Evenings with Ann: Recent Episodes
Ann Herbert
Bible reading: Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV); Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
Prayer: based on Teresa of Avila’s writings
Let nothing, O Lord,
disturb the silence of this night.
It is easy here by myself,
wrapped around by your presence
to promise you the world and my whole heart,
but by tomorrow I may be a coward again,
clutching desperately to the things
that tonight have no importance.
Take pity on me,
even as I say my brave, generous prayers.
Grant that I might accomplish,
for your honour and glory,
at least some of my dreams
and overcome some of my cowardice.
For deep within my heart and soul
I desire only you, God.
References:
Chittester, J. 2009. The Breath of the Soul: Reflections on Prayer. The Columba Press: Dublin.
Kirvan, J (Ed.). 2008. Let Nothing Disturb You: Teresa of Avila, 30 days with a great spiritual teacher. Ave Maria Press: Notre Dame, Indianna.
Muggeridge, M. 1976. Something Beautiful for God. Fontana Books: London.
Reimer, R. 2005. River Dwellers: Living in the Fullness of the Spirit. Carpenter’s Son Publishing: Franklin, Tennessee.
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
From: Ann Herbert
Sent: Monday, 21 June 2021 5:10 PM
To: Dale Herbert
Subject: EWA S3.14 - Prayer is a Gift
Evenings with Ann
Episode 14 – Prayer is a Gift
Description
The gift of prayer is being able to put your life into God’s hands, and trust the path that opens before you. When you meet God in prayer, it can change you. It brings you under Christ’s influence so he may think his thoughts in your mind and do his work through your hands.
Full Description
Bible reading: Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV); Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
Prayer: By Richard Chilson, based on Teresa of Avila’s writings
Let nothing, O Lord,
disturb the silence of this night.
It is easy here by myself,
wrapped around by your presence
to promise you the world and my whole heart,
but by tomorrow I may be a coward again,
clutching desperately to the things
that tonight have no importance.
Take pity on me,
even as I say my brave, generous prayers.
Grant that I might accomplish,
for your honour and glory,
at least some of my dreams
and overcome some of my cowardice.
For deep within my heart and soul
I desire only you, God.
References:
Chilson, R. 2008. Let Nothing Disturb You: Teresa of Avila, 30 days with a great spiritual teacher, (J. Kirvan, Series Editor). Ave Maria Press: Notre Dame, Indianna
Chittester, J. 2009. The Breath of the Soul: Reflections on Prayer. The Columba Press: Dublin.
Kirvan, J (Ed.). 2008. Let Nothing Disturb You: Teresa of Avila, 30 days with a great spiritual teacher. Ave Maria Press: Notre Dame, Indianna.
Muggeridge, M. 1976. Something Beautiful for God. Fontana Books: London.
Reimer, R. 2005. River Dwellers: Living in the Fullness of the Spirit. Carpenter’s Son Publishing: Franklin, Tennessee.
Bible reading: Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV); Psalm 91:3-6, 9-11, 15 (MSG)
References:
Hymn 433, The Baptist Hymn Book, 1978. Psalms and Hymns Trust: London.
Miller, C. 2008. The Path of Celtic Prayer: An ancient way to contemporary joy. The Bible Reading Fellowship: Abingdon.
Valters-Paintner, 2018. The Soul’s Slow Ripening: 12 Celtic practices seeking the sacred. Sorin Books: Notre Dame, Indiana.
Bible reading: John 17 (NIV)
Prayer of Affirmation, by Studdert Kennedy
In all these things we can be more than conquerors through Him Who loves us, because through prayer He can pour into us the gift of the splendid, [unbroken and unstained] spirit. And it does not end there, for having poured it into us, He can, through our prayers for others, pour it through us into them. The splendid spirit can run through the people who really pray, like a stream of living fire, out into the world of men and women who need just that, and only that, for with that comes all that’s best worth having in this world.
References:
Kennedy, G.A.S. 1918. The Hardest Part. Hodder and Stoughton: London.
Bible readings: Deuteronomy 13 (NIV); James 5:16 (MSG)
References:
Bonhoeffer, D. 1949. Life Together. SCM Press: London.
Chittester, J. 2009. The Breath of the Soul: Reflections on Prayer. The Columba Press: Dublin.
Claiborne, S., Wilson-Hartgrove, J., & Okoro, E.2010. Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals. Zondervan: Nashville.
Bible readings: Isaiah 61:1a, 3 (NIV); Psalm 34:1; Psalm 42:3-4b, 5, 11a (TPT)
Prayer: Psalm 42
Day and night, my tears keep falling
and my heart keeps crying for your help,
while my enemies mock me over and over, saying,
“Where is this God of yours?
Why doesn’t he help you?”
So, I speak over my heartbroken soul,
“Take courage.
Remember when you used to be
right out front leading the procession of praise
when the great crowd of worshipers
gathered to go into the presence of the Lord? …
So then, my soul, why would you be depressed?
Why would you sink into despair?
Just keep hoping and waiting on God your Saviour.
For no matter what, I will still sing with praise,
for you are my saving grace! ….
So, I say to my soul,
“Don’t be discouraged. Don’t be disturbed.
For I know my God will break through for me.”
References:
Law, T. 1985, The Power of Praise and Worship. Victory House Publishers: Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Bible readings: Luke 10:1-21 (NIV); Psalm 100:1-5 (NIV)
Prayer: Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts [his presence] with [the password of] praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures for ever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Bible readings: Mark 12:30-31 (NIV and MSG); Matthew 5:8 (MSG); Isaiah 58:6-9 (MSG)
Prayer: Love Your Neighbour as You Love Yourself. Based on words by Terese D’Avila
Let nothing, O Lord,
disturb the silence of this night.
Let nothing make me afraid.
Let me wake refreshed,
ready to love and care for my neighbour
as you have loved and cared for me,
and indeed, as I love and care for myself.
For if I do not love others,
I cannot fool myself into believing that I love you.
I am, I know, as this day ends
very far from such a love.
But hear my prayer.
When I see others, let me see you.
Let me show them
the same reverence and respect that I would show you.
And I will want for nothing.
References:
Kirvan, J. (Ed.). 2008, Let Nothing Disturb You: Teresa of Avila, p. 30. Ave Maria Press: Notre Dame, Indiana.
Muggeridge, M. 1971, Something Beautiful for God: Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Collins/Fontana Books: Middlesex.
Bible readings: Matthew 6:7-11, 25 (NIV); Matthew 6:30-34 (MSG); Matthew 7:7-11
Prayer: Jesus Lives. By David Adam
In light defeating darkness,
In wisdom conquering foolishness,
In trust overcoming fearfulness,
Jesus lives.
In strength coming to weakness,
In health rescuing from sickness,
In hope saving from despair,
Jesus lives.
In love victorious over hatred,
In forgiveness dispelling anger,
In glory dispersing drabness,
Jesus lives.
In joy growing from sorrow,
In life rising from death,
In God giving the victory,
Jesus lives.
He holds the keys of love, of peace
He holds the keys of life, of death
He holds the keys of heaven, of earth
He holds the keys of now, and of eternity.
References:
Adam, D. 1995, Tides and Seasons: Modern Prayers in the Celtic Tradition, Triangle: London.
Bible readings: Deuteronomy 4:29 (NIV); Psalm 139 (TPT); Song of Songs 1:3, 4 and Song of Songs 2:10b, 14b (TPT)
References:
Guyon, J. 2000, Experiencing the depths of Jesus Christ: The Autobiography of Madam Guyon. Thomas Nelson: Nashville.
Bible reading: I Corinthians 2:9-10 (NIV)
Prayer: Awakening. By David Adam
Awaken me, Lord
To your light,
Open my eyes
To your presence.
Awaken me, Lord
To your love,
Open my heart
To your indwelling.
Awaken me, Lord
To your life,
Open my mind
To your abiding.
Awaken me, Lord
To your purpose,
Open my will
To your guiding.
References:
Adam, D. 1995, Tides and Seasons: Modern prayers in the Celtic tradition, Triangle: London.
Miller, C. 2000, Into the Depths of God: Where Eyes See the Invisible, Ears Hear the Inaudible, and Minds Conceive the Inconceivable, Bethany House Publishers: Minneapolis.
Bible readings: Matthew 5:33-37 (MSG); Luke 18:9-14 (NIV)
Prayer: Exposure. By David Adam
Reveal, O Lord, to my eyes your glory.
Expose, O Lord, to my heart your love.
Disperse, O Lord, from my mind the darkness.
Fill, O Lord, my life with your light.
Protect, O Lord, from thoughts without action.
Guard, O Lord, from words without feelings.
Defend, O Lord, from ideas without results.
And surround me with you Presence.
Open my eyes
my heart
my mind
my will
my soul
To the blowing of your Spirit.
References:
Adam, D. 1995, Tides and Seasons: Modern prayers in the Celtic tradition, Triangle: London.
Chittester, J. 2009, Breath of the Soul: Reflections on Prayer, The Columba Press: Blackrock, Dublin.
Bible readings: Psalm 139 (CEV), Matt 6:1, 5-6 (MSG)
Prayer: Help Us, Lord. By David Adam
Help us Lord,
To live in your light
To act in your might
To think in your wisdom
To walk in your kingdom
To abide in your love
Your presence to prove.
References:
Adam, D. 1995, Tides and Seasons: Modern prayers in the Celtic tradition, Triangle: London.
Brother Lawrence, 1982, The Practice of the Presence of God, Whitaker House: New Kensington.
God loves you. He wants to connect with you. Prayer is the way you can talk and listen to Him. It is getting perspective on who you are and how you fit into his plans.
Bible Readings:
Psalm 31:14-16; 104:24, 27-28; Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11; Galatians 4:4; Mark 1:15; John 2:4; 7:6,30; 12:23, 27; 17:1; Galatians 6:9-10; Psalm 92:12 (all NIV)
Prayer: ‘Lord, I have time’, by Michel Quoist, cited in Still Waters, Deep Waters
You who are beyond time, Lord, you smile to see us fighting it.
And you know what you are doing.
You make no mistakes in your distribution of time to me.
You give each one time to do what you want [them] to do.
But we must not lose time,
waste time,
kill time,
For time is a gift that you give us,
But a perishable gift,
A gift that does not keep.
Lord, I have time,
I have plenty of time,
All the time that you give me,
The years of my life,
The days of my years,
The hours of my days,
They are all mine.
Mine to fill, quietly, calmly,
But to fill completely, up to the brim,
To offer them to you, that of their insipid water
You may make a rich wine such as you made once in Cana in Galilee.
I am not asking you tonight, Lord, for time to do this and then that,
But your grace to do conscientiously, in the time that you give me,
what you want me to do
References:
Rowland Croucher (Ed.), 1987, Still Waters, Deep Waters: Meditations and Prayers for Busy People, pp. 292-298.
Bible Readings:
Isaiah 45:8 (NIV); Joel 2:23 (NIV/MSG)
Prayer of Blessing:
May God drench you with his goodness,
May Jesus renew you with his grace, and
May the Spirit fill you to overflowing with his joy and peace.
Bible Readings:
John 4:7-26 (NIV); John 7:37-39 (MSG); Song of Songs 4:15 (TPT); Romans 15:13 (NIV)
When the Well Runs Dry (chorus lyrics), by Trace Balin:
When the well runs dry, it overflows
In the desert heat, the cool wind blows
When the well runs dry, the dam will burst
In the desert heat, he’ll quench my thirst
When the well runs dry, he proves his word
In the desert heat, his voice is heard
When the well runs dry, he’ll take control
In the desert heat, God restores my soul.
Bible Readings:
Exodus 17:1-7 (MSG); Psalm 78:15-16, 35 (NIV); 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (MSG)
Prayer of Blessing:
May the Holy Spirit pour the love of Jesus into your heart,
May the knowledge of Jesus be deeply impressed upon your mind,
May God’s strength enable you to keep going, and
May the Three-in-One’s love and power and grace flow through you,
up and out of you, as living water.
Bible Readings:
Nehemiah 2 (NIV and MSG); Proverbs 16:2-3 (MSG); Matthew 6:8 (TPT), 7:7 (NIV); Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
Prayer: From You It Came, in the Carmina Gadelica, III, 59-61
Each thing I have received, from You it came,
Each thing for which I hope, from Your love it will come,
Each thing I enjoy, it is of Your bounty,
Everything I ask, comes of Your disposing.
Holy God, Loving Father, of the word everlasting,
Grant me to have of You this living prayer:
Lighten my understanding, kindle my will, begin my doing,
Incite my love, strengthen my weakness, enfold my desire.
Cleanse my heart, make holy my soul, confirm my faith,
Keep safe my mind and compass my body about;
As I utter my prayer from my mouth,
In my own heart may I feel Your presence.
Reference:
The Carmina Gadelica, III, 59-61, cited in Mary C. Earle, 2012, Celtic Christian Spirituality: Essential writings – with Introduction and commentary.
Bible Readings:
Luke 4:16-21; Isaiah 61:1-3
Prayer: And With Your Spirit Too, by David Adam
May the Lord be with you.
And with your spirit too.
Today, tonight,
In shade and light,
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit too.
In weakness and pain,
In powers that wane,
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit too.
In health and in might,
In strength for the fight,
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit too.
In your coming to rest,
In rising with the blessed,
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit too.
Reference:
Jerry Sittser, 2004, A Grace Disguised: How the soul grows through loss, revised edition.
David Adam, 1995, Tides and Seasons: Modern Prayers in the Celtic Tradition.
Bible Readings:
Psalm 118:1-29 (MSG); Matthew 21:33-45; Mark 12:1-11; Luke 9:9-19; Acts 4:1-12; 1 Peter 1:3, 2:4-6;
Old Celtic Blessing:
God’s blessing be yours,
And well may it befall you;
Christ’s blessing be yours,
And well be you entreated;
Spirit’s blessing be yours,
And well spend you your lives,
Each Day that you rise up,
Each night that you lie down.
Reference:
The Carmina Gadelica, III, 211, cited in Mary C. Earle, 2012, Celtic Christian Spirituality.
Bible Readings:
Psalm 118:22-23 (NIV); I Kings 5; 1 Kings 8:57-58 (MSG)
Blessing Prayer:
May GOD, our very own God, continue to be with us.
May he keep us centred and devoted to him,
following the life path he has cleared,
watching the signposts,
walking at the pace and rhythms he laid down.
References:
Melanie Bettinelli, March 2017, ‘The Stone the Builders Rejected’, The Wine-Dark Sea, thewinedarksea.com
Bible Readings:
John 4:23-24 (MSG)
Prayer:
When things you value start to crumble
and things become uncertain,
May God give you a firm foundation,
May Jesus’ words keep your faith strong,
May Spirit-breathed prayer find you in God’s presence,
May your life be founded on God’s love,
and give you peace founded on his power.
References:
Calvin Miller, 2000, Into the Depths of God.
Bible Readings:
Matthew 5:10-20; Luke 9:1-5; Matthew 6:23-24 (MSG); Psalm 51:1,7,10-12 (TPT)
Reference:
Richard Rohr, 2018, Just This: prompts and practices for contemplation.
Bible Readings:
Luke 5:36-38 (TPT); John 3:1-21 (NIV); Romans 12:1 (MSG)
References:
David Adam, 1995, Tides and Seasons: Modern Prayers in Celtic Tradition.
Christine Valters Paintner, 2018, The Soul’s Slow Ripening: 12 Celtic practices seeking the sacred.
Bible Readings:
Psalm 23:2; Isaiah 30:15 (NIV); Hebrews 12:15 (NIV); Song of Songs 2:14b-15 (TPT)
Prayer:
May the Father prune and renew you.
May the Son help you catch
the sly little foxes that trouble you.
May the Spirit’s life strengthen
and make you fruitful.
May the Three-in-One’s love give you peace.
Bible Readings:
John 15:1-2 (NIV/TPT); John 15:9-11 (TPT)
Prayer: Revelations, by David Adam
Reveal us in your glory
Stir in us your power
Renew in us your kingdom
Develop in us your faith
Show us your way
Open in us your love
Strengthen in us your miracles
Revive in us your resurrection
Abide in us yourself
Reference:
David Adam, 1995, Tides and Seasons: Modern prayers in the Celtic tradition.
Bible Readings:
Philippians 1:3-4,6 (NIV); 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NIV)
Prayer adapted from Still Waters, Deep Waters:
May the powerlessness of God on the cross
embrace you in every aspect of your life.
No longer strive to imitate someone
who acts out of desire and power,
but rest in the amazing grace
that emerges out of nothingness.
Go now, in this grace, this life.
It is eternal.
It is God.
It is in You,
so far as you dare to live in it.
Amen
References:
Rowland Crowther (editor), 1987, ‘The Power of Powerlessness’, Still Waters, Deep Waters.
Bible Readings:
Isaiah 14-16 (NIV); John 19:30; Luke 23:46 (NIV); John 3:16-17 (MSG); Romans 8:29-30 (MSG); 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)
Bible Readings:
Exodus 1 and 2; Psalm 25:4 (TPT)
Prayer: Awaken Me Lord, by David Adam
Awaken me, Lord
To your light,
Open my eyes
To your presence
Awaken me, Lord
To your love,
Open my heart
To your indwelling.
Awaken me, Lord
To your life,
Open my mind
To your purpose.
Awaken me, Lord
To your purpose,
Open my will
To your guiding.
References:
Brian Simmons (translator), The Passion Translation
David Adams, 1989, Tides and Seasons: Modern prayers in the Celtic Tradition.
Bible Readings:
Isaiah 46:3-4 (NIV); John 1:1-3 (TPT)
REFERENCES:
John Kirvan (Ed.), 2008, All Will Be Well: Julian of Norwich – 30 days with a great spiritual teacher.
Bible Readings:
Revelation 3:20 (NIV); I Corinthians 6:19 (NIV); Song of Solomon 3:3-4 (TPT)
A Prayer from Iona, Scotland:
On my heart and on my house
The blessing of God.
In my coming and in my going
The peace of God.
In my life and in my seeking
The love of God.
At my end and new beginning
The arms of God to bring me home.
References:
Christine Valters Painter, 2018, The Soul’s Slow Ripening: 12 Celtic practices for seeking the sacred.
J. Philip Newell, 1997, Celtic Prayers from Iona.
Bible Reading:
Ruth 1 – 4 (MSG);
Prayer: O Lord, Give Us
O Lord, give us yourself above all things.
It is in your coming alone that we are enriched.
It is in your coming that your true gifts come.
Come, Lord, that we may share the gifts of your Presence.
Come Lord, with healing of the past,
Come and calm our memories,
Come with joy for the present,
Come and give life to our existence,
Come, Lord, with hope for the future,
Come and give a sense of eternity.
Come with strength for our wills,
Come with power for our thoughts,
Come with love for our heart,
Come and give affection to our being.
Come, Lord, give yourself above all things,
And help us to give ourselves to you.
References:
Jerry Sittser, 2004, a Grace Disguised: how the soul grows through loss, expanded edition.
David Adam, 1998, Tides and Seasons: Modern prayers in the Celtic tradition, 6th edition.
Bible Reading:
Ruth 1 (MSG);
Prayer:
Derived from Jerry Sittser, a Grace Disguised, p.79
May we be ready to see and willing to receive these gifts.
Remind us, suffering triumphant God of love,
that this requires a kind of sacrifice.
The sacrifice of believing that,
However painful our losses,
Life can still be good.
Good in a different way than before, but nevertheless good.
References:
Jerry Sittser, 2004, a Grace Disguised: how the soul grows through loss, expanded edition.
Bible Reading/Prayer:
Lamentations 1:20-22, 2:20, 3:19-30 (MSG)
References:
Dave Bryant, 1978, Jesus Take Me as I Am.
Jerry Sittser, 2004, a Grace Disguised: how the soul grows through loss, expanded edition.
Bible readings:
Ecclesiastes 2, 5:18-19
Prayer: To Come Home to Yourself, by John O'Donohue
To Come Home to Yourself
May all that is unforgiven in you
Be released.
May your fears yield
Their deep tranquilities.
May all that is unlived in you
Blossom into a future
Graced with love.
References:
David Gibson, Living Life Backward: How Ecclesiastes teaches us to live in light of the end.
Christine Valters Painter, 2018, The Soul’s Slow Ripening: 12 Celtic practices for seeking the sacred.
Mary C Earle, 2012, Celtic Christian Spirituality: Essential Writings – with Introduction and Commentary.
Bible readings:
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV); Matthew 6:25-34 (MSG); James 4:13-15 (MSG)
Prayer: For a New Time, by David Adam
God of Time.
God of Space.
Fill this moment
With your grace.
God of Motion.
God of Peace.
From each sin
Give release.
God of Quiet.
God of Might.
Keep us ever in your sight.
References:
David Adam, 1995, Tides and Seasons: Modern Prayers in the Celtic Tradition.
Bible readings:
Psalm 23; Isaiah 35:3; Proverbs 3:23; Isaiah 50:10
Prayer for when you struggle:
God before me, God behind me,
God above me, God beneath me.
I am on your path, O God.
You, O God, on my way.
In the twistings of the road,
In the currents of the river,
Be with me by day
Be with me by night
Be with me by day and night.
Old Gaelic prayer:
As the rain hides the stars,
as the autumn mist hides the hills,
as the clouds veil the blue of the sky,
so the dark happenings of my lot hide the shining of thy face from me.
Yet, if I may hold thy hand in the darkness, it is enough.
Since I know that, though I may stumble in my going,
thou dost not fall.
References:
J. Philip Newell, 1997, Celtic Prayers from Iona.
Mary C. Earle, 2012, Celtic Christian Spirituality.
AUDIO:
EWA Audio2.4 Walking on the Rough Track.mp3
Bible readings:
Exodus 40:34-38; Jeremiah 6:16; John 14:5-6, 16-17
Prayer:
Father of all humankind, who keeps my journey and marks the horizon of my destiny, love me through my journey toward tomorrow.
Son of God, leader and keeper of the maps, show me not the whole road at once, but give me the distance to be gained in single steps.
Spirit of God, who holds my inner compass, may your presence on the journey and awaken trust within me when I don’t know what lies around the bend.
God, bless me this day, then I shall make my journey by sunlight and know the way.
Christ, bless to me this uncertain step, then I shall find the step more certain.Spirit, bless to me this lonely moment, then I shall not be alone.
O Three-in-One, do guard my steps.
Travel with me, God, and I shall travel with the darkness at my back and the sunlight on my face.
Travel with me, Christ. Then I shall mute the thunder, and walk through lightening unafraid.
Travel with me Holy Spirit, and my solo anthem shall have an accompaniment throughout the journey.
I am coming to you, O Three-in-One.
One day at a time, one hour at a time, one step at a time. Amen.
References:
Calvin Miller, 2008, The Path of Celtic Prayer: an ancient way to contemporary joy
Christine Valters Paintner, 2018, The Soul’s Slow Ripening: 12 Celtic practices for seeking the sacred.
Bible readings:
Psalm 90:12; Proverbs 1:20-21, 33
Morning Prayer:
I awake in the name of the Father who made me.
I arise in the name of the Son who died to save me.
I rise to greet the dawn in the name of the Spirit who fills me with life.
Evening Prayer:
I lay me down in the love of my Father.
I surrender my body to rest in the love of my Saviour.
I trust my life in sleep to the Spirit who fills me with life.
References:
Calvin Miller, 2008, The Path of Celtic Prayer: an ancient way to contemporary joy
Rhythms are part of everyday life in both the natural world and the stories of individuals and their communities. God is present in all things and goes with us in each season; through each ending and beginning in our lives.
Contact: eveningswithann@citywidehobart.org.au
If you are feeling fearful and worried, put your hope in God. Trust his wrap-around presence to help and protect you.
Michelangelo chipped away the excess marble to reveal the hidden statue inside the rock. In a similar way God’s spirit chips away the rough marble of our lives to reveal the people he wants us to be.
When you are unsure of how to rest secure in God’s love for you, or how to love him, yourself or others, prayer is a good place to start. You don’t need special kinds of words, just chat and be prepared to listen.
When power isn’t used to bring justice and right ways of living, people are like tender green shoots that bruise and get scorched before they grow up. Jesus came to bring justice and light. He doesn’t brush aside the bruised reed or disregard the small and insignificant. He loves each of us and he wants his followers to love others in the same way.
God is faithful in his love toward us and reaches out with compassion. He sends his Spirit to help and guide us to live a love-filled life. We can rest secure in God’s love for us. As tender green shoots in his care, we can grow and come through the difficult times in our lives.
During this time of COVID-19 restrictions, a 3-Ply Thread made of loving others, loving God, and being loved by God can give hope and strength in our own situation as well as for others with whom we live, work and play.
God’s love is like a bright thread that weaves through the circumstances of our lives and through the diverse relationships we have.
Part of reconciliation includes accepting responsibility for actions and attitudes that have hurt and wronged another person or group of people. It’s important to lament when injustice happens rather than to hide or ignore it. If these things don’t happen, we can’t move forward in healing past hurts and divisions.
There friction between sea and sand where they meet on a beach. Similarly, people’s differences can cause friction. Rather than putting up barriers to protect ourselves from the friction lets make the effort to reach out and accept the differences in a constructive way.
It’s not easy to forgive, but forgiving has the power to improve mental health and bring healing to past wounds.
It is forgiveness that heals the wounds of the past and brings a spirit of unity and acceptance.
In times of uncertainty; waiting for things to be clearer or change; we can trust God. He can be an ever-present help in times of trouble.
Trust in God’s love and faithfulness. He can bring beauty out of ashes, joy out of sadness and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. He can rebuild the ruins of your life and restore the places long devastated.
Whether I like it or not, whether I am a Christian or not; I cannot escape the experience of loss, brokenness and pain. And I share my life with others who can’t escape it either. The book of Lamentations teaches us to express sorrow with our whole heart, without losing hope.
Sometimes people let us down and we can feel like God does to. How do we make sense of our doubts when events shatter hope?
Hope enables us to trust and wait for what is still unseen. Every detail of our lives is continually woven together into God’s plan of bringing good into our lives.
May Jesus be your light and hope when you are in a dark place; in a dark time and it feels like there is no way out.
A reflection on how Love that always trusts can encourage confidence in others. It can make such a difference in how people see themselves, and how they use their unique gifts, abilities and personal strengths.
We can be confident of Jesus' love and trust in you and me. He always offers his undeserved gift of grace. He never stops believing the best of us.
Thinking about the qualities of what love is and is not:- Love does not delight in injustice but rejoices in the truth. This episode reflects on what that means.