A contemplative service with music in the spirit of Taize. Carrie Grace Littauer, prayer leader, with music by Kester Limner and Andy Myers.
Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-710-756.
“La Ténèbre” Copyright and all rights reserved by GIA/Les Presses de Taizé
“Shepherd Song” Words adapted from John 10:11-18, Music by Kester Limner , Creative Commons copyright–free to use with attribution (CC-BY)
“Nothing Can Ever” Copyright and all rights reserved by GIA/Les Presses de Taizé, Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-710-756.
“Parable Song” Music by Kester Limner and Andy Myers, text by Kester Limner, shared under the Creative Commons License, Attribution (CC-BY)
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photos and writings by June Friesen
SEPTEMBER 12 – NATIONAL ENCOURAGEMENT DAY
The above sign was on a wall in a large shopping mall in Virginia a few weeks ago when we were there visiting. I was immediately focused on it and stopped to just let it resonate with my spirit and then took a photo. When I got to thinking about National Encouragement Day I immediately thought of this sign – what if we had a sign like this on our door and saw it whenever we left our home? Or maybe have it on the dashboard of our vehicle and see it as we are out and about in the world? Kindness is always in fashion – what a great way to be an encourager in our world today. We know that there is indeed much unkindness, even hatred present in our country and even in the world … one way to begin to change or curb that would be through encouragement.
How and why did we get a day set aside known as National Encouragement Day? I have to admit that the phrase captured my attention and I wondered, “Is it really such a struggle in our country for people that we have to be told by the government to encourage each other?” The second question that came to my mind was this: As a country that is referred to as a Christian nation why do we struggle so with encouragement for/of each other as it is actually a concept that is taught in the Scriptures?
In 2007 some teenagers were given an assignment as to their needs and what may be done to help: What is the biggest problem for teens today (2007)? The teens said that lack of encouragement was one of their biggest issues. Second, why was September 12 chosen? This day was selected as September 11 is a day of darkness for our country because of what happened on September 11, 2001. Since that day it has been a time to honor and memorialize the many who lost their lives that tragic day. What better anecdote than to have the day after be one where we are reminded to reach out and encourage one another.
National Encouragement day actually started in the state of Arkansas in 2007. In August 2007 the mayor of Searcy Arkansas signed it into a local law/observance. In September 2007 the governor of Arkansas signed it into law as a State holiday and a short time after that President George W. Bush signed it into law as a national observance.
Some questions that enter my mind are: 1) If this is a Christian nation, the Scriptures tell us to encourage one another so why do we need to be told/or have a particular day to remember it? 2) Since this has been set as a National observance how come so few of us are really aware of it? One may respond: It should just be a given that we encourage each other. While that is indeed true the question that comes to my mind is: Then how come we hear so many negative words? How come so much complaining about what one does or doesn’t do? And how can we turn those things into positive encouragements?
Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.
Paul wanted the people to not lose hope because of the struggles in their lives. He definitely encouraged people who were followers of Jesus to remember the great blessing of being one of God’s children and that should be the source of their ability to encourage each other. I love Paul’s confidence that the people were already encouraging one another so he said just keep on. This should challenge as well as spur you and I forward to be those who are encouragers as we have been gifted with God’s peace and hope not just for today but for eternity. So what might encouragement look like today? How might you encourage others? I am going to share something that I have learned especially since the pandemic and I would challenge you – why not get creative and step out and begin to reach out as well.
Over the past 2½ years many of us have struggled with discouragement, sadness, possibly depression etc. wondering when will my life get better or when will things be ‘normal’ again, or will I ever be able to just relax and live like I want to do without having to take precautions. I am sure if we talk to people from our past about epidemics and pandemics they would be able to relate to our feelings as well. I found that people were looking to me for answers, encouragement, possible solutions, etc. As I considered how to shepherd and encourage people in spite of the pandemic I found that the technology of today was a great tool. I decided to combine my gifts of writing and photography and every morning I sent out a text message to those who looked to me for spiritual leadership and encouragement. Then there were a couple who I messaged via messenger. Word of mouth has grown my list and the messages are not just to local people anymore but go all over the nation and even further. Another means of technology that I have used is Facebook and I try to post daily words there for encouragement. Again, that opportunity extended as I was invited to post these daily words on a blogspace. So, the challenge I see here is that for each one of us, we need to possibly think outside the box that we have been trained in or grown up in. I am going to share what an encouragement message might look like as well as some ways photos also encourage people.
Here are three photos of flowers, each one unique. Yes, I admit the one is photoshopped. Let’s consider each one of these photos separately as I did recently as encouragements and I also am going to try to make them relevant to the subject matter.
In the first photo, the flower looks tired. It may be a lack of water, too much water, or its life span is nearing the end. As I ponder this flower I think that it might also be bowing in reverence to its Creator for the opportunity to grow and not only bring beauty to the space but it also has given pollen to the insects as well as it now can provide food for the birds as well as some insects. Some people also enjoy the treat of sunflower seeds and oil so I see this flower as an encouragement even with its ending of life. So too it may be in our lives – there is sadness as some things are changing and some things may be coming to a close in our lives. It was that way on September 11, 2001 – there was great sadness and still is sadness for the great change that it brought to so many people. Today we find ourselves in different places and spaces – how might we be an encouragement to others today who have been affected by this or any tragedy?
In the second photo, the flower is standing very straight and very tall. In fact, this rose had managed to grow through the dense branches of a tree, stretching up tall to find the sun so it could grow a bud and bloom there among the tree leaves. Yes, it kind of looked out of place but it gave such a gift of hope. For me I share this as an encouraging reminder that there are times in our lives when life seems full of darkness, gloom, and sadness. It seems as if our hope has been grabbed away by all the tragedy, all the problems, and all the pain in the world and our lives. Yet, God encourages us to hold strong to our faith in Him, remembering to hold hope out to others. As our faith is placed in God we can stand strong in the dark times and in the dark moments. We too can be like this rose and give hope to others.
In the third photo, again a flower, there are a couple of lessons. A hollyhock begins with a bud or two beginning to bloom. That stem continues to stretch and grow and slowly adds one more bud after the other. As one blossom dies another opens and this particular stem on this plant has been now blooming for about five weeks and continues yet to add buds.
In our lives we continue to grow each day. Some things need to also die in our lives and let new things begin to take their place. We need to be willing to embrace this growing and changing process just as the hollyhock. The second thing here is that I added something – some beautiful song notes. One person responded back that they loved the dancing, singing flower. Yes, we too should be accepting of the things that God wants to add to our lives to share hope with the world.
My final photo is a collage of clouds – the beauty of clouds continually brings my spirit to give praise to God. May this photo encourage you to remember as you look heavenward – God is in charge and He is watching over all of us, collectively as well as individually.
It is my prayer that you will have first of all been encouraged just reading through this writing. Second, it also is my prayer that you will accept the challenge and begin today to practice encouragement on a regular basis. Maybe you are not a photographer or a writer; maybe you are a baker – you can share some cookies, bread, or cake. Maybe you have a flower garden – you can pick a flower or two and share it with someone. You have a broom, a shovel, a mower and someone needs help with cleaning up their yard – you can volunteer. Maybe someone just needs a hug in silence. The sky is the limit on ways we can reach out and help someone. Let the Spirit be your guide and let’s begin to encourage those around us with the love, joy and peace of God. Amen.
Look to the skies and see the many gifts of God’s light, colors, and clouds. I find the skies/heavens a reminder of Jesus’ return to this earth. That alone gives me great encouragement to live in the moment and every moment for His glory. May God bless you and yours today with the gift of peace and hope. Amen.
Research obtained from website on National Day of Encouragement. Scriptures references from The Message Translation.
We are collecting recipes across our Godspace community for our first-ever cookbook. Send your recipe written in your own words, where it came from, and why it’s special to you to godspacelight@gmail.com – if you send 3 or more recipes in, you will receive a FREE digital copy of the finished cookbook! For more information check out this post: https://godspacelight.com/2022/08/03/the-great-godspace-cookbook-gathering/
Editor’s Note: The following reflection has been excerpted from Hospitality – Open Doorways To The Kingdom With Us. The accompanying recipe is from Hunza Pie – Great Way To Use Greens. We hope you enjoy this series of seasonal hospitality reflections and recipes!
Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! (Hebrews 13:2 NIV)
These words revolve in my mind today as I remember rich hospitality we have experienced in the last couple of months and anticipate the hospitality to come. Easter is over and we have entered a season that beckons us to be hospitable to friend and stranger alike. One of Christ’s first appearances after his resurrection is as the stranger on the Emmaus road, His true nature is recognized only when he breaks bread together with his fellow travellers. This is the first Eucharistic celebration of the new kingdom. He also comes as Christ, the friend by the sea of Galilee, preparing breakfast for his closest followers.
Through the doorways of hospitality to friend and stranger, those first disciples were welcomed to the banquet feast of God. Today too, the purpose of God’s people is to invite stranger in and offer hospitality by breaking bread together, sharing the Eucharistic feast. By so doing we both welcome Christ and represent Christ.
~ ~ ~
Hunza Pie
A great vegetarian dish for a picnic or camping trip. the vegetable mix can be adapted depending on what vegetables you have available and what you like.
INGREDIENTS:
– 2 cups whole wheat flour
– 1 cup wheatgerm
1 cup golden flax meal
– 6 ounces margarine or butter
– 1/2 cup milk or water (I sometimes use whey left over from making yoghurt)
– 1 teaspoon vegetable salt
– 25 stalks Swiss Chard or other garden greens ,leaves coarsely chopped
– 2 1/2 lb potatoes
– 1 1/4 lb cottage cheese
– 1 teaspoon mixed herbs (I like Italian herb mix)
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 1 large onion, chopped
– 1 teaspoon dried basil, or 1/4 cup fresh chopped
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 cup mushrooms, diced
– 1 cup squash (e.g. zucchini), chopped or 1 cup broccoli
METHOD:
1. Pastry:
2. Sift flour and salt into bowl. add husks in sifter to flour fold in wheatgerm and flax meal. Rub in margarine until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Mix with enough water to make a stiff dough. Knead lightly. Cut pastry into 4 pieces. Cover and place in refrigerator for 20 minutes. Roll out 1/4 of pastry on floured surface and place in base and up sides of a 9 inch pie dish. Do same with second pastry section. Spoon over cold vegetable mixture. Brush edge of pastry with water. Roll out remaining pastry in 2 pieces and place over pies. Trim edge with a sharp knife. Make slits in top. Bake in a hot oven (400) for 15 minutes then reduce heat to 375 and cook further 15 – 20 minutes until golden brown.
3. Filling:
4. Peel potatoes and cut into cubes. Cook in salted water until tender. Drain.
5. Cook onions in a medium skillet with 1 tablespoon oil until brown. Add chopped mushrooms and squash. Cook a further 5 minutes. Add chard, garlic and herbs. Cook a further 5 minutes. Add cottage cheese and salt. Allow to cool.
SERVINGS: 12 from each pie
We love to eat it with hot sauce together with a tomato, basil, squash and mozzarella salad or with a quinoa salad.
Next Facebook Live!
Join Christine Sine, Randy Woodley, and Edith Woodley for a discussion on Hospitality and the Land. Wednesday, September 21st at 9 am PT. Happening live in the Godspace Light Community Group on Facebook – but if you can’t catch the live discussion, you can catch up later on YouTube!
Tom and Christine Sine are looking for a new on-site assistant. This job is based in Seattle; while some work can be done remotely, our most pertinent needs and vision for the assistant requires on-site interaction. In addition to financial compensation, we pride ourselves on hospitality while our assistant is on-site – including sit-down lunch, garden goods, coffee, tea, and treats as we have them. Not to mention sharing the sweetest coworker – our dog Goldie. Compensation is $25/hr.
Based on the variable requirements, we are looking for someone who is able to do 20-25/hrs per week. This job is quite flexible; some weeks will have more to do and others less. Good communication is key, and we do ask for some consistency in hours week to week. The job is quite varied and includes editing and posting for the Godspace blog, updating resource pages, producing weekly emails through Mailchimp, basic bookkeeping and the opportunity to hone your own creative skills by writing and working on design and editing for new products – and more, but this is the basic overview of what we are looking for.
While having experience working with the following is a plus, it is not necessary: Wordpress, Mailchimp, social media, office suite/apple suite, iMovie or other video editing software, Canva or other graphic editors, amazon kindle editor, financial software such as Quicken or Banktivity, and more. Each program we use is simple and quick to learn and only requires minimal skills. We will teach you!
We look forward to hearing from you! Email godspacelight@gmail.com to apply
Feature Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
by Jamie Noyd, via Lilly Lewin
Editor’s Note: Lilly is on vacation this week, and her friend Jamie Noyd generously contributed this reflection for her Freerange Friday! Jamie Noyd lives in Northern Kentucky and serves with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship on the national Faculty Ministry team as an Associate Director and Director of Via Divina for Faculty developing and directing pilgrimage experiences.
When I consider living into the practice of hospitality, I think of creating lovely, tidy spaces. Whether it was my dorm room in college or bedroom at home, I have always enjoyed selecting items that would tell my story even as the space welcomed friends to gather. I have since transferred this energy to a small home that I’ve redecorated over the past decade. Each space is comfortable, coordinated, and connects to passions for literature, pilgrimage, and beauty.
One thing these spaces aren’t – they aren’t messy. The order provides a sense of peace into which I can invite others, but maybe this tidiness also includes a bit of control that inhibits fully welcoming them. When I first set up my home, I pictured many groups of friends and family gathering here. Hanging out. Having deep conversations. Feasting over meals cooked together. But that didn’t happen for years.
At some level I wanted to manage the relationships as I managed the home, just as I had seen my parents do. During my growing up years, my family presented safe, neat images of our lives whether at home, at church, or with friends. That is, stories with little conflict and little mess. Though the messes existed, I learned early on that it was best to cover them up with a pleasant exterior. When people came over to visit, life and spaces needed to be in order. Not having experienced many other types of hospitality, I followed the family way.
I thought such tidy stories and places would welcome people and they did to an extent. However, the type of community I longed for didn’t develop. At first I wondered if I hadn’t shaped the places and the image of myself just right. I had assumed that if I, like my parents, kept out the messiness, then people would want to come. So I tried harder to create the right space and the right story. But, it seems, that the lack of deep connections wasn’t because I didn’t shape the space or times well, but because I tried to shape them too much. The tidy images of how I wanted a dinner to go or a conversation to progress often superseded what was actually happening. In this mindset I missed connecting with people in what was taking place right before me. I missed community.
Over the past couple of years I’ve been learning that nourishing, soul-filled hospitality that brings about deepening relationships isn’t about shaping a flawless space or conversation. It’s about showing up messy and allowing unfinished stories to bump into one another. But before I could invite others along this new path, I first had to show up messy with myself. I had to tear apart the boxes that held those safe, neat images.
One of those boxes is that of scholar. For decades I strove to be thought of as a scholar in a tweed jacket, professorial sort of way. However, I’m more of an unconventional learner, passionate about pilgrimage and literature, but not drawn to the rigors of the academy. I wondered if people would listen to what I had to share if I veered from that traditional path. Another box is that of single woman. It seemed that people were (or maybe I was) most comfortable with my being either a contented and strong woman not desiring male companionship or someone in a committed relationship. However I don’t want to sit in the first box anymore, nor can I make the second happen. As I started questioning the images of the scholar and the single woman in which I had packaged myself, I felt lost.
These are scary places. They hold both tears and laughter. There’s a lot of fear. And quite a lot of hope, in an uncertain sort of way. I was scared about sharing these messy stories with others. Scared that people would turn away when I left the boxes.
But . . .
They have stayed. And they have even stayed longer than I had expected in this messy way of being. This shouldn’t have been so surprising. In the gospels, the people who open up fully in all their mess to Jesus are the ones who fall deeper into community with him. I think of the Samaritan woman at the well and see Jesus’ hospitality as he sits with her in the questions and discomfort of her situation. In this space of welcome, she draws closer to Jesus and eventually to the rest of the village. I also think of Peter walking with Jesus after the resurrection. Jesus steps into the mess of Peter’s denial by asking three times if Peter loves him. As Peter stays with this conversation in its pain there comes an even deeper relationship with Jesus. This pattern is repeated over and over. Those who open up their messy lives find a community — those who stay in their boxes, end up walking away.
Now I see hospitality not primarily about creating those tidy spaces. It’s about sharing and walking with one another in our messes. I still have those well-ordered gathering areas in my home. Not sure if that will change. But in those spaces I’m not neat. The items I love are all around: travel photos, teapots, books, desks, pottery. However, they no longer represent finished stories in my life. Now, they are ways to open up renewed stories in all the pain, joy, and mess of life. As I gather with others laying out desires and passions, fears and griefs, I’m seeing God show up and shaping surprising stories. It’s a rich hospitality of messy community.
What are your stories of hospitality that welcome messy community?
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by Emily Huff
“There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”
-Leonard Cohen
Tomorrow marks the 10-year anniversary of when our moving truck arrived to our home with our stuff when we moved to Seattle, and the story of how we landed here in our neighborhood speaks volumes of what I have learned about hospitality through the years.
From AOL mail
Sun, Sep 9, 2012
Subject: the story of our stuff
It has taken me a while to gear up tonight to write about what happened today. Suffice it to say that our move was a nightmare. A lot of the boxed items made it fine (as I packed all of those in June and July myself), but unfortunately, the bigger sentimental items that were under the care of the moving company (dining room table, the wardrobe that my dad refinished for us, parts of the bed he made for us, and my grandmother’s desk to name a few) were not even wrapped up and were just thrown in the truck. They have lots of scratches and breaks. At a certain point, we stopped reacting in shock and just kept taking pictures of damage so that we can file claims. The kicker is that many of these items aren’t simple “Ikea replacements.” And yet, our neighbors were incredible (over 10 people showed up to help us move stuff in). And let me remind you that we only moved here on August 25th, and we already feel such a deep sense authentic community here. And at the end of the day, we are hoping that the scratches and eventual repair scars and marks will always serve as reminders to us of people’s (and God’s) grace and hospitality today and a challenge to remember that this is after all just “stuff.”
As we said in Kenya a lot, “God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.” I also was thinking about the hymn today; “It is well with my soul”– this was written by a man who had just lost his 4 daughters in a shipwreck in a storm. Goodness, we did not lose people today. It was just stuff. It truly is ALL about perspective.
I walked down to church tonight and was not surprised that the sermon seemed to be written just for me. It was all about when Jesus turned water into wine and our pastor pointed out that this story points to the bigger truth that when we face problems, we have a choice to either focus on the problem or to look to Christ. With the gift of community today, I am so thankful that we have been able lean into this truth more.
When I talked to my daughter about it tonight and asked her how she was doing and feeling, she put it best: “I’m mad, sad, disappointed, and frustrated, but I am so happy about our neighborhood.”
As I look back at this, I am struck by how beautifully grace showed up on that particular day through our neighbors. One neighbor showed up that morning in our empty house and offered to pray with me before the day began, and she got snacks and drinks that day to keep people’s spirits up. Her husband made numerous calls to reach out and rally the neighborhood to pitch in when we realized that it was going to be a long day, and we had our first glimpse that he’s a mover and a shaker and the best advocate a neighbor could ask for. Four guys in the neighborhood were among the first of the burly men to show up and recruit even more muscles to chip in with hauling boxes and furniture. The college guys renting rooms in one of their houses whom we had never met before that day created a human chain to carry boxes into the house and were worth their weight in gold. Another family invited us over to their house that night for an unforgettable steak dinner and welcomed us around their table. We experienced John 1:14 in living color that day: “The word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one of a kind glory- like Father, like Son– GENEROUS INSIDE AND OUT— true from start to finish.”
I was in a fragile place that day- exhausted from the move itself and emotionally raw from leaving beloved grandparents and dear friends behind. And I was just plain done from the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day that we had had, but the way our new neighbors showed up felt like a scene out of Les Mis when Jean Val Jean is given the silver candlesticks from the priest. We did not deserve this grace, but we were experiencing God’s lavish gifts through our neighbors, and it was all I could do to not dissolve into a puddle of tears with gratitude.
A friend of ours who was a professor of English and cinema studies sent us this response after we relayed what had happened. “What a story! It’s a cautionary tale about choosing moving companies, but it’s also an IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE ending, isn’t it? Potter may still have the $8,000, but he’s alone on Christmas Eve. So thankful for all those near and far who have helped to make this side of the story WONDERFUL!”
Another friend emailed me that following week these words that I now have displayed in our kitchen symbolically in one of the frames that was broken in our move: “In the coming days, as you discover and rediscover the brokenness of life, may you be reminded of His perfecting work. May your heart continually turn to Him to be repaired and healed, and may His glory shine through.”
I was pinching myself in those early days in the neighborhood recognizing that we had landed a community that gathers around broken pieces and works together to bring healing and restoration. While I felt fragile and was literally piecing our stuff back together, I resonated deeply with these words from Ted Loder: “What can I believe, except what Jesus taught: that only what is first broken, like bread, can be shared; that only what is broken, is open to your entry; that old wineskins must be ripped open and replaced if the wine of new life is to expand.”
We experienced hospitality in a way I had not seen it lived out in a neighborhood quite like this before. I remember an article in a Young Life magazine years ago talking about Young Life leaders being “Jesus with skin on,” and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that we encountered the living Christ that day as we were welcomed so beautifully.
One year my neighbor Annie sent out holiday cards that said, “Loved people love people.” As we experienced such grace and hospitality, we then could settle in and begin to welcome others into the community who came after us. “Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand – shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.
Heidi Haverkamp writes about Benedictine hospitality and I think it relates to our neighborhood as well:
“Receive every person who comes through your door as though they were bringing Jesus to you. Receive every person you meet as though you were encountering the face of Christ … Part of what makes a monastery a healthy place is to receive guests, so that the monks or sisters don’t get turned in on themselves, or imagine that they’re the center of the world, or that only they are good Christians. Part of what makes a church a healthy place is to receive guests, so that we don’t imagine we’re a club, or a secret place. A church should be a place anyone can come to meet Jesus, and a church is a place where anyone who comes can be a way for the other people there to meet Jesus. That’s why hospitality is so important. Because it helps us meet Jesus.”
I am grateful for the way I have met Jesus in profound ways here in our neighborhood over the last 10 years as He has shown us His love through our neighbors time and time again. And, I am grateful for these people with whom I share the journey that we get to keep pointing each other to the light in the broken stories we carry together.
Painting by Emily Huff
Looking for hospitality inspiration? We have an entire resource page dedicated to hospitality. Find recipes and reflections on numerous hospitality topics, including Celtic hospitality, prayers, and liturgies. Click on Hospitality for more!
‘In God alone there is rest for my soul,
From him comes my safety:
With him alone for my rock, my safety,
My fortress, I can never fail.’
A month ago, (before inflation might I add), my husband and I purchased an annual ‘Historic Houses’ membership which enabled us to view many beautiful castles and stately historic homes where we live in the North-East of England, and also where we holiday on the borders of Scotland, but also further afield … whenever we wish.
After one month, we’ve more than paid off our membership, with eleven months still to go of free visits! It’s been a super deal; and so far we’ve already visited five beautiful places in such a short time – Chillingham Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Lindisfarne Castle, Abbotsford and Paxton House.
So it’s opened up a brand-new world for us.
Before this, we often felt that entry fees were rather too expensive for the actual length of time we might have to spare on a fleeting visit, so we would view the outside only, and continue our walk. But now, having seen the inside, as well as the outside, of so many of these wonderful landmarks in such a short time, it has given me a real insight into a psalm which I read this morning, Psalm 62, which speaks of God as our rock, our fortress and our refuge.
These impregnable fortresses built on solid rock; these sturdy castles built to guard and protect life; these stately mansions filled with marvellous treasures; using stone of the best quality from either local quarries, or pillaged from Roman walls or structures that have fallen into disrepair, seem built to last! They look solid, secure and are well-fortified.
So when beset by worries or anxious thoughts or the troubles of this world, or hemmed in by dark spiritual powers that besiege us, or in need of sustenance with souls that feel empty and dry, we can flee to God for protection and reassurance, safe in his arms. We can benefit from deep reserves of living water within the walls of his protection, by way of prayer and stillness. We can enrich our dry and weary souls anew, by being a blessing to those who are already enfolded in the very heart of God, the blind, the oppressed, the needy of our world, his real treasures.
In God, our hearts, souls and minds find peace and contentment.
In God, we are strengthened and renewed.
In God we are refreshed and fed.
In God alone!
My Soul Finds Its Rest by Sheila Hamil
Photo by Ben Cuthbertson on Unsplash
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