Opening the gates to our hearts and opening our arms in love and welcome to our family members.

Dear Family of Love,

I hope everyone had a Wonderful and Wonder-filled Wednesday. Today on my walk I kept seeing gates that were left open and one closed.Those sights got me to thinking about many things. I began to think of the words of the Jubilate: Take time to read then listen!

 O be joyful in the Lord, all the earth; ♦

serve the Lord with gladness

and come before his presence with a song.

2 Know that the Lord is God; ♦

it is he that has made us and we are his;

we are his people and the sheep of his pasture

.

3 Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise; ♦

give thanks to him and bless his name.

4 For the Lord is gracious; his steadfast love is everlasting, ♦

and his faithfulness endures from generation to generation.

Glory to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning is now

and shall be for ever. Amen

O Be Joyful- John Rutter

These are pretty powerful words that pack a punch and are standalone! God is forever calling us to open gates to the stranger, neighbor, even ourselves, and our hearts to God and to one another.

God is always opening the gates to His kingdom in a lavish welcome just like the Prodigal Son. We are welcome anytime and even when we make mistakes God repeatedly, calls us back and keeps putting a robe, a ring, and prepares a feast for us. We need to be reminded that we need to keep opening the gates of and to our hearts over and over again and allowing love in and love and light shining out from our heart homes. We also need to be like God and have our arms open in welcome to our neighbors, enemies, and the stranger and alien her among us.  This reminds me of the old hymn., "There's a Wideness in God's Mercy''  Here are the words and the music will follow:

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 welcome for the sinner,

and more graces for the good;

there is mercy with the Savior; 

there is healing in his blood.

There is no place where earth's sorrows

are more felt than in heaven;

there is no place where earth's failings

have such kind judgment given.

There is plentiful redemption

in the blood that has been shed;

there is joy for all the members

in the sorrows of the Head.

For the love of God is broader

than the measure of man's mind;

and the heart of the Eternal

is most wonderfully kind.

If our love were but more faithful,

we should take him at his word;

and our life would be thanksgiving

for the goodness of the Lord.

Words: Frederick William Faber, 1862;

Music: Beecher, St. Helena, Zum Frieden

There's a Wideness In God's Mercy -St. Helena

Please take time to meditate on the "Wideness of God's Mercy" and how God is always welcoming us with open gates, open arms, and with the holiest and loving heart that has an "Amazing Grace"


God open wide the hearts of  our family members who have closed hearts, minds, and spirits.

God open wide the arms of our family members  and all of us to be welcoming and loving to all.

God open wide the hearts and minds of all our family members who are leaders of the nations who are at war with their own people. We pray that their minds, hearts, and a willingness to make peace may be fostered and that peace may prevail upon earth.

God open wide the arms of our family members to become gracious, kind, and loving caregivers.

God open wide the hearts of our family members and us that we may seek, serve, and love the least of these.

God open wide our minds so that we may learn from and appreciate the diversity in this your Human Family and as the Family of God.

God open wide our arms so that we may care for the ill, the lost, the lonely, the afraid, and the marginalized.

God open wide our arms and hands that we may comfort and soothe the dying, lovingly  hold those in pre-grieving, embrace with holy compassion those who are in mourning.

God open wide our hands that we may be good  stewards of  your Cathedral of Life.

God open wide our hearts as we pray for__________________

God open wide our hearts as we lift up our thanksgivings for______________

Accept these our prayers in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

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Good Night Dear Family of Love! I love you! I give thanks to God for you this day and always!
Tomorrow is Being Thoughtful and Thankful Thursday! Let's put on an attitude of gratitude and practice loving and radically random acts of kindness.

Leaving my heart gate and heart home open to you with warmth and love,

Sara