light, fire, love, peace, prayer, faith, contemplation, God,

A vagrant

 

Christ our Lord, 
A vagrant
With no beauty in man’s sight;

Christ our Lord,
Despite your rags
You wear a robe of light;

Christ our Lord,
God’s only Son,
Who heals, forgives, and saves;

Christ our Lord,
You suffered death for us,
Your willing slaves.

 

References

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him (Isaiah 53:2; NIV).

He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light (Matthew 17:2; NIV).

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies (Psalm 103:2-4; NLT).

Whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else (Mark 10:44; NLT).

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Breast cancer, mastectomy,, Prayer, suffering, life, courage, help, bear, illness, mental, physical,

Night fears

 

With every fearful breath, Lord God, 
I turn to you again, again,

Beseeching you to help me face
This cup of suffering and pain.

Then, Lord, you take me in your arms, 
And show me Christ, your Son, your Son,  

Till I share his acceptance, Lord, 
And pray, Your will be done. 

 

References

They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray” (Mark 14:32; NLT).

He was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood (Luke 22:44; NLT).

Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me? (John 18:11; NLT).

The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you (Deuteronomy 33:27; NLT).

This grace […] has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 1:9-10; NIV).

Your will be done (Matthew 6:10; NLT).

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Self and soul

 

My self is made of thoughts,
Sensations, 
Feelings,

Which come and go, 
And change, Lord, 
Always new;

And though all these 
Will end, Lord, 
At my passing,

My soul won’t change,
For it is part 
Of you.

 

References 

I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).

I am the Lord and I do not change (Malachi 3:6; NLT).

The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).

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body, mind, heart, soul, realisation, important, prayer, contemplation,, Breast cancer, mastectomy,, suffering, life, courage, help, bear, illness, mental, physical,

Reconciliation and healing

 

Two significant events are fast approaching in my life. Firstly, I’m hoping to be received into the Catholic Church, and to make my first communion. Secondly, I’ll be having a mastectomy for breast cancer in about a month. 

As I prepare for both these occasions, I’ve realised that I have only a limited amount of time to resolve various relationship issues that have been weighing on me for several years. I’ll face the surgery far more confidently if I have the peace of mind that comes from knowing I’ve done my best to put things right with those who hold anything against me, in accordance with Jesus’ teaching. Similarly, forgiving those who have hurt me has become an even more urgent task than usual.

So I’ve started contacting people who might be holding a grudge against me. Yesterday, to my delight, someone I thought wasn’t speaking to me responded generously, which was a huge relief. I’ve also written to a religious group I left after getting badly hurt, to see if anyone there still harbours negative feelings towards me. If anyone contacts me in return, I will do whatever I can to repair our relationship. All these issues are reflected in today’s prayer:

 

Lord, 

You’re bringing healing 
From these tumours
As I prepare
To face my surgery

By telling those I’ve hurt
That I am sorry,
And forgiving everyone 
Who has hurt me.

In this way, I will face
My operation
With peace of body, mind,
And even soul,

And this will be
My miracle of healing, 
As you, Lord, touch my heart, 
And make me whole.

 

References

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God (Romans 8:28; NRSV).

If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:23-4; NIV).

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us (Luke 11:4; NLT).

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7; NIV). 

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound (Isaiah 61:1; NKJV).

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Reconciliation

 

If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:23-4; NIV).

 

Lord, 

No matter what I have against other people, I realise it’s completely unimportant. I can forgive, bless, and pray for those who have hurt me every day, until the hurt is healed. They don’t need to do anything at all.

Instead, what really matters is what others have against me. These are the people I need to seek out, so I can apologise, and make amends for my behaviour, in the hope that we can be fully reconciled before you.

 

References

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us (Luke 11:4; NLT).

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34; NIV).

Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you (Luke 6:27-8; NLT).

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Self

 

Lord,

Though I will lose my self  
In death,

My soul will join with yours
For evermore.

 

References

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? (Luke 9:25; NIV).

The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).

God is Spirit (John 4:24; NLT).

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O, my children

 

O, my children, 
Though you weep,

Remember 
I am always near.  

O, my children,
Though you grieve, 

Remember 
I am always here. 

O, my children, 
Though you fail, 

Remember 
You are always dear.

O, my children,
Though you fall, 

Remember me –
And have no fear.

 

References

You are close beside me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it (Genesis 28:16; NIV).

We know how much God loves us (1 John 4:16; NLT).

The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear (Psalm 118:6; NLT).

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