Month: June 2011

Romans 7: 15-25 What do you need to surrender to God?

/ Lil Smith / Leave a comment

Romans 7

15 I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. 17 But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, 23 but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

  • Spend 5 to 15 minutes in silent meditation.
  • Remember a time you felt rescued by God.
  • How can God rescue you today?
  • What do you step over to be in God’s rescuing arms?
  • Notice what feelings you have in your innermost self when you find yourself in the presence of God.  Let go of any judgment.  Savor those feelings.
  • Give thanks to God for the messages that you receive.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, July 3 2011,  Year A
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
Psalm 45: 10-17
Song of Solomon 2:8-13
Romans 7:15-25a
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author.
Permission to use in not-for-profit settings Lil Smith, M.Div., DASD.

Song of Solomon 2:8-13 The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come

/ Lil Smith / Leave a comment

Song of Solomon 2:8-13

8 The voice of my beloved! Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills. 9 My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he stands behind our wall, gazing in at the windows, looking through the lattice. 10 My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; 11 for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. 12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. 13 The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

  • Try on a new voice today.  Allow yourself to leap over mountains, bound over hills like a gazelle or a young stag.
  • What makes you sing?
  • What flowers are blooming?
  • What rain has passed away for you to notice the beauty around you?
  • What fragrance do you smell?
  • Where is God in the midst of this blooming?
  • Give thanks to God for what has been revealed to you.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.

 

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, July 3 2011,  Year A
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
Psalm 45: 10-17
Song of Solomon 2:8-13
Romans 7:15-25a
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author.
Permission to use in not-for-profit settings Lil Smith, M.Div., DASD.

Psalm 45 Many colored robes

/ Lil Smith / Leave a comment

Psalm 45

10 Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear; forget your people and your father’s house, 11 and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him; 12 the people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts, the richest of the people 13 with all kinds of wealth. The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes;14 in many-colored robes she is led to the king; behind her the virgins, her companions, follow.15 With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king. 16 In the place of ancestors you, O king, shall have sons; you will make them princes in all the earth. 17 I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations; therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever.

  • Use Psalm 45 as the grounding for your meditation today.
  • Imaging yourself wearing a robe of celebration.
  • What does your robe look like?  What color is it?  What does the fabric feel like?  Is it heavy or light?
  • What are you celebrating?
  • How does it feel to wear this robe of celebration?
  • Imagine your Lord sees you in this robe.  Imagine the love pouring through you.  What do you notice about this encounter.
  • Give your praise to God for any messages you receive.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, July 3 2011,  Year A
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
Psalm 45: 10-17
Song of Solomon 2:8-13
Romans 7:15-25a
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author.
Permission to use in not-for-profit settings Lil Smith, M.Div., DASD.

Genesis 24: 42-49 Obeying your master

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Abraham’s servant speaks to Laban, Rebekah’s father

Genesis 24:42-49

42 “I came today to the spring, and said, “O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if now you will only make successful the way I am going! 43 I am standing here by the spring of water; let the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I shall say, “Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,” 44 and who will say to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also”—let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.’ 45 “Before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her water jar on her shoulder; and she went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, “Please let me drink.’ 46 She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder, and said, “Drink, and I will also water your camels.’ So I drank, and she also watered the camels. 47 Then I asked her, “Whose daughter are you?’ She said, “The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her arms. 48 Then I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to obtain the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son. 49 Now then, if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so that I may turn either to the right hand or to the left.”

  • You are invited to come and sit by the well today.  Read through the Genesis text and imagine yourself sitting by the well.
  • How are you led to this place?  Notice any nudges in your body.
  • Who will you meet at the well today?  
  • What words do you long to hear?
  • What is your faithful response?
  • Where is God in this meeting?
  • Give thanks to God for what has been revealed to you today.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, July 3 2011,  Year A
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
Psalm 45: 10-17
Song of Solomon 2:8-13
Romans 7:15-25a
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author.
Permission to use in not-for-profit settings Lil Smith, M.Div., DASD.

There’s a Spirit in the Air

/ Lil Smith / Leave a comment

May this hymn be a welcome blessing to you today:

There’s a spirit in the air,
telling Christians everywhere:
“Praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world.”

Lose your shyness, find your tongue;
tell the world what God has done:
God in Christ has come to stay,
we can see his power today.

When believers break the bread
when a hungry child is fed:
praise the love that Christ revealed
living, working in our world.

Still his Spirit leads the fight,
seeing wrong and setting right:
God in Christ has come to stay,
we can see his power today.

When a stranger’s not alone,
where the homeless find a home,
praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world.

May the Spirit fill our praise,
guide our thoughts and change our ways:
God in Christ has come to stay,
we can see his power today.

There’s a Spirit in the air,
calling people everywhere:
praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world

The Welcoming Prayer

/ Lil Smith / Leave a comment

The Welcoming Prayer


Welcome, welcome, welcome.
I welcome everything that comes to me today
because I know it’s for my healing.
I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions, persons,
situations, and conditions.
I let go of my desire for power and control.
I let go of my desire for affection, esteem,
approval and pleasure.
I let go of my desire for survival and security.
I let go of my desire to change any situation,
condition, person or myself.
I open to the love and presence of God and
God’s action within. Amen.

–Father Thomas Keating

  • Identify three separate times today for The Welcoming Prayer.
  • Each time, say this prayer and pause for 5 minutes of silent prayer to allow the spirit of welcoming to open you.
  • If you stumble upon something that does not want to open or to be welcomed, take note of it and put it aside.  Do not judge, just set it aside and move on.
  • Do you notice new openings during the day?
  • Notice any movement and invite God into these areas.
  • Give thanks for those things that you notice.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.