A Prayer of Trust

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think that I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does, in fact, please you.
And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always
though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Thomas Merton

Wednesday Prayer: Hallowed

Tuesday Prayer....

God of the poor
 by Janet Morley


God of the poor;
we long to met you
yet almost miss you;
we strive to help you
yet only discover our need.
Interrupt our comfort
with your nakedness,
touch our possessiveness
with your poverty,
and surprise our guilt
with the grace of your welcome
        in Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Sunday Prayer: Proper 21A, Pentcost 15, 26A

God our Mother
birthing new life
through chaos

God our Father
building hope from
the dark night

God our Sister
comfort us in
times of sorrow

God our Brother
guide us through the
storms, calm water

God of the Night
brighten our dark
days, warm light

God of the Day
show us the way,
love as you

God, mystery
One in Three and
Three in One

Parent, child, friend
Comforter, Grace
Spirit, Love

Lover, One, All
Infinite One
Compassion

Sun, Moon, and Stars
Earth, Wind, and Fire
Water, Life.

In Your Image
Abide in us
We in You

In your Image
In Your image
Mystery.
Amen.

Saturday: take a moment to hear...

There is hardly ever a complete silence in our souls. God is whispering to us well-nigh incessantly. Whenever the sounds of the world die out in the soul, or sink low, then we hear these whisperings of God... God is always whispering to us, only that we do not always hear, because of the hurry, noise, and distraction which life causes as it rushes on.
- Frederick William Faber (1814-1863)

Creation Calls

This has been a difficult week, full of doubt, disappointment, and an uncomfortable amount of unbelief. Yesterday I found myself sitting at the computer wondering what to search for that would help lift my spirits. I didn't search for anything, but I did look at my email, which contained a messge with this scripture and a link to this video. It is a bit over six minutes long, so consider saving it till you have some time to savor it--and it is my prayer that you will be encouraged to pray, "I believe" as I was.

Psalm 148
Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
Praise God in the heights!
Praise God, all His angels;
Praise God, heavenly hosts!

Praise God, sun and moon;
Praise God, all you stars of light!
Praise God, you heavens of heavens,
And you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
For God commanded and they were created,
established forever and ever;
A decree was made which shall not pass away.

Praise the LORD from the earth,
You great sea creatures and all the depths;
Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling God's word;
Mountains and all hills;
Fruitful trees and all cedars;
Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and flying fowl;

Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;
Both young men and maidens;
Old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
Whose name alone is exalted;
Whose glory is above the earth and heaven...

Praise the LORD!

Thursday Prayer

Grow us slowly, persistently, and deeply, Lord
to be people who watch without distraction
listen without interruption
and stay put without inclination to flee.
Amen.

~Abba Anthony
(Anthony the Great, c. 251-356)

Wednesday Prayer

Sweetness is hidden in the Breath
that fills the reed.
Be like Mary--by that sweet breath
a child grew within her.

-Rumi, in The Rumi Collection, edited by Kabir Helminski

Tuesday Prayer....

Your awe and love are the rope to catch My gift:
beneath every "O Lord" of yours is many a "Here am I"
from Me.

-Rumi, from The Rumi Collection, edited by Kabir Helminski

Sunday Prayer: Proper 20A, Pentecost 14, OT 25A

Holy and Gracious God, we give you thanks for
family, friends, life, love - for
All the blessings (name blessings and thanksgivings)
you have bestowed upon us.

In Your mercy, hear our prayer, turn our whining into grace.

God of our Mothers and Fathers, your desire for
us leads the way, may we have
the ears to hear the cries of this world -
responding with Your hope.

In Your mercy, hear our prayer, turn our whining into grace.

Compassionate One, fill us with your love that we
may see deeply into all the needs
around us, (name the hurts, needs, and hope you are carrying)
help us to care with Your heart.

In Your mercy, hear our prayer, turn our whining into grace.

May Your love, Your grace, Your compassion,
Your mercy, carry us away, this day
and lead us with love
to be Your hands and heart in the world.
Amen.

For Those Missing Someone Who Has Died

Lift us up, Strong Son of God,
that we may see further;

Cleanse our eyes
that we may see more clearly.

Draw us closer to yourself,
that we may know ourselves closer to our beloved,
who are witb You.

And while You prepare a place for us,
prepare us for that place,
That where they are,
And You are, we, too, may be,

Through Your love for us, Lord,
Amen.

Thursday Prayer

O Lord, remember not only the men and women of good will, but also those of ill will. But do not remember all the suffering they have inflicted on us, remember the fruits we have bought, because of this suffering - our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart that has grown out of all of this, and when they come to judgement, let all the fruits we have borne be their forgiveness.”


-- The prayer of an unknown woman, found on a piece of wrapping paper in Ravensbruck concentration camp; taken from Monica Furlong's book, Women Pray.

A Story

There once was an old Jewish man.  All he ever did in his spare time was go to the edge of the village and plant fig trees.  People would ask him, "Why are you planting fig trees? You are going to die before you can eat any of the fruit that they produce."  But he said, "I have spent so many happy hours sitting under fig trees and eating their fruit.  Those trees were planted by others. Why shouldn't I make sure that others will know the enjoyment that I have had?"
                                                           --Megan McKenna
                                                                      in Parables

Tuesday Prayer ala Mary Oliver

Today is a day of
dark clouds and slow rain.
The little blades of corn
are so happy.

Sunday Prayer: Proper 19A, Pentecost 13. OT 24A

The Litany of Reconciliation, adapted

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class,
Gracious, God, Forgive.

The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own,

Gracious, God, Forgive.

The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the earth,
Gracious, God, Forgive.

Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others,

Gracious, God, Forgive.

Our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee,

Gracious, God, Forgive.

The lust which dishonours the bodies of men, women and children,

Gracious, God, Forgive.

The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God,
Gracious, God, Forgive.

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Coventry Cathedral

Saturday Prayer: the fountain of peace

image: Fountain of Peace by Michelle Strasser

May we drink deeply from the fountain of peace,

Know peace deeply in ourselves,

Live in peace with our neighbors,

Create peace in the world.

We bless the Holy One,

Creator of wholeness, Source of Peace.

May you guard my tongue from evil,

And my lips from speaking lies.

Help me ignore the taunts of my foes,

And to forgive those who wrong me.

Open my heart to the wisdom of your word,

So that my feet will follow the path of righteousness.

May all who study destruction have their designs frustrated,

May this happen for the sake of the holiness of the world.

May the words of my mouth

And the meditations of my heart

Remain true and loving

And be acceptable in your sight.

May your light show us the way

To bring peace to all.

from "Siddur for Evening Shabbat" by Rabbi Maria Prager, as printed in "God Has No Religion" edited by Frances S Goulart

A Friday Prayer From Mother Theresa

Dear Jesus, help us to spread Your fragrance everywhere we go.

Flood our souls with Your spirit and life.

Penetrate and possess our whole being, so utterly,

That our lives may only be a radiance of Yours.
Shine through us, and be so in us,
That every soul we come in contact with may feel Your presence in our soul.

Let them look up and see no longer us, but only Jesus!

Stay with us, and then we shall begin to shine as You shine;
So to shine as to be a light to others.

The light O Jesus will be all from You, none of it will be ours;

It will be You, shining on others through us.
Let us thus praise You without preaching, not by words but by our example,
By the catching force, the sympathetic influence of what we do,

The evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to You. Amen.

Mother Theresa of Calcutta

Thursday Prayer

"A fish cannot drown in water, a bird does not fall in air.
In the fire of creation, gold does not vanish; the fire brightens.
Each creature God made must live in its own true nature;
how could I resist my nature, that lives for oneness with God?"

~~St. Mechthild of Magdeburg

We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.

Romans 14:7-8

a wednesday prayer....

This is not flippant, or light...
but truly,
a prayer for peace.
peace in people's hearts that are twisted in anguish,
peace for those in harm's way, if that is even possible.
peace in homes,
peace in congregations, in spite of conflict and difference,
peace...
still...
aware...
open....
willing....
willing....
to forbear and to forgive.
amen.

a quiet prayer for Tuesday...

Today,
this day,
my soul is silent,
oh God.
My spirit is hushed.
My heart beats slowly, softly,
into this day.
Help me remember this quiet place within...as life without starts revving up and rolling through.
Amen.

Sunday Prayer: Proper 18A/Pentecost 12

Gracious God, who hears our prayers, who
Strengthens hearts (tho we do our best to harden them)
who blesses, over and over,
Be with those who suffer and
Bring them peace.
Be with those who hunger and
Nourish them, as only you can.
Be with those who weep and
Wipe away their tears.
Be with this who rejoice
and share their joy.
Be with us all,
however we Are this day.
And help us
To be your hands and heart
Loving others as we love self, you.

Help me to pray for all:

(from a traditional Buddhist Prayer)

May I be free from danger,
May I be free from fear,
May I be healthy,
May I dwell in peace.

May you be free from danger,
May you be free from fear,
May you be healthy,
May you dwell in peace.

May all beings be free from danger,
May all beings be free from fear,
May all beings be healthy,
May all beings dwell in peace.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Pray "Thank You"

Every time you express gratitude or compassion for any aspect of yourself or someone else, you breathe life in.

Mariah Fenton Gladis
Tales of a Wounded Healer

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This reminds me of Meister Eckhart's admonition
that the only prayer necessary is
"THANK YOU."