Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Archive for October, 2013

Morning Prayer

Lord, thank You for the morning –
For the quiet of the night –
For the stillness of the dawning –
For the promise of the light.

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Thank You for the candles
Which flicker in the room,
Twinkling in the starlight,
Eliminating gloom.

Their gentle light reminds me
There’s strength contained in fire;
So manage and and maintain it.
Unchecked, its results are dire.

Like candle flames, my life is
A flicker on the earth.
I thank You for my parents
Who loved and gave me birth.

Work in and through me, Jesus;
Let Your Light shine intense.
With God all things are possible.
His outreach is immense.

I pray for all my children –
And each grandchild as well.
I thank You for their presence.
Give them peace and patience – Make it swell!

Thank You for the promise
Of each new, unlived day.
Help me make the most of it
By walking in Your Way.

In Christ’s Name I pray,
Amen

 

Category:

Love

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It’s Not About Me

Several years ago, when we first moved from California to Montana,
I wrote the following poem and posted it on my mirror as my “mantra.”
I read it every morning and carried it in my heart.

Lord, guide my feet in Your Will today.
Help me be what You want me to be.
Show me what You want me to do –
And help me walk in Your Way.

Then, today as I was browsing the recent history of some of my favorite
WordPress bloggers, I came across the following poem –
Posted on http://changeindirections.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/a-prayer-for-guidance/
on behalf of Rev. Mychal Judge, “FDNY chaplain and first official casualty of 9/11.”

Lord, take me where you want me to go;
Let me meet who you want me to meet;
Tell me what you want me to say,
and keep me out of your way.

ImageThank you, Rev. Mychal Judge, for helping me see that my use of “Your Way” and your use of “your way” are different – and yet inextricably related. Thank you to whomever posted this last August from a church newsletter … and thank you, Lord, for helping me find it because Rad Change reposted this “Prayer for Guidance.”  Rev. Mychal’s poem is a necessary part of making my poem/my thought process complete. It’s the message my minister, Rev. Jean Johnson was trying to help us understand last Sunday. In essence, she said, “Get out of the way, It’s not about YOU!”

I added Rev. Mychal’s poem to mine. It’s a constant and real reminder to stay out of the way, but stay in THE WAY, by walking in God’s Way. It reminds me to recognize that God is the Guide, the One in the Driver’s seat, the Creator, the One who is worthy of praise and recognition. Get out of God’s way and let God WORK through me! There is no end to the GOOD God can do through us, if we just get out of the the way.

It’s not about me!! 

Image

 

Category:

Love

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For all of you who have lost someone you love x x x

For all of you who have lost someone you love x x x.

Category:

Love

Bird in a Gilded Cage

 

Bird in a Gilded Cage

I’m only a bird in a gilded cage.
I’m trapped in a pent-up life.
I see the blue sky and the world out there,
But I’m locked in a world of strife.

I know I have friends who are here with me.
I feel their support and love;
But they can’t quite reach all my problems here –
I’m counting on the Lord above.

He’s not just a God who is far removed.
He’s my Savior, Deliverer, Friend.
I take all my strife to the Lord in prayer
And count on the Holy Spirit to descend.

Come into the cage of Your gilded bird.
Come into my heart today.
Take all of my troubles and grant me peace.
Give me love, JOY, and patience, I pray.

Amen

Category:

Love

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Increase Our Faith

Increase Our Faith

Sermon Notes
–  from a message by Rev. Jean M Johnson based on Luke 17:5-10

If the disciples of Christ felt clueless,
How can I know anything for sure?
If they lived with the King of Peace,
Why weren’t their thoughts clear and pure?

They lived and rubbed elbows with
Our Lord, the Christ, Savior on earth.
They were with Him, hearing His parables,
Watching His miracles; some knew Him from birth.

Yet, they asked Christ to increase their faith.
Maybe it wasn’t a request to increase their hearts.
Maybe they were asking Him to increase their hands –
Give them the will to work and do their parts.

Because they had faith, the disciples needed
The humility for doing the mundane, daily grind.
Obeying and following Jesus means quietly doing
The duties of loving and serving with no thanks in mind.

Don’t ask for a great faith to do great things.
Be content with faith the size of a mustard seed
To do the work of serving God humbly,
Listening for the Holy Spirit to reveal every need.

Amen?

Hmmm… My prayer for today is one of gratitude for my God and for His Son, Jesus Christ, and for my faith. Yes, it is small as a mustard seed! But, is it sufficient to do God’s Will today? Oh Lord, increase my humility. Increase my ability to hear and see the needs around me. Increase the capacity of my hands and feet to be the hands and feet God uses for His small tasks here on earth. You have given me ears to hear, dear God, and eyes to see the needs around me. Increase my willingness to respond to Your nudges and help me do so with no expectation of recognition. Thank You for the fruits of the spirit alive and well in me: love, joy, and peace. I know faithfulness is a gift from You, also. Help me share those fruits and radiate the gifts freely today.

In Jesus Name –
Amen!

Category:

Faith, Love, Serving One Another, Spiritual Gifts

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Throw it Away

Got a nasty worry?
Throw it away.
Got somethin’ troublin’ you?
Throw it away!

Throw it in God’s direction;
He’ll take your cares away
To Never Never Land.
Just leave them there today.

Don’t take the worries back.
Don’t let your troubles getcha.
Give all your cares to God.
He cares for you – I’ll betcha!

I worried about Hope –
My granddaughter who went away.
I hadn’t heard in over a month.
God heard; Hope texted the next day.

I worried about Mike –
My grandson needed a job.
I asked the Lord to help him.
He was chosen from out of a mob!

I heard my sis was sick;
She was taken to the E.R.
I asked God to heal her –
His mercies are never far.

Just take your cares and worries
And throw them out in prayer.
Then try not to dig ’em out again.
Leave ’em with God. Trust them there!

Category:

Love

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Unexpected Angel

An Unexpected Angel
Had dinner with us
Last night.
The Unsuspecting Guests
Met him and his smile
So bright.
With no arms
In sight,
He hugged with
Warmest joy.
How could this
Angel live inside a
Deformed little boy?

God lives
Inside us all.
He reminds us
To look –
Not on the outside,
But inside
Each Living Book.
Our hearts
Are Living Stories.
Open yours wide
So you can be
An Unexpected Angel
Spreading God’s love
JOYFULLY!

It’s true… his name was Francisco. We call him Chico. A child whose mom may have unsuspectingly taken thalidomide, causing her baby’s limbs not to form normally, he is from Ecuador. Here for medical treatment, living with a host family of Unexpected Angels, Chico is a blessing to all who meet him. His smile spreads from ear to ear. His  joy is contagious. His language is Spanish and his English is limited, but the common words necessary to understand God’s message here are spoken with the heart. Ah yes, love conquers all! Open your arms with a renewed sense of awareness today – and spread God’s love joyfully!

Category:

Love

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