GOD GIVEN THANKS

Generous God, thank you.

For the gift of life, the gift of creation,

and this amazing world,

thank you.

For the gift of lungs that know how to breath

without my telling them,

for galaxies that spin without my spinning them,

for living beings that surround me and give life,

I thank you.

For the mystery of my life,

the path that has brought me this far,

for all those who have been part of my story,

all of them, I thank you.

I am grateful for loved ones near and far,

for those I live with and those who I seldom see,

and those who have touched me only once,

for they are the tree that holds the nest of my life.

For the wonders that surround me,

the beauty and strangeness,

the color and music of this life,

I thank you,

and pray for eyes and ears of wonder.

For the mystery of your presence within me,

your attentiveness to my every heartbeat,

your unfathomable delight in my being,

your forgiveness and healing,

for your gift of renewal and your resurrecting in me,

and for your energy in me,

the shining sun of you in me,

I give thanks and pray that I may always be mindful.

For all your gifts I am grateful, delighted and amazed,

and pray that I may ever be so.

For all that is to come, I ask not for goods or favors,

but only this:

a heart of wonder, humility, gratitude and delight.

Amen

 

-Steve Garnaas-HolmesUnfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

This is a Day for You

May this be a day of hope,

of expectation,

of relishing each moment

as a gift from you.

May this be a day of freedom,

of breaking free,

of loosening the chains that

still surround us.

May this be a day of peace,

of wholeness,

of knowing that our lives

are in your hands.

May this be a day of joy,

of blessings,

of living in your kin(g)dom

as a child of God.

 

-©John Birch

www.faithandworship.com

God of our Day

God of morning and rising sun,

with breaking dawn

the beauty of your creativity

is revealed for all to see.

And we shall sing your praise.

God of noontime and gentle rain,

you bring to us refreshment

on our daily journeying,

and the strength to persevere.

And we shall sing your praise.

God of evening and setting sun,

you send us out in faith

and bring us safely home again,

such is your love and grace.

And we shall sing your praise.

-John Birch

Solitude

Without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life.  Solitude begins with a time and place for God, and him alone.  If we really believe not only that God exists but also that he is actively present in our lives – healing, teaching, and guiding – we need to set aside a time and space to give him our undivided attention.  Jesus says, “Go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place.” (Matt. 6:6)

From  Making All Things New by Henri J.M. Nouwen

GOD'S LOVE

One of the simplest and most powerful ways we can show God’s love for others is by treating them with dignity, no matter who they are or what their relationship to us.  When we take time to notice, greet and meet the eye of those around us  -- especially those who serve us – and when we speak kindly and patiently with them -– even when we feel we are not being well treated -- this give them dignity and shows God’s love.  Today, work hard to treat everyone with dignity and respect.

John van de  Laar

www.sacradise.cm

LIFE IS A JOURNEY

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body. But rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn, and loudly proclaim...WOW! WHAT A RIDE!

Prayer of Peace for Our World

A Prayer for Our World
In light of the crisis in Syria
Sacred One,
We confess to you that we are often blind

to the plight of our neighbors.
Instead of turning the other cheek, we look the other direction.
Rather than hearing the cry of the oppressed,

we turn up the volume in our lives.
Rather than be prophetic,

we heap words that are meaningless to make us sound good.
There are people dying in Syria - suffering, displaced, lost.
The innocent go to bed each night,

afraid of what the darkness will bring.
We pray for peace in Syria.
We pray for those in power.
We pray for those who are suffering.
We pray for leaders who must make difficult decisions.
Will you join us as we pray and fast this day?
Will you change what is happening in Syria,
as you sit in the ashes with the innocent,

the suffering and the lost...
We don't know the answers, but we know that you do.
Please draw us closer to you.
Please hear our prayers.
Please show us your way.
Free us for joyful obedience, not because of what we can do...

but because of who you are.  Amen 

-DJ del Rosario  Pastor, Bothell UMC, Bothell, WA