Mercy born

by the ocean

vast water of rebirth

water of life

living water

waves rolling to shore

God's great mercy 

rolling over me

I've done nothing for this

this cleansing

this renewing

Mercy & Grace & Spirit

pour the light over me

illuminate the darkness

eliminate the shadow

and bring forth the hope of life

rebirthed, renewed, eternal

reflection on Titus 3:4-7

5-19-2021

on the veranda

on the veranda it is 

almost normal - forgetting our isolation order

the birds singing their God given song

the colors of the sky & trees, God created colors

just a gentle breeze Holy Spirit is that you come to visit

I feel an almost irresistible urge to pull out another chair for Jesus, move it away from the fire table so he will have room for his legs

what are the birds singing I ask

do you want some water? a glass of wine? are you hungry? how long can you stay? (this is me ~ Martha)

why did God make the peacocks screech so

I get no real answers, but my heart is calmed; my anxiety at rest (this is me 

~ Mary)

He is with us. Father, Son, Holy Spirit, martha, mary, ~ all are one

 Today (March 19th) we celebrate St. Joseph. Rather than use a scripture passage for the Daily Inspiration, I chose a poem my aunt wrote a year and a half before her death. I remember her telling me that Joseph must have been a truly remarkable man. We are all blessed by Joseph's actions. Has anyone been a Joseph in your life?

Joseph

As artists see the Holy Family, 
Joseph stands perpetually
gazing down
on Mother and Child
perhaps in some perplexity.
How did this come about
for first on fire in raging anger
Joseph felt betrayed by Mary
and dishonored?
But God's mysterious alchemy
cleansed him
made  him fit to be 
earthly father to His Son
protecting
nurturing
gently guiding.

So, though not quite understanding

Joseph adopted Mary's baby

in pity and in love

Joseph

obedient

trusted servant of God. 

   -Margaret A. Weber (1917-2018) 

     written 12/26/2016-1/18/2017

Tuesday Tea & Prayers

Tuesday Tea & Prayers is a short prayer time once a month, offered through the St. Mary's Chapter of the Daughters of the King in San Pedro. We begin with checking in with everyone, and thinking of the things we are grateful for; Scripture and/or prayers are read; then there is time to center and offer your own prayers ~ silently, aloud, or in the chat; and we close with the Alternative Lord's Prayer from A New Zealand Prayer Book. 

Here are the scripture/prayers used on March 9th ~

becoming Awake

 

I want to float on the fog,

Surrounded by the opaqueness,

Upheld by the hands of God.

 

I want to step onto a cloud at sunrise,

And be bathed in

That glorious Light.

 

I want to be like the sparrow,

Lifting my wings in the sky’s soft skirt,

Enveloped by all that is Holy.

 

I want to dance in my dreams

And awaken to delight in this day.

Thanks be to God.

Inspired by "Awake Awhile" by Hafiz

trust

 Trust in the heart's courage to 
rest
     rest in love

to know 

     all things shall be well. 

Trust in the power of

love

     love that has no end

& to believe

     that fear is a liar.

Trust in the sweetness of 

Grace

     grace abounding

     grace waiting

     grace present

in the valleys of illusion.

Trust in the letting go

and come to Heaven's realm

     here on earth.

Based on Nan Merrill's Psalms for Praying ~ Psalm 27:11-14

connection

Even as babies

before we can talk
we stretch out our arms & hands
and reach for what we desire.

In lockdown

with technology: electricity to computer

over wires

over phone lines

through the vast emptiness of the air

and in ways I cannot understand

we reach out, 

see and hear each other.

But at any time, in every time,

the connections of the heart,

not needing electricity or phone lines

or a 5G network,

need only love ~ 

a space in my heart for you

one in yours for me. 

And, Jesus, that baby in the stable,

reaches out for us all

connecting us with love.

written 12-30-20