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| Georgetown Lake, Georgetown, CO |
You'll recall that I took a little break from posting last weekend...
Well, I'm gonna take another little break from writing - I'll see you again with a Monday Morning Offering on July 21.
7/18/25
NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 7/18
You might not catch a butterfly by chasing it, but if you sit very still a butterfly might find and visit you...
Teach me to be still, Lord:
to take a few deep breaths, sit back
and see what grace, what beauty
comes to visit at my side
and deep within...
Teach me to be still, Lord:
to find a place far from the chase
that rends and spends my spirit,
a place where just one butterfly
might find and visit me...
Teach me to be still, Lord:
pace my racing thoughts, my restless heart
pace my racing thoughts, my restless heart
'til your Spirit, like a butterfly
might light upon my soul
and bring me peace...
might light upon my soul
and bring me peace...
Teach me to be still, Lord,
teach me to be still;
teach me to be still;
teach me to be still, Lord,
teach me to be still...
Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake
and watch over me while I sleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace...
Amen.
Two songs this evening, one traditional, one contemporary. The first has lyrics written in 1752 by Kathrina von Schlegel; the second was composed in 2017... Both songs have much to offer us in these times that are less than still...
Be Still My Soul sung by Kari Jobe
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Be Still
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Be still and knowThat the Lord is in controlBe still, my soulStand and watch as giants fall
I won't be afraid for You are hereYou silence all my fearI won't be afraid, You don't let goBe still, my heart, and knowI won't be afraid
Be still and trustWhat the Lord has said is doneFind rest, don't striveWatch as faith and grace align
I won't be afraid for You are hereYou silence all my fearI won't be afraid, You don't let goBe still my heart and know I won't be afraid
I won't be afraid
Surely love and mercyYour peace and kindnessWill follow meWill follow me (4X)
Your love surrounds meYour love surrounds me, hereYour love surrounds meYour love surrounds me, here
Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 7/18
Wednesday,
July 18, 2007: it was my day off and it was raining - not a
beach day! I'd been thinking for some time about starting a blog and
it seemed a good day to explore that possibility - so I did. I was
surprised to find how easy it is to set up a page online and before the
afternoon was over, I had published my first post.
That was 18 years ago today and since then I've published 13,068 posts and my blog has had 6,974,569 hits.
As
a priest now retired from assigned ministry, writing this blog is an important way for me to continue to serve
God's people - and to pray with you, my readers. Writing this blog is also an important part of my own spiritual life! Together, we are a community of believers who
come to this virtual chapel at all hours of the day and night, meeting
the Lord in prayer on line.
Here we are again, Lord:
your virtual
congregation,
gathered in our
virtual chapel
offering you our real time,
heartfelt prayers
our needs and pleas and
worries,
our brokenness and disappointments,
our anxieties, joys
and troubles,
our questions, doubts
and faith,
our sorrows, recovery and grief,
our struggles, smiles and distress,
our remorse, contrition and laughter,
our pain, serenity and burdens,
our heartaches, headaches and happiness,
our apprehensions,
scruples and gratitude,
our contrition, consolation and growth,
our thanksgiving and glory and praise...
Only a virtual sanctuary, Lord,
could make room for all we bring
each time we gather!
We gather together, Lord,
though we sit by
ourselves;
and we pray together
in a hushed, shared, silence
and we often sing together
in a choir only you can hear…
We pray for one another,
gathered in the faith we share,
connected by the Spirit's wi-fi,
one in trust and hope in you
and in the prayer we offer,
every night and day…
We praise you, Lord,
from whom all blessings flow!
Amen.
I Will Pray For You
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I have prayed for
you
that your faith is still held fast.
that your faith is still held fast.
I prayed for you,
a guard against
the tempest
Every time
you’re brought to mind,
every prayer
you’ve left behind.
I have raised
you up on high,
I have prayed
for you.
I have prayed for you
that God’s will
is your guide.
I pray for you
that you are led each day.
Every time I
sense you there,
every time I
knelt in prayer,
and in all this
world of care
I have prayed
for you.
I will pray that God’s strength
will hold you in
the arms
of the One who
gave his all for you.
I will pray
every day
that this life
of faith remains close
to my heart and
mind.
I will pray, I will pray,
I will stay on
my knees,
I will pray for
you today.
God, who hears in all the secret places
will attend to
our every plea.
All we ask, all we need, all
our desires will be answered
in God’s own
time, God’s own time.
I will pray that God’s strength
will hold you in
the arms
of the One who
gave his all for you.
I will pray
every day
that this life
of faith remains close
to my heart and
mind.
I will pray, I will pray,
I will stay on
my knees,
I will pray for
you today.
7/17/25
NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 7/17
Lord, it is night.
The night is for stillness...
Let us be still in your presence, O God...
It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done:
let it be...
The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world
The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world
and of our own lives rest in you, O Lord...
The night is quiet, Lord.
Let the quiet of your peace enfold us,
all who are dear to us,
and all who have no peace...
The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day,
new joys, new possibilities...
Protect us, Lord while we're awake
and watch over us while we sleep
that awake, we might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace...
Amen.
Tonight's song has a rhythmic, calming effect on my soul and I hope it will serve your prayer, too...
Sleep Chant by Karen Drucker
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Sleep in peace. Wake in joy.
Always know that I am loved.
I sleep in peace. I wake in joy.
I sleep in peace. I wake in joy.
I always know that I am loved.
Today I live in gratitude.
Today I give my love.
And tonight when I lay my head to rest,
And tonight when I lay my head to rest,
I give thanks, I give thanks.
Sleep in peace. Wake in joy.
Always know that I am safe.
Sleep in peace. Wake in joy.
Always know that I am safe.
Each day I wake is a miracle.
Each day is a precious gift.
I count my blessings and feel such grace.
I count my blessings and feel such grace.
I give thanks. I give thanks.
I sleep in peace. I wake in joy.
I always know that all is well.
I sleep in peace. I wake in joy.
I sleep in peace. I wake in joy.
I always know that all is well.
I sleep in peace. Wake in joy.
Always know that I am loved.
Sleep in peace. Wake in joy.
Sleep in peace. Wake in joy.
I Always know that I am loved.
Sleep in peace. Wake in joy.
Sleep in peace. Wake in joy.
Always know that I am safe.
Sleep in peace. Wake in joy.
Sleep in peace. Wake in joy.
I always know that I am safe.
I sleep in peace. I wake in joy.
I always know that all is well.
I sleep in peace. I wake in joy.
I sleep in peace. I wake in joy.
I always know that all is well.
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| Photo from Falmouth Heights Beach by Mark Penta |
Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 7/17
Whatever you ask of me today, Lord,
I know it's going to be something simple:
as simple as your asking every day*
that I do what's just, love what's good
and walk humbly by your side...
Simple enough, Lord!
So, please don't let me screw this up
by complicating the simple,
over-thinking the obvious,
and worrying about the small stuff...
Help me keep it simple, Lord,
as simple as you ask,
as simple as you ask,
as simple as can be,
as simple as I am...
Amen.
*Source
Oops!
I just realized that in my excitement about finding a way to transcribe the audio of my Sunday homily, I posted the text but failed to post the audio!
7/16/25
NIGHT PRAYER: Wednesday 7/16
In conversation with someone today I had occasion to use the image, "a thread runs through it..." Which reminded me of William Stafford's poem, The Way It Is and a prayer I wrote based on it. I've posted this several times but I'll take this afternoon's inspiration as a nudge from the Holy Spirit that perhaps someone will find this helpful this evening...
Let's begin with Safford's poem...
The Way It Is
There's a thread you
follow. It goes among
things that change. But
it doesn't change.
People wonder about what
you are pursuing.
You have to explain about
the thread.
But it is hard for others
to see.
While you hold it you
can't get lost.
Tragedies happen; people
get hurt
or die; and you suffer
and get old.
Nothing you do can stop
time's unfolding.
You don't ever let go of
the thread.
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| Fiber art by Astrid Monique |
Most of us lead lives of many threads. Some are stronger than others, some are of our own making, some are woven into the fabric of our being with or without our permission... With or without our permission the Spirit weaves the thread of God's grace and design into the cloth of our being, our lives...
God's thread in our lives does not change: it's pliable yet strong, it hems and mends, it tucks and tailors, it stitches and sutures...
Be the thread, Lord,
that runs through my whole life,
the thread of grace
that sews my soul to yours...
Thread your grace through my relationships,
through all my joys and sorrows,
through the good times and the bad times,
through all my nights and days...
Be the the thread, Lord,
that holds tight, secure and strong
in the face of all that threatens to unravel
all that holds me close to you...
Be the thread I can't explain
and don't really understand,
yet the thread for which I'm grateful
for all the ways it stitches up
the wounds that rend my heart...
Be the thread I always cling to,
the thread I won't let go of:
the thread of faith, my thread of hope,
your thread of love
that knits my heart to yours...
Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake
and watch over me while I sleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace...
Amen.
Here's a song about threads and I hope it will have meaning for all of us, and especially for those, these days, who may be "hanging on by a thread..."
Threads by David Leonard
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I'm tired of trying to keep it all together
Tired of lies disguising who I really am
There's pain that’s hiding underneath the surface
I’m tired of trying to keep it on the inside
But here before your love I’m not afraid
I’m gonna let you pull the threads
‘til my heart unravels
Open me up with every breath
‘til the darkness scatters and runs away
I’m ready to fall apart
Fall into your loving arms
I’m gonna let you pull the threads
‘til my heart unravels into Yours
You’re reaching out your hand
To pull me close again
You see me as I am still you want me
Here before your love I'm not afraid
You stitch me back together with your grace
Here before your love I'm not afraid
You stitch me back together with your grace
7/15/25
NIGHT PRAYER: Tuesday 7/15
In my prayer, Lord,
I see how much you love me
in spite of so many things about me
in need of change,
in need of your mercy,
in need of your healing and pardon;
so many things I need to let go of
need to grow into,
or need to finally learn to accept;
so many ways I need to strive
to deepen my trust in your care,
to walk more closely beside you
to follow the path you choose for me
wherever your Spirit may lead me...
In spite of all those things, Lord:
you love me with mercy
and healing compassion;
you love me now
as you did on your Cross;
you love me in spite
of my faults and my failings;
you love me with more love
than I can return;
You love me, Lord,
though my love for you
may be fickle, unfaithful;
you love me now, already and always,
freely and fully - no strings attached;
you've loved me since long before
time had begun
and you'll love me forever,
and ever more...
It's your love, Lord, and only your love
that offers me grace to grow in your love
when my love for you is found wanting:
your love supplies what I need when I fail
to love you with all my heart and my soul
and to love my neighbor as myself...
So, just as you love me, O Lord,
help me love my brothers and sisters
in spite of the ways they may, so often,
annoy me, offend me,
ignore me or ghost me,
betray and forget me,
hurt me and cheat me
or take me for granted...
Remind me, Lord, how
that in spite of the ways
I annoy you,
offend and betray you,
abandon you, hurt you,
fail and forget you
and take you for granted
you still love me,
no strings attached,
with mercy, healing and pardon...
Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake
and watch over me while I sleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
and asleep rest in your peace...
Amen.
In Spite of Me by Tasha Cobbs Leonard
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