I’m feeling physically and mentally very worn after my hospital trip, but am resting patiently in the hope that this will improve, God willing. To my great surprise, a prayer still came to me yesterday morning, though putting it into words proved really difficult.
My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me(Psalm 63:8; BSB).
Lord, stay close to me today,
And keep me close to you.
May everything I do be kind
And all my words be true.
Please stay close to me today,
And keep me by your side.
May all my thoughts be free from sin
Like yours, my Way and Guide.
Lord, stay close to me today,
And keep me always near.
May I rejoice, give thanks, and pray
In sorrow, pain and fear.
Please stay close to me today,
And keep me in your hands.
May I obey, as you did, Lord,
And serve as God commands.
Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT).
The inspiration for this prayer began yesterday, just before morning Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Rushen.
The believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 13:52; NLT).
1. Please fill us with your Spirit, Lord, And let us share your joy.
2. Please fill us with your tenderness,
And let us share your peace.
3. Please fill us with your sorrow, Lord,
And let us share your pain.
4. Please fill us with your love for all: Then we won’t live in vain.
Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God. (Philippians 2:16-17; NLT).
References
Verse 1:
* God is Spirit (John 4:24; NLT).
* The joy of the LORD is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10; NLT).
Verse 2:
* Yahweh is tenderness (Psalm 103:8; NJB).
* The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
Verse 3: * He began to be sorrowful (Matthew 26:37; NIV).
* He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain (Isaiah 53:3; NIV).
Verse 4: * God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).
* Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance (1 Corinthians 13:4-7; NLT).
These verses arrived during a period of wordless prayer yesterday morning. I resisted breaking off to write them down for as long as I could, but in the end there was no choice. This piece was extremely difficult to put into words.
God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).
1. I’m bathed in light,
In peace, and joy;
In your forgiveness
From above.
2. I sense your pity,
Grief and tears;
Your fire, your strength,
Your tender love.
3. I’m bathed in faith, In truth, and grace,
As I receive
Your gentle touch.
4. You share my sorrow,
Loss, and pain –
Because you care for me
So much.
God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16; NLT).
References
Verse 1: 🔻 The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
🔻 Everlasting joy will be yours (Isaiah 61:7; NIV).
🔻 He forgives all my sins (Psalm 103:3; NLT).
🔻 The LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other (Deuteronomy 4:3I; NIV).
🔻 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1; NIV).
Verse 2: 🔻 Yahweh is tenderness and pity (Psalm 103:8; NJB).
🔻 The Lord your God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).
🔻 The Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength (Isaiah 26:4; KJV).
🔻 God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).
Verse 3: 🔻 It is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8; NIV).
🔻 The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).
🔻 See, your king comes to you: he is upright and has overcome; gentle and seated on an ass (Zechariah 9:9; BBE).
🔻 Iam humble and gentle at heart (Matthew 11:29; NLT).
🔻 No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one (Luke 4:40; NLT).
Verse 4: 🔻 In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).
🔻 He loves us with unfailing love (Psalm 117:2; NLT).
🔻 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him (1 John 4:9; NLT). 🔻 Youcarefor people and animals alike, O LORD (Psalm 36:6; NLT). 🔻 TheLORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him (Nahum 1:7; NIV).
🔻 Give all your worries and cares to God, forhe cares about you (1 Peter 5:7; NLT).
The Rosary Hospital News
This Fiat Rosary uses a beautiful, recycled, mother-of-pearl centrepiece, alongside a lovely, old, silver medal from a kind donor to the Rosary Hospital. If you have any old rosary parts or broken rosaries you would like to donate for re-use, I would be delighted to hear from you via the comments button just below this caption.
This prayer burst upon me last Wednesday morning. It was an absolute pleasure to write and reference it.
Worship the LORD in the splendour of his holiness (1 Chronicles 16:29; CSB).
1. I worship you in darkness,
And in light;
I bless you, Lord, in stillness,
And in dance.
2. I follow you in solitude,
And crowds;
I honour you in anguish,
And in peace.
3. I sing your praise in silence
And in sound;
I trust you, Lord, in sorrow,
And in joy.
4. I give you thanks
For everything you send:
Rejoicing that you love me
Without cease.
He loves us with unfailing love;
the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever.
Praise the LORD! (Psalm 117:2; NLT).
References
Verse 1
– Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name (Psalm 103:1; KJV).
Verse 2
– Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me” (Matthew 4:19; NLT). – Honour the Lord for the glory of his name (Psalm 29:2; NLT).
Verse 3
– Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people; praise his holy name (Psalm 30:4; NIV).
– Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me (John 14:1; NLT).
Verse 4
– Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV). – I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45:7; NLT).
– Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice! (Philippians 4:4; NLT).
My husband has been in hospital for the last few days, after suddenly becoming ill last Wednesday evening. He is safely home now, but we are both exhausted, so for today I’ve chosen a prayer I wrote some time ago. Meanwhile, we are taking life as easily as possible until we both start to feel rather more like our usual selves.
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf (1 Timothy 2:1; NLT).
I pray for those who live with sickness: Father, help us all;
And for those who dwell in sorrow: Abba, hear our call.
I pray for those who fret and panic: Father, ease our fears;
And for those who are mistreated: Abba, share our tears.
I pray for those who suffer hardship: Father, mark our sighs;
And for those who are in danger: Abba, heed our cries.
I pray for those who walk in darkness: Father, guide us through;
And for those who cannot find you: Abba, lead us, too.
I pray for those who bow in anguish: Father, save each soul;
And for those who die in torment: Abba, make us whole.
His hands make whole (Job 5:18; NKJV).
References
If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God (Isaiah 50:10; NLT).
My loins are filled with anguish; pangs have seized me, like the pangs of a woman in travail; I am bowed down so that I cannot hear, I am dismayed so that I cannot see (Isaiah 21:3; RSV).
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4; NLT).
This prayer came to me early last Thursday morning for the lovely friend to whom it is dedicated.
God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28; NLT).
May this narrow path of sickness
Bring some good to those I meet.
As you help me bear my anguish,
May they trust, and start to pray.
May this narrow path of sorrow
Bring some good to those I greet.
As you help me face my passion,
May they follow you each day.
May this narrow path of hardship
Bring some good to those I join.
As you help me sense your presence,
May they come to share your way.
I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News (Philippians 1:12; NLT).
References
Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it (Matthew 7:14; NIV).
Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).
The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22; NLT).
This prayer came to me yesterday morning, when I was saying grace before breakfast. It began with just the first two lines, which I noted down, expecting nothing further. However, over the following hour the rest slowly arrived, line by line, until it was complete. Then, to my surprise, tomorrow’s prayer came, too, forming a linked pair.
I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me (Psalm 131:2; NLT).
Nothing to ask for,
Nothing to say,
Nothing I need, Lord: You are my way.
You are my water, You are my food,
You are my Teacher: You are my truth.
Father, in sickness, Jesus, in strife,
Spirit, in sorrow: You are my life.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).
This prayer arrived yesterday morning, and I was able to spend time putting it into words during the evening:
I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done (Psalm 38:18; NLT).
Lord God,
I’ve said I’m sorry
For my sins.
I’ve asked you to forgive me,
And forget.
Please don’t condemn
Your servant out of hand –
Lord God, don’t scorn my sorrow,
Or reject.
Please heal the fear
That I have lost your love,
So I have nothing worse, Lord, To regret.
Then help me, please,
To leave the past behind,
Forgive myself, and trust
You’ve paid my debt.
I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free (Isaiah 44:22; NLT).
References
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise (Psalm 51:17; NIV).
Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! (Psalm 27:9; NLT).
The kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death (2 Corinthians 7:10; NLT).
The LORD will not reject his people (Psalm 94:14; NLT).
He loves us with unfailing love; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the LORD! (Psalm 117:2; NLT).
Today’s prayer came to me last Friday morning, very soon after waking up. I welcomed it immediately, and went with its flow. It summarises everything I’ve been learning about God’s forgiveness over the last few weeks, and throughout my whole life.
As I mentioned yesterday (https://wp.me/p45bCr-dR3), being forgiven is a very difficult subject for me. I didn’t experience forgiveness as a child, and have never understood it, or been able to believe in it, or to feel it for myself, then move on. Fortunately, despite this, I can readily offer forgiveness to others.
How kind the LORD is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! (Psalm 116:5; NLT).
Yahweh,
You are merciful,
And kind.
So when I face my sins, Lord,
And repent,
And when I’m honest with those I’ve hurt,
And tell them what I’ve done,
And when I say I’m sorry, Lord,
And try to put things right:
Then, you forgive me,
Wiping out my sin;
Then, you remember
Each new wrong no more,
Loving me still, Lord, Just as you did before.
He loves us with unfailing love; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever (Psalm 117:2; NLT).
References
If you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God (Matthew 5:23-4; NLT).
Forget the events of the past, ignore the things of long ago. Look, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth – can’t you see it? I’m making a road in the desert and setting rivers to flow in the wasteland (Isaiah 43:18-19; TIB).
He forgives all my sins (Psalm 103; 3; NLT).
Who am I? I’m the one who wipes out your offenses! For my own sake, I do not remember your wrongs (Isaiah 43:25; TIB).
I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins (Isaiah 43:25; NKJV).
LongShadows. Self-portrait of photographer with friend. Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas (November 2006). Photo by Peter Rimar; Wikimedia.
Today’s verses came to me yesterday morning as I lay in silent prayer shortly after waking up. They arrived with an involuntary groan, and struck me to the heart.
If you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God (Matthew 5:23-4; NLT).
I can’t be whole without my shadow, Lord,
Without the parts I bury and deny.
For you know all about me, good and bad:
The sins I haven’t faced, which underlie
The guilt and shame tormenting me within, My sharp regrets, my cowardice and dread
Of being honest, Lord, with those I’ve hurt.
Please help me to confess at last, instead.
Accepting all the anger I deserve,
I’ll say I’m sorry, ceasing to defend
Myself against the truth of every wrong,
And then my shadow will become my friend.
With you, I’ll face the darkness in my soul;
My conscience will be healed, then I’ll be whole.
He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but Hishands make whole (Job 5:18; NKJV).
References
Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely (Psalm 139:4; NIV).
I know every thought that comes into your minds (Ezekiel 11:5; NLT).
He knows the secrets of every heart (Psalm 44:21; NLT).
The LORD’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive (Proverbs 20:27; NLT).
You desire honesty from the womb (Psalm 51:6; NLT).
Speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).
Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked (1 Timothy 1:19; NLT).
The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith (1 Timothy 1:5; NLT).
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).
Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear (1 Timothy 1:19; NLT).
The Rosary Hospital
Yesterday evening I enjoyed making a long, chunky Fiat rosary, suitable for someone with sensory issues of sight or touch. Fiat rosaries don’t usually have a centrepiece, and in making this one, I discovered a way of managing without, which was new for me. I particularly like the heavy cross, which came as part of a donation of used and broken rosaries. My warm thanks to its generous donor.
