Wilderness Week Day 6: Another day with demons all around!

Dear Family of Love,

Happy Belated Self-Care Saturday! I have returned from a wonderful time  up at Cal Poly seeing the Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble Winter Concert.  It was an amazing concert that uplifted my body, mind, and spirit. I had a late bite to eat and found out about another shooting in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This was the not so subtle clue that our Key-Word and concept for tonight's blog is :Devil. I don't know about you but that really unnerved me and I thought at first not writing tonight but God wants me to and here is my message to you. There are devils and demons all around us and they may be with in us and also out there in the world. Jesus had an encounter with the Devil during his wilderness experience. I'm beginning to think that our lives are sometimes wilderness experiences where demons are more or less prevalent. I'm reminded when I see the daily office in the BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER this portion of scripture:

Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls
around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Resist him, firm in your faith. I Peter 5:8-9a

How important having a strong faith in God is.  We must rely on God for courage and strength as we confront our own demons and those that encircle us daily out in the world. It isn't easy but we have to try. This is were we need to learn to love our enemies and do good to those who are hateful and hate-filled towards us. Sometimes we may be our own worst enemies and that calls us to love ourselves even more and see God reflected back as we look at ourselves in the mirror. Tonight let us keep it simple and engage if you are having trouble sleeping the "Be Stills"  

Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know.

Be still.

Be.

Slowly inhale.

Hold.

Slowly exhale

Pause. Count to 10.

Repeat 4 times! 

Now sit quietly and reflect up the day past and enjoy your visit with God. Open wide your heart homes and feel God filling you up with Love Energy.

Here are  prayers (Collects from the BCP) for us to pray  and read  Gospel from Saturday's lectionary.

O God, by your Word you marvelously carry out the work of reconciliation:

 Grant that in our Lenten fast we may be devoted to you with all our hearts,

one another in prayer and holy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy

defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the

love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the

enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in

peace; and let your blessing be upon us always; through Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen.

Matthew 5:43–48

Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Let us tonight or in the early morning hours, light our candles and be at prayer as we enter in to our Virtual Candlelight Prayer Vigil. Let us pray for our family members in Kalamazoo Michigan who have been affected by the latest shooting. We pray for the victims and their families. We pray for all cities and towns that are being affected by gun and any kind of violence. We pray for our enemies and those who wish us harm. We pray that we may be examples of CALM (Compassion Acceptance, Love and Mercy) to those who hate us and differ from us and that we may all be one family of Love/God.

This night let us continue our prayers using : Our Prayers for our Enemies:

God we share many things in common with our enemies, may we find common ground as we pray this night.

God may we breathe clean air and find ourselves breathing in love and breathing out peace.
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God may we eat of the abundance of the fruits of  your Cathedral of Life and break bread together in solidarity.
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God may we find rest for our souls and may we rest in the knowledge that you God created us all and made us in your image and likeness. Take away any anxiety and bitterness that keeps us from resting upon our beds. 
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God may we be clothed with peacemakng skills and clothing that will keep us warm.

May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God we give thanks for our homes in which we live. We pray that everyone will have a home that safe and filled with warmth and love. We pray especially for those who have become refugees due to wars and violent conflicts. 
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God we pray for our families who need our love, patience, and we give thanks for them with loving and sustaining and merciful hearts.
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God we pray for all of our loved ones especially those who have asked us for our prayers remembering especially____________________________
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God we remember your beloved little children that they may be safe from harm and still have a childlike wonder  and awe for the earth and your creation. May we recapture this sense wonder.
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God teach us how to be lovers and may we find the holiness in our relationships one to another.
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God show us the paths towards peace,justice, mercy, equality, and universal human rights.
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God we pray for all who mourn that they may be given love, comfort, and compassion.
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God we pray for all who have died and are dying. We pray especially for those who are dying terrible deaths that they felt your loving presence as they were carried into the Thin Places.
May we love our enemies as we love our neighbors and do good to those who hate us.

God we thank you for this day and as we lift up these our prayers in the name of  your son Jesus. Amen. 

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Good Night Dear Family ! I love you! May you find rest in God's Gentle arms of love and know and feel God's loving presence. I give thanks to God for you this day and always.

Love and peaceful hearts be always yours,

Sara

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Tomorrow/today 's Ponder work is on the Holy Spirit and our return from our Wilderness journey!