Dear Family of Love,
I hope everyone is having a Wonderful and Wonder-Filled Wednesday! Today is the Feast of St. Teresa of Avila. I think of her as our patron saint. Her words in this picture say what Walk With Me On Our Journey is about:
We are called to do this whether we like it or not. We find ourselves in the midst of a broken world that keeps being visited by violence, terror, disease, hate and the like. The only antidote for this is Love, peace, hope, and joy. mercy, justice, and acceptance of everyone. We are all vulnerable people even if we don't recognize it in ourselves. Sometimes and often the most vulnerable family members may become those who hate, kill, maim,, bully, abuse, as a defense mechanism because they themselves have been victimized. Think of many timid animals who strike out in fear. We all need to help our vulnerable family members to find appropriate responses to fear,bullying,abuse, and the like.This goes back to last evening's blog about being loving and neighborly to ourselves. The time is now, when we must keep our eyes and hearts on and for all of our most vulnerable family members and assure them that they are loved , accepted , and aren't alone. As we approach Spirit Day tomorrow we all need to teach our youngest and oldest family members to Stop Bullying and teach them how to love, accept, nurture, and be kind. This teaching starts at the beginning of life and continues until we breathe our last breath. God wants us to be loving, kind,and generous to our family members one to another. Tonight we will meditate on stopping hate, bullying, violence, and inequality. Please take out your timers, mindfulness apps, or music. Tonight's music is this: John Michael Talbot mix . Take time to go deeper into the center and if you have any negative thoughts that need to be let go of, this it the time, this is the place.
God of love and compassion help us to be truly loving and that we may protect all those who are being bullied, abused, and hated.
God of love and compassion, encircle this broken and fragile with you love, justice, mercy and light so that there may be peace on the earth.
God of love and compassion, drive away all things that divide us ! May we be one with you O God and stand and live united as one family under the shadow of your wings!
God of love and compassion, give us tender hearts to give comfort and help all those who are in any need or trouble.
God of Love and compassion, heal all of our family members who are ill in body, mind , or spirit. Give us courage to help them and reach out to them when our fears and anxieties hold us back.
God of Love and compassion, we pray for all of our family members who are pre-grieving their loved ones who are transitioning into the Thin Places.
God of Love and compassion, we pray for all those who live in places of violence, especially Ferguson, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan , Africa. We pray particularly for the many refugees who have been displaced from their homes and workplaces.
God of Love and Compassion We pray for all who are dying and those who have died today that they had a peaceful and warm journey into the Thin Places.
God of Love and compassion, We pray that we may become the voices of our voiceless and vulnerable family members.
God of Love and compassion, please shower upon us the gift of rain to heal and cleanse all drought parched areas of the world and in our country.
God of Love and compassion, we pray for all the leaders of the nations that they may learn to lead with compassion, justice, and mercy. and that their citizenry may be afforded human and equal rights and that they may respect the dignity of every human being.
God of Love and Compassion, we add our prayers for ourselves and those who have asked to pray on behalf of others ______________.
God of Love and Compassion we offer these prayers in the name of his only Son Jesus, Amen.
Today's lectionary texts and collect/prayer for the Feast of St. Teresa of Avila: From the HOLY WOMEN, HOLY MEN;
O God, by your Holy Spirit you moved Teresa of Avila to manifest to your Church the way of perfection: Grant us, we pray, to be nourished by her excellent teaching, and enkindle within us a keen and unquenchable longing for true holiness; through Jesus Christ, the joy of loving hearts, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Romans 8:22-27
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Psalm 42:1-7 Page 643, BCP
Quemadmodum
1
As the deer longs for the water-brooks, *
so longs my soul for you, O God.
2
My soul is athirst for God, athirst for the living God; *
when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?
3
My tears have been my food day and night, *
while all day long they say to me,
"Where now is your God?"
4
I pour out my soul when I think on these things: *
how I went with the multitude and led them into the house of God,
5
With the voice of praise and thanksgiving, *
among those who keep holy-day.
6
Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? *
and why are you so disquieted within me?
7
Put your trust in God; *
for I will yet give thanks to him,
who is the help of my countenance, and my God.
or
Psalm 139:1-9 Page 794, BCP
Domine, probasti
1
LORD, you have searched me out and known me; *
you know my sitting down and my rising up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
2
You trace my journeys and my resting-places *
and are acquainted with all my ways.
3
Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, *
but you, O LORD, know it altogether.
4
You press upon me behind and before *
and lay your hand upon me.
5
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; *
it is so high that I cannot attain to it.
6
Where can I go then from your Spirit? *
where can I flee from your presence?
7
If I climb up to heaven, you are there; *
if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.
8
If I take the wings of the morning *
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
9
Even there your hand will lead me *
and your right hand hold me fast.
Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."
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Good Night Dear Family of Love ! I love you ! May you have a blessed and restful and peaceful night. May you awaken relaxed, refreshed, renewed, and restored so that you may serve God in God's broken and fragile world. If you don't know what to do, look around and when all else fails pray. I give thanks to God for you this night and always! Remember tomorrow is Being Thoughtful and Thankful Thursday.
Peace, love, prayers, and God's Blessings be always with you,
Sara
Quotes from St. Teresa of Avila today instead of the usual photos:
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