http://cartoonoveranalyzations.com/category/literature/the-cat-in-the-hat/

Holy Father

take these words 

that swirl about

sift 

purify 

use them

still my heart

that your gracious will

be found for them

close my mouth 

open my ears

unbind my heart

quiet my thoughts

stir up my passion

quiet me that i hear your voice

sing to my soul 

that i may find harmony with you

Prayer for Peace

My heart is heavy as I remember that day and learned again how an instant can change everything...

here are words much better than mine...

 

Father of all mankind,

   you look with great love on all your people

   of whatever race, culture and religion. 

We ask you to bless us this day

   and send your Holy Spirit upon us 

   and upon all the diverse peoples of our world:

   the Spirit of peace and justice, 

   of understanding and reconciliation.

May people of violence

   allow themselves to be touched

   by the plight of those who suffer,

   and may your Spirit help broaden the horizons 

   and deepen the understanding of us all. 

We make this our prayer

   through Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen. 

 

Nicholas Hutchinson, FSC

in Volume 1 of 'Walk In My Presence', a book of prayer services

ISBN 1-898366-60-8

(Matthew James Publishing, Chelmsford, England) 

Happy Labor Day

to say thank you for those who work hard that my life is made easier, a prayer:

Almighty God, you have so linked our lives one with another that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide us in the  work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but for the common good; and, as we seek a proper return for our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of other workers, and arouse our concern for those who are out of work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 

Amen.

a song:

will catch up with Multitudes tomorrow.  May all who are weary rest this day.

armor - re-post with edits

Ephesians 6:10-18:   Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. 

There are desert times in our journey and yet Jesus is there.  In these places there is fear, doubt, anxiety snuggled up with hope, anticipation, and expectation.  These times can be so hard to pray that we need a sister to pray for us.  She reminds of the need to be armed for the spiritual battle happening in that unseen place that sucks the very life out of us.  In order to pray the armor I picture myself playing dress up and somehow the words come.

 

The belt of truth becomes my favorite western belt with the big horseshoe buckle the size of my fist that makes my pants droop, it is cracked and worn and smells of old leather. 

 

The breastplate of righteousness is fashioned from my tiger print vest that once was all the rage and is now tattered and moth eaten and smells like the darkest corner of my closet. 

 

The shoes which ready me for battle are my Piglet slippers which have traveled the country with me as I teach your children, they too are a little worn and smelly but full of joyful memories of epiphany moments.

 The shield of faith is the cover from my fire pit, covered with ash and dirt, the scent of smoke soaked in the memories of dear ones who have gathered around it with me to pray, play, and ponder.

 The helmet of salvation must truly be my San Francisco Giants cap now free from dust in the glory of victory and redemption of all the bad years (and crappy pitching, but that is another story).

 The sword, definitely the one from Star Wars because it makes a cool noise and surely will scare the devil away and while it is not mine today I can pretend it is.

 

Abba, there may not be many fancy prayer like words in this yet each picture reminds me of those gifts you have brought into my life.  Many coming with the reminder of the love with which you surround me.  

You call me to child like faith and it is in these gifts that come with a picture in my mind that I am able to look up again and see you smiling at me.  

You reach down and pull me in your arms and hold on tight.  I wrap my arms around your neck and hold on knowing this moment is brief as I become distracted, climb from your lap, and run outside where I pretend to be in control again.  I pray that when I grow up, I remember that these moments are eternal and mine to reach for.

Thank you daddy.  Amen.

 

new vision

blinded

back to school

believe it or not it is time for school to start in middle Tennessee...

blessing...

Life is short, and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who make this earthly pilgrimage with us.

So, be swift to love, make haste to do kindness, shower abundant hospitality on friend and stranger, walk in justice, that you may follow the path of mercy and love.

And the blessing of God, who comes to us unbidden, who for our lives was broken, and in whose Spirit we are guided into wholeness and holiness of life, be upon you and those whom you love, this day and forevermore.  Amen.

a prayer for today

http://www.ivarhagendoorn.com/photos/series/fishing-nets-6

We confess 

that we have been so busy 

with the mending nets 

that we have forgotten to go to fish.

Make us today fishermen 

so that even if 

we come back home 

without fish 

we will be happy 

because 

we have fed a lot of them. 

For Christ sake.  

Amen. 

(Diocese of South Western Brazil)

soft

there are times life feels so hard

then i see ...

a boy whose daddy left him alone in the jungle

a girl whose mama sold her for food

a daddy whose arms empty because there was no money for medicine

a mama who dreams of running water to bathe her baby

a savior who climbed on a cross

and then i remember...

my life is soft

my call is not to worry about buildings

or budgets

or liturgies of blessing

but to feed the hungry

clothe the naked

heal the sick

visit the prisoner

to be Christ to those i meet

even when it is hard

because it is not about me

it is about Christ working through me

and then i must find my knee

prayer for today

Gracious God, 

remind us not of our differences, 

but of our commonalities, 

and show us not ways in which we might act as individuals, but rather the ways in which we might work together 

to bring about your perfect Will.  

And when all is finished, Almighty God, 

make us one in each other and one in You, 

through the Christ whom you have shown to us. 

 ~Amen

(Douglas R. Briggs)

news

photo by Roger's Wife ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/trebecca84/5708103073/lightbox/ )

news today brought me to my knees again as i saw yet again that evil is real and is closer than we want it to be.  it reminded me of the need to let others know how much they are loved even when their actions or words are hurtful.  i may not get another chance to say i love you or hold them tight if i don't do it this time.


praying for a family who lost a shining light in a horrible, awful, evil way.  praying they feel God draw them into his lap and hold them tight during this time of pain, loss, and darkness.


Faith gives us the power to see life very clearly, to admit that sometimes it seems all wrong and still to know that, somehow, it is all right. –Br. David Vryhof, SSJE

Chains

from  http://candidkerry.wordpress.com/2011/09/06/broken-chains/ 

This flyer gained attention the last few days in a north western Alabama town after being placed on windows and doors of businesses during the dark hours of the night: 

I’m not one to make public political or social stands and I tend to have a fairly childlike faith even after attending seminary.  I can’t necessarily explain in a well thought out and intellectual way some of the more difficult doctrines of Christianity and yet there are things I believe about the triune God just because I do. 

That said I wept when I saw this flyer on our local news stations and my Facebook feed.  This day that we as a nation celebrate freedom are sadly still so far from free.  Oh we hold tight to what we think is true.  Perhaps sometimes it is, yet sadly there is only one Truth. 

That Truth came into our world as a child in a Jewish village, was raised in a synagogue, and taught by rabbis.  That Truth healed the lowest of the low in his day: lepers, women of questionable character, blind men.   That Truth ate with sinners and tax collectors.  That Truth was such a threat that he was nailed to a cross.  And on that cross sin and death was defeated.  Jesus became the Christ and set us free.

Sadly we continue to try to put this Christ, where true freedom is found, into a box.  He is much tamer when he looks, acts, thinks, sounds, is just like us.  That is what makes me weep.  Jesus broke the bonds of sin and death once and I trust he will do so again even though he likely looks nothing like I expect him to. 

Thanks be to God!

from  http://candidkerry.wordpress.com/2011/09/06/broken-chains/ 

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.(The Book of Common Prayer, 823)

rain

O God, 

in Whom we live and move, 

and have our being, 

grant us rain, 

in due abundance, 

that, being sufficiently helped 

with temporal, 

we may the more confidently 

seek after eternal gifts. 

Through Christ, our Lord. 

Amen.

 For I know that the Lord is great;

   our Lord is above all gods. 

Whatever the Lord pleases he does,

   in heaven and on earth,

   in the seas and all deeps. 

He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth;

   he makes lightnings for the rain

   and brings out the wind from his storehouses. 

Psalm 135.5-7

open

Gracious and Open Lord

open our ears to hear you

open our minds to understand you

open our eyes to see you

open our hearts to love you

open our hands to reach for you

open our feet to bring you to others

open our lives to live for you


There may be no posts for a few days as the doc goes in to take away spurs that make shoulders hurt today.

Rest

Photo by Suzanne Hazelbaker

Almighty God,

who after the creation of the world

rested from all you works 

and sanctified a day of rest 

for all your creatures: 

Grant that we,

putting away all earthly anxieties,

may be duly prepared 

for the service of your sanctuary, 

and that our rest here upon earth 

may be a preparation 

for the eternal rest 

promised to your people in heaven; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

(A collect for Saturdays from The Book of Common Prayer)

hope

silence broken

headlines scream

horns sound

voices raised

peace stolen

easy to get caught up

looking out

 laying blame

joining in

taking eyes off

quick peek

reveals new life

dreams to be dreamed

visions to be visioned

life to be lived

hope to be shared

Then afterwards
   I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
   your old men shall dream dreams,
   and your young men shall see visions. 

Joel 2.28

dis-harmony

Lord, my head is full

clanging like an orchestra out of sync

help me to quiet each thought

until your voice

sings to my soul

and i am in harmony

with your will

and together 

we become a symphony

may your weekend...

be full of love, laughter, joy, 

and time spent doing what you love 

with those you love.

As Christians, our aim is not simply to be good people, 

but to have our lives transformed 

by the power of Christ’s life, death and resurrection.   

-Br. James Koester, Society of Saint John the Evangelist

she said yes

today is the feast of the visitation of mary...

Father in heaven, by your grace the virgin mother of your incarnate Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping your word: Grant us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


may we say yes in keeping your word and following your will every day.