Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
-Psalm 100:3
Monthly Archives: July 2016
forgive me
Forgive me, most gracious Lord and Father, if this day I have done or said anything to increase the pain of the world. Pardon the unkind word, the impatient gesture, the hard and selfish deed, the faiture to show sympathy and kindly help where I have had the opportunity but missed it; and enable me so to live that I may daily do something to lessen the tide of human sorrow, and to add to the sum of human happiness; through Him who died for us and rose again, Thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ,
Amen.
-Ralph Cushman, Pocket Prayer Book, 1941
…exploration into reality
“I kneel on the ground, my hands in the dirt, and think of humus: earth, the root word for humility. Humility is simply being earthed in God, or as Ester de Waal translates it, an “exploration into reality.” If we are found in God, rooted in God, we see our need and our value in the most real way. Humility becomes the “ruthless campaign against all forms of illusion.”
-Micha Boyett, “Found”
affliction
“In affliction, then, we do not know what it is right to pray for. Because affliction is difficult, troublesome and against the grain for us, weak as we are, we do what every human would do. We pray that it may be taken away from us. However, if he does not take it away, we must not imagine that he has forgotten us. In this way, power shines forth more perfectly in weakness. ”
-Augustine of Hippo
Christ’s Cross
Christ’s Cross over this face, and thus over my ear. Christ’s Cross over these eyes…this mouth…this throat…the back of this head…this side…to accompany before me…to accompany behind me…Christ’s Cross to meet every difficulty both on hollow and on hill…Christ’s Cross over my community. Christ’s Cross over my church. Christ’s Cross in the next word. Christ’s Cross in this world.
-10th Century Celtic Prayer (Micha Boyett, Found)
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.
Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.
-Katharina A. von Schlegel: hymn, Be Still, My Soul
peacocks for pilgrims 