Becoming the hands, feet, ears, and shoulders for God and each other in a time of crisis! We are definitely not let off the hook!

Good Evening Dear Family!

Happy Being Thoughtful and Thankful Thursday! Are you indeed Thank Full meaning full of thanks today? I hope we all have. Today I decided that I must do something concrete to help our family members not only in Orlando but here at home so after lunch I went over to our local blood bank and donated blood plasma. I'm AB+ and they like it that I can give plasma. I hadn't donated for awhile and was able to. It was wonderful to do this and know that there is a great need and if you meet the criteria it only takes about an hour and maybe a little more to do it. That got me to thinking what can we do to help others in times such as these? Then I remembered that Mr. Rogers told us "To look for the helpers". Looking for the helpers is so important for all of us to do and be. This is a time where we all are called upon to be caregivers for the caregiver.  Each of us have gifts and skills that God has given us and we need to tap into our spiritual and mental reservoir to draw them out of the well of the Waters of Life.  Her are a few questions we should ponder and yes we all need to take time to do this now and in the days and weeks to come?

What is G__D, Jesus, Allah, or your chosen deity calling you to do?  If you don't have any faith or belief system what is your heart calling you to do?

What can I give freely?

Is this for show or am I going to be able to keep my good works secret from the world?

What are my gifts? 

What can I do right now?

When I act am I going to be afraid and look funny doing it?

Do I have courage to go out of my comfort zone?

These are your questions. We must consider being the hands, feet, ears, shoulders, voices, for God and each other. This is what we must do and must be. Tomorrow we will construct a list and see how far we go into brainstorming. 

Are we ready to be loving and caring helpers to a fragile and broken world starting here, starting now? Let us think and pray on these things and act.


God of love, light, and mercy we come to you this night with prayers in our hearts to light our candles with special intention for all who are giving aid and comfort to all who are grieving the loss of those who died in all acts of terror and violence. We pray this night for the many medical teams who are practicing the arts of healing of body, mind, and spirit. We pray for those who are working in law enforcement who are coming to terms personally with another act of mass murder. We pray for all clergy who are brave enough to stand and support all God's children especially the LGBTQIA, Islamic, and Latino communities who have suffered much again. We pray for all of us who are seeking what we can do to help one another. We pray that we may continue to practice being CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful) We pray this night that we may use our hands to hold, comfort, to help, and to give freely. We pray that we may use our feet to rush and give aid, to march against injustice, to carry the Good News of God's Love to all the world. We pray that we may use our ears to listen and not just hear, to listen inwardly into our heart homes where we meet God deeply and quietly and hear God's still small voice of calm. We pray that we may be use our shoulders for that soft place to fall, to help carry the burdens of many, and to take up our crosses daily and follow Jesus into uncharted territories where Jesus is leading us. We pray and we remember those who lost their lives in all places where there have been acts of terror, hate, bigotry, gun violence, and especially the dear ones this week:

We pray for the victims by Name and pause for a moment.

Amanda Alvear, 25 years old

Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old

Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old

Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old

Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old

Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old

Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old

Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old

Cory James Connell, 21 years old

Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old

Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old

Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old

Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old

Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old

Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old

Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old

Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old

Frank Hernandez, 27 years old

Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old

Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old

Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old

Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old

Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old

Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old

Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old

Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old

Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old

Kimberly Morris, 37 years old

Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old

Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old

Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old

Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old

Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old

Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old

Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old

Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old

Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old

Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old

Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old

Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old

Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old

Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old

Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old

Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old

Let Light Perpetual Shine upon Them and give them peace. 

We light our candles and carry your love, your light, and your goodness O God, this night into the world that you have made. "The light of Christ in Me, Recognizes the Light of Christ in You!' Amen.

Additional prayers

God of abundance help us to be helpful towards all of our family members.

We pray that we may offer our time and our best selves in your service and in the service of others.

We pray that we may offer help to organizations that go against our grain to help those who differ from us.

We pray that we may learn to give of ourselves freely and gracefully.

We pray that our works may be pleasing to you.

We pray that we may find community within the many aid agencies that need our help.

We pray that we may help comfort our family members who mourn.

We pray that we may be of help to our family members who are ill.

We pray that we may work for justice and peace and speak truth to power.

We pray that we may seek to end hunger, homelessness, bullying, economic injustice, and hatred.

We pray that we may find ways to serve when we don't feel like serving.

We pray for peace in the war torn areas of the world.

We pray for sensible policing and gun laws.

We pray for equality for all and universal human rights.

We pray for our family members who have died.

We pray for our family members who are ill.

We pray for refugees, all victims of violence and oppression, victims of human trafficking.

We offer our own prayers in the Name of  Jesus. Amen.

+++++++

Good Night Dear Ones! I love you! May you have a peaceful and restful night and that you will ponder the questions in this blog and find something that will give your life meaning in the service of God and others. I give thanks to God for you this day and always.

With love and in grateful thanksgiving for our beautiful Family of God and Love,

Sara

_