Christmas Eve 2011

Photo by nz willowherb

Christmas Eve has arrived
With blustery winds
And driving rain.

Cold that pierces the body

And scenes of avarice that pierce the soul.
Winter,

Not the season of
Our savior's birth
But of our celebration.
Shepherds were in the hills
With their flocks;
The night breezes were warm
When Jesus was born.
Spring,
His time of birth,
His time of death.
Better to celebrate with joy
And anticipation in winter's chill
Than obscure the Easter message.
Shepherds.
Flocks.
Lambs.
Bethlehem.
The Lamb of God is born.

Springtime Prayer

Pink Dogwood Blossoms by Lee Coursey

Joy of Springtime
Who reigns above all,

Blessed are the ways we know you.

May your grace abound,

May the  blossoms of creation

Fill the air with the sweet perfume of life.

Let love reign over all in this world

As it does where you dwell.

Feed us from the bounty of this earth.

Where weeds have been sown,

Let there be flowers.

Help us sow fruits

 That others may harvest.

Protect us from the hail of evil

That comes with the storms  of life.

Walk with us down the garden path

To the bounty of your love.

For you in all seasons

Provide endless lovingkindness.

Renewal

Photo from norwichnuts

You who experienced death and resurrection,

Who dwells in heaven's love,

Praise to the you, the three in one,

Creator, Word and Love.

Let the flowers of heaven

Fill our hearts with lovingkindness

As the flowers of spring

Remind us that the season of renewal

Has begun.

In the soft breeze of spring

Let us discern your love.

In the thunderstorms

Let us sense you power.

In the still nights of renewal

Let us know your will.

With this Earth and Sun

You nurture us.

Forgive our failure to sow your lovingkindness

As we forgive those who sow despair.

Keep us out of the mud of selfishness.

Deliver us from the quagmires of the soul.

For yours is the springtime,

And the glory of life everlasting.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve has arrived
With blustery winds
And driving cold.
Not the season of
Our savior's birth
But the time of our celebration.
Shepherds were in the hills
With their flocks;
The night breezes were warm
When Jesus was born.
Spring,
His time of birth,
His time of death.
Better to celebrate with joy
And anticipation in winter's chill,
Than obscure the Easter message.
Shepherds.
Flocks.
Lambs.
The Lamb of God is come.

Photo by nz willowherb

Spring and Life Eternal

Spring has finally come
And the earth renews itself.
A miracle that we accept
As we accept so many others.
Life itself is such a miracle.
Life, which Christ gave up for us.
I do not understand
The necessity for the cross.
I do know that was Christ's choice,
And, just as spring comes,
Jesus rose from the dead
With the promise
That we too shall rise.
Thank God for life eternal.

Photo by jmtimages

Heralds

Rain comes as a herald of spring
Just as John the Baptist came as
The herald of Jesus.
With spring will come renewal,
Flowers and fruits,
Just as the fruits of the Spirit
Come from faith in God.
Thank God for the rains of spring.
Let us remember that the dreary days
The rain brings
Are simply the cover of a book
That once opened,
Reveals the beauty of nature.
Spring reminds us of creation and that
"In the beginning was the Word."

Photo by dozens

Winter into Spring

Another gray day
As winter fights
The coming of spring.
I must fight
The grayness in my soul
As hopelessness fights
The eternal love of God.
The Comforter is always with me,
But sometimes I still feel all alone.
Wrap your loving-kindness around me.
"Because thy loving-kindness is better than life..."
Let me know your presence.
Forgive my sins.
Walk with me this day.

Always

"I am with you always,

even unto the end of the world."

Matthew 28:20

Lord, I'm impatient for spring,
But winter continues to battle on
With gray days and damp skies.
I need to know that spring will come
Just as I need to know that you will come.
Lord, I thank you for your promise
To be with us always.
Let me know the reality of that promise
As I try to be your follower.