Rev 21:1-7

"'Look, here God lives among human beings. He will make his home among them; they will be his people, and he will be their God, God-with-them.'"

Dear God,

You are present in me and through me all the time. I need only to be aware of your presence and you are there.

Please remind me to seek this comfort, not only in difficult times, but in glorious times as well - as all things are created because of you. May I accept you as my constant companion and friend, as my God. May I live my life according to your will and feel your spirit guide me on the only true path - the path of love.

Amen

Rev 21:1-7

"...there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness or pain. The world of the past has gone."

Dear Jesus,

You have the power to transform lives. When I turn to you I know that I can remake myself in your image. I have faith that all will be well.

Jesus, help me to have faith. Keep my faith strong. Banish doubt and fear from my daily life.

Dear Lord, I want to spread your good news. The good news of love. Love conquers all and love heals. Love promotes growth.

Right now, all measure of flowers are shooting, bursting up in the resurrection of life in the natural world. May I be aware of this more keenly than ever and may I be a conduit, a catalyst for the spread of this love.

Amen

The Gift of Others

I am grateful for Mary Beth every day. Mary Beth shines love on me each day through her words and actions. She enables me to see the love in myself that has always existed, and helps bring it out.

Mary Beth reminds me to love myself and to value who I am and what I do. Together we have the joy of being parents to Zack and Nick. Together we shepherd and guide our boys through life. We look to our past to guide us through the future, knowing that today is both similar and unique to what has come before.

Mary Beth's family has embraced me as fully as I could possibly expect for over 20 years. Rick, Karen, Katie, Jeff, Meg and Rob have bestowed countless blessings on me. I cannot imagine a more loving group of people to call my family. I am richly blessed.

Mary Beth has opened my eyes to new realities - in art, perception, and the spirit. She has fostered in me creative possibilities that I didn't know existed. I am much richer for knowing and loving her.

Eph 3:14-21

"'...so that Christ may grow in your hearts through faith...so that...you may be filled with utter fullness of God.'"

Dear Lord Jesus,

Fill me with the fullness of your Spirit. Help me to love others with compassion, to teach with understanding and patience. To educate with care and love and genuine concern for the growth and development of everyone I meet from birth to death.

May I never forget that I have played every role in the human drama and that I have the ability to positively shape outcomes by banishing fear in my interactions with all people. I think about Sara Wilkie and what makes her unique and it it is because her loves emanates from a place of no fear. As a result, the only thing that's left is pure love, and it shows.

Lord, may pure love show in me today.

Amen

Eph 3:14-21

...may he, through his Spirit, enable you to grow firm in power with regard to your inner self, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith.

Dear Jesus,

Be in my heart today. May your love radiate in me and outward from me. may I touch others with this love so that they, too, feel love and feel loved. May I be cognizant of the power of your love and the ability it has to change hearts as it changes mine now.

Amen

Lk 23: 50-56 The Burial of Jesus

"Meanwhile the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus were following behind."

Dear Lord Jesus,

Martha, Mary, Mary Magdalene, and your mother followed behind you after you died. They were with you in death as in life. May I be with you always. May I be faithful to your teaching.

May you bless Jon Tripp, Marilyn, Jan, Catherine and Jon's wife and daughter. Bless them with faith. Give them faith that somehow Jon's death was not in vain. Help them to survive and to grow in faith. Help them through their pain.

Amen.

Lk23: 1-49 Passion and death Part 2

The two criminals
"'Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us as well.'"

"'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' He answered him, 'In truth I tell you today you shall be with me in paradise.'"

Dear Lord,

I know I have been both criminals. I have been full of fear and doubt and have lashed out in my own self-righteousness and anger. I have looked outward to find fault with others and to justify my own inappropriate behavior. I have compared myself with others hoping to find some sense of worth. I have lied to myself. I have sinned.

Lord Jesus, help me to find my inner love, to access the peace that comes from knowing that I am already and have always been loved. Help me to ask you for assistance today and everyday to live as I ought to. To follow you and your way. The way of truth. The way of love. The way of knowing that ll that matters is that I love others. When I honestly do this, I will see myself in all people. I will see myself in every action and understand that I am one with all and we are one in life. My job, my vocation, my daily calling is to embrace others and in so doing embrace you.

I seek to be with you in your kingdom now.

Amen.

Lk23: 1-49 Passion and death Part 2

Dear Lord,

I know you were an innocent man, yet you accepted your fate as divinely inspired.

Help em to have the faith to accept my fate and the fate of the ones I love.

Please bless Jon Tripp and receive him into heaven. Receive him into your care and heal his spirit with your power and grace.

Please help Jan, Marilyn, Catherine, Jon's wife and step daughter as they try to understand the reasons behind his suicide. Lord, give them comfort - I don't know how, but give them comfort. Let his death not be in vain, as I believe that no death is in vain.

Is abortion death? I don't know. I know it feels like death on some levels and not as much on others. I know the point is, is that no life or death exists without a purpose and meaning, and it seems like that purpose and meaning is to glorify you God, in some way. i may not know what that way is, but I must have the faith to believe that there is a reason why things happen. Although I don't know the reason, i believe that it exists, and that is the essence of my faith. The belief.

My I believe in you, love you, love myself, and love others.

Amen.

Lk 22: 47-71 The Passion 1

"'But from now on, the Son of man will be seated at the right hand of the Power of God.'"

Dear Lord Jesus,

Help me to know your divinity and your humanity. Help me to feel your human pain and suffering in the days leading up to Easter. I know that you are a man and also God, but I seek to fully appreciate the range of human emotions you experienced and to know that you understand and empathize with every emotion I've ever felt.

As you are divine and human you have the benefit of bridging both worlds. You suffered greatly and unjustly, but you accepted your fate as the will of your father.

May I live in serenity, may I love as you loved, and may I have the faith to know that I am doing your will every day, without fear.

Amen

Lk 22: 47-71 The Passion 1

"'Woman, I do not know him'"
"'I am not, my friend'"
"'My friend, I do not know what you are talking about'"

Dear Lord,

I know there are times when I am like Peter and I am afraid. I fear for consequences of what I think other people will say or do. I deny you by not doing your will and not living the way I ought to live as a Christian and a good human being.

May I always be true to who I am and what I stand for. May I not be afraid of anything, but operate from a principle of pure love. I know when I speak from love and with love that I am filled with faith, and I don't have to be afraid.

I am sorry for my transgressions. I will live today from a position of fearlessness. i will breathe deep and bring in the Holy Spirit to fill me with the love of you that is always there.

Amen.

sday, April 5, 2011 Mt 27: 1-56 Crucifixion and Death

Dear Lord,

Help me to withhold judgement,
to have patience
to have faith
in all I have
in all I do
in all I am.

Help me to look to you for strength,
to see your example as one to emulate,
of strength
of forbearance
no matter what may come.

Amen

Mt 27: 1-56 Crucifixion and Death

"To make fun of him they mocked him, saying 'All Hail King of the Jews'"

Dear Lord,

Forgive me the times I have mocked others from my own fear and insecurity. Fill me with with love.

Jn 11:1-44 Lazarus

"Then Thomas said to the other disciples, 'Let us also go to die with him'"

Dear Lord,

Let me die so that I may be saved. Let me die so that I may see. Let me experience death so that I may truly be reborn and fully appreciate the beauty of new life.

Let me die so that I may know what real life is and value all I am, all I have and all I do. May my faith be strengthened, emboldened, and grown in the power of your love.

May I pray to my sister Andi, my mom, my dad and all those who have passed on before me as they will reassure me that there is life in death. My I draw on the wisdom of the Aztec tradition of the Day of the Dead - the belief that the dead are always with us and that death is truly a natural part of life.

I am strengthened and emboldened by death - my faith grows when I submit and accept, trusting, faith-filled, knowing that God is in charge. My job is to obey, that is, to love fiercely and relentlessly all people, always.

Amen

Jn 11: 1-44 Raising of Lazarus

"'I am the resurrection
Anyone who believes in me, even though that person dies will live,
and whoever lives and believes in me
will never die.
Do you believe this?'"

Dear Lord,

May I always remember the power you possess to resurrect us. May I call on you when I am dead so that I may revive. May I know that those in the communion of saints are very much alive in me and guiding me to paths of happiness and joy, peace and love.

No matter my level of despair or concern, I will be resurrected, No matter how dead I am or how dysfunctional, I will be resurrected. Lord, keep my faith strong and help me to believe this truth. Help me access your spirit which resides in me, to summon it up and let it spread throughout me to all others. May I glorify you through my words and actions. May I love relentlessly.

Amen!

y, April 1, 2011 Lk 7: 11-17 Raising of the dead man

"'A Great prophet has risen up among us; God has visited his people.'"

Dear Jesus,

You visit us now, every day. I feel your presence when I love and allow myself to feel love. When I set aside my own fears and selfish agendas I can allow your spirit to reside in me and work in and through me to be an agent of love. It is your love that conquers all. Your love knows no bounds and is all powerful. It is unlimited. I am blessed to even begin to understand the power of your love.

Help me to be faith-filled enough to spread your word - which is love - without fear. Help me to truly know you. If I know you I will know myself. I will access the love that has always existed within me. My love is waiting to spring forth at every turn.

Last night, Mary Beth was helping Zack in the bathroom because he had a bloody nose. She was getting frustrated after a long day. I went upstairs calmly and quietly and took over for her. I was able to help Zack get settled.

This was a manifestation of divine love. I could feel it emanate forth and call me into action. I was blessed to respond in the way I did since there have beeen plenty of times when I have not responded in this way.

Dear Lord, may I visit people the way you visit us, with steadfast love and undying faith every day. Amen.

Lk 7: 11-17 Raising of the dead man

"'Young man I tell you, get up.'"

Dear Jesus,

I see you raising the dead man up and giving him back to his mother. I am there as a witness and I am in awe. I look on and think, "Wow. This is truly the power of God."

May I always trust in your power. May my faith be unshakable. Help me to remember that all things are possible with you. May I also spread this message through my words and actions. May I always believe in the power of your love and the all-powerful force of your love as it conquers death. I know that with you, dear Jesus, all things are possible, even resurrection from the dead. There is nothing more powerful than your ability to transform lives, individually and collectively. Again, help me to cultivate that in myself and work for that in my relationships with others without fear.

I am truly blessed. Amen.