[caption id="attachment_7367" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Flower seller - Pike Place market[/caption]
I am just back from the Pike Street Market, one of my favourite places in Seattle. The flower sellers are everywhere, lifting my spirits with the vibrant beauty of their bouquets which inspired the first of these prayers. If you would like to receive these prayers each day on facebook you can sign up here
Glory be O God almighty, glory be.
Glory be O Christ redeemer, glory be.
Glory be O Spirit advocate, glory be.
Glory to the One who loves us,
Glory to the One who cares,
Glory to the One who hears us,
Glory be.
-------------------------
Lord Jesus Christ, let the wonder of your love shine forth,
Let the beauty of your image emerge,
Let us magnify your greatness,
And bless the One,
who has given us new birth into a living hope.
---------------------------
May faith go before us,
May hope reside within us,
May love always surround us.
All else will pass,
These three will remain,
And the greatest of these is love.
(From meditating on 1 Corinthians 13)
--------------------------------
God may I gaze on you and find myself,
May my eye be focused and my body full of light.
May I move forward with the joy of your presence before me,
And the wonder of your love ever within me.
---------------------------------
Let us welcome the good news of the kingdom,
and stand firm in its wonderful truths.
Let us follow its path and not stumble,
And see in it the unfailing love of our Lord.
---------------------------------
Lord Jesus Christ you are the way,
May we turn our our face toward you,
And grow in the beauty of your light.
No apologies for the fact that this is derived from the prayer I wrote yesterday (see below):
Christ is the centre and circumference,
Christ is the way and the destination,
Christ is the beginning and the end.
Before, behind, within, without,
Christ is God's gift of life and love.
------------------------------------
May the centre of all things be Christ,
May the way of all things be Christ,
May the truth of all things be Christ,
Behind, before, within, without,
May the life of all things be Christ.
----------------------------------
Flower seller - Pike Place market[/caption]
I am just back from the Pike Street Market, one of my favourite places in Seattle. The flower sellers are everywhere, lifting my spirits with the vibrant beauty of their bouquets which inspired the first of these prayers. If you would like to receive these prayers each day on facebook you can sign up here
Glory be O God almighty, glory be.
Glory be O Christ redeemer, glory be.
Glory be O Spirit advocate, glory be.
Glory to the One who loves us,
Glory to the One who cares,
Glory to the One who hears us,
Glory be.
-------------------------
Lord Jesus Christ, let the wonder of your love shine forth,
Let the beauty of your image emerge,
Let us magnify your greatness,
And bless the One,
who has given us new birth into a living hope.
---------------------------
May faith go before us,
May hope reside within us,
May love always surround us.
All else will pass,
These three will remain,
And the greatest of these is love.
(From meditating on 1 Corinthians 13)
--------------------------------
God may I gaze on you and find myself,
May my eye be focused and my body full of light.
May I move forward with the joy of your presence before me,
And the wonder of your love ever within me.
---------------------------------
Let us welcome the good news of the kingdom,
and stand firm in its wonderful truths.
Let us follow its path and not stumble,
And see in it the unfailing love of our Lord.
---------------------------------
Lord Jesus Christ you are the way,
May we turn our our face toward you,
And grow in the beauty of your light.
No apologies for the fact that this is derived from the prayer I wrote yesterday (see below):
Christ is the centre and circumference,
Christ is the way and the destination,
Christ is the beginning and the end.
Before, behind, within, without,
Christ is God's gift of life and love.
------------------------------------
May the centre of all things be Christ,
May the way of all things be Christ,
May the truth of all things be Christ,
Behind, before, within, without,
May the life of all things be Christ.
----------------------------------
[caption id="attachment_7362" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Joy together[/caption]
My friend Lynne Baab has just published a new book Joy Together:Spiritual Practices for Your Congregation. I love her books on Fasting and Sabbath and am eagerly awaiting the arrival of this one. It has already received a great review from Publishers Weekly. and so I wanted to give a heads up to all of you who are looking for congregational resources. The following interview by Jana Reiss was first published on her blog here.
As you wrote your new book, why did you think it was important to emphasize communal spiritual practices?
So many excellent books stress individual spiritual practices. Some of them talk about communal practices a bit, but practical illustrations are few and far between. It’s time for a book that gives practical examples of the ways Christian can engage in spiritual practices (also called spiritual disciplines) in families, small groups and congregations.
What’s the relationship between communal and individual practices?
They flow back and forth. For example, I learned about several forms of contemplative prayer – centering prayer, examen, lectio divina – in group settings. After engaging in those prayer forms with others for a while, I found myself praying that way on my own more often. To illustrate a flow in the opposite direction, I learned breath prayer from a book, and did it on my own for more than a decade before I started teaching it to groups. The last two times I’ve been worship leader at church, I’ve led the whole congregation in breath prayer. For me, thankfulness is another interesting example. My husband and I started praying thankfulness prayers together. Then I began to notice the way my personal prayers shifted more in the direction of thankfulness. Even later, I began to encourage groups to pray thankfulness prayers more often.
What do you think are some of the strengths of your book?
It’s hard to be objective at this point, when only my wonderful editor, Jana, and a few other people (mostly the people who wrote endorsements) have read the book. I asked one friend to read the book in pdf form, before the release date, in order to have a review ready to post on amazon.com. He liked the many stories that illustrate the ways groups can engage in spiritual practices. He also liked the fact that I bring my own life into the book, my own successes and struggles with spiritual practices. One idea that intrigued him came from a section in the chapter on fasting that covers Eastern Orthodox congregations, where fasting is entirely communal, as is feasting together at the end of their many fasts.
What specific practices did you cover?
I have individual chapters on six spiritual practices: fasting, thankfulness, contemplative prayer, contemplative approaches to the Bible, hospitality and Sabbath. I’ve written books on fasting and the Sabbath, but I decided to conduct more interviews for this book. With respect to the Sabbath, one interviewee said he believes keeping the Sabbath is one of the most challenging spiritual practices in our time. That surprised me, and I tried to address some of those difficulties in the chapter and make suggestions about how congregations can support Sabbath observance. Another chapter that surprised me as I wrote it was the one on thankfulness. My husband and I have been practicing thankfulness in our prayers together for almost 20 years, which has been transforming in the ways I mentioned above but in other ways as well. Writing the chapter was pure joy, because I long for others to grow in thankfulness and the good fruits that come from it.
Have you heard the growing concerns about spiritual practices?
William Willimon and others have spoken out about their concerns about spiritual practices. Willimon believes practices can become a way for us to attempt to take control of our relationship with God. He stresses that Jesus breaks in at unexpected times. Amen to that! I believe spiritual practices open up space and time for Jesus to do exactly that. The stories I’ve heard from people who engage in various spiritual practices certainly reinforces my perception. When we teach about spiritual practices, we need to emphasize that practices create space for God. They don’t in any way make God do something in our lives.
Willimon is also concerned that when we engage in spiritual practices, we may fall into thinking we are earning our salvation. That’s why it’s so important to teach about spiritual practices against a backdrop of God’s grace. Spiritual practices are a way to enjoy Jesus’ presence with us and spend time with the God who already loves us.
What do you think is the greatest contribution of spiritual practices in our time?
Spiritual practices nurture a posture of receptivity. In that posture, we are open to receive from God. We might receive guidance for ministry, or a sense of being loved way down deep, or relief of anxiety for the things on our mind. Or something totally unexpected. So much of life today requires us to take action and act like we’re in control. When we engage in spiritual practices, we relinquish control to God and open ourselves for God to meet us and surprise us.
Joy together[/caption]
My friend Lynne Baab has just published a new book Joy Together:Spiritual Practices for Your Congregation. I love her books on Fasting and Sabbath and am eagerly awaiting the arrival of this one. It has already received a great review from Publishers Weekly. and so I wanted to give a heads up to all of you who are looking for congregational resources. The following interview by Jana Reiss was first published on her blog here.
As you wrote your new book, why did you think it was important to emphasize communal spiritual practices?
So many excellent books stress individual spiritual practices. Some of them talk about communal practices a bit, but practical illustrations are few and far between. It’s time for a book that gives practical examples of the ways Christian can engage in spiritual practices (also called spiritual disciplines) in families, small groups and congregations.
What’s the relationship between communal and individual practices?
They flow back and forth. For example, I learned about several forms of contemplative prayer – centering prayer, examen, lectio divina – in group settings. After engaging in those prayer forms with others for a while, I found myself praying that way on my own more often. To illustrate a flow in the opposite direction, I learned breath prayer from a book, and did it on my own for more than a decade before I started teaching it to groups. The last two times I’ve been worship leader at church, I’ve led the whole congregation in breath prayer. For me, thankfulness is another interesting example. My husband and I started praying thankfulness prayers together. Then I began to notice the way my personal prayers shifted more in the direction of thankfulness. Even later, I began to encourage groups to pray thankfulness prayers more often.
What do you think are some of the strengths of your book?
It’s hard to be objective at this point, when only my wonderful editor, Jana, and a few other people (mostly the people who wrote endorsements) have read the book. I asked one friend to read the book in pdf form, before the release date, in order to have a review ready to post on amazon.com. He liked the many stories that illustrate the ways groups can engage in spiritual practices. He also liked the fact that I bring my own life into the book, my own successes and struggles with spiritual practices. One idea that intrigued him came from a section in the chapter on fasting that covers Eastern Orthodox congregations, where fasting is entirely communal, as is feasting together at the end of their many fasts.
What specific practices did you cover?
I have individual chapters on six spiritual practices: fasting, thankfulness, contemplative prayer, contemplative approaches to the Bible, hospitality and Sabbath. I’ve written books on fasting and the Sabbath, but I decided to conduct more interviews for this book. With respect to the Sabbath, one interviewee said he believes keeping the Sabbath is one of the most challenging spiritual practices in our time. That surprised me, and I tried to address some of those difficulties in the chapter and make suggestions about how congregations can support Sabbath observance. Another chapter that surprised me as I wrote it was the one on thankfulness. My husband and I have been practicing thankfulness in our prayers together for almost 20 years, which has been transforming in the ways I mentioned above but in other ways as well. Writing the chapter was pure joy, because I long for others to grow in thankfulness and the good fruits that come from it.
Have you heard the growing concerns about spiritual practices?
William Willimon and others have spoken out about their concerns about spiritual practices. Willimon believes practices can become a way for us to attempt to take control of our relationship with God. He stresses that Jesus breaks in at unexpected times. Amen to that! I believe spiritual practices open up space and time for Jesus to do exactly that. The stories I’ve heard from people who engage in various spiritual practices certainly reinforces my perception. When we teach about spiritual practices, we need to emphasize that practices create space for God. They don’t in any way make God do something in our lives.
Willimon is also concerned that when we engage in spiritual practices, we may fall into thinking we are earning our salvation. That’s why it’s so important to teach about spiritual practices against a backdrop of God’s grace. Spiritual practices are a way to enjoy Jesus’ presence with us and spend time with the God who already loves us.
What do you think is the greatest contribution of spiritual practices in our time?
Spiritual practices nurture a posture of receptivity. In that posture, we are open to receive from God. We might receive guidance for ministry, or a sense of being loved way down deep, or relief of anxiety for the things on our mind. Or something totally unexpected. So much of life today requires us to take action and act like we’re in control. When we engage in spiritual practices, we relinquish control to God and open ourselves for God to meet us and surprise us.
[caption id="attachment_7358" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Lorikeets in Sydney[/caption]
I love this prayer which I came across in David Adam's Rhythm of Life: Celtic Daily Prayer. This book has long been a favourite of mine. I love to use it when I travel, finding that the short daily offices help to ground my spiritual practices during what can otherwise be a very disorienting journey.
How wonderful, O Lord, are the works of your hands!
The heavens declare your glory,
the arch of the sky displays your handiwork.
In your love you have given us the power
to behold the beauty of your world in all its splendour.
The sun and the stars, the valleys and the hills,
the rivers and the lakes, all disclose your presence.
The roaring breakers of the sea tell of your awesome might;
the beasts of the field and the birds of the air proclaim your wondrous will.
In your goodness you have made us able to hear the music of the world
the voices of loved ones reveal to us that you are in our midst.
A divine song sings through all creation.
For those of us who live in urban areas the music of God's world is so often drowned out by the clatter and commotion of the world around us. This prayer reminds me of how much all of us need time amongst God's good creation to reconnect once more to the divine song that reverberates through God's world.
Lorikeets in Sydney[/caption]
I love this prayer which I came across in David Adam's Rhythm of Life: Celtic Daily Prayer. This book has long been a favourite of mine. I love to use it when I travel, finding that the short daily offices help to ground my spiritual practices during what can otherwise be a very disorienting journey.
How wonderful, O Lord, are the works of your hands!
The heavens declare your glory,
the arch of the sky displays your handiwork.
In your love you have given us the power
to behold the beauty of your world in all its splendour.
The sun and the stars, the valleys and the hills,
the rivers and the lakes, all disclose your presence.
The roaring breakers of the sea tell of your awesome might;
the beasts of the field and the birds of the air proclaim your wondrous will.
In your goodness you have made us able to hear the music of the world
the voices of loved ones reveal to us that you are in our midst.
A divine song sings through all creation.
For those of us who live in urban areas the music of God's world is so often drowned out by the clatter and commotion of the world around us. This prayer reminds me of how much all of us need time amongst God's good creation to reconnect once more to the divine song that reverberates through God's world.
[caption id="attachment_7352" align="alignnone" width="234"]
Scarlet runner beans ready for the winter[/caption]
It is harvest season here in the Pacific Northwest. The tomatoes are finally ripening, the beans have dried on the vine and the apples and pears are ready to be picked. As I walk out and see the miracle of what has come from tiny seeds my heart swells with gratitude at the wonder of how God provides. each year at this time I write reflections and prayers on the harvest season.
Last year I wrote this reflection: The Harvest is Plentiful But the Labourers are Few;
The year before I posted this: Praying for an Abundant Harvest
And the year before wrote this litany: God of the Bountiful – A Harvest Prayer
And my first post on this theme in 2008: The Generosity of God – Fish and Loaves for all
I had not intended to write another reflection for the harvest season this year - there is so much else that I want to write about. But there is something about this season that calls forth my gratitude and thanksgiving in ways that I realize I cannot deny. This morning it bubbled up within me into this prayer:
God we thank you for a harvest of plenty,
Small seeds that multiply to feed many,
Trees that blossom and produce abundant fruit,
Tomatoes that ripen on the vine with sweet flavour.
God we thank you for abundance overflowing,
Enough for our own needs and an abundance to share,
Enough to feed the hungry and provide for the destitute,
Enough to reach out with generosity and care.
God we thank you for seeds you have planted in our hearts,
Seeds of righteousness yielding goodness and mercy,
Seeds of love yielding justice and peace,
Seeds of compassion yielding healing and renewal.
God we thank you for the bread of heaven,
Christ our saviour planted in our lives,
Christ our redeemer growing in our hearts,
Christ your Son making us one with you.
God we thank you for the gift of life,
Like water poured out on thirsty ground,
Spring and autumn rains that revive and bring life,
A river that flows from your heart and out into the world you love.
Amen
Scarlet runner beans ready for the winter[/caption]
It is harvest season here in the Pacific Northwest. The tomatoes are finally ripening, the beans have dried on the vine and the apples and pears are ready to be picked. As I walk out and see the miracle of what has come from tiny seeds my heart swells with gratitude at the wonder of how God provides. each year at this time I write reflections and prayers on the harvest season.
Last year I wrote this reflection: The Harvest is Plentiful But the Labourers are Few;
The year before I posted this: Praying for an Abundant Harvest
And the year before wrote this litany: God of the Bountiful – A Harvest Prayer
And my first post on this theme in 2008: The Generosity of God – Fish and Loaves for all
I had not intended to write another reflection for the harvest season this year - there is so much else that I want to write about. But there is something about this season that calls forth my gratitude and thanksgiving in ways that I realize I cannot deny. This morning it bubbled up within me into this prayer:
God we thank you for a harvest of plenty,
Small seeds that multiply to feed many,
Trees that blossom and produce abundant fruit,
Tomatoes that ripen on the vine with sweet flavour.
God we thank you for abundance overflowing,
Enough for our own needs and an abundance to share,
Enough to feed the hungry and provide for the destitute,
Enough to reach out with generosity and care.
God we thank you for seeds you have planted in our hearts,
Seeds of righteousness yielding goodness and mercy,
Seeds of love yielding justice and peace,
Seeds of compassion yielding healing and renewal.
God we thank you for the bread of heaven,
Christ our saviour planted in our lives,
Christ our redeemer growing in our hearts,
Christ your Son making us one with you.
God we thank you for the gift of life,
Like water poured out on thirsty ground,
Spring and autumn rains that revive and bring life,
A river that flows from your heart and out into the world you love.
Amen Advent 2012celebration & recipescreativityEducationImages of JesusLiturgyPrayerresourcesspiritual practices
Getting Ready for Advent – Its Time to Start Preparing.
[caption id="attachment_7348" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Let Us Come As Children[/caption]
Advent this year begins late on December 2nd. It is still over 2 months away but I already have people asking me what the theme will be for blog posts so thought that I would get an early start in focusing all of us on this important season of waiting and preparation. This year's theme will be: Let Us Wait As Children Wait. If you want to contribute you can sign up to receive ongoing information in the Godspace Writing Community on Facebook or email me at christine@msaimagine.org for more details.
In Luke 18: 16, 17 (NLT) Jesus tells his disciples: “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” (from Biblegateway.com)
I have been thinking a lot about this recently. What does it mean to come as children come? What are the attributes of children that make it possible for them to enter the Kingdom of God when those of us that are adults cannot? Last year, in a post entitled God Created the World By Imagination I wrote:
Let Us Come As Children[/caption]
Advent this year begins late on December 2nd. It is still over 2 months away but I already have people asking me what the theme will be for blog posts so thought that I would get an early start in focusing all of us on this important season of waiting and preparation. This year's theme will be: Let Us Wait As Children Wait. If you want to contribute you can sign up to receive ongoing information in the Godspace Writing Community on Facebook or email me at christine@msaimagine.org for more details.
In Luke 18: 16, 17 (NLT) Jesus tells his disciples: “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” (from Biblegateway.com)
I have been thinking a lot about this recently. What does it mean to come as children come? What are the attributes of children that make it possible for them to enter the Kingdom of God when those of us that are adults cannot? Last year, in a post entitled God Created the World By Imagination I wrote:
Childhood is filled with creativity and imagination, a place of mystery and wonder in which kids discover themselves, the world and the God who created it. For a child every moment is filled with looking, listening and learning.I love to watch children explore the world. Everything is new. Everything is exciting. Everything is worth noticing. Everything is worth questioning and every smallest pain ache and pain that others experience draws forth compassion and a desire to help. But something happens to squelch all that. Just as our excitement in waiting for the coming of our Saviour is drained by the world around us, so is the excitement and creativity of children. In my previous post I went on to say:
Schools and universities squelch creativity and imagination forcing kids to live in a world of science and technology where we convince then that flowers are made of molecules and rainbows are caused by the refraction of light. Childhood’s vivid purple clouds and yellow skies give way to the real world where clouds are always white and skies are always blue. In this world of head knowledge compassion gives way to competition and life, we teach them, revolves around buying goods we don’t need and holding jobs we don’t enjoy.So how do we regain the excitement, imagination and expectation of childhood? How do we regain the ability to wait for the coming of our Saviour with an anticipation that has us standing on tiptoes, asking continually Is it time yet? and maybe even more importantly, how do we maintain that same excitement and expectation in children? One of my most popular posts during Advent is this one on Celebrating Advent With Kids. People are looking for resources - and I think not just to celebrate with their kids but because many of us want to find again that childlike enthusiasm and excitement we once experienced in our faith. There has been a lot of controversy flying around lately on how we educate our children - Tony Jones' article Death to Homeschooling. As he suspected and documented, homeschoolers turned out in force. My concern is that in the heat of the argument we miss the point. Children need to be allowed to be children no matter how they are schooled. And Jesus tells us to become like them. So once again I am offering an invitation to join me during Advent and the weeks preceding it. If you would like to contribute a post for this series leave a comment here or sign up to receive ongoing information in the Godspace Writing Community on Facebook or email me at christine@msaimagine.org for more details. If you know of others who might be interested please send them the link. I hope that this series will provide us with a rich array of viewpoints from around the world so that together we grow in our faith and rediscover some of the wonder and awe of waiting for Christ as children wait. f you want to contribute you can
While I was in Canada recently I started to read a fascinating book entitled How God Changes Your Brain. I enjoyed it so much that I ordered a copy and am thoroughly enjoying reading it and reflecting on its relevance. Interestingly, the authors Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman are not writing from a Christian perspective. Andrew is a neuroscientist, Mark is a therapist. They are more interested in the impact that spiritual practices have on our physical and emotional health than on our spiritual development.
That does not reduce its importance however. I think they say some wonderful things for all people of faith to think about. They provide some very practical exercises for all of us to consider.
So here is some of what they say (quoted from the back cover of the book):
Prayer and spiritual practice don't just reduce stress, but meditation for as little as 12 minutes a day can slow down the aging process.
Contemplating a loving God rather than a punitive God reduces anxiety and depression and increases feelings of security, compassion and love.
Intense prayer and meditation lastingly change numerous structures and functions in the brain, altering your values and the way you perceive reality.
Fundamentalism can be personally beneficial, but the prejudice generated by extreme beliefs can permanently damage your brain.
I know that some people find books like this threatening because they interpret them to say that God is just a chemical reaction going on in our brain. For me however they are exciting because they confirm the activity of God in my life - if God is truly at work in our lives then we should expect that his activity in our brains should create discernable changes. What do you think,
[caption id="attachment_7341" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Sunset in Seattle[/caption]
The Light for the Journey facebook page is changing. I have asked a number of contemplatives around the world to participate with me in sharing prayers, contemplative practices and their journeys. Mustard Seed Associates is a community based organization and believe that all we do should be a reflection of the gifts and talents of the broader community of which we are a part. One of the strengths of this blog is the diversity of voices that contribute to its content and I want to make sure that the facebook pages associated with it reflect that.
I will continue to post each week the summary of prayers but will also add links to articles, prayers and meditations that this growing contemplative community shares with us.
May the centre of all things be Christ,
May the way of all things be Christ,
May the truth of all things be Christ,
Behind, before, within, without,
May the life of all things be Christ.
---------------------------
Lord Jesus Christ may we look at you in every moment,
May we centre not on problems but on your resources,
May we run your race with purpose in every step,
And keep our eyes on your enduring love.
--------------------------------
Lord Jesus Christ may we live by your royal law,
May we love mercy not judgement,
Show compassion not indifference,
Practice peace not war,
May we love God with our whole hearts gladly,
And love neighbours as we do ourselves.
---------------------------------
Lord you are the lover of my soul,
Jehovah Jirah you are my provider,
Restorer of all things, you are my redeemer,
Gardener of creation, you are the one who formed made me.
-------------------------------------
Tuesday morning's prayer was an adaptation of one I wrote last year for the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
May all of us remember with love and compassion this day.
May we grieve with those who still mourn,
And share memories with those who cannot forget.
May we draw strength from those who bravely responded,
And gave their lives to save others.
May we stand with strangers who became neighbours,
And give thanks for their generosity and hospitality.
May we remember all who have lost loved ones to terrorism and violence,
And commit ourselves to bring your peace.
Above all God may we remember your faithfulness,
And learn to trust in your unfailing love.
--------------------------------------------------
Interesting link shared this week:
How Spiritual Direction Can Make You Feel Closer to God
The Ascent to Assisi - by Contemplative Activist Micha Jazz.
In His Footprints
This is an interesting facebook page. To walk a prayer labyrinth is to open a new connection between God's heart and your own. . . To walk uprightly, faithfully and lovingly, is to find an uncommon joy and peace in the journey.
In His Footsteps serves as an informational resource for recovering the Prayer Labyrinth as an ancient, yet ever new, prayer experience. In addition, snippets of inspiration are offered for your daily walk with God.
"You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your Presence." Psalm 16:11
Sunset in Seattle[/caption]
The Light for the Journey facebook page is changing. I have asked a number of contemplatives around the world to participate with me in sharing prayers, contemplative practices and their journeys. Mustard Seed Associates is a community based organization and believe that all we do should be a reflection of the gifts and talents of the broader community of which we are a part. One of the strengths of this blog is the diversity of voices that contribute to its content and I want to make sure that the facebook pages associated with it reflect that.
I will continue to post each week the summary of prayers but will also add links to articles, prayers and meditations that this growing contemplative community shares with us.
May the centre of all things be Christ,
May the way of all things be Christ,
May the truth of all things be Christ,
Behind, before, within, without,
May the life of all things be Christ.
---------------------------
Lord Jesus Christ may we look at you in every moment,
May we centre not on problems but on your resources,
May we run your race with purpose in every step,
And keep our eyes on your enduring love.
--------------------------------
Lord Jesus Christ may we live by your royal law,
May we love mercy not judgement,
Show compassion not indifference,
Practice peace not war,
May we love God with our whole hearts gladly,
And love neighbours as we do ourselves.
---------------------------------
Lord you are the lover of my soul,
Jehovah Jirah you are my provider,
Restorer of all things, you are my redeemer,
Gardener of creation, you are the one who formed made me.
-------------------------------------
Tuesday morning's prayer was an adaptation of one I wrote last year for the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
May all of us remember with love and compassion this day.
May we grieve with those who still mourn,
And share memories with those who cannot forget.
May we draw strength from those who bravely responded,
And gave their lives to save others.
May we stand with strangers who became neighbours,
And give thanks for their generosity and hospitality.
May we remember all who have lost loved ones to terrorism and violence,
And commit ourselves to bring your peace.
Above all God may we remember your faithfulness,
And learn to trust in your unfailing love.
--------------------------------------------------
Interesting link shared this week:
How Spiritual Direction Can Make You Feel Closer to God
The Ascent to Assisi - by Contemplative Activist Micha Jazz.
In His Footprints
This is an interesting facebook page. To walk a prayer labyrinth is to open a new connection between God's heart and your own. . . To walk uprightly, faithfully and lovingly, is to find an uncommon joy and peace in the journey.
In His Footsteps serves as an informational resource for recovering the Prayer Labyrinth as an ancient, yet ever new, prayer experience. In addition, snippets of inspiration are offered for your daily walk with God.
"You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your Presence." Psalm 16:11 As an Amazon Associate, I receive a small amount for purchases made through appropriate links.
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