this
• 1:21:06
  Speaker 2: ancient Palestinian town near the Jordan River, lives a man
• 1:21:11
  Speaker 2: named Zakias. He is a chief tax collector and is
• 1:21:15
  Speaker 2: very rich. He hears that Jesus is passing through today
• 1:21:19
  Speaker 2: and is hoping to see this rabbi that everyone has
• 1:21:22
  Speaker 2: been talking about. The problem is, Zachias is pretty short
• 1:21:28
  Speaker 2: and he's nervous he won't be able to see above
• 1:21:30
  Speaker 2: the crowd. So he has an idea. Sachias runs ahead
• 1:21:35
  Speaker 2: and climbs up into a sycamore tree just inside a
• 1:21:39
  Speaker 2: walled garden in the middle of town. He thinks maybe
• 1:21:43
  Speaker 2: from that vantage point he will be able to see
• 1:21:46
  Speaker 2: this rabbi from Capernaum, and sure enough he can. He
• 1:21:52
  Speaker 2: sees the crowds approaching following Jesus, and when Jesus comes
• 1:21:57
  Speaker 2: to the garden, he looks up and says to him, Zachias,
• 1:22:02
  Speaker 2: hurry and come down, for I must stay at your
• 1:22:05
  Speaker 2: house today. So he hurries and comes down, and Jesus
• 1:22:09
  Speaker 2: receives him joyfully. And when the others in the crowd
• 1:22:14
  Speaker 2: see this, they all start to grumble a little bit.
• 1:22:17
  Speaker 2: The rabbi is going in to be the guest of
• 1:22:19
  Speaker 2: a man who is a sinner, but Zachias stands and
• 1:22:25
  Speaker 2: says to the Lord, behold, Lord, the half of my
• 1:22:29
  Speaker 2: goods I give to the poor, and if I have
• 1:22:33
  Speaker 2: defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. Then Jesus
• 1:22:40
  Speaker 2: says to him, today, salvation has come to you and
• 1:22:44
  Speaker 2: this house, since you also are a son of Abraham,
• 1:22:48
  Speaker 2: because I, the son of Man, have come to seek
• 1:22:53
  Speaker 2: and to save the lost. This is the word of
• 1:22:57
  Speaker 2: the Lord. Thanks be to God. Pause here for a
• 1:23:02
  Speaker 2: moment as you recall this scene, as you feel the
• 1:23:05
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit breathing peace and tranquility over you, Pause here
• 1:23:11
  Speaker 2: for just a few moments. Make no mind of the
• 1:23:14
  Speaker 2: time tonight. I will watch the clock. Just ponder and
• 1:23:18
  Speaker 2: breathe softly as you feel transported, as you feel transformed
• 1:23:23
  Speaker 2: into this story. Settle there now. So now visualize this
• 1:23:36
  Speaker 2: peaceful afternoon scene unfolding in your mind's eye. Imagine yourself
• 1:23:41
  Speaker 2: in the scene. Imagine being Zachieas you sense the scene
• 1:23:47
  Speaker 2: around you. Can you feel the early afternoon sun hitting
• 1:23:53
  Speaker 2: your face, the coolness of the breeze as you sit
• 1:23:57
  Speaker 2: high up in the sycamore tree, the leaves rustling around you.
• 1:24:04
  Speaker 2: You look around the town. You see the buildings, smoke
• 1:24:09
  Speaker 2: rising from fires being started for dinner. You see people
• 1:24:14
  Speaker 2: wandering about, talking, laughing, searching. You were sitting high on
• 1:24:22
  Speaker 2: a sturdy branch, your arms wrapped tightly around the trunk
• 1:24:27
  Speaker 2: of the tree, steadying yourself. Pause here for a moment
• 1:24:32
  Speaker 2: in this scene and just feel its peace. You know
• 1:24:46
  Speaker 2: from the soft whispered conversations around you that Jesus and
• 1:24:50
  Speaker 2: the crowds are approaching. You sense that this new Rabbi
• 1:24:55
  Speaker 2: is on his way. If given the opportunity, what would
• 1:24:59
  Speaker 2: you say to him him? Do you feel worthy to
• 1:25:02
  Speaker 2: even look at him? You are a tax collector. No
• 1:25:06
  Speaker 2: one wants to be near you. But will Jesus? Will
• 1:25:12
  Speaker 2: he judge you as others have? Will Jesus show you
• 1:25:16
  Speaker 2: the mercy that you seek, the mercy, the love and
• 1:25:22
  Speaker 2: forgiveness that you seek, and the mercy and the love
• 1:25:27
  Speaker 2: and forgiveness you crave from others? Will Jesus offer that
• 1:25:32
  Speaker 2: to you? You begin to whisper, Son of David Jesus,
• 1:25:40
  Speaker 2: please have mercy on me, Son of David Jesus, Rabbi,
• 1:25:46
  Speaker 2: please have mercy on me, Son of David Jesus, Please
• 1:25:52
  Speaker 2: have mercy on me. Pause here and let this be
• 1:25:56
  Speaker 2: your prayer as the Holy Spirit guides you to sleep.
• 1:26:00
  Speaker 2: Whisper it for a few moments until I return, Son
• 1:26:03
  Speaker 2: of David, Jesus, have mercy on me, Son of David, Jesus,
• 1:26:11
  Speaker 2: have mercy on me. Here he is, finally, this Rabbi
• 1:26:20
  Speaker 2: everyone has been talking about. Everyone is clamoring for his attention.
• 1:26:25
  Speaker 2: But the crowd is too thick, voices too loud. He
• 1:26:28
  Speaker 2: will never see you, surely never hear you. But you
• 1:26:32
  Speaker 2: whisper again, Rabbi Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.
• 1:26:38
  Speaker 2: And suddenly, quite suddenly, Jesus stops. He stands still, the Messiah,
• 1:26:47
  Speaker 2: the Lord, the creator of the universe, your savior. He
• 1:26:52
  Speaker 2: stops and stands still for you. He turns his head
• 1:26:59
  Speaker 2: and looks up. Bet you, how humbling is that you
• 1:27:03
  Speaker 2: should be the one kneeling and looking up at him.
• 1:27:06
  Speaker 2: But here is this Rabbi looking up at you. In
• 1:27:11
  Speaker 2: a moment that feels like an eternity, you hear Jesus say,
• 1:27:15
  Speaker 2: hurry and come down, for I must stay at your
• 1:27:20
  Speaker 2: house today. What are your emotions? Do you doubt he
• 1:27:25
  Speaker 2: is talking to you? Does shame drop your eyes? Does
• 1:27:32
  Speaker 2: fear cause you to look away? You slowly slide out
• 1:27:36
  Speaker 2: of the tree and drop to the ground. You feel
• 1:27:39
  Speaker 2: your blanket of shame drop from your shoulders. As you
• 1:27:42
  Speaker 2: walk towards the soothing voice of Jesus, you feel the
• 1:27:47
  Speaker 2: weight of your cloak of guilt slip off of your
• 1:27:50
  Speaker 2: head and mind. You feel the peaceful voice of Jesus
• 1:27:54
  Speaker 2: transform you. As you step closer towards him. You feel
• 1:27:59
  Speaker 2: Jesus's arms embrace you, his hands on your shoulders, his
• 1:28:05
  Speaker 2: hands sliding up to cradle your face, and you hear
• 1:28:09
  Speaker 2: his soothing voice whisper in your ear. I want you,
• 1:28:14
  Speaker 2: I want to stay with you. I have chosen you.
• 1:28:21
  Speaker 2: You feel abandonment transform into approval. You feel aggravation become
• 1:28:28
  Speaker 2: feelings of abiding and resting in the presence of Jesus,
• 1:28:33
  Speaker 2: and you tell him, behold Lord, half of my goods
• 1:28:38
  Speaker 2: I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded
• 1:28:41
  Speaker 2: anyone of anything, I restore it now fourfold. But you
• 1:28:46
  Speaker 2: can visualize it again in Jesus's eyes. Yes, but it
• 1:28:51
  Speaker 2: is you that I want. It is you I want
• 1:28:56
  Speaker 2: to stay with. It is you I have chosen. It
• 1:29:02
  Speaker 2: is you I give release from fear this evening, and
• 1:29:06
  Speaker 2: it is you I grant well being. It is you
• 1:29:13
  Speaker 2: I give rest tonight. I am here for you, dear child,
• 1:29:23
  Speaker 2: dear peaceful and RESTful Father, Bring this one, your child,
• 1:29:29
  Speaker 2: rest and sleep tonight. Keep them from tossing, keep them
• 1:29:34
  Speaker 2: from turning. Lord, God, you never sleep, Lord, God, you
• 1:29:40
  Speaker 2: never slumber. So watch over this your child tonight as
• 1:29:45
  Speaker 2: they sleep. Bring peace to their churning mind. Comfort their
• 1:29:51
  Speaker 2: mind from spinning, and soothe their heart. Calm them tonight,
• 1:29:58
  Speaker 2: Give them sweet rest in your arms in Jesus name. Amen,
• 1:30:10
  Speaker 2: God is covering you. Tonight. God is completely protecting you
• 1:30:15
  Speaker 2: with his strength. You are protected under his wings. Tonight.
• 1:30:22
  Speaker 2: You can find rest under his wings. Tonight. You can
• 1:30:28
  Speaker 2: find refuge in the loving arms of God. Tonight. God's
• 1:30:34
  Speaker 2: faithfulness is your shield. Tonight. God's faithfulness is a wall
• 1:30:42
  Speaker 2: protecting you from harm, so that you can rest tonight
• 1:30:48
  Speaker 2: in God's presence. Tonight. In God's arms, you have no
• 1:30:54
  Speaker 2: need of fear. Tonight you are in the presence and
• 1:31:00
  Speaker 2: sting in the arms of the creator of the universe. Tonight,
• 1:31:09
  Speaker 2: Let this resting child feel your wings over them tonight
• 1:31:13
  Speaker 2: as they rest. Let this sleeping child feel the shield
• 1:31:19
  Speaker 2: of your arms protecting them from fear and harm. Tonight,
• 1:31:24
  Speaker 2: let this peaceful soul feel the wall protecting them from harm.
• 1:31:30
  Speaker 2: Tonight the wall built lovingly by you, the creator of
• 1:31:36
  Speaker 2: the universe, the creator that sits down now by the
• 1:31:41
  Speaker 2: side of this child as they sleep. In Jesus' name, Amen,
• 1:31:52
  Speaker 2: as you rest, may you be blessed by the Living
• 1:31:56
  Speaker 2: God that transforms. May the Holy Spirit guide your dreams.
• 1:32:02
  Speaker 2: Let me pray for you now as you fall asleep,
• 1:32:06
  Speaker 2: Oh Peaceful and Loving Father, Be merciful to this one,
• 1:32:10
  Speaker 2: Oh God, because of your constant love, because of your
• 1:32:14
  Speaker 2: great mercy, wipe away their sins, wash away all evil,
• 1:32:20
  Speaker 2: and make them clean from their sin. Tonight. Tonight, let
• 1:32:24
  Speaker 2: them hear the sounds of joy and gladness. Create in
• 1:32:29
  Speaker 2: them tonight a pure heart, O God, give them again
• 1:32:33
  Speaker 2: the joy that comes from your salvation. God, grant this
• 1:32:37
  Speaker 2: one peace in Jesus' name. Amen. So continue to pace
• 1:32:45
  Speaker 2: your breathing now as you continue to rest in the
• 1:32:48
  Speaker 2: presence of God. Just breathe, just imagine and dream, and
• 1:33:04
  Speaker 2: now glory be to the Father and to the Son
• 1:33:07
  Speaker 2: and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning,
• 1:33:11
  Speaker 2: is now and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
• 1:33:32
  Speaker 2: Dear Peaceful Father, thank you for peace, for your care,
• 1:33:37
  Speaker 2: your love, your mercy, your salvation as this one, this
• 1:33:43
  Speaker 2: child of yours, finds sleep tonight as they sleep in bed.
• 1:33:48
  Speaker 2: Let them feel your presence over them. Let them sleep
• 1:33:52
  Speaker 2: in bed under your wings. And it's in Jesus' name
• 1:33:55
  Speaker 2: I pray over them. Amen. Let's begin by familiarizing ourselves
• 1:34:03
  Speaker 2: with the passage from Luke, chapter nineteen, verse one through ten.
• 1:34:08
  Speaker 2: Just rest softly as you listen to me read you
• 1:34:11
  Speaker 2: this bedtime story. Jesus is entering Jericho and was just
• 1:34:17
  Speaker 2: passing through. In this ancient Palestinian town near the Jordan
• 1:34:22
  Speaker 2: River lives a man named Zachias. He is a chief
• 1:34:27
  Speaker 2: tax collector and is very rich. He hears that Jesus
• 1:34:31
  Speaker 2: is passing through today and is hoping to see this
• 1:34:34
  Speaker 2: rabbi that everyone has been talking about. The problem is,
• 1:34:38
  Speaker 2: Zachias is pretty short and he's nervous he won't be
• 1:34:42
  Speaker 2: able to see above the crowd, So he has an idea.
• 1:34:47
  Speaker 2: Sachias runs ahead and climbs up into a sycamore tree
• 1:34:51
  Speaker 2: just inside a walled garden in the middle of town.
• 1:34:55
  Speaker 2: He thinks maybe from that vantage point he will be
• 1:34:58
  Speaker 2: able to see this rabbi from Capernaum, and sure enough
• 1:35:03
  Speaker 2: he can. He sees the crowds approaching following Jesus. And
• 1:35:09
  Speaker 2: when Jesus comes to the garden, he looks up and
• 1:35:12
  Speaker 2: says to him, Zachias, hurry and come down, for I
• 1:35:17
  Speaker 2: must stay at your house today. So he hurries and
• 1:35:21
  Speaker 2: comes down, and Jesus receives him joyfully. And when the
• 1:35:26
  Speaker 2: others in the crowd see this, they all start to
• 1:35:28
  Speaker 2: grumble a little bit. The rabbi is going in to
• 1:35:32
  Speaker 2: be the guest of a man who is a sinner.
• 1:35:36
  Speaker 2: But Zachias stands and says to the Lord. Behold, Lord,
• 1:35:41
  Speaker 2: the half of my goods I give to the poor,
• 1:35:46
  Speaker 2: and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore
• 1:35:50
  Speaker 2: it fourfold. Then Jesus says to him, today salvation has
• 1:35:56
  Speaker 2: come to you and this house, since you also are
• 1:36:00
  Speaker 2: a son of Abraham, because I, the son of Man,
• 1:36:05
  Speaker 2: have come to seek and to save the lost. This
• 1:36:10
  Speaker 2: is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
• 1:36:14
  Speaker 2: Pause here for a moment as you recall this scene,
• 1:36:18
  Speaker 2: as you feel the Holy Spirit breathing peace and tranquility
• 1:36:22
  Speaker 2: over you. Pause here for just a few moments. Make
• 1:36:26
  Speaker 2: no mind of the time tonight, I will watch the clock,
• 1:36:30
  Speaker 2: Just ponder and breathe softly as you feel transported, as
• 1:36:35
  Speaker 2: you feel transformed into this story. Settle there now. So
• 1:36:46
  Speaker 2: now visualize this peaceful afternoon scene unfolding in your mind's eye.
• 1:36:53
  Speaker 2: Imagine yourself in the scene. Imagine being Zachias. You sense
• 1:36:59
  Speaker 2: this around you? Can you feel the early afternoon sun
• 1:37:05
  Speaker 2: hitting your face, the coolness of the breeze as you
• 1:37:10
  Speaker 2: sit high up in the sycamore tree, the leaves rustling
• 1:37:14
  Speaker 2: around you. You look around the town. You see the buildings,
• 1:37:21
  Speaker 2: smoke rising from fires being started for dinner. You see
• 1:37:27
  Speaker 2: people wandering about, talking, laughing, searching. You were sitting high
• 1:37:35
  Speaker 2: on a sturdy branch, your arms wrapped tightly around the
• 1:37:40
  Speaker 2: trunk of the tree, steadying yourself. Pause here for a
• 1:37:45
  Speaker 2: moment in this scene and just feel its peace. You
• 1:37:59
  Speaker 2: know from and the soft whispered conversations around you, that
• 1:38:03
  Speaker 2: Jesus and the crowds are approaching. You sense that this
• 1:38:07
  Speaker 2: new Rabbi is on his way. If given the opportunity,
• 1:38:11
  Speaker 2: what would you say to him? Do you feel worthy
• 1:38:15
  Speaker 2: to even look at him? You are a tax collector.
• 1:38:19
  Speaker 2: No one wants to be near you. But will Jesus?
• 1:38:24
  Speaker 2: Will he judge you as others have, Will Jesus show
• 1:38:29
  Speaker 2: you the mercy that you seek, the mercy, the love
• 1:38:35
  Speaker 2: and forgiveness that you seek, and the mercy and the
• 1:38:40
  Speaker 2: love and forgiveness you crave from others. Will Jesus offer
• 1:38:45
  Speaker 2: that to you. You begin to whisper, Son of David, Jesus,
• 1:38:53
  Speaker 2: please have mercy on me, Son of David, Jesus, Rabbi,
• 1:39:00
  Speaker 2: please have mercy on me, Son of David, Jesus, Please
• 1:39:05
  Speaker 2: have mercy on me. Pause here and let this be
• 1:39:09
  Speaker 2: your prayer as the Holy Spirit guides you to sleep.
• 1:39:13
  Speaker 2: Whisper it for a few moments until I return. Son
• 1:39:16
  Speaker 2: of David, Jesus, have mercy on me, Son of David, Jesus,
• 1:39:24
  Speaker 2: have mercy on me. Here he is finally this Rabbi
• 1:39:33
  Speaker 2: everyone has been talking about. Everyone is clamoring for his attention.
• 1:39:38
  Speaker 2: But the crowd is too thick, voices too loud. He
• 1:39:41
  Speaker 2: will never see you, surely never hear you. But you
• 1:39:45
  Speaker 2: whisper again, Rabbi Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.
• 1:39:51
  Speaker 2: And suddenly, quite suddenly, Jesus stops. He stands still, the Messiah,
• 1:40:00
  Speaker 2: the Lord, the creator of the universe, your savior. He
• 1:40:05
  Speaker 2: stops and stands still for you. He turns his head
• 1:40:12
  Speaker 2: and looks up at you. How humbling is that you
• 1:40:16
  Speaker 2: should be the one kneeling and looking up at him?
• 1:40:19
  Speaker 2: But here is this Rabbi looking up at you. In
• 1:40:24
  Speaker 2: a moment that feels like an eternity, you hear Jesus say,
• 1:40:28
  Speaker 2: hurry and come down, for I must stay at your
• 1:40:33
  Speaker 2: house to day. What are your emotions? Do you doubt
• 1:40:38
  Speaker 2: he is talking to you? Does shame drop your eyes?
• 1:40:44
  Speaker 2: Does fear cause you to look away? You slowly slide
• 1:40:49
  Speaker 2: out of the tree and drop to the ground. You
• 1:40:51
  Speaker 2: feel your blanket of shame drop from your shoulders as
• 1:40:55
  Speaker 2: you walk towards the soothing voice of Jesus. Feel the
• 1:41:00
  Speaker 2: weight of your cloak of guilt slip off of your
• 1:41:03
  Speaker 2: head and mind. You feel the peaceful voice of Jesus
• 1:41:07
  Speaker 2: transform you as you step closer towards him. You feel
• 1:41:12
  Speaker 2: Jesus's arms embrace you, his hands on your shoulders, his
• 1:41:18
  Speaker 2: hands sliding up to cradle your face, and you hear
• 1:41:22
  Speaker 2: his soothing voice whisper in your ear. I want you,
• 1:41:27
  Speaker 2: I want to stay with you. I have chosen you.
• 1:41:34
  Speaker 2: You feel abandonment transform into approval. You feel aggravation become
• 1:41:41
  Speaker 2: feelings of abiding and resting in the presence of Jesus,
• 1:41:46
  Speaker 2: and you tell him. Behold Lord, half of my goods
• 1:41:51
  Speaker 2: I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded
• 1:41:54
  Speaker 2: anyone of anything, I restore it now fourfold, that you
• 1:41:59
  Speaker 2: can vision again in Jesus's eyes. Yes, but it is
• 1:42:05
  Speaker 2: you that I want. It is you I want to
• 1:42:09
  Speaker 2: stay with. It is you I have chosen. It is
• 1:42:15
  Speaker 2: you I give release from fear this evening, and it
• 1:42:19
  Speaker 2: is you I grant well being. It is you I
• 1:42:26
  Speaker 2: give rest tonight. I am here for you, dear child,
• 1:42:36
  Speaker 2: dear peaceful and RESTful Father. Bring this one, your child,
• 1:42:42
  Speaker 2: rest and sleep tonight. Keep them from tossing, keep them
• 1:42:47
  Speaker 2: from turning. Lord God, you never sleep, Lord God, you
• 1:42:53
  Speaker 2: never slumber. So watch over this your child tonight as
• 1:42:58
  Speaker 2: they sleep. Bring peace to their churning mind. Comfort their
• 1:43:04
  Speaker 2: mind from spinning, and soothe their heart. Calm them tonight.
• 1:43:11
  Speaker 2: Give them sweet rest in your arms in Jesus' name. Amen.
• 1:43:23
  Speaker 2: God is covering you tonight. God is completely protecting you
• 1:43:28
  Speaker 2: with his strength. You are protected under his wings. Tonight.
• 1:43:35
  Speaker 2: You can find rest under his wings. Tonight, you can
• 1:43:41
  Speaker 2: find refuge in the loving arms of God. Tonight. God's
• 1:43:47
  Speaker 2: faithfulness is your shield. Tonight. God's faithfulness is a wall
• 1:43:55
  Speaker 2: protecting you from harm, so that you can rest tonight
• 1:44:01
  Speaker 2: in God's presence. Tonight, in God's arms, you have no
• 1:44:07
  Speaker 2: need of fear. Tonight you are in the presence and
• 1:44:12
  Speaker 2: resting in the arms of the creator of the universe. Tonight,
• 1:44:22
  Speaker 2: Let this resting child feel your wings over them tonight
• 1:44:26
  Speaker 2: as they rest. Let this sleeping child feel the shield
• 1:44:32
  Speaker 2: of your arms protecting them from fear and harm. Tonight,
• 1:44:37
  Speaker 2: Let this peaceful soul feel the wall protecting them from harm. Tonight,
• 1:44:45
  Speaker 2: the wall built lovingly by you, the creator of the universe,
• 1:44:51
  Speaker 2: the creator that sits down now by the side of
• 1:44:54
  Speaker 2: this child as they sleep in Jesus name, Amen, as
• 1:45:06
  Speaker 2: you rest, may you be blessed by the Living God
• 1:45:09
  Speaker 2: that transforms. May the Holy Spirit guide your dreams. Let
• 1:45:15
  Speaker 2: me pray for you now as you fall asleep. Oh
• 1:45:19
  Speaker 2: peaceful and Loving Father, Be merciful to this one, Oh God,
• 1:45:24
  Speaker 2: because of your constant love, because of your great mercy,
• 1:45:28
  Speaker 2: wipe away their sins, wash away all evil, and make
• 1:45:33
  Speaker 2: them clean from their sin. Tonight, tonight, let them hear
• 1:45:38
  Speaker 2: the sounds of joy and gladness, create in them tonight
• 1:45:42
  Speaker 2: a pure heart. O God, give them again the joy
• 1:45:46
  Speaker 2: that comes from your salvation. God, grant this one peace
• 1:45:52
  Speaker 2: in Jesus' name. Amen. So continue to pace your breathing.
• 1:45:58
  Speaker 2: Now you continue to rest in the presence of God.
• 1:46:04
  Speaker 2: Just breathe, just imagine and dream. And now glory be
• 1:46:18
  Speaker 2: to the Father and to the Son and to the
• 1:46:21
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now
• 1:46:25
  Speaker 2: and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Dear Peaceful Father,
• 1:46:49
  Speaker 2: thank you for peace, for your care, your love, your mercy,
• 1:46:55
  Speaker 2: your salvation. As this one, this child of yours, fine
• 1:47:00
  Speaker 2: sleep tonight as they sleep in bed. Let them feel
• 1:47:04
  Speaker 2: your presence over them. Let them sleep in bed under
• 1:47:08
  Speaker 2: your wings. And it's in Jesus' name I pray over them. Amen.
• 1:47:15
  Speaker 2: And now let's begin by familiarizing ourselves with the passage
• 1:47:20
  Speaker 2: from Luke chapter nineteen, verse one through ten. Just rest
• 1:47:24
  Speaker 2: softly as you listen to me read you this bedtime story.
• 1:47:29
  Speaker 2: Jesus is entering Jericho and was just passing through. In
• 1:47:34
  Speaker 2: this ancient Palestinian town near the Jordan River lives a
• 1:47:39
  Speaker 2: man named Zachias. He is a chief tax collector and
• 1:47:43
  Speaker 2: is very rich. He hears that Jesus is passing through
• 1:47:47
  Speaker 2: today and is hoping to see this rabbi that everyone
• 1:47:50
  Speaker 2: has been talking about. The problem is, Zachias is pretty
• 1:47:55
  Speaker 2: short and he's nervous he won't be able to see
• 1:47:58
  Speaker 2: above the crowd, so he has an idea. Zacheus runs
• 1:48:03
  Speaker 2: ahead and climbs up into a sycamore tree just inside
• 1:48:07
  Speaker 2: a walled garden in the middle of town. He thinks
• 1:48:11
  Speaker 2: maybe from that vantage point he will be able to
• 1:48:14
  Speaker 2: see this rabbi from Capernaum, and sure enough he can.
• 1:48:20
  Speaker 2: He sees the crowds approaching following Jesus, and when Jesus
• 1:48:25
  Speaker 2: comes to the garden, he looks up and says to him, Zachias,
• 1:48:30
  Speaker 2: hurry and come down, for I must stay at your
• 1:48:33
  Speaker 2: house today. So he hurries and comes down, and Jesus
• 1:48:37
  Speaker 2: receives him joyfully, And when the others in the crowd
• 1:48:42
  Speaker 2: see this, they all start to grumble a little bit.
• 1:48:45
  Speaker 2: The rabbi is going in to be the guest of
• 1:48:48
  Speaker 2: a man who is a sinner. But Zacheus stands and
• 1:48:53
  Speaker 2: says to the Lord, behold, Lord, the half of my
• 1:48:58
  Speaker 2: goods I give to the poor, And if I have
• 1:49:02
  Speaker 2: defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. Then Jesus
• 1:49:08
  Speaker 2: says to him, today salvation has come to you and
• 1:49:12
  Speaker 2: this house, since you also are a son of Abraham,
• 1:49:17
  Speaker 2: because I, the son of Man, have come to seek
• 1:49:21
  Speaker 2: and to save the lost. This is the word of
• 1:49:26
  Speaker 2: the Lord. Thanks be to God. Pause here for a
• 1:49:30
  Speaker 2: moment as you recall this scene, as you feel the
• 1:49:34
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit breathing peace and tranquility over you. Pause here
• 1:49:39
  Speaker 2: for just a few moments. Make no mind of the
• 1:49:42
  Speaker 2: time tonight. I will watch the clock. Just ponder and
• 1:49:46
  Speaker 2: breathe softly as you feel transported, as you feel transformed
• 1:49:52
  Speaker 2: into this story. Settle there now. So now, visualize this
• 1:50:04
  Speaker 2: peaceful afternoon scene unfolding in your mind's eye. Imagine yourself
• 1:50:09
  Speaker 2: in the scene. Imagine being Zachias. You sense the scene
• 1:50:15
  Speaker 2: around you. Can you feel the early afternoon sun hitting
• 1:50:21
  Speaker 2: your face, the coolness of the breeze as you sit
• 1:50:26
  Speaker 2: high up in the sycamore tree, the leaves rustling around you.
• 1:50:32
  Speaker 2: You look around the town. You see the buildings, smoke
• 1:50:37
  Speaker 2: rising from fires being started for dinner. You see people
• 1:50:42
  Speaker 2: wandering about, talking, laughing, searching. You were sitting high on
• 1:50:51
  Speaker 2: a sturdy branch your arms wrapped tightly around the trunk
• 1:50:55
  Speaker 2: of the tree, steadying yourself here for a moment in
• 1:51:01
  Speaker 2: this scene, and just feel it's peace. You know from
• 1:51:15
  Speaker 2: the soft whispered conversations around you that Jesus and the
• 1:51:19
  Speaker 2: crowds are approaching. You sense that this new Rabbi is
• 1:51:23
  Speaker 2: on his way. If given the opportunity, what would you
• 1:51:27
  Speaker 2: say to him? Do you feel worthy to even look
• 1:51:31
  Speaker 2: at him? You are a tax collector. No one wants
• 1:51:36
  Speaker 2: to be near you. But will Jesus Will he judge
• 1:51:41
  Speaker 2: you as others have? Will Jesus show you the mercy
• 1:51:45
  Speaker 2: that you seek, the mercy, the love and forgiveness that
• 1:51:52
  Speaker 2: you seek, and the mercy and the love and forgiveness
• 1:51:57
  Speaker 2: you crave from others. Jesus offer that to you. You
• 1:52:03
  Speaker 2: begin to whisper, Son of David Jesus, Please have mercy
• 1:52:09
  Speaker 2: on me, Son of David Jesus, Rabbi, please have mercy
• 1:52:16
  Speaker 2: on me. Son of David Jesus, please have mercy on me.
• 1:52:23
  Speaker 2: Pause here and let this be your prayer as the
• 1:52:26
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit guides you to sleep. Whisper it for a
• 1:52:29
  Speaker 2: few moments until I return. Son of David Jesus, have
• 1:52:35
  Speaker 2: mercy on me, son of David, Jesus, have mercy on me.
• 1:52:45
  Speaker 2: Here he is, finally, this rabbi everyone has been talking about.
• 1:52:50
  Speaker 2: Everyone is clamoring for his attention. But the crowd is
• 1:52:54
  Speaker 2: too thick, voices too loud. He will never see you,
• 1:52:58
  Speaker 2: surely never hear you. But you whisper again, Rabbi Jesus,
• 1:53:03
  Speaker 2: son of David, have mercy on me. And suddenly, quite suddenly,
• 1:53:10
  Speaker 2: Jesus stops. He stands still, the Messiah, the Lord, the
• 1:53:17
  Speaker 2: creator of the universe, your savior. He stops and stands
• 1:53:23
  Speaker 2: still for you. He turns his head and looks up
• 1:53:28
  Speaker 2: at you. How humbling is that you should be the
• 1:53:32
  Speaker 2: one kneeling and looking up at him. But here is
• 1:53:35
  Speaker 2: this Rabbi looking up at you. In a moment that
• 1:53:40
  Speaker 2: feels like an eternity, you hear Jesus say, hurry and
• 1:53:45
  Speaker 2: come down, for I must stay at your house today.
• 1:53:50
  Speaker 2: What are your emotions? Do you doubt he is talking
• 1:53:54
  Speaker 2: to you? Does shame drop your eyes? This fear cause
• 1:54:01
  Speaker 2: you to look away? You slowly slide out of the
• 1:54:04
  Speaker 2: tree and drop to the ground. You feel your blanket
• 1:54:08
  Speaker 2: of shame drop from your shoulders as you walk towards
• 1:54:12
  Speaker 2: the soothing voice of Jesus. You feel the weight of
• 1:54:16
  Speaker 2: your cloak of guilt slip off of your head and mind.
• 1:54:21
  Speaker 2: You feel the peaceful voice of Jesus transform you. As
• 1:54:24
  Speaker 2: you step closer towards him. You feel Jesus's arms embrace you,
• 1:54:30
  Speaker 2: his hands on your shoulders, his hands sliding up to
• 1:54:35
  Speaker 2: cradle your face, and you hear his soothing voice whisper
• 1:54:39
  Speaker 2: in your ear. I want you, I want to stay
• 1:54:43
  Speaker 2: with you. I have chosen you. You feel abandonment transform
• 1:54:52
  Speaker 2: into approval. You feel aggravation become feelings of abiding and
• 1:54:59
  Speaker 2: resting in the present, said Jesus, and you tell him,
• 1:55:03
  Speaker 2: behold Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor.
• 1:55:08
  Speaker 2: And if I have defrauded any one of anything, I
• 1:55:11
  Speaker 2: restore it now fourfold. But you can visualize it again
• 1:55:16
  Speaker 2: in Jesus's eyes. Yes, but it is you that I want.
• 1:55:23
  Speaker 2: It is you I want to stay with. It is
• 1:55:27
  Speaker 2: you I have chosen. It is you I give release
• 1:55:32
  Speaker 2: from fear this evening, and it is you I grant
• 1:55:37
  Speaker 2: well being. It is you I give rest tonight. I
• 1:55:43
  Speaker 2: am here for you, dear child, dear peaceful and RESTful father.
• 1:55:55
  Speaker 2: Bring this one, your child, rest and sleep tonight, Keep
• 1:56:00
  Speaker 2: them from tossing, keep them from turning. Lord, God, you
• 1:56:05
  Speaker 2: never sleep. Lord, God, you never slumber. So watch over
• 1:56:12
  Speaker 2: this your child tonight as they sleep. Bring peace to
• 1:56:17
  Speaker 2: their churning mind. Comfort their mind from spinning, and soothe
• 1:56:23
  Speaker 2: their heart. Calm them tonight, Give them sweet rest in
• 1:56:29
  Speaker 2: your arms in Jesus name. Amen, God is covering you. Tonight.
• 1:56:41
  Speaker 2: God is completely protecting you with his strength. You are
• 1:56:47
  Speaker 2: protected under his wings. Tonight. You can find rest under
• 1:56:53
  Speaker 2: his wings. Tonight. You can find refuge in the loving
• 1:56:59
  Speaker 2: arms of God. Tonight. God's faithfulness is your shield. Tonight.
• 1:57:08
  Speaker 2: God's faithfulness is a wall protecting you from harm, so
• 1:57:13
  Speaker 2: that you can rest tonight in God's presence. Tonight. In
• 1:57:20
  Speaker 2: God's arms, you have no need of fear. Tonight you
• 1:57:26
  Speaker 2: are in the presence and resting in the arms of
• 1:57:30
  Speaker 2: the creator of the universe. Tonight, Let this resting child
• 1:57:39
  Speaker 2: feel your wings over them Tonight as they rest. Let
• 1:57:44
  Speaker 2: this sleeping child feel the shield of your arms protecting
• 1:57:49
  Speaker 2: them from fear and harm. Tonight, Let this peaceful soul
• 1:57:55
  Speaker 2: feel the wall protecting them from harm. Tonight, the wall
• 1:58:01
  Speaker 2: built lovingly by you, the creator of the universe. The
• 1:58:07
  Speaker 2: Creator that sits down now by the side of this
• 1:58:10
  Speaker 2: child as they sleep in Jesus name. Amen, as you rest,
• 1:58:22
  Speaker 2: may you be blessed by the living God that transforms.
• 1:58:27
  Speaker 2: May the Holy Spirit guide your dreams. Let me pray
• 1:58:31
  Speaker 2: for you now as you fall asleep. Oh, Peaceful and
• 1:58:35
  Speaker 2: Loving Father, Be merciful to this one, O God, because
• 1:58:40
  Speaker 2: of your constant love, because of your great mercy, wipe
• 1:58:44
  Speaker 2: away their sins, wash away all evil, and make them
• 1:58:49
  Speaker 2: clean from their sin. Tonight tonight, let them hear the
• 1:58:53
  Speaker 2: sounds of joy and gladness. Create in them tonight a
• 1:58:58
  Speaker 2: pure heart, O God, give them again the joy that
• 1:59:02
  Speaker 2: comes from your salvation. God, grant this one peace in
• 1:59:08
  Speaker 2: Jesus name. Amen. So continue to pace your breathing now,
• 1:59:15
  Speaker 2: as you continue to rest in the presence of God.
• 1:59:19
  Speaker 2: Just breathe, just imagine and dream, and now glory be
• 1:59:33
  Speaker 2: to the Father and to the Son and to the
• 1:59:36
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now
• 1:59:40
  Speaker 2: and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Dear Peaceful Father,
• 2:00:04
  Speaker 2: thank you for peace, for your care, your love, your mercy,
• 2:00:11
  Speaker 2: your salvation. As this one, this child of Yours, finds
• 2:00:15
  Speaker 2: sleep tonight as they sleep in bed, let them feel
• 2:00:19
  Speaker 2: your presence over them. Let them sleep in bed under
• 2:00:23
  Speaker 2: your wings. And it's in Jesus' name I pray over them. Amen.
• 2:00:30
  Speaker 2: And now let's begin by familiarizing ourselves with the passage
• 2:00:35
  Speaker 2: from Luke, chapter nineteen, verse one through ten. Just rest
• 2:00:39
  Speaker 2: softly as you listen to me read you this bedtime story.
• 2:00:45
  Speaker 2: Jesus is entering Jericho and was just passing through. In
• 2:00:50
  Speaker 2: this ancient Palestinian town near the Jordan River lives a
• 2:00:54
  Speaker 2: man named Zachias. He is a chief tax collector and
• 2:00:59
  Speaker 2: is very rich. He hears that Jesus is passing through
• 2:01:03
  Speaker 2: today and is hoping to see this rabbi that everyone
• 2:01:06
  Speaker 2: has been talking about. The problem is, Zachias is pretty
• 2:01:11
  Speaker 2: short and he's nervous he won't be able to see
• 2:01:13
  Speaker 2: above the crowd, so he has an idea. Sachius runs
• 2:01:19
  Speaker 2: ahead and climbs up into a sycamore tree just inside
• 2:01:22
  Speaker 2: a walled garden in the middle of town. He thinks
• 2:01:26
  Speaker 2: maybe from that vantage point he will be able to
• 2:01:29
  Speaker 2: see this rabbi from Capernaum, and sure enough he can.
• 2:01:35
  Speaker 2: He sees the crowds approaching following Jesus, and when Jesus
• 2:01:41
  Speaker 2: comes to the garden. He looks up and says to him, Zachias,
• 2:01:45
  Speaker 2: hurry and come down, for I must stay at your
• 2:01:49
  Speaker 2: house today. So he hurries and comes down, and Jesus
• 2:01:53
  Speaker 2: receives him joyfully. And when the others in the crowd
• 2:01:57
  Speaker 2: see this, they all start to grumb a little bit.
• 2:02:01
  Speaker 2: The rabbi is going in to be the guest of
• 2:02:03
  Speaker 2: a man who is a sinner. But Psachaeus stands and
• 2:02:09
  Speaker 2: says to the Lord. Behold, Lord, the half of my
• 2:02:13
  Speaker 2: goods I give to the poor, and if I have
• 2:02:17
  Speaker 2: defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. Then Jesus
• 2:02:24
  Speaker 2: says to him, today salvation has come to you and
• 2:02:28
  Speaker 2: this house, since you also are a son of Abraham,
• 2:02:32
  Speaker 2: because I, the son of Man, have come to seek
• 2:02:37
  Speaker 2: and to save the lost. This is the word of
• 2:02:41
  Speaker 2: the Lord. Thanks be to God. Pause here for a
• 2:02:46
  Speaker 2: moment as you recall this scene, as you feel the
• 2:02:49
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit breathing peace and tranquility over you. Pause here
• 2:02:55
  Speaker 2: for just a few moments. Make no mind of the
• 2:02:57
  Speaker 2: time tonight, I will watch the clock. Just ponder and
• 2:03:02
  Speaker 2: breathe softly as you feel transported, as you feel transformed
• 2:03:07
  Speaker 2: into this story. Settle there, now, so, now visualize this
• 2:03:19
  Speaker 2: peaceful afternoon scene unfolding in your mind's eye. Imagine yourself
• 2:03:25
  Speaker 2: in the scene. Imagine being Zachias. You sense the scene
• 2:03:31
  Speaker 2: around you. Can you feel the early afternoon sun hitting
• 2:03:36
  Speaker 2: your face, the coolness of the breeze as you sit
• 2:03:41
  Speaker 2: high up in the sycamore tree, the leaves rustling around you.
• 2:03:47
  Speaker 2: You look around the town. You see the buildings, smoke
• 2:03:53
  Speaker 2: rising from fires being started for dinner. You see people
• 2:03:58
  Speaker 2: wandering about, talking, laughing, searching. You were sitting high on
• 2:04:06
  Speaker 2: a sturdy branch, your arms wrapped tightly around the trunk
• 2:04:11
  Speaker 2: of the tree, steadying yourself. Pause here for a moment
• 2:04:16
  Speaker 2: in this scene and just feel it's peace. You know
• 2:04:30
  Speaker 2: from the soft whispered conversations around you that Jesus and
• 2:04:34
  Speaker 2: the crowds are approaching. You sense that this new Rabbi
• 2:04:39
  Speaker 2: is on his way. If given the opportunity, what would
• 2:04:43
  Speaker 2: you say to him? Do you feel worthy to even
• 2:04:46
  Speaker 2: look at him? You are a tax collector. No one
• 2:04:51
  Speaker 2: wants to be near you. But will Jesus? Will he
• 2:04:56
  Speaker 2: judge you as others have? Will Jesus show you the
• 2:05:00
  Speaker 2: mercy that you seek, The mercy, the love and forgiveness
• 2:05:07
  Speaker 2: that you seek, and the mercy and the love and
• 2:05:11
  Speaker 2: forgiveness you crave from others. Will Jesus offer that to you?
• 2:05:18
  Speaker 2: You begin to whisper, Son of David, Jesus, Please have
• 2:05:24
  Speaker 2: mercy on me, Son of David Jesus, Rabbi, please have
• 2:05:31
  Speaker 2: mercy on me, Son of David Jesus, Please have mercy
• 2:05:36
  Speaker 2: on me. Pause here and let this be your prayer
• 2:05:41
  Speaker 2: as the Holy Spirit guides you to sleep. Whisper it
• 2:05:44
  Speaker 2: for a few moments until I return. Son of David Jesus,
• 2:05:50
  Speaker 2: have mercy on me, Son of David, Jesus, have mercy
• 2:05:55
  Speaker 2: on me. Here he is finally this Rabbi everyone has
• 2:06:04
  Speaker 2: been talking about. Everyone is clamoring for his attention. But
• 2:06:08
  Speaker 2: the crowd is too thick, voices too loud. He will
• 2:06:12
  Speaker 2: never see you, surely never hear you. But you whisper again,
• 2:06:17
  Speaker 2: Rabbi Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. And suddenly,
• 2:06:24
  Speaker 2: quite suddenly, Jesus stops. He stands still, the Messiah, the Lord,
• 2:06:32
  Speaker 2: the creator of the universe, your savior. He stops and
• 2:06:37
  Speaker 2: stands still for you. He turns his head and looks
• 2:06:43
  Speaker 2: up at you. How humbling is that you should be
• 2:06:47
  Speaker 2: the one kneeling and looking up at him. But here
• 2:06:50
  Speaker 2: is this Rabbi looking up at you. In a moment
• 2:06:55
  Speaker 2: that feels like an eternity, you hear Jesus say, hurry
• 2:07:00
  Speaker 2: and come down, for I must stay at your house
• 2:07:04
  Speaker 2: to day. What are your emotions? Do you doubt he
• 2:07:09
  Speaker 2: is talking to you? Does shame drop your eyes? Does
• 2:07:15
  Speaker 2: fear cause you to look away? You slowly slide out
• 2:07:19
  Speaker 2: of the tree and drop to the ground. You feel
• 2:07:23
  Speaker 2: your blanket of shame drop from your shoulders as you
• 2:07:26
  Speaker 2: walk towards the soothing voice of Jesus. You feel the
• 2:07:31
  Speaker 2: weight of your cloak of guilt slip off of your
• 2:07:34
  Speaker 2: head and mind. You feel the peaceful voice of Jesus
• 2:07:38
  Speaker 2: transform you. As you step closer towards him. You feel
• 2:07:43
  Speaker 2: Jesus's arms embrace you, his hands on your shoulders, his
• 2:07:49
  Speaker 2: hands sliding up to cradle your face, and you hear
• 2:07:52
  Speaker 2: his soothing voice whisper in your ear. I want you,
• 2:07:58
  Speaker 2: I want to stay with you. I have chosen you.
• 2:08:05
  Speaker 2: You feel abandonment transform into approval. You feel aggravation become
• 2:08:12
  Speaker 2: feelings of abiding and resting in the presence of Jesus,
• 2:08:17
  Speaker 2: and you tell him. Behold, Lord, half of my goods
• 2:08:21
  Speaker 2: I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded
• 2:08:25
  Speaker 2: any one of anything, I restore it now fourfold that
• 2:08:30
  Speaker 2: you can visualize it again in Jesus's eyes. Yes, but
• 2:08:35
  Speaker 2: it is you that I want. It is you I
• 2:08:39
  Speaker 2: want to stay with. It is you I have chosen.
• 2:08:45
  Speaker 2: It is you I give release from fear this evening,
• 2:08:50
  Speaker 2: and it is you I grant well being. It is
• 2:08:55
  Speaker 2: you I give rest. Tonight. I am here for you,
• 2:09:00
  Speaker 2: dear child, dear peaceful and RESTful Father. Bring this one,
• 2:09:11
  Speaker 2: your child, rest and sleep tonight. Keep them from tossing,
• 2:09:17
  Speaker 2: keep them from turning. Lord God, you never sleep, Lord, God,
• 2:09:23
  Speaker 2: you never slumber. So watch over this your child tonight
• 2:09:28
  Speaker 2: as they sleep. Bring peace to their churning mind. Comfort
• 2:09:35
  Speaker 2: their mind from spinning, and soothe their heart. Calm them tonight.
• 2:09:42
  Speaker 2: Give them sweet rest in your arms in Jesus name. Amen.
• 2:09:53
  Speaker 2: God is covering you tonight. God is completely protecting you
• 2:09:59
  Speaker 2: with his strength. You are protected under his wings. Tonight.
• 2:10:06
  Speaker 2: You can find rest under his wings. Tonight you can
• 2:10:11
  Speaker 2: find refuge in the loving arms of God. Tonight. God's
• 2:10:18
  Speaker 2: faithfulness is your shield. Tonight, God's faithfulness is a wall
• 2:10:26
  Speaker 2: protecting you from harm, so that you can rest tonight
• 2:10:32
  Speaker 2: in God's presence. Tonight, in God's arms, you have no
• 2:10:38
  Speaker 2: need of fear. Tonight you are in the presence and
• 2:10:43
  Speaker 2: resting in the arms of the creator of the universe. Tonight,
• 2:10:52
  Speaker 2: Let this resting child feel your wings over them tonight
• 2:10:57
  Speaker 2: as they rest, this sleeping child, feel the shield of
• 2:11:03
  Speaker 2: your arms protecting them from fear and harm. Tonight. Let
• 2:11:08
  Speaker 2: this peaceful soul feel the wall protecting them from harm. Tonight,
• 2:11:15
  Speaker 2: the wall built lovingly by you, the creator of the universe,
• 2:11:22
  Speaker 2: the creator that sits down now by the side of
• 2:11:25
  Speaker 2: this child as they sleep in Jesus name, Amen, as
• 2:11:36
  Speaker 2: you rest, may you be blessed by the Living God
• 2:11:40
  Speaker 2: that transforms. May the Holy Spirit guide your dreams. Let
• 2:11:46
  Speaker 2: me pray for you now as you fall asleep, Oh
• 2:11:50
  Speaker 2: peaceful and Loving Father, Be merciful to this one, Oh God,
• 2:11:55
  Speaker 2: because of your constant love, because of your great mercy,
• 2:11:59
  Speaker 2: wipe away their sins, wash away all evil, and make
• 2:12:04
  Speaker 2: them clean from their sin. Tonight, tonight, let them hear
• 2:12:08
  Speaker 2: the sounds of joy and gladness. Create in them tonight
• 2:12:13
  Speaker 2: a pure heart. O God, give them again the joy
• 2:12:17
  Speaker 2: that comes from your salvation. God, grant this one peace
• 2:12:23
  Speaker 2: in Jesus' name. Amen. So continue to pace your breathing
• 2:12:29
  Speaker 2: now as you continue to rest in the presence of God.
• 2:12:35
  Speaker 2: Just breathe, just imagine and dream. And now glory be
• 2:12:49
  Speaker 2: to the Father and to the Son and to the
• 2:12:51
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now
• 2:12:56
  Speaker 2: and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Dear peaceful Father,
• 2:13:20
  Speaker 2: thank you for peace, for your care, your love, your mercy,
• 2:13:26
  Speaker 2: your salvation. As this one, this child of yours, finds
• 2:13:31
  Speaker 2: sleep tonight as they sleep in bed, let them feel
• 2:13:35
  Speaker 2: your presence over them. Let them sleep in bed under
• 2:13:39
  Speaker 2: your wings. And it's in Jesus' name I pray over them. Amen.
• 2:13:45
  Speaker 2: And now let's begin by familiarizing ourselves with the passage
• 2:13:50
  Speaker 2: from Luke, chapter nineteen, verse one through ten. Just rest
• 2:13:55
  Speaker 2: softly as you listen to me read you this bedtime story.
• 2:14:00
  Speaker 2: Jesus is entering Jericho and was just passing through. In
• 2:14:05
  Speaker 2: this ancient Palestinian town near the Jordan River lives a
• 2:14:10
  Speaker 2: man named Zachias. He is a chief tax collector and
• 2:14:14
  Speaker 2: is very rich. He hears that Jesus is passing through
• 2:14:18
  Speaker 2: today and is hoping to see this rabbi that everyone
• 2:14:21
  Speaker 2: has been talking about. The problem is, Zachias is pretty
• 2:14:26
  Speaker 2: short and he's nervous he won't be able to see
• 2:14:29
  Speaker 2: above the crowd. So he has an idea. Zachias runs
• 2:14:34
  Speaker 2: ahead and climbs up into a sycamore tree just inside
• 2:14:38
  Speaker 2: a walled garden in the middle of town. He thinks
• 2:14:41
  Speaker 2: maybe from that vantage point he will be able to
• 2:14:45
  Speaker 2: see this rabbi from Capernaum, and sure enough he can.
• 2:14:51
  Speaker 2: He sees the crowds approaching following Jesus, and when Jesus
• 2:14:56
  Speaker 2: comes to the garden, he looks up and says to him, Zaki,
• 2:15:01
  Speaker 2: hurry and come down, for I must stay at your
• 2:15:04
  Speaker 2: house today. So he hurries and comes down, and Jesus
• 2:15:08
  Speaker 2: receives him joyfully. And when the others in the crowd
• 2:15:13
  Speaker 2: see this, they all start to grumble a little bit.
• 2:15:16
  Speaker 2: The rabbi is going in to be the guest of
• 2:15:19
  Speaker 2: a man who is a sinner. But Zachaeus stands and
• 2:15:24
  Speaker 2: says to the Lord, behold, Lord, the half of my
• 2:15:28
  Speaker 2: goods I give to the poor, and if I have
• 2:15:33
  Speaker 2: defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. Then Jesus
• 2:15:39
  Speaker 2: says to him today. Salvation has come to you and
• 2:15:43
  Speaker 2: this house, since you also are a son of Abraham,
• 2:15:47
  Speaker 2: because I, the son of Man, have come to seek
• 2:15:52
  Speaker 2: and to save the lost. This is the word of
• 2:15:57
  Speaker 2: the Lord. Thanks be to God. Pause here for a
• 2:16:01
  Speaker 2: moment as you recall this scene, as you feel the
• 2:16:05
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit breathing peace and tranquility over you. Pause here
• 2:16:10
  Speaker 2: for just a few moments. Make no mind of the
• 2:16:13
  Speaker 2: time tonight. I will watch the clock. Just ponder and
• 2:16:17
  Speaker 2: breathe softly as you feel transported, as you feel transformed
• 2:16:22
  Speaker 2: into this story. Settle there now. So now visualize this
• 2:16:35
  Speaker 2: peaceful afternoon scene unfolding in your mind's eye. Imagine yourself
• 2:16:40
  Speaker 2: in the scene. Imagine being Zachias. You sense the scene
• 2:16:46
  Speaker 2: around you. Can you feel the early afternoon sun hitting
• 2:16:52
  Speaker 2: your face, the coolness of the breeze as you sit
• 2:16:57
  Speaker 2: high up in the sycamore tree, th eaves rustling around you.
• 2:17:03
  Speaker 2: You look around the town. You see the buildings, smoke
• 2:17:08
  Speaker 2: rising from fires being started for dinner. You see people
• 2:17:13
  Speaker 2: wandering about, talking, laughing, searching. You were sitting high on
• 2:17:22
  Speaker 2: a sturdy branch, your arms wrapped tightly around the trunk
• 2:17:26
  Speaker 2: of the tree, steadying yourself. Pause here for a moment
• 2:17:31
  Speaker 2: in this scene and just feel it's peace. You know
• 2:17:46
  Speaker 2: from the soft whispered conversations around you that Jesus and
• 2:17:49
  Speaker 2: the crowds are approaching. You sense that this new rabbi
• 2:17:54
  Speaker 2: is on his way. If given the opportunity, what would
• 2:17:58
  Speaker 2: you say to him? Do you feel worthy to even
• 2:18:02
  Speaker 2: look at him? You are a tax collector. No one
• 2:18:06
  Speaker 2: wants to be near you. But will Jesus Will he
• 2:18:11
  Speaker 2: judge you as others have? Will Jesus show you the
• 2:18:16
  Speaker 2: mercy that you seek, the mercy, the love and forgiveness
• 2:18:22
  Speaker 2: that you seek, and the mercy and the love and
• 2:18:27
  Speaker 2: forgiveness you crave from others. Will Jesus offer that to you?
• 2:18:33
  Speaker 2: You begin to whisper, Son of David, Jesus, please have
• 2:18:39
  Speaker 2: mercy on me, Son of David Jesus, Rabbi, please have
• 2:18:46
  Speaker 2: mercy on me. Son of David Jesus, please have mercy
• 2:18:52
  Speaker 2: on me. Pause here and let this be your prayer
• 2:18:56
  Speaker 2: as the Holy Spirit guides you to sleep for a
• 2:19:00
  Speaker 2: few moments until I return. Son of David Jesus, have
• 2:19:05
  Speaker 2: mercy on me, Son of David Jesus, have mercy on me.
• 2:19:16
  Speaker 2: Here he is finally this Rabbi. Everyone has been talking about.
• 2:19:20
  Speaker 2: Everyone is clamoring for his attention. But the crowd is
• 2:19:25
  Speaker 2: too thick, voices too loud. He will never see you,
• 2:19:29
  Speaker 2: surely never hear you. But you whisper again, Rabbi Jesus,
• 2:19:34
  Speaker 2: son of David, have mercy on me. And suddenly, quite suddenly,
• 2:19:40
  Speaker 2: Jesus stops. He stands still, the Messiah, the Lord, the
• 2:19:48
  Speaker 2: creator of the universe, your savior. He stops and stands
• 2:19:53
  Speaker 2: still for you. He turns his head and looks up
• 2:19:59
  Speaker 2: at you. How humbling is that you should be the
• 2:20:03
  Speaker 2: one kneeling and looking up at him. But here is
• 2:20:06
  Speaker 2: this Rabbi looking up at you. In a moment that
• 2:20:11
  Speaker 2: feels like an eternity, you hear Jesus say, hurry and
• 2:20:16
  Speaker 2: come down, for I must stay at your house today.
• 2:20:21
  Speaker 2: What are your emotions? Do you doubt he is talking
• 2:20:25
  Speaker 2: to you? Does shame drop your eyes? Does fear cause
• 2:20:31
  Speaker 2: you to look away? You slowly slide out of the
• 2:20:35
  Speaker 2: tree and drop to the ground. You feel your blanket
• 2:20:39
  Speaker 2: of shame drop from your shoulders as you walk towards
• 2:20:42
  Speaker 2: the soothing voice of Jesus. You feel the weight of
• 2:20:46
  Speaker 2: your cloak of guilt slip off of your head and mind.
• 2:20:51
  Speaker 2: You feel the peaceful voice of Jesus transform you as
• 2:20:54
  Speaker 2: you step closer towards him. You feel Jesus's arms embrace,
• 2:21:01
  Speaker 2: his hands on your shoulders, his hands sliding up to
• 2:21:06
  Speaker 2: cradle your face, and you hear his soothing voice whisper
• 2:21:09
  Speaker 2: in your ear. I want you, I want to stay
• 2:21:14
  Speaker 2: with you. I have chosen you. You feel abandonment transform into approval.
• 2:21:25
  Speaker 2: You feel aggravation become feelings of abiding and resting in
• 2:21:30
  Speaker 2: the presence of Jesus, and you tell him, behold Lord,
• 2:21:36
  Speaker 2: half of my goods I give to the poor. And
• 2:21:39
  Speaker 2: if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore
• 2:21:42
  Speaker 2: it now fourfold. But you can visualize it again in
• 2:21:47
  Speaker 2: Jesus's eyes. Yes, but it is you that I want.
• 2:21:54
  Speaker 2: It is you I want to stay with. It is
• 2:21:57
  Speaker 2: you I have chosen. It is you I give release
• 2:22:03
  Speaker 2: from fear this evening, and it is you I grant
• 2:22:08
  Speaker 2: well being. It is you I give rest tonight. I
• 2:22:14
  Speaker 2: am here for you, dear child, dear peaceful and RESTful father.
• 2:22:25
  Speaker 2: Bring this one, your child, rest and sleep tonight. Keep
• 2:22:31
  Speaker 2: them from tossing, keep them from turning. Lord God, you
• 2:22:36
  Speaker 2: never sleep. Lord God, you never slumber, So watch over
• 2:22:42
  Speaker 2: this your child tonight as they sleep. Bring peace to
• 2:22:47
  Speaker 2: their churning mind. Comfort their mind from spinning, and soothe
• 2:22:54
  Speaker 2: their heart. Calm them tonight, Give them sweet rest in
• 2:23:00
  Speaker 2: your arms in Jesus' name. Amen, God is covering you. Tonight.
• 2:23:12
  Speaker 2: God is completely protecting you with his strength. You are
• 2:23:17
  Speaker 2: protected under his wings. Tonight. You can find rest under
• 2:23:24
  Speaker 2: his wings. Tonight. You can find refuge in the loving
• 2:23:30
  Speaker 2: arms of God. Tonight. God's faithfulness is your shield. Tonight.
• 2:23:38
  Speaker 2: God's faithfulness is a wall protecting you from harm, so
• 2:23:44
  Speaker 2: that you can rest tonight in God's presence. Tonight, in
• 2:23:51
  Speaker 2: God's arms, you have no need of fear. Tonight you
• 2:23:57
  Speaker 2: are in the presence and resting in the arms of
• 2:24:01
  Speaker 2: the creator of the universe. Tonight, Let this resting child
• 2:24:10
  Speaker 2: feel your wings over them tonight as they rest. Let
• 2:24:15
  Speaker 2: this sleeping child feel the shield of your arms protecting
• 2:24:20
  Speaker 2: them from fear and harm. Tonight, Let this peaceful soul
• 2:24:26
  Speaker 2: feel the wall protecting them from harm. Tonight, the wall
• 2:24:31
  Speaker 2: built lovingly by you, the creator of the universe, the
• 2:24:38
  Speaker 2: creator that sits down now by the side of this
• 2:24:41
  Speaker 2: child as they sleep in Jesus name. Amen. As you rest,
• 2:24:53
  Speaker 2: may you be blessed by the Living God that transforms.
• 2:24:58
  Speaker 2: May the Holy Spirit guide your dream. Let me pray
• 2:25:02
  Speaker 2: for you now as you fall asleep, Oh peaceful and
• 2:25:06
  Speaker 2: Loving Father, Be merciful to this one, Oh God, because
• 2:25:11
  Speaker 2: of your constant love, because of your great mercy, wipe
• 2:25:15
  Speaker 2: away their sins, wash away all evil, and make them
• 2:25:20
  Speaker 2: clean from their sin. Tonight, tonight, let them hear the
• 2:25:24
  Speaker 2: sounds of joy and gladness. Create in them tonight a
• 2:25:29
  Speaker 2: pure heart. O God, give them again the joy that
• 2:25:32
  Speaker 2: comes from your salvation. God, grant this one peace in
• 2:25:38
  Speaker 2: Jesus' name. Amen. So continue to pace your breathing now
• 2:25:45
  Speaker 2: as you continue to rest in the presence of God.
• 2:25:50
  Speaker 2: Just breathe, just imagine and dream. And now glory be
• 2:26:04
  Speaker 2: to the Father and to the Son and to the
• 2:26:07
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now
• 2:26:11
  Speaker 2: and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Dear Peaceful Father,
• 2:26:35
  Speaker 2: thank you for peace, for your care, your love, your mercy,
• 2:26:41
  Speaker 2: your salvation. As this one, this child of yours, finds
• 2:26:46
  Speaker 2: sleep tonight as they sleep in bed, let them feel
• 2:26:50
  Speaker 2: your presence over them. Let them sleep in bed under
• 2:26:54
  Speaker 2: your wings. And it's in Jesus' name, I pray over them. Amen.
• 2:27:01
  Speaker 2: And now let's begin by familiarizing ourselves with the passage
• 2:27:06
  Speaker 2: from Luke, chapter nineteen, verse one through ten. Just rest
• 2:27:10
  Speaker 2: softly as you listen to me read you this bedtime story.
• 2:27:15
  Speaker 2: Jesus is entering Jericho and was just passing through. In
• 2:27:21
  Speaker 2: this ancient Palestinian town near the Jordan River lives a
• 2:27:25
  Speaker 2: man named Zachias. He is a chief tax collector and
• 2:27:29
  Speaker 2: is very rich. He hears that Jesus is passing through
• 2:27:33
  Speaker 2: today and is hoping to see this rabbi that everyone
• 2:27:37
  Speaker 2: has been talking about. The problem is, Zachias is pretty
• 2:27:42
  Speaker 2: short and he's nervous he won't be able to see
• 2:27:44
  Speaker 2: above the crowd, so he has an idea. Sachias runs
• 2:27:49
  Speaker 2: ahead and climbs up into a sycamore tree just inside
• 2:27:53
  Speaker 2: a walled garden in the middle of town. He thinks,
• 2:27:57
  Speaker 2: maybe from that vantage point, I will be able to
• 2:28:00
  Speaker 2: see this rabbi from Capernaum, and sure enough he can.
• 2:28:06
  Speaker 2: He sees the crowds approaching following Jesus, and when Jesus
• 2:28:11
  Speaker 2: comes to the garden, he looks up and says to him, Zachias,
• 2:28:16
  Speaker 2: hurry and come down. For I must stay at your
• 2:28:19
  Speaker 2: house today. So he hurries and comes down, and Jesus
• 2:28:24
  Speaker 2: receives him joyfully. And when the others in the crowd
• 2:28:28
  Speaker 2: see this, they all start to grumble a little bit.
• 2:28:32
  Speaker 2: The rabbi is going in to be the guest of
• 2:28:34
  Speaker 2: a man who is a sinner. But Zachias stands and
• 2:28:39
  Speaker 2: says to the Lord. Behold, Lord, the half of my
• 2:28:44
  Speaker 2: goods I give to the poor. And if I have
• 2:28:48
  Speaker 2: defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. Then Jesus
• 2:28:54
  Speaker 2: says to him, today salvation has come to you and
• 2:28:58
  Speaker 2: this house, since you also are a son of Abraham,
• 2:29:03
  Speaker 2: because I, the son of Man, have come to seek
• 2:29:07
  Speaker 2: and to save the lost. This is the word of
• 2:29:12
  Speaker 2: the Lord. Thanks be to God. Pause here for a
• 2:29:16
  Speaker 2: moment as you recall this scene, as you feel the
• 2:29:20
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit breathing peace and tranquility over you. Pause here
• 2:29:26
  Speaker 2: for just a few moments. Make no mind of the
• 2:29:28
  Speaker 2: time to night. I will watch the clock. Just ponder
• 2:29:32
  Speaker 2: and breathe softly as you feel transported, as you feel
• 2:29:37
  Speaker 2: transformed into this story. Settle there now. So now visualize
• 2:29:50
  Speaker 2: this peaceful afternoon scene unfolding in your mind's eye. Imagine
• 2:29:55
  Speaker 2: yourself in the scene. Imagine being Zacheus. You sense the
• 2:30:01
  Speaker 2: scene around you. Can you feel the early afternoon sun
• 2:30:07
  Speaker 2: hitting your face, the coolness of the breeze as you
• 2:30:11
  Speaker 2: sit high up in the sycamore tree, the leaves rustling
• 2:30:16
  Speaker 2: around you. You look around the town. You see the buildings,
• 2:30:23
  Speaker 2: smoke rising from fires being started for dinner. You see
• 2:30:28
  Speaker 2: people wandering about, talking, laughing, searching. You were sitting high
• 2:30:37
  Speaker 2: on a sturdy branch, your arms wrapped tightly round the
• 2:30:41
  Speaker 2: trunk of the tree, steadying yourself. Pause here for a
• 2:30:46
  Speaker 2: moment in this scene and just feel its peace. You
• 2:31:01
  Speaker 2: know from the soft whispered conversations around you that Jesus
• 2:31:05
  Speaker 2: and the crowds are approaching. You sense that this new
• 2:31:09
  Speaker 2: Rabbi is on his way. If given the opportunity, what
• 2:31:13
  Speaker 2: would you say to him? Do you feel worthy to
• 2:31:16
  Speaker 2: even look at him? You are a tax collector. No
• 2:31:21
  Speaker 2: one wants to be near you. But will Jesus? Will
• 2:31:26
  Speaker 2: he judge you as others have? Will Jesus show you
• 2:31:31
  Speaker 2: the mercy that you seek, the mercy the love and
• 2:31:37
  Speaker 2: forgiveness that you seek, and the mercy and the love
• 2:31:42
  Speaker 2: and forgiveness you crave from others, will Jesus offer that
• 2:31:47
  Speaker 2: to you. You begin to whisper, Son of David, Jesus,
• 2:31:54
  Speaker 2: please have mercy on me, Son of David Jesus, Please
• 2:32:01
  Speaker 2: have mercy on me. Son of David Jesus, Please have
• 2:32:07
  Speaker 2: mercy on me. Pause here and let this be your
• 2:32:11
  Speaker 2: prayer as the Holy Spirit guides you to sleep. Whisper
• 2:32:15
  Speaker 2: it for a few moments until I return. Son of David, Jesus,
• 2:32:21
  Speaker 2: have mercy on me, Son of David, Jesus, have mercy
• 2:32:26
  Speaker 2: on me. Here he is, finally, this rabbi everyone has
• 2:32:35
  Speaker 2: been talking about. Everyone is clamoring for his attention. But
• 2:32:39
  Speaker 2: the crowd is too thick, voices too loud. He will
• 2:32:43
  Speaker 2: never see you, surely never hear you. But you whisper again,
• 2:32:48
  Speaker 2: Rabbi Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. And suddenly,
• 2:32:55
  Speaker 2: quite suddenly, Jesus stops. He stands still, the Messiah, the Lord,
• 2:33:03
  Speaker 2: the creator of the universe, your savior. He stops and
• 2:33:08
  Speaker 2: stands still for you. He turns his head and looks
• 2:33:14
  Speaker 2: up at you. How humbling is that you should be
• 2:33:18
  Speaker 2: the one kneeling and looking up at him. But here
• 2:33:21
  Speaker 2: is this rabbi looking up at you in a moment
• 2:33:26
  Speaker 2: that feels like an eternity. You hear Jesus say, hurry
• 2:33:31
  Speaker 2: and come down, for I must stay at your house
• 2:33:35
  Speaker 2: to day. What are your emotions? Do you doubt he
• 2:33:40
  Speaker 2: is talking to you? Does shame drop your eyes? Does
• 2:33:46
  Speaker 2: fear cause you to look away? You slowly slide out
• 2:33:50
  Speaker 2: of the tree and drop to the ground. You feel
• 2:33:53
  Speaker 2: your blanket of shame drop from your shoulders. As you
• 2:33:57
  Speaker 2: walk towards the soothing voice of Jesus. You feel the
• 2:34:01
  Speaker 2: weight of your cloak of guilt slip off of your
• 2:34:05
  Speaker 2: head and mind. You feel the peaceful voice of Jesus
• 2:34:09
  Speaker 2: transform you as you step closer towards him. You feel
• 2:34:13
  Speaker 2: Jesus's arms embrace you, his hands on your shoulders, his
• 2:34:19
  Speaker 2: hands sliding up to cradle your face, and you hear
• 2:34:23
  Speaker 2: his soothing voice whisper in your ear. I want you.
• 2:34:28
  Speaker 2: I want to stay with you. I have chosen you.
• 2:34:36
  Speaker 2: You feel abandonment transform into approval. You feel aggravation become
• 2:34:43
  Speaker 2: feelings of abiding and resting in the presence of Jesus,
• 2:34:48
  Speaker 2: and you tell him, behold Lord, half of my goods
• 2:34:52
  Speaker 2: I give to the poor, And if I have defrauded
• 2:34:55
  Speaker 2: any one of anything. I restore it now fourfold that
• 2:35:00
  Speaker 2: you can visualize it again in Jesus's eyes. Yes, but
• 2:35:05
  Speaker 2: it is you that I want. It is you I
• 2:35:10
  Speaker 2: want to stay with. It is you I have chosen.
• 2:35:16
  Speaker 2: It is you I give release from fear this evening,
• 2:35:21
  Speaker 2: and it is you I grant well being. It is
• 2:35:26
  Speaker 2: you I give rest Tonight. I am here for you,
• 2:35:31
  Speaker 2: dear child, dear peaceful and RESTful Father. Bring this one
• 2:35:42
  Speaker 2: your child, rest and sleep tonight. Keep them from tossing,
• 2:35:48
  Speaker 2: keep them from turning. Lord God, you never sleep, Lord God,
• 2:35:54
  Speaker 2: you never slumber. So watch over this your child tonight
• 2:35:59
  Speaker 2: as the sleep. Bring peace to their churning mind. Comfort
• 2:36:06
  Speaker 2: their mind from spinning, and soothe their heart. Calm them tonight,
• 2:36:13
  Speaker 2: Give them sweet rest in your arms in Jesus name. Amen.
• 2:36:24
  Speaker 2: God is covering you tonight. God is completely protecting you
• 2:36:30
  Speaker 2: with his strength. You are protected under his wings Tonight.
• 2:36:37
  Speaker 2: You can find rest under his wings. Tonight. You can
• 2:36:42
  Speaker 2: find refuge in the loving arms of God. Tonight. God's
• 2:36:49
  Speaker 2: faithfulness is your shield. Tonight. God's faithfulness is a wall
• 2:36:57
  Speaker 2: protecting you from harm, so that you can rest tonight
• 2:37:03
  Speaker 2: in God's presence. Tonight, in God's arms. You have no
• 2:37:09
  Speaker 2: need of fear. Tonight you are in the presence and
• 2:37:14
  Speaker 2: resting in the arms of the creator of the universe. Tonight,
• 2:37:23
  Speaker 2: let this resting child feel your wings over them tonight,
• 2:37:27
  Speaker 2: as they rest, Let this sleeping child feel the shield
• 2:37:33
  Speaker 2: of your arms protecting them from fear and harm. Tonight,
• 2:37:39
  Speaker 2: Let this peaceful soul feel the wall protecting them from harm. Tonight,
• 2:37:46
  Speaker 2: the wall built lovingly by you, the creator of the universe,
• 2:37:53
  Speaker 2: the creator that sits down now by the side of
• 2:37:56
  Speaker 2: this child as they sleep. In Jesus' name, Amen, as
• 2:38:07
  Speaker 2: you rest, may you be blessed by the living God
• 2:38:11
  Speaker 2: that transforms. May the Holy Spirit guide your dreams. Let
• 2:38:17
  Speaker 2: me pray for you now as you fall asleep. Oh
• 2:38:21
  Speaker 2: peaceful and Loving Father, Be merciful to this one, Oh God,
• 2:38:26
  Speaker 2: because of your constant love, because of your great mercy,
• 2:38:30
  Speaker 2: wipe away their sins, wash away all evil, and make
• 2:38:35
  Speaker 2: them clean from their sin. Tonight, tonight, let them hear
• 2:38:39
  Speaker 2: the sounds of joy and gladness. Create in them tonight
• 2:38:44
  Speaker 2: a pure heart, O God, give them again the joy
• 2:38:48
  Speaker 2: that comes from your salvation. God, grant this one peace
• 2:38:54
  Speaker 2: in Jesus' name. Amen, So continue to pace your breathe
• 2:39:00
  Speaker 2: now as you continue to rest in the presence of God.
• 2:39:05
  Speaker 2: Just breathe, just imagine and dream, and now glory be
• 2:39:20
  Speaker 2: to the Father and to the Son and to the
• 2:39:22
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now
• 2:39:26
  Speaker 2: and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
• 2:39:38
  Speaker 1: We hope this meditation brought you peace. To listen to
• 2:39:42
  Speaker 1: the full collection of Biblical bedtime stories, download the Abide
• 2:39:46
  Speaker 1: app in the iTunes or Google play Store.