For the next few weeks I am going to concentrate my
thoughts each morning on the opening prayer from my Celtic Benedictions Prayer
book, written by J Phillip Newell of the Iona community. All italicized, red text is directly from Newell's book.
7.4.15 LISTEN!
Psalm 19:1-4 GNT
How clearly the sky reveals God's glory!
How plainly it shows what he has done!
2 Each day announces it to the following day;
each night repeats it to the next.
3 No speech or words are used,
no sound is heard;
4 yet their message goes out to all the world
and is heard to the ends of the earth.
How plainly it shows what he has done!
2 Each day announces it to the following day;
each night repeats it to the next.
3 No speech or words are used,
no sound is heard;
4 yet their message goes out to all the world
and is heard to the ends of the earth.
SATURDAY MORNING:
In the
silence of the early morning
Your Spirit
hovers over the brink of the day
And new light
pierces the darkness of the night.
In the
silence of the morning
Life begins
to stir around me
And I listen
for the day’s first utterances.
In earth, sea
and sky
And in the
landscape of my own soul
I listen for
utterances of your love, O God.
I listen for
utterances of your love.
I was up early this morning and out on my back
deck. As I prayed through Newell’s
prayer, I listened to God. God was speaking…..
 |
| Look closely. You'll find the birds, the chimes, the hawk, the sprinklers, the wind and the leaves, and the insects all within the design. And our ears must listen for the utterances of God's love. |
I listen for God.
He speaks in the not-so-quiet of the early morning.
The piercing call of the resident hawk circling the sky.
A chorus of birds chirping and chattering.
The rhythm of sprinklers renewing the earth.
The silence of deer grazing in the neighbor yard.
The melodies of various wind-chimes gently filling
the air.
The rustle of the lilac branches in the rush of the
wind.
The popping of the coffee as it perks inside.
Distant, yet early, roar of mowers already at work,
beating the afternoon heat.
The hum of insects, white noise in the background of
my ears.
God is gently, quietly calling.
So softly we might not hear.
Let those who have ears to hear, listen!
God is speaking ‘utterances of His love’.
Sunday morning.
I have coffee hour duties today.
I have fellowship duties today.
Luke and the PYGS are leaving for their mission trip right after
church. My mind is not peaceful in the storm of ‘duties’
and I fail to take the time to reflect on this opening prayer. Yet the grace of seeing is bestowed in that
the words call me back to my list of God-Moments. I haven’t added to it for a couple days and
the prayer calls me to stop and SEE glimpses of God in the days past. That simple reflection has the power to calm
the storm. Katy preached this morning on
Jesus Calming the Storm. She talked of
the storms in our lives, the buckets we fill to ‘bail out the boat’ when what
we truly need is the faith and trust to simply curl up with Jesus and sleep
alongside our Savior. I absolutely loved
the imagery of nestling confidently beside Christ on the bow of the boat. Let the storms rage. Perhaps my list is a step toward the bow and
a step toward that kind of peace.
7.5.15 The Grace of Seeing
John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
SUNDAY MORNING:
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
SUNDAY MORNING:
I watch this
morning for the light that the darkness has not overcome.
I watch for the
fire that was in the beginning and that burns still in the brilliance of the
rising sun.
I watch for the
glow of life that gleams in the growing earth and glistens in sea and sky.
I watch for
your light, O God, in the eyes of every living creature and in the ever-living
flame of my own soul.
If the grace of
seeing were mine this day I would glimpse you in all that lives.
Grant me the
grace of seeing this day.
Grant me the
grace of seeing. (JPN)
Sunday morning.
I have coffee hour duties today.
I have fellowship duties today.
Luke and the PYGS are leaving for their mission trip right after
church. My mind is not peaceful in the storm of ‘duties’
and I fail to take the time to reflect on this opening prayer. Yet the grace of seeing is bestowed in that
the words call me back to my list of God-Moments. I haven’t added to it for a couple days and
the prayer calls me to stop and SEE glimpses of God in the days past. That simple reflection has the power to calm
the storm. Katy preached this morning on
Jesus Calming the Storm. She talked of
the storms in our lives, the buckets we fill to ‘bail out the boat’ when what
we truly need is the faith and trust to simply curl up with Jesus and sleep
alongside our Savior. I absolutely loved
the imagery of nestling confidently beside Christ on the bow of the boat. Let the storms rage. Perhaps my list is a step toward the bow and
a step toward that kind of peace.
Hmmm….a
spectacular sunset streaking red and orange across the sky BEFORE the glory of
fireworks; star bursts of gold and red, silver and green, in the distant night
sky; Jupiter and Venus still blazing light in the west; the light of old
friends not seen for awhile; the flame of charcoal fire, embers barely lit; the
warmth of hugs and hellos; the fireball energy of five little boys and the
pride of watching youth grow into maturity as parents; God-light. God.
Thank you, Lord, for the grace of seeing glimpses of you in all that lives,
glimpses of God-light to illuminate my way.
7.6.15
Bridled
by Love, Bridled FOR Love
Psalm 18:1 MSG
I love you
God, you make me strong!
MONDAY MORNING:
For the morning
light and its irresistible dawning,
For your
untameable utterances of life
in boundless
stretches of space and the strength of the waves of the sea
I give you
thanks, O God.
Release in me
the power of your Spirit that my soul may be free and my spirit strong,
Release in me
the freedom of your Spirit that I may be bridled by nothing but love
That I may be
bridled only by love. (JPN)
Release in me the power to love.
Wipe clean the chains that limit my action
The bondage of my own accord.
Release in me the power of your Spirit
That love overwhelms all else,
That love becomes my bridle,
That love controls my every thought.
Release and bridle.
Set free, yet restrained.
Opposites at first glance.
Yet one empowers the other.
Bridled by love frees us to see God in all,
Bridled by love frees us to be God’s heart here
In this place and time.
It frees us FOR Love.
Awaken in me. Open my eyes to
see! Open my ears to hear! Smell!
Touch textures! Awaken my
senses! God is present. In the amaryllis that refuses to die, but in
the heat of summer pushes long blades of green upward. Growth springing forth. God is present – in the daily surge of green
that radiates from the cucumber vines, rapidly creeping across the garden
plot. Growth springing forth. Goodness and life. We can bemoan the news and the pain and
suffering of our world and forget to notice that God is present. Goodness is present. May we savor and taste, see and acknowledge
our God alive. Our God weeping with us
in the suffering, knowing when we see the blessing and life in each other, the
goodness and growth, we will act in his name.
Awaken in me a vision of God-present, awaken in me where I must act in
God’s name.
7.8.15 Dark to Light.
Psalm 143:8 GNT
Remind me each morning of your constant love,
for I put my trust in you.
My prayers go up to you;
show me the way I should go.
WEDNESDAY MORNING PRAYER:
With the rising of the sun life rises again within me, O God.
In the dawning of the morning light you lead me from the mists of the night
into the clarity of the day.
In the new light of this day bring me a clearer knowing
of the mystery that first bore me from the dark
Bring me to a clearer knowing of the love from which all life is born. (JPN)
Womb. Clouded. Dark. Night.
Unknowing. Uncertain.
Birth. Emergence. Misty light. Mother's love.
Rebirth in Christ. Brighter light.
Clarity of purpose; Dawning understanding.
Savior's love. God's love.
Death. Pure light. Blazing light.
Perfect understanding; unending trust.
Eternal love.
Dark to light; light to love.
Love to all life.
Bring me to a clearer knowing.
7.9.15 Satisfy, Fill
Psalm 107:9 GNT
He satisfies those who are thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.
THURSDAY MORNING:
As the light of dawn awakens earth's creatures
and stirs into song the birds of the morning
so may I be brought to life this day.
Rising to see the light
to hear the wind
to smell the fragrance of what grows from the ground
to taste its fruit and touch its textures
So may my inner senses be awakened to you
so may my senses be awakened to you, O God. (JPN)
I am called this morning to ponder verse 9 from Psalm 107, rather than a phrase from Newell's Thursday morning opening prayer. "He satisfies the thirsty....he fills the hungry." My mind wanders to physical hunger and thirst versus spiritual hunger. While God does provide abundantly for our physical needs, we don't always share that abundance in equal measure. There are those in our world with knots of hunger twisting their bellies, with parched lips and withered skin in the grip of drought. Yet God fills them with a spiritual food that lessens the pain and thirst. We who live in the land of abundance are never REALLY hungry or thirsty, yet our spiritual deprivations are great because of that abundance. May God fill us with the spiritual food that calls us to share more freely, to answer the cry for help, and view our world's resources as God's blessing for ALL. May ALL 'taste the fruit and touch its textures' and be satisfied and full.
7.10.15 WONDROUSLY MADE
Psalm 139:13-14 VOICE
For You shaped me, inside and out.
You knitted me together in my mother’s womb long before I took my first breath.
14 I will offer You my grateful heart, for I am Your unique creation, filled with wonder and awe.
You have approached even the smallest details with excellence;
Your works are wonderful;
I carry this knowledge deep within my soul.
FRIDAY MORNING:
In the morning light, O God,
may I glimpse again your image deep within me
the threads of eternal glory
woven into the fabric of every man and woman.
Again may I catch sight of the mystery of the human soul
fashioned in your likeness
deeper than knowing, more enduring than time.
And in glimpsing these threads of light
amidst the weakness and distortions of my life
let me be recalled to the strength and beauty deep in my soul.
Let me be recalled
to the strength and beauty of your image in every living soul. (JPN)
Made in the image of God. Wonderfully and intricately created. Fashioned in the likeness of God. Wow. What words! When we have self-doubt, all we have to do is read these lines and be uplifted. God is our creator and God doesn't make junk! We have God within us, yet we often cover up the wonderful being we are with the clothing of denial, rejection, pride, or conceit. May we peel back the layers of self and allow the God deep within to emerge. May we constantly seek to view others beneath their costume and see the God hiding within them.
I am off this morning to work a shift for Crossroads at the photobooth for the motorcycle rally. Nearly 4000 motorcycles are expected to arrive in Baker City this weekend. It is easy to carry a pre-conceived notion of 'bikers' with their leather garb, tattoos, and chains. May I look today beneath to the image of God in each face, the threads of God 'strength and beauty' deep within each person.
It frees us FOR Love.
7.7.15 AWAKEN
MY SENSES
Psalm 34:8
MSG
Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—
how good God is.
Blessed are you who run to him.
how good God is.
Blessed are you who run to him.
TUESDAY MORNING:
In the
beginning, O God,
When the firm
earth emerged from the waters of life
You saw that it
was good.
The fertile
ground was moist
The seed was
strong
And earth’s
profusion of color and scent was born.
Awaken my
senses this day
To the goodness
that still stems from Eden.
Awaken my
senses to the goodness that can still spring forth
In me and in
all that has life. (JPN)
7.8.15 Dark to Light.
Psalm 143:8 GNT
Remind me each morning of your constant love,
for I put my trust in you.
My prayers go up to you;
show me the way I should go.
WEDNESDAY MORNING PRAYER:
With the rising of the sun life rises again within me, O God.
In the dawning of the morning light you lead me from the mists of the night
into the clarity of the day.
In the new light of this day bring me a clearer knowing
of the mystery that first bore me from the dark
Bring me to a clearer knowing of the love from which all life is born. (JPN)
Womb. Clouded. Dark. Night.
Unknowing. Uncertain.
Birth. Emergence. Misty light. Mother's love.
Rebirth in Christ. Brighter light.
Clarity of purpose; Dawning understanding.
Savior's love. God's love.
Death. Pure light. Blazing light.
Perfect understanding; unending trust.
Eternal love.
Dark to light; light to love.
Love to all life.
Bring me to a clearer knowing.
7.9.15 Satisfy, Fill
Psalm 107:9 GNT
He satisfies those who are thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.
THURSDAY MORNING:
As the light of dawn awakens earth's creatures
and stirs into song the birds of the morning
so may I be brought to life this day.
Rising to see the light
to hear the wind
to smell the fragrance of what grows from the ground
to taste its fruit and touch its textures
So may my inner senses be awakened to you
so may my senses be awakened to you, O God. (JPN)
I am called this morning to ponder verse 9 from Psalm 107, rather than a phrase from Newell's Thursday morning opening prayer. "He satisfies the thirsty....he fills the hungry." My mind wanders to physical hunger and thirst versus spiritual hunger. While God does provide abundantly for our physical needs, we don't always share that abundance in equal measure. There are those in our world with knots of hunger twisting their bellies, with parched lips and withered skin in the grip of drought. Yet God fills them with a spiritual food that lessens the pain and thirst. We who live in the land of abundance are never REALLY hungry or thirsty, yet our spiritual deprivations are great because of that abundance. May God fill us with the spiritual food that calls us to share more freely, to answer the cry for help, and view our world's resources as God's blessing for ALL. May ALL 'taste the fruit and touch its textures' and be satisfied and full.
7.10.15 WONDROUSLY MADE
Psalm 139:13-14 VOICE
For You shaped me, inside and out.
You knitted me together in my mother’s womb long before I took my first breath.
14 I will offer You my grateful heart, for I am Your unique creation, filled with wonder and awe.
You have approached even the smallest details with excellence;
Your works are wonderful;
I carry this knowledge deep within my soul.
FRIDAY MORNING:
In the morning light, O God,
may I glimpse again your image deep within me
the threads of eternal glory
woven into the fabric of every man and woman.
Again may I catch sight of the mystery of the human soul
fashioned in your likeness
deeper than knowing, more enduring than time.
And in glimpsing these threads of light
amidst the weakness and distortions of my life
let me be recalled to the strength and beauty deep in my soul.
Let me be recalled
to the strength and beauty of your image in every living soul. (JPN)
Made in the image of God. Wonderfully and intricately created. Fashioned in the likeness of God. Wow. What words! When we have self-doubt, all we have to do is read these lines and be uplifted. God is our creator and God doesn't make junk! We have God within us, yet we often cover up the wonderful being we are with the clothing of denial, rejection, pride, or conceit. May we peel back the layers of self and allow the God deep within to emerge. May we constantly seek to view others beneath their costume and see the God hiding within them.
I am off this morning to work a shift for Crossroads at the photobooth for the motorcycle rally. Nearly 4000 motorcycles are expected to arrive in Baker City this weekend. It is easy to carry a pre-conceived notion of 'bikers' with their leather garb, tattoos, and chains. May I look today beneath to the image of God in each face, the threads of God 'strength and beauty' deep within each person.
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