This prayer arrived yesterday morning whilst I lay very still, praying without words. I have included more references than usual, as Biblical imagery about God is so rich.
O LORD, you are our Father (Isaiah 64:8; NLT).
Will I, who causes others to give birth, not also give birth myself, says the Lord? Will I, who bestows generation upon others, be barren myself, says the Lord your God? (Isaiah 66:9; CPDV).
You are our Father, And our Mother;
You are our Sister,
And our Brother;
You are our Husband,
Wife, and Lover;
You are our God:
We want no other.
You are our Bridegroom, And our Bride;
You are our Shepherd,
Way, and Guide;
You’re the Companion
At our side;
Living within us:
You provide.
You are our Master,
Saviour, Friend;
Teach us, Lord, help us,
And defend;
Pardon our sins,
Our faults, transcend;
Make us like you, Lord: Love without end.
God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).
The faithful love of the LORD never ends! (Lamentations 3:22; NLT).
References
Humankind was created as God’s reflection: in the divine image God created them; female and male, God made them (Genesis 1:27; TIB).
For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant (Isaiah 42:14; NIV).
You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth (Deuteronomy 32:18; NIV).
As a mother consoles a child, so I will console you (Isaiah 66:13; NET).
Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother (Matthew 12:50; NLT).
I am my lover’s, and my lover is mine (Song of Songs 6:3; NLT).
You are our God (2 Chronicles 14:11; NLT).
God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride (Isaiah 62:5; NLT).
I promised you as a pure bride to one husband – Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; NLT).
The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need (Psalm 23:1; NLT).
Jesus told him, “I am the way” (John 14:6; NLT).
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat (2 Corinthians 9:10; NLT).
You are my Master (Psalm 16:2; NLT).
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior, my God is my rock, in whom I find protection (Psalm 18:2; NLT).
The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).
The Coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, by Charles Nicolas Cochin II.
Today’s prayer came to me yesterday, as I prayed in silence:
He breathed on them, and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22; NLT).
Breathe on us; call to us;
Draw us towards you, Lord:
Show us your presence,
And teach us your way.
Help us to walk with you,
Praying and praising:
Safe in your presence,
By night and by day.
Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20; NLT).
References
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 22:4; NIV).
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise (James 5:13; NIV).
You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues. Praise the LORD, for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love (Psalm 31:20-21; NLT).
Over the past year, as my health has deteriorated and I’ve become less active, I’ve gained two stones in weight. Whilst saying grace over extra food, I’ve been acknowledging to God that I’m eating for comfort. It was clear that I couldn’t go on like this indefinitely, and I knew the right time would eventually come to cut back. Meanwhile, I couldn’t even face getting weighed.
This situation started to change a couple of weeks ago, when I had to weigh myself so that staff at the anticoagulation clinic could calculate the dose for a drug-change. Since then I’ve lost half a stone, then plateaued, despite careful eating: weight loss is a big challenge at 70, in poor health, and with a very slow metabolism and no thyroid!
Meanwhile, today’s prayer came as a complete surprise – I think it’s the first time I’ve ever written about eating:
Give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:11; RSV).
A little is enough, Lord,
For you give me what I need,
So when I help myself to more,
I’m giving way to greed.
A little is enough, Lord,
For you give the right amount,
So when I help myself to more,
Please hold me to account.
A little is enough, Lord,
So please help me to say, “No”,
Then turn to you, the Bread of Life,
And tell you all my woe,
For food, alone, can’t comfort me,
So, when my way is rough,
Please help me, Lord, to come to you:
Your comfort is enough.
God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:13; NLT).
References
Some gathered a lot, some only a little. But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough (Exodus 16:17-18; NLT).
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again” (John 6:35; NLT).
I will comfort those who mourn (Isaiah 57:18; NLT).
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1; NLT).
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).
People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4; NLT).
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28; 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).
Stations of the Cross in Althofen; painted by Consuelo Mels-Colloredo, 1983. Neithan90, Wikimedia.
Yesterday I felt very tired, which had its up-side, as I was able to spend time putting the morning’s notes into words whilst resting. The lines in italics form a prayer within a prayer:
O Lord, you alone are my hope (Psalm 71:5; NLT).
My hope, my way,
My light each day: I want to do your bidding;
My peace, my Lamb,
My great “I AM”: For you are God’s dear Son.
My truth, my life,
My purchase-price: You, Lord, are my salvation; My strength, my blood,
My longed-for love: May you and I be one.
My Lord, my God,
My staff, my rod: My body is your temple;
My Guide, my Friend,
My start, my end: My mind is yours, Lord, too.
My bread, my wine,
My living vine: My heart is yours forever;
My Shepherd King,
My everything: My soul belongs to you.
The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7; KJV).
Our bodies will return to the dust of the earth, and the breath of life will go back to God, who gave it to us (Ecclesiastes 12:7; GNT).
This little prayer came to me yesterday morning, as I lay half-asleep:
I love you, Lord (Psalm 18:1; NLT).
He loves us withunfailinglove (Psalm 117:2; NLT).
I love you, Lord,
And you love me.
Together, We are one –
My Counsellor,
My Cornerstone,
My Advocate:
God’s Son.
My way, my truth,
My life, my goal;
My Prophet, Priest
And King –
You’re with me
Every moment, Lord:
I’m safe
Beneath your wing.
HowoftenIhave I wanted togather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings (Luke 13:34; NLT).
I will find shelter in the protection of your wings (Psalm 61:4; NET).
The Rosary Hospital
Today I fulfilled an ambition, by making a rosary entirely out of parts taken from donations of broken rosaries. All the elements are very small, so it’s a mini-rosary, measuring just 35cm in length. Hopefully, someone will be glad to take it with them wherever they go, in their pocket or bag. I plan to finish it tomorrow.
Pastel representation of Turin shroud image of the face of Jesus. Reproduced with kind permission of the artist.
During a video call yesterday, a friend introduced me to some of the artwork in his study, including the beautiful picture above, which was made by someone he knows personally. I asked if I could use it, and he very kindly obtained permission from the artist for me to share it with you.
Make your way plain for me to follow (Psalm 5:8; NLT).
May I follow your way,
Offer your love,
Live in your presence,
And pray without cease;
Shine with your light,
Blaze with your fire,
Trust in your Spirit,
And rest in your peace.
The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
References
God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).
God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).
God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).
The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).
The Rosary Hospital
I’m excited to be slowly making my first little box of rosaries for people who attend church missions. Here are two I’ve made in the the last few days. The one at the back is very chunky, intended for someone with sight difficulties, or loss of sensation in their hands or fingers. The centrepiece shows a picture of Sainte Thérèse, who is also known as the Little Flower:
