Pentecost 2009

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me;
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Spirit of the living God, move among us all;
Make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love:
humble, caring, selfless, sharing.
Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love.

I am the resurrection and the life.

Those who believe in me,

even though they die, will live,

and everyone who lives and believes in me

will never die.

John 11:25 - 26

Big Sur

Point Lobos

State Park ~

Big Sur

California

March 2009

Hiking along coast

reading psalms

praying

breathing

meditating

on God's abundant beauty

. . . . . . I can still smell the clear ocean air far atop these cliffs when this photo was taken by my dear friend/hiking/praying partner Lupe . . .

Good News from St. Ambrose ~

Ambrose of Milan
(340 -
397)

You are medicine for me when I am sick;
You are my strength when I need help.
You are life itself when I fear death,
You are the way when I long for heaven,
You are light when all is dark.
You are my food when I need nourishment!



Today I received good news on medical tests . . . . thank Almighty God that I was granted good news. I now feel as if I've been given 'clearance' to move forward with my summer plans . . . . and a new life ahead . . . . amen

I see God's handiwork all throughout the day . . . . in the beautiful lilac bush blooming outside my patio - picking big bunches of them and bringing the fragrant blossoms to a close friend and a dear new neighbor . . . the increasing Spring night air . . . . the smell of fresh cut grass and newly planted garden flower beds . . . the smiles of friends and the touch of loving hands of friendship grasped in prayer . . . . all these manifold works of God's abundant blessings . . . . .amen.

A Baptismal Call ~

At this lighthouse point on Monterey Bay in Santa Cruz, California ~ I was baptized on Easter Morn . . . .

"Creator Spirit,

who hovered over the waters at creation's birth,

who descended in the form of a dove at Jesus' baptism,

who poured out under the signs of fire and wind at Pentecost:

Come to us, open our hearts and minds,

so that we may hear the Word of life and be renewed by your power, for you live and reign with the Father and the Son, now and forever. AMEN."

"The King will say to those on his right hand:

Come, you that are blessed by my Father,

inherit the kingdom prepared for you

from the foundation of the world;

for I was hungry and you gave me food,

I was thirsty and you gave me drink,

I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

I was naked and you clothed me,

I was sick and you took care of me,

I was in prison and you visited me"

Matthew 25:34-26

@ the water's edge in Paul's territory

Here is a photograph of the ancient land of Phillipi ~ where Paul spent a great deal of his time teaching and writing . . . . I am drawn to the photograph and yearn for a time alone, away, private, quiet . . . .with our Lord . . . . in all things, with prayer and supplication, I make my request known to God . . . . I am grateful for all the friendship and support that was extended to me this past week . God is truly amidst us all . . . . . Deuteronomy 31:6 tells me "The Lord your God goes with you: He will never leave you nor forsake you."

Musings @ Tower of the Apostles

At my church, Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian, we have a beautiful spiral staircase which winds up into a tower . . . . . it is lined with the carved images of the Apostles . . . .

On this bright spring day, I am pondering the words of my favorite Apostle, Saul of Tarsus who we know of as Paul . . ..

His words to the Philippians in Chapter 4, verses 5 - 6 tell me clearly and directly:

"The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God."

May it be so . . . . . k

o wondrous heavenly bread

~cesar franck~

o wondrous heavenly bread, whereby mankind is fed

o food of love divine, long promised by a sign,

o deepest mystery! one with our Lord to be.

humble, lowly, to all is offered free.

this food to be our aid: so was the promise made.

on that same night wherein the Savior was betrayed.

"this is my body true, this blood shed for you.

all who eat and drink shall have life anew."

Musings on Monterey Bay ~

Last month I traveled to California and spent two weeks resting in God's magnificent seascape . . . . .

I went hiking with two beloved friends one Spring afternoon. We hiked through my most favorite coastal place: Point Lobos State Park. The state park sits above the Monterey Bay and views of the Pacific Ocean are just around every corner. Through the Monterey pine trees, coated with mossy lichen, we hiked high above the crashing waves . . . . reading the Psalms to one another as we paused to take in the spectacular views of God's amazing creation. Cool, crisp, clean ocean air we breathed . . . . God's incredible majesty we took into our psyche. Each of us felt a deeper knowledge of how vast and wide God's amazing love for us is. This love is ever present, available for us whether we are walking along the ocean or in our busy daily lives. My prayer: Thank you Lord, for your creation and your ever present reminder of who we are and who created us and of your gift of nature and rest. Amen.

There is a Wideness in God's Mercy

~ by Maurice Bevan

There's a wideness in God's mercy

Like the wideness of the sea;

There's a kindness in his justice

Which is more than liberty.

There is no place where earth's sorrow

Are more felt than up in heaven;

There is no place where earth's failings

Have such kindly judgement given.

For the love of God is broader

Than the measure of man's mind;

And the heart of the Eternal

Is most wonderfully kind.

But we make his love too narrow

By false limit of our own;

And we magnify his strictness

With a zeal he will not own.

There is plentiful redemption

In the blood that has been shed;

There is joy for all the members

In the sorrows of the Head.

There is grace enough for thousands

Of new worlds as great as this;

There is room for fresh creations

In that upper home of bliss.

If our love were but more simple,

We would take him at his word;

And our lives would be all gladness

In the joy of Christ our Lord.

Our small group is reading of Lydia

in Acts 16:9-15.

We're discovering that:

• she was a woman of prayer


• she listened & was eager to learn


• she was a worshipper


• she opened her heart


• she was baptized


• she confessed that she was a believer


• she wanted to serve


• she opened her home


• she was hospitable
  
  How am I able to bring Lydia's qualities into my own life this week? Worship, bible study, sharing my faith, opening my home, extending hospitality . . . . what will be my chance to extend these qualities?

"With a Voice of Singing" by Martin Shaw With a voice of singing declare ye this, and let it be heard, alleluia. Utter it even unto the ends of the earth. The Lord hath delivered his people, alleluia. O be joyful in God, all ye lands, O sing praises to the honor of his name, make his name glorious.

"This Joyful Eastertide" ~ by Phillip Ledger

This joyful Eastertide, away with sin & sorrow! My Love, the Crucified, hath sprung to life this morrow.

Had Christ, that once was slain, ne'er burst his three-day prison, Our faith had been in vain, but now is Christ arisen.

My flesh in hope shall rest, and for a season slumber: Till trump from east to west shall wake the dead in number.

Death's flood hath lost his chill, since Jesus crossed the river: Lover of souls, from ill my passing soul deliver.

After a restful Sabbath day, I awake to Monday . . . . the day after Sabbath . . . . .
Monday is the day that begins a new week with a new perspective.
After resting on the 'things of the Lord' yesterday,
I take a look at my church bulletin and remember our Prayer of Confession.
I sat with members of my congregation and spoke out loud the following:

"God of love and light,
you have called us by grace to live as one,
yet we fail to reconcile and do not work together.
We hide from you and from one another,
rather than joining hands, hearts and resources.
Though called and chosen to live in confident hope,
that Christ's resurrection assures us of abundant life,
we anxiously strive instead to preserve
and increase our own personal well being and profit.
Forgive us for denying the one-ness of Easter hope
and empower us by your Holy Spirit to walk as people of the
resurrection in all we say and do."

This makes me think long and hard on what areas of my own spiritual path do I fail in walking the life of a resurrected child of God. How can I turn my own faith journey into an active life that engages others along the path . . . . The Easter hope of my own life is one filled with enormous opportunity to share the good news of Christ's mission for the world.

My morning prayer this April 19th ~ "Lord, help me this Monday - to see the promised of hope made alive through its spring rain May I be used to Your benefit - to bring awareness to all those I meet today, to the hope and fulfillment of Spring Eternal . . . . amen."

Eastertide Introit from today's Worship

Alleluia!

O sons and daughters,

let us sing!

The King of heaven,

the glorious King

O'er death and hell

rose triumphing.

Alleluia!

o filli et filae

Hebrews 13

Verses 20 - 21

The God of peace,

who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus,

make you complete in everythig good

so that you may do God's will,

working among us that which is pleasing in God's sight,

through Jesus Christ,

to whom be the glory forever and ever!

May the God of hope

fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God,
Ruler of all creation.
We praise you for the abundance of your blessings.
to those who ask, you give love;
to those who seek, you give faith;
to those who knock, you open the way of hope.
Help us to serve you in the power of the Holy Spirit,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

[Book of Common Worship]

Friday, Feb. 20.2009

Psalm 117

"Praise the Lord, all you nationsl

give praise, all you peoples.

For the loving-kindness of the Lord toward us is great,

and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Hallelujah!"

Today the sun is out - with snow expected this weekend. The beauty of our Creation is displayed everywhere in the bright sunshine of this day. So much to be thankful for.