from Psalm 139:1-18
O Lord, you have searched Matt and you know him. He is an open book to you: even from a distance, you know what he's thinking. You know when he leaves and when he gets back; he is never out of your sight. You know everything he's going to say before he starts the first sentence. Behind and before him, you have laid your hand upon him. If he climbs to the sky, you are there! If he goes underground, you are there. If he flew on morning's wings to the far western horizon, you would be there waiting for him. You see in the dark; it's as if Matt is immersed in the light! You shaped him inside and out in your usual breathtaking manner -- just like you have made us all. Body and soul, we are marvelously made. May we rise in the morning and live always with you.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
prayer to a mothering God
When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me, offering sacrifices to the images of Baal and burning incense to idols. I myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he doesn’t know or even care that it was I who took care of him. I led Israel along with my ropes of kindness and love. I lifted the yoke from his neck, and I myself stooped to feed him. Hosea 11:1-4 (NLT)
Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! Isaiah 49:15 (NLT)
Rejoice with Jerusalem! Be glad with her, all you who love her and all you who mourn for her. Drink deeply of her glory even as an infant drinks at its mother’s comforting breasts. This is what the Lord says: "I will give Jerusalem a river of peace and prosperity. The wealth of the nations will flow to her. Her children will be nursed at her breasts, carried in her arms, and held on her lap. I will comfort you there in Jerusalem as a mother comforts her child.” Isaiah 66:10-13 (NLT)
…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings... Matthew 23:37 (NIV)
Like an eagle that rouses her chicks and hovers over her young, so he spread his wings to take them up and carried them safely on his pinions...You neglected the Rock who had fathered you; you forgot the God who had given you birth. Deuteronomy 32:11, 18 (NLT)
Mothering God, you have loved us, your children, and never will you turn away from us. Can a mother forget her nursing infant, or have no compassion for the child she has birthed? Never will you forget us. We will nurse and be satisfied, we will delight in your overflowing abundance. You have carried us on your arm and dandled us on your knee. You have taught us to walk, taking us by the arms; you led us with ties of love. But though you have raised us, often when you called us in we turned and went further from you. How you have worked to gather us together like a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings! When we were hurt, it was you who healed us. As a mother comforts her child you have soothed and reassured us. Like an eagle that stirs up her nest and hovers over her young, you have cared for and watched over us. Spread your wings to catch us when we fall away. May you alone lead us. May we never forget you who gave us birth.
Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! Isaiah 49:15 (NLT)
Rejoice with Jerusalem! Be glad with her, all you who love her and all you who mourn for her. Drink deeply of her glory even as an infant drinks at its mother’s comforting breasts. This is what the Lord says: "I will give Jerusalem a river of peace and prosperity. The wealth of the nations will flow to her. Her children will be nursed at her breasts, carried in her arms, and held on her lap. I will comfort you there in Jerusalem as a mother comforts her child.” Isaiah 66:10-13 (NLT)
…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings... Matthew 23:37 (NIV)
Like an eagle that rouses her chicks and hovers over her young, so he spread his wings to take them up and carried them safely on his pinions...You neglected the Rock who had fathered you; you forgot the God who had given you birth. Deuteronomy 32:11, 18 (NLT)
Mothering God, you have loved us, your children, and never will you turn away from us. Can a mother forget her nursing infant, or have no compassion for the child she has birthed? Never will you forget us. We will nurse and be satisfied, we will delight in your overflowing abundance. You have carried us on your arm and dandled us on your knee. You have taught us to walk, taking us by the arms; you led us with ties of love. But though you have raised us, often when you called us in we turned and went further from you. How you have worked to gather us together like a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings! When we were hurt, it was you who healed us. As a mother comforts her child you have soothed and reassured us. Like an eagle that stirs up her nest and hovers over her young, you have cared for and watched over us. Spread your wings to catch us when we fall away. May you alone lead us. May we never forget you who gave us birth.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
finding a school for a child, and for a spiritual education
I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God's great mystery. All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else. And we've been shown the mystery! Colossians 2:2-4 (The Message)
Break open your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning. Psalm 119:130 (The Message)
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Proverbs 2:1-5, 9-11 (NIV)
Author and Finisher of our Faith, for five years now and more, you have been forming Campbell in your image, growing in him the faith that you have also formed in his parents. Thank you for weaving them together into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of you. Give his parents confidence as they keep their focus on Christ while seeking a school for Campbell. Send them a powerful partner in the teachers and administrators of his school so that as this family -- together with our church family -- continue to raise Campbell to know you, he will understand what is right and just and fair, and wisdom will enter his heart and be pleasant to his soul. Pour out your richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge upon our community. Help us break open your words and let the light shine out of them, so that we may share that light with all to whom you send us.
Break open your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning. Psalm 119:130 (The Message)
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Proverbs 2:1-5, 9-11 (NIV)
Author and Finisher of our Faith, for five years now and more, you have been forming Campbell in your image, growing in him the faith that you have also formed in his parents. Thank you for weaving them together into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of you. Give his parents confidence as they keep their focus on Christ while seeking a school for Campbell. Send them a powerful partner in the teachers and administrators of his school so that as this family -- together with our church family -- continue to raise Campbell to know you, he will understand what is right and just and fair, and wisdom will enter his heart and be pleasant to his soul. Pour out your richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge upon our community. Help us break open your words and let the light shine out of them, so that we may share that light with all to whom you send us.
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