Good Evening Dear Family of Love,
Just when we thought we'd wake up to just the normal news cycle featuring the latest drama of election year politics we are hit yet again with another act of senseless terror in Brussels. This created for me another day where my heart home hurt for all who were injured and killed and their family members, no correct that all of us who are their family members who mourn their loss. It's hard to take care of ourselves on Take Care Tuesday when all we want to do is weep and yes at times wail and gnash our teeth because of terrorist acts by extremists who get their jollies and attention by committing such heinous acts. This isn't what we signed up for when we became adults and when TV, social media, and the internet was created. I know that I sound angry. Yes I am angry and sad for God's children who are being killed, injured, and yes even those who find themselves set on paths that lead to their personal destruction and destruction of lives, property, antiquities, and civilization as we know it. Tonight we must spend some time in prayer and quiet looking inward so that we may go into the world and help God by being peacemakers, love givers, and beacons of God's Light to this fragile and broken world that God made us to be good stewards of.
Let us first remember the words of St. Francis of Assisi, " Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words' Here are the words from his famous prayer that we will take time to pray before we engage in the "Be Stills"
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is
hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where
there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where
there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where
there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to
be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is
in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we
are born to eternal life. Amen.
Be Still and Know that I am God.
Be Still and Know that I am.
Be Still and Know.
Be Still.
Be.
Let us continue to light our candles and be at prayer and pray for the people of Brussels,Ankara, Libya, Ivory Coast. Baghdad, San Bernardino, and all places where terror and discord reign. We pray this night for all of us who mourn our family member's losses by senseless violence and extremism. We pray for our enemies and those who wish us harm that they may have a change of heart, mind, and that they may finally know that love, mercy, and justice are the ways to affect change in the world. Turn their hearts and actions away from violence, terror, abuse, and bigotry. We pray for that we may continue to love God, our family members, and ourselves even when we don't feel like it and when days like this give ourselves over to dark and angry thoughts. We pray that we may awaken tomorrow ready to serve you O God with a right spirit and a spirit that is fixed on you and our faces like flint set on doing your will by being CALM ( Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful).
Tonight as we mourn our losses let us remember that we must carry the light into the dark places:
We light carry God's light into the world with:
Our love
Our prayers and thanksgivings
Our shout outs and appreciations.
Our Hands, feet, arms,
Being a soft place in which to fall
Our willingness to learn about other people's point of view.
Open hearts.
Laughter
Joy
Acceptance
Compassion
Mercy
With our willingness to listen.
With out judging.
Hearts afire with love for God.
Share what you have.
Smile
See everyone as a family member when we look into their eyes.
Be open!
Be kind!
Be just!
Be the person that Jesus and God want you to be!
Speak kindly with loving and gentle words
Think before you speak.
Use your sense of humor wisely some of our family members may not know when you are teasing!
Let us think up more ways as we meditate on what it meas to shine God's light in the dark places!
First say this The Light of Christ (God) in me Reflects the Light of Christ (God) in You!
Second say this The Love that God Gave Me I give to You. Give that Love to others!
We Are Marching in the Light of God
Dear God in the silence and your light we hear your voice calling us to love, serve,and give thanks.
In the silence and your light O God,we pray that peace will prevail upon this your fragile and broken world.
In the silence O God, help us to realize that wherever we plant our feet, take a breath, and live that is holy ground for a holy people.
In the silence and your light O God, we pray for all of our family members who are in need of healing of body, mind, and spirits.
In the silence and your light O God, , help us to be still and know that You are God.
In the silence and your light O God, , we pray for the needs of the least of these that we may come into their lives without fear but quietly, gently, and with compassion.
In the silence and your light O God, listen for you walking in your Cathedral of Life at the time of the evening breeze.
In the silence and your light O God, give us loving and joyful hearts that are enlivened and on fire for you!
In the silence and your light O God, we give thanks for all of your goodness and mercy and offer our thanks______
In the silence and your light O God we pray for the troubled areas of the world and for all refugees, captives, political prisoners, victims of human trafficking, and violence in its many forms.
In the silence and your light O God, we pray for all who are mourning the losses of loved ones or any kind of loss. We pray that they may gradually accept silence as cleansing and healing and not something to run away from.
In the silence and your light O God, help us to rely and put our trust in your love, grace, mercy, and inclusion.
In the silence and your light ,O God, help us at this time of year to tune out all the unnecessary hype and consumerism this holiday season brings. May we celebrate these holidays well and give us courage to put the true meanings of these holy and special days back into practice.
In the silence and your light O God, we add our additional prayers for ourselves and on behalf of others especially____________
In the silence and your light O God, we lift up these our prayers to your Only Son Jesus the Christ our redeemer, healer,reconciler, brother, master, and friend, Amen.
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Good Night Dear Family of Love! Take time for silence tonight and don't forget tonight we place our worries, fears, and anxieties in the Worry/Sabbath box as we continue our Holy Week Journey. Remember let us love and take care of one another as God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit does for us. I love you and give God thanks for you this day and always!
Love, joy, peace, hope and God's Blessings!
Sara
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