Friday, July 26, 2013

The Echo of God

Photo by AMagill

Lord, I need to know Your will.
I pray,
But hear nothing,

Not even a rustle as you pass by.
Perhaps I am so busy babbling
That I am not aware of your presence.
I will wait for your answer
To my prayers,
To my entreaties.
I will seek to be still and listen

For you.
Will you reply in a great wind,
Or through the trembling of the earth,
Or in words of fire,
Or in whispers of smoke?
No.
You have already answered 
Through the actions of those around me,
Through a chance encounter with a stranger.
O God,
O Creator, Comforter, and Word,
Make me an answer to another's prayer.
Make me an echo of your unrelenting love.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

God Incarnate Chose Brown



Kittens tumble across the floor:
Black, white, gray, or orange
Born to a calico mother.
Cats see no difference because of color.
Why are we not more like these furry creatures
And see only our common humanity?
Why  focus on t
he skin tint
Developed for survival in different climes?
 
What color was Jesus,
God Incarnate?
Not the pale hue of northern climes,
No matter what our paintings show.
Born in a land scorched by the sun
The Christ was neither white nor black,
But brown as the pottery from which he ate.
We cannot choose the color of our skin,
But God could.
Why do we forget?

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Trust


Mother God, Father God,
Your names are endless
And encompass all.
Your kingdom comes on the wings of angels
And in the footsteps of humanity
Who follow the Shepherd.
Give us nourishment for our bodies
And love for our souls.
Forgive us when we do not trust you
As we forgive those who betray our trust.
Do not take your presence from us.
Let us always know the Comforter is near.
Keep us safe from unbelief and pride.
You are beginning and end,
Creation and annihilation,
Love unending.
Amen.

Photo by Delphine
Original by Kitina Celt

Thursday, July 11, 2013

We Are the Book


I contemplate the Bible,
The record of God's deeds
In times far past;
The written record of the life of Jesus
And the commitment of the apostles.
Is there a record for today?
Does some lonely author
Now write words that will inspire
Those in the far future?
Perhaps in our time the record is written
On the heart of every believer.
Each carries the Word within.
So, our duty is to be the book
The world can read
And know God.

Photo by Paul Keller