How have we come to name what we most long for in life? Where is God in that process? How has our experience of retreat led us to new ways of thinking, hoping, praying? Prayer helps: Review the Examen: http://norprov.org/spirituality/ignatianprayer.htm Check out Sacred Space - a chance for you to connect each day to God quickly and easily by using their online method of prayer. http://www.sacredspace.ie Check out: Pray As You Go: A daily reflection podcast that links meditation with scripture. http://www.pray-as-you-go.org Reflection Questions: How have you come to name your deepest desire? What have you learned about god working in your life over this retreat? What part of your personal decision making can God play?

Where is God in the midst of our suffering? We often fail to note that Jesus experienced intense human suffering and thus, can particularly resonate with our own experience. Marion Wise explores the intensity of what happens when we are pushed to the brink of suffering. She continues by sharing her experience of others who helped her heal and that leads to her sense of hope today. Moreover, we see where she glimpsed god working directly in her life. Spiritual helps: The BustedHalo Way of the Cross - an experience of walking to calvary virtually with Jesus that focuses on answering reflective questions on our own lives. Many others have shared their experience. Add link Reflection Questions: What has been a particular experience of suffering in your own life? Concentrate on that for a few moments. Where did healing occur--despite all the pain--or has it yet to occur? Are you hopeful despite suffering in your life? What would you most like to ask Jesus about your experience of suffering? Where do you see God working through this experience of suffering, healing and hope in your own life?

How do we pray? Do we even bother? This week's talk focuses on the moments of time we have for prayer, the difficulties with finding time to pray and the benefits prayer offers us. Andrea Spooner shares her experience of prayer in her busy day-to-day life. Prayer helps: There are several methods of prayer. This week let us help you pick one that works for you.

Check out BustedHalo.com and their How To Pray section found at: http://www.bustedhalo.com/faith_guides/pilot.htm

Check out the Ignatian Examen here:

http://norprov.org/spirituality/ignatianprayer.htm

Reflection questions: How do you pray? Do you have a favorite method? What difference has it made in your life, if any? Is prayer a desperate cry for help or is it more like a relationship--how would you like it to be? Recall a particularly good experience of prayer and be thankful for that moment today. How has that experience informed you about God's work in your life?

Week 1 begins with a story of faith and asks us where have we seen God throughout our lives. Tracy Crimmins talks about that journey to help us reflect on our own experience. Some spiritual helps: The Examen: A way to continue to reconnect with God daily and help us more clearly see where Godis working in the patterns of our lives. A guide to using the Examen can be found here: http://norprov.org/spirituality/ignatianprayer.htm Reflection Questions: How have you related to god over the course of your life? How did you see God as a child? How did you see god during adolescence? How do you see God today? What changed along the way in that relationship? What does this tell you about God working throughout your life?