Palms, Ashes, and Compost

On Ash Wednesday, I decided to burn the palm branches that we were given at church last year on Palm Sunday. These palms were to remind us of our Lord’s last week on Earth – his triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, his last supper with the disciples, his passion and his death on a cross – all done to bring us back into complete union with him. I prayed while watching the flames and stirring the broken branches, that God would light a new fire in me and give me a new heart.

After burning the palms, I wondered what I should do with the ashes. It came to me that a perfect place for them would be on my compost pile. I spread the ashes on top of the last deposit of carrot shavings and apple pieces, and then took the near-by shovel and mixed them into the dirt below. I dug down, lifted up dirt, and then turned the shovel over to let the dirt drop back down in a new spot. As I was doing this over and over again, I realized that God, in his great wisdom, led me to this compost pile. He was telling me that what happens in a compost pile can also take place in me. He can take all the pain, the wrongdoings, and all of the “garbage” in my heart and transform it into a new heart, a heart that is rich and fertile so that it can help bring new life to others. He is ready to that for each on of us, if only we ask.

My Lord and Savior,

Your mercy is new every morning.

Renew me O Lord.

I bring to you this day

My aches, my pains, my sadness, my failings.

Transform my heart into

A heart of love, a heart of hope,

A heart of thanksgiving:

A heart that helps others see You.

Make my heart like yours.

Amen.

The Power of the Gospel

“I am not ashaned of the Gospel.  For it is the power of God for salvation.”

My Lord,

Guide me each day by your Word.  May it settle deep in my heart

and remain in my mind as I do about each day’s tasks and activities.

May it be the light shining ahead of me

showing me the way you wish me t walk.

May it be the sources of courage and peace in my heart

as I face uncertainty, pain, injustice, and hurt.

May it become visible t others through my words and actions.

May the power of your Gospel become the power in my every thought and action.

Amen

 

No Words Can Describe It

I watched the NASA video the other day of the “close-up” of the Andromeda Galaxy and was blown away!    I have had it in my thoughts often this week.  I went back today and watched it again, and still can’t put appropriate words to what I feel.  I just see that Our Lord, our creator, is soooooooo big, sooooooooooo powerful, soooooooooooooo amazing!  I feel such love for Him yet at the same time realize how small my love is in comparison to His!  I decided to try to keep a link to that video close by so I could easily remind myself of the awesome God who created me and loves me so!  I started this blog as a way for me to make a saved collection of prayers that spoke to my heart, but I realize now that there are a few others looking at what I share.  So, I hope this too, speaks to you and draws you closer to our God.

 

Oh God, 

My simple words cannot come close at all to describing the awe I feel when viewing your amazing creation. How can I ever not be at peace knowing that you, the Supreme Creator, have little me in your thoughts each moment of each day. Even with this immense and intricate world you are sustaining each second, you think of me!  I love you with every piece of my being!  I praise you for how you reveal yourself to me in small ways and in such awe-invoking ways like this!  I pray that my life can reflect to others at least a small glimpse of your tremendous beauty and love.  This day I give you!

Amen

 

 

Anna’s Lesson

“There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.   She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”

I have heard today’s gospel reading many, many times, but today I was struck by the faith of Anna and her amazing ability to wait on God’s timing.  She believed God’s promise of sending a Messiah and prayed day and night for this.  I started wondering how she could be so faithful and strong while waiting so long.  The only clue from Scripture (without doing any research), is that she never left the temple.  She stayed in a place where she felt she was closest to God.  Maybe I am reading into this, but lately I have been hearing God tell me to stay close to Him in His Word and in His church (the physical church and the body of Christ church). God’s promises are still true today yet sometimes it is my faith that doubts.

Oh Father,

Thank you for hearing my heart cries and

for answering me with your promises

that you are in control, that you will always be there with me,

that you will be my eternal rock.

Through your Word, you brought me to Anna today,

who had such strong faith in your promise of a Savior,

and was undaunted by year after year after year of waiting.

Lord, I will try to be like her,

always trusting, praying, and staying close to you.

Bless my efforts, O Father with your amazing peace.

May I be like Anna also in how she announced you to others.

May I share you and your love with those around me.

You are my Lord, my rock!

Amen

 

Learning That Never Stops

 

(from Love Being Catholic Facebook page – 7/14/13)

Dearest Father,

Today and every day of my life

Teach me more and more

About how to love.

May my life clearly show

How well I learn what You teach me.

Amen!

 

Thankfulness in the Rain

Heavenly Father,

Today I come to you with thanksgiving.

For your ever-present love, I thank you.

For your gift of faith, I thank you.

For the ability to smile even when in pain, I thank you.

For the love and support of friends, I thank you.

For yesterday’s walk through the corn field with a dear friend, I thank you.

For my husband’s “I am great!” response to my question of “How are you today?”, I     thank you.

For so many prayers prayed for us, I thank you.

For this quieter week in which I can work and play, I thank you.

For jigsaw puzzles, I thank you.

For messy cabinets, I thank you.

For clean and straightened cabinets, I thank you.

For the excitement in the word’s of a first-time father, I thank you.

For sunny days, I thank you.

For the needed rain, I thank you.

For my blooming flowers, I thank you.

For family and friends, I thank you.

For the infinite ways you bring your love into my life, I thank you.

May my life always be a reflection of that love, dear Father.

Amen, amen!

Hold Our Hands, Father

 

Dear Father ,

We need your guidance, your wisdom, your leading the way for us.

Reach out your hands and grab on to ours.

We are holding them up to you

With our hearts so full of uncertainty and fear.

Walk with us through this dark forest Father.

You see all, you know all, time is not part of who you are.

In your great wisdom we trust.

We commit ourselves to your great love each day.

As we grab on to your out-stretched hands

May we release our fears and only feel hope and peace

In knowing that You are with us, by our side,

Each moment of each day.

How blessed we are to have you as our perfect Father.

We thank you, we praise you, we love you.

Amen!

Wedding Blessings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Father,

You answered every single prayer we prayed.

A beautiful day,

In a beautiful setting,

Surrounded by love.

Your Word was read, love (1 Cor. 13) was proclaimed.

You blessed this couple with a perfect day

As they vowed their love and devotion to each other.

 

I beg You to continue your blessings each day of their lives.

May their love grow deeper, their friendship stronger, and their romance sweeter.

But most especially may their faith come into full bloom,

As they experience Your presence in their love for one another.

Continue Lord, to bring them ever closer to You.

 

So, Father, for a day filled with answered prayers —

I praise You!  I thank You!  I give you all the glory!

 

Amen!

 

Wedding Prayer

Abba Father,

My heart is full of happiness this night.

You have blessed my son with a dear woman to share his life with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow they will pledge to love one another for the rest of their lives.

Father, I don’t know if they will include You in this pledge of love.

But I do know that all love is from You,

So I know that You will be there with them tomorrow.

I pray that as they begin their married life,

They will soon come to realize that You are present in all they do,

Most especially in the love they share.

Then may they open their hearts more and more to Your Spirit

To truly live out their marriage vows with You at the center of their lives.

This is my prayer this night and every night.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Sitting Before You

In today’s gospel reading, I read Peter’s declaration:  “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.”  I contemplate the power of these words.  Eternal life – life forever – life without end – life with God always – love unending.  Who would not want this?

I take a vitamin and calcium every morning to keep my body healthy – to extend my life here on earth.   Do I take care of my spiritual health in a similar way?  The “words of eternal life” are there for me to soak up whenever I so desire.  Do I take advantage of that?  Do I pick up my Bible and let the words truly sink into my mind.  Do I truly listen to what those words are saying to me?  Do I then just sit before the Lord and let Him speak to my heart through those words?  Does His word become a real part of me?

Dearest Jesus,

You have the words of eternal life.

I place myself before you.

I read your Word,

I listen to you speaking to me.

I sit before you and I listen.

Speak through your Word to my heart.

Lead me to everlasting life with you.

Forgive me Lord and slow me down 

when I fail to take time before you.

When I start to rattle on,

Or when my mind moves on to other things,

Draw me back,

Hold me close,

Make me one with you.

May your word in me

Become a part of who I am each day

As I see you in those I meet.

May your word in me

Bring me ever closer to that day

When I will see you face to face.

Amen