A late start tonight! Prayers to get you ready for slumber and to entrust our family members into God's Loving care!

Dear Family of  Love and Prayer Pilgrims!

Happy Being Thoughtful and Thankful Thursday! We have some new features here at Walk With Me On Our Journey that I hope you will enjoy. There is now a subscribe box where you can place your email address and click on the submit button and you will be subscribed to the blog. There is also a translation button and you can see and read the blog in so many languages it will seem like Pentecost many days early. Tonight I went out to a new sushi restaurant and had a good time. I needed a change of pace so that is why this blog is a tad bit late.

Tonight let us take time to rest our weary minds and spirits in a very simple and easy time of prayer and meditation.

We begin tonight with our "Be Stills"

Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.

Inhale deeply and slowly.
Hold.
Exhale slowly and thoroughly.

Repeat This time with your eyes closed.

Let us light our candles and be at prayer. Let us pray and give thanks for all that God has given us. Let us pray for peace in the world and an end to violence, bigotry, hate, and terror at home and throughout this fragile and broken world. Let us pray that we may follow in Jesus' Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful Footsteps. We pray that we may be empowered to spread the Good News of Love, Joy, Hope, and Peace and Carry God's Light into the world so that we may brighten the dark corners that need healing, reconciliation,  and grace. We pray that we may become active and loving members of the Jesus Movement and Go wherever God sends us with courage and love energy and ever widening heart homes. Amen.

Here is the Collect and Lessons for Thursday in Easter Week  (From the BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER and the Lectionary Page) These are optional for your meditation and prayer.
Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


Acts 3:11-26

While the lame man whom Peter and John had healed clung to them, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's Portico, utterly astonished. When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, "You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

"And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets. Moses said, `The Lord your God will raise up for you from your own people a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you. And it will be that everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be utterly rooted out of the people.' And all the prophets, as many as have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, also predicted these days. You are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, `And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."

Psalm 8

1 O Lord our Governor, *
how exalted is your Name in all the world!
2 Out of the mouths of infants and children *
your majesty is praised above the heavens.
3 You have set up a stronghold against your adversaries, *
to quell the enemy and the avenger.
4 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, *
the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,
5 What is man that you should be mindful of him? *
the son of man that you should seek him out?
6 You have made him but little lower than the angels; *
you adorn him with glory and honor;
7 You give him mastery over the works of your hands; *
you put all things under his feet:
8 All sheep and oxen, *
even the wild beasts of the field,
9 The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, *
and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.
10 O Lord our Governor, *
how exalted is your Name in all the world!
or

Psalm 114

In exitu Israel

1 Hallelujah!
When Israel came out of Egypt, *
the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech,
2 Judah became God's sanctuary *
and Israel his dominion.
3 The sea beheld it and fled; *
Jordan turned and went back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams, *
and the little hills like young sheep.
5 What ailed you, O sea, that you fled? *
O Jordan, that you turned back?
6 You mountains, that you skipped like rams? *
you little hills like young sheep?
7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, *
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 Who turned the hard rock into a pool of water *
and flint-stone into a flowing spring.
or

Psalm 118:19-24

Confitemini Domino

19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them;
I will offer thanks to the Lord.
20 "This is the gate of the Lord; *
he who is righteous may enter."
21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
and have become my salvation.
22 The same stone which the builders rejected *
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord's doing, *
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 On this day the Lord has acted; *
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
l
Luke 24:36b-48

Jesus stood among the disciples and said to them, "Peace be with you." They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.


Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you-- that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."


Jesus you stood among your disciples and their companions, help us to feel your presence as you stand before us, with us, and by us each and every day that we live, move, and just be.

Jesus we pray that we may learn healthy eating habits from you and that we may enjoy a healthy lifestyle.

Jesus help us not to be afraid when you appear in our lives and especially not to be afraid of our family members.

Jesus,we pray for peace in this fragile world.

Jesus help us to remember to be thoughtful and thankful every day of our lives.

Jesus, we pray for all of our family members who are ill and those who have had surgery and where recovery is difficult.

Jesus, raise our hearts in joy when we feel depressed and discouraged.

Jesus, we pray for those who are mourning and in a period of pre- grief. 

Jesus, we pray for all who are dying and those who have died today.

Jesus, Take our hands, feet, and voices that we may serve you  in this world.

Jesus, help us to be loving to the unlovable. 

Jesus, may we ever be mindful of those who are the least of these who are on  our hearts today especially________________

Jesus, we give thanks for_____________________

Jesus we pray for_______________________________

Jesus we lift up these our prayers to you in Your Most Holy Name. Amen.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Good Night Dear Family ! I love you! I wish you a blessed and peaceful rest this night. I give God Thanks for you always! Tomorrow is our first Keeping the Faith Friday Fearlessly without fretting since Good Friday!

With love, prayer, blessings, and peace like a river!

Sara

Our Season of Prayer continues as we meet together on the road to Emmaus.

Dear Family of Love and Praying Pilgrims,


Today is Wednesday in Easter Week, I don't know about you but it seems only yesterday that we were in Holy Week and readying ourselves for Maundy Thursday. Today in our lectionary  we meet Jesus and two distraught followers on the road to Emmaus who didn't recognize Jesus until he broke the bread and prayed with them. To be effective in this season of prayer we must be like the bread that Jesus broke open. We must be broken open too! Our hearts and heart homes must be broken in order to receive prayers and to pray. Praying isn't supposed to be this rote routine that is devoid of emotion, no, not at all. Praying requires us to meet Jesus with our open hearts, open spirits, and open minds. We must be open to a Loving God who shows us how to be one with each other and in the breaking of bread in the prayers. 

Dear Ones it is time for us to be at prayer. Let us take bit of time to breathe and find our place at the center of our beings. Every day we should do this because having rattled minds and spirits do not make us effective prayer pilgrims. Today we will use this phrase: "Peace be still" and the "Be Stills" together.

Take a deep breath from your diaphragm  (deep down in your lungs). 
Fill your lungs slowly.
Exhale slowly and pause.

Peace Be Still
Peace Be
Peace

Be Still and Know that I am God.
Be Still and Know.
Be Still.
Be.

Repeat until you find yourselves at peace and ready to be at prayer.

  Let us be broken open to meet Christ and each other in a time of  CALM (Compassion, Acceptance, Love and Mercy) as we pray. Let us be broken open like the bread that Jesus did when he was known to his followers on the road to Emmaus. "Risen Lord, be known to us in the breaking of the bread"

It is that time of the day when we light our candles and be at prayer. Tonight we pray as one Family of God united in purpose to pray for the people of Burundi, Pakistan, The Middle East, Central America, South Sudan, The Democratic Republic of the Congo. We pray for peace in these regions and an end to sectarian violence and terror. We remember and pray for all victims of human trafficking throughout the world and that all of our family members who have been enslaved and kidnapped may be safely returned to their families. We pray that we as a family may lovingly respond to the needs of the poor, immigrants, refugees, and those who are being denied universal human rights of dignity, equality, freedom, and justice. We pray for and end to discrimination and hate of all kinds and that our voices may rise in response for our family members who have lost courage to use there. We pray that we may stand up and be one with God and each other with our heart homes open with love, and remembering this " The Light of Christ in Me, Recognizes the Light of Christ in you!"

Here is our meditation music for tonight: Paul Winter Consort -Icarus

Collect for Wednesday in Easter Week (BCP)

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Let us spend time reading, praying and meditating upon  the lessons appointed for this day:

Acts 3:1-10

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o'clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him

Psalm 105:1-8

1 Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name; *
make known his deeds among the peoples.

2 Sing to him, sing praises to him, *
and speak of all his marvelous works.

3 Glory in his holy Name; *
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

4 Search for the Lord and his strength; *
continually seek his face.

5 Remember the marvels he has done, *
his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,

6 O offspring of Abraham his servant, *
O children of Jacob his chosen.

7 He is the Lord our God; *
his judgments prevail in all the world.

8 He has always been mindful of his covenant, *
the promise he made for a thousand generations.

Luke 24:13-35

Now on that same day, the first day of the week, two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Risen Lord we pray these prayers. Open our hearts, minds, and spirits to pray, love, and spread your light to a fragile and broken world. Break us open to you, each other, and ourselves like the bread at the Emmaus feast.


Risen Lord Be with us this night and give us courage to feel and know your presence in our lives.

Risen Lord we pray for all of our family members who do not know you yet.

Risen Lord may we always love the least of these our family members.

Risen' Lord we pray for all who are ill and in need of healing of our bodies, minds, and spirits.

Risen Lord come into the hearts of those who are seeking do divide and not unite. We pray for peace  and  that hearts may be turned towards God.

Risen Lord guide all those who are transitioning into the Thin Places may they have a pain free and joyful journey into eternal joy.

Risen Lord help us to comfort all who mourn and give them love and compassion.

Risen Lord we pray for all those in ministry that they are getting rest after Holy Week and Easter Day.

Risen Lord we pray for an end to violence, abuse, and terror. 

Risen Lord may we always meet you in the fellowship of breaking bread.

Risen Lord we pray for________________

Risen Lord we give  thanks for________________

Risen Lord we pray these our prayers and thanksgivings in your Name. Amen.


The Emmaus Song- Kenneth Marsh



++++++

Good Night Dear Ones! I love you. May you have a wonderful and restful sleep.
I give God thanks for you this night and always! Tomorrow is Being Thoughtful and Thankful Thursday. Let's get back to our Gratitude and Joy Jar tomorrow.

With Lots of Love and Blessings!

Sara

A Season of Prayer, A season of being CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful), A Season of being kind,

Dear Family of Love and Pilgrims on Our Journey,

Wow it is Tuesday in Easter Week and that must mean we are well on our way in seeking the Risen Christ among us all. Who was the Risen Christ in your life today? Remember the last face you saw today it might have been yours or someone else's. Jesus is living and active among us in many ways and yes my dear family we still must allow ourselves to continually seek Him and also allow Jesus to find us as the lost sheep and be returned to the flock  Every day we find ourselves as Lost Sheep, Lepers, Good Samaritans, Prodigal Sons and Daughters, Martha's and Mary's. We are also called to be transformed like Abraham who was Abram , Sarah who was Sarai, Peter who was Simon, and Paul who was Saul.All  of these family members of ours have one thing in common besides having their names changed to transform their lives they were people of faith who engaged in prayer and having a deep and abiding relationship with God. That is what Lent, Holy Week, and Easter are supposed to be doing in our own lives and the lives of our many family members. Today The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church has called us to a season or prayer. This is what Presiding Bishop Curry said today via the Episcopal News Service,
'“In this season of Resurrection, I call on everyone to pray for our brothers and sisters in areas where there is much burden and little hope,”
 These are the areas and family members we need to pray for. 

• Burundi
• Central America
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Middle East
• Pakistan
• South Sudan

The Episcopal Church is starting this season of prayer beginning on April 3, We are going to start tonight. We not only are going to make this a Season of Prayer, We are going to make it A Season of being CALM ( Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful) A Season of Being Kind, A Season of vanquishing hate, bigotry, and disunity, A season of being the Light and a Season of being peace makers. We are going to make this a season where we truly become family members of the Jesus Movement where love is the key to unlock all that has been causing this fragile and broken world pain and division.  Remember the 4 themes in Advent?  Love,Joy, Hope, and Peace. These are how we are going to divide up our day with our prayers. Here is the prescription for our prayers. Pray for Love In the morning, Pray for Joy at Noon, Pray for Hope in the Evening, and Pray fore Peace at bedtime. 

We will take time for introspection throughout these 4 sections of the day along with periods of engaging in our "Be Stills" and that is where we are going right here, right now.

Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know. 

Be still.

Be.

Repeat the "Be stills" until you are ready to spend time and go deeper and center yourself and open your heart home with love energy to God and all of our family members.

Let us light our candles and be at prayer. Let us make this time during the season of Easter a pilgrimage of praying, serving, and carrying the light and love to a fragile and broken world. Let us join Presiding Bishop Curry of the Episcopal Church in the season of prayer for  Burundi,Central America, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Middle East,Pakistan,South Sudan. Let us make this a season of prayer for the least of these and an end to violence and hate. Let us pray for each other and be united as the Children and family of God that we were and are meant and made to be. 

Let us be at prayer

God we pray for peace in the world and an end to violence , hatred, terror and abuse. We pray that we may be examples of your son Jesus and that we may  be loving and light bearing to the dark places in this land and in the world. 

Loving and Merciful God we lay our burdens down and take time to rest and have holy conversation with you.

We pray that we won't be asking just for ourselves alone but on behalf of others who need a boost and who are afraid to be in a loving conversation with you. 

We pray for all of our family members who have been affected by all the dangerous weather throughout the country. We pray for all the agencies coming to their need.

We pray for a sense of calmness when we begin to feel anxious about anything. We lift up all those who have any kind of mental or memory related illness. For research into the root causes of these illnesses and especially for family and friends who care for them.

We pray for courage to be whom God has made us to be and that we may live authentically without fear, shame, or guilt. 

We pray for the Missing Girls of Nigeria, The Victims of Human Trafficking, The many young children and girls who are being sold as sex slaves by Daesh, The missing and exploited children all over the world. and that they may be found safe and released from harm. We pray for an end to human trafficking of any kind.

We pray for all places of political unrest and for the safety of all our family members throughout the world that the leaders of the nations may remember "To do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God and let Justice Roll Down"

We pray for all those who are struggling to make ends meet and the unemployed who are seeking well paying jobs that are permanent. 

We pray for all those who are ill and infirm and who are lonely in care facilities. We pray for all those who have Cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, and all orphan, chronic, and autoimmune diseases. We pray for better medications and treatments for the relief of pain.

We pray for all who travel and we pray for all those who drive in town and we pray for all young and elderly drivers. We pray that we all may know when it is time to have the conversation about taking car keys away from our family members.

God we pray especially for______________________
We give thanks to you O God for___________________
We  Celebrate this day for________________
We remember those who now reside in the Thin Places remembering especially _____________And their loved ones who mourn their loss.

We lift up these our prayers this night to you O God of Love and mercy. Amen.

**************

Good Night! Rest well and know that I love you and I give God Thanks for you this day and always. 

Love, joy, hope, and peace and yes there is power in God's presence, I can feel it can't you?

Sara

Happy You Matter Monday and The First Monday In Easter!

Hello Dear Family!

How many of you have hit the post Lenten, Holy Week, and Easter wall? If you haven't give it time. Today we find ourselves still keyed up and let down after all the emotions that we have expended for 40 days plus and Easter Day too. This is normal and remember Eastertide is 50 days long and we get to celebrate and find ourselves on yet another journey with Jesus complete with the feast of the Ascension and Pentecost. Today we rest and enjoy each other's company and being in a family. Today is also You Matter Monday and I saw this picture today and I want  to share it with you:

Since we are together as a family I would like us to change this to We and Our where appropriate. It is so important because we need to continue to take our Ego-Be-Gone medication and be the family of Love that God wants us to be.   

How many of you remember these songs ? They spoke to us then and they speak to us now. 

God Help the Outcasts- The Hunchback of Notre Dame

We are the World U.S.A. for Africa

Tonight I would like us try to do this breathing exercise  along with the "Be Stills"  Click on the link below and follow the instructions.

De-Stress Monday

Be Still and Know that I am God.
Be Still and Know .
Be Still. 
Be.

Let us light our candles and be at prayer. Tonight let us pray the Beatitudes and Prayer of St.Francis. Before we do this let us pray for peace in the world and an end to violence and terror. Let us remember the people throughout the world who in the last week have been victimized by terror, Brussels, Baghdad, Ankara, Lahore. We pray for an end to gun violence and for sensible laws to protect God's children. Let us remember that if we lay down all our weaponry of hate and that includes our voices we will be on the way to safety and learning to love our neighbors who are our family members too. 

The  Beatitudes 

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. (5:3)

Blessed are those who mourn: for they will be comforted. (5:4)

Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth. (5:5)

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they will be filled. (5:6)

Blessed are the merciful: for they will be shown mercy. (5:7)

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God. (5:8)

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they will be called children of God. (5:9)

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (5:10

The Prayer of St. Francis

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

Here is tonight's meditation music.John Rutter Mix 

Jesus banish our doubts so that we may believe and know that you not only rose from the dead but entered into our forgiven hearts with love. May our hearts and heart homes be ever widened to include the ability to love more and more fully.

Jesus take away our fears that bind us so that we may be ever drawn more closely to you.

Jesus, give us the strength and courage to speak for the voiceless and invisible.

Jesus, we pray for all who are ill and in need of healing. We pray especially for_____

Jesus, we pray for those who are facing many struggles this week that they may find peace, joy, hope,love, and a spirit of calm. 

Jesus, we pray for our family members who are in need of prayer  especially for ____________

Jesus, keep our hearts open to new possibilities and new lives and new loves.

Jesus, banish all those who have hardness of heart and who do not know how to love family members who differ from themselves.

Jesus help us when we need to be focused and not distracted this week. Give us energy and banish fatigue. 

Jesus we pray for all those who have chronic illnesses of body, mind, and spirit.

Jesus we lift up these our prayers to you in your most holy name. Amen.


Collect/ Prayer for 

Monday in Easter Week (BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER)
Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that we who celebrate with
awe the Paschal feast may be found worthy to attain to
everlasting joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.
Preface of Easter

++++++

Good Night Dear Ones! I love you! Take time for more self and Sabbath Care tonight as we approach Take Care Tuesday!  I give thanks to God for you this night and always!

Love to the brim and overflowing!

Sara


Easter Wings by George Herbert