18th. July. 2020. Daily Devotion
This morning, here are some excerpts from,
A Candle in the Window by Peter Millar 15th July 2020
Words to encourage us in tough times.
I am grateful to Peter for permission to disseminate his thoughts. You may wish to thank him at ionacottage@hotmail.com
The whispering Spirit,
Softly whispering Spirit blow gently into our lives.
Blow softly into our minds and bring peace.
Blow softly into our thoughts and bring understanding.
Blow softly into our concerns and bring calm.
Blow softly into our fears and bring courage.
Blow softly into our hearts and bring love.
Life-giving Spirit breathe your life into our lives each day
~ Elizabeth Mills.
From the Benedictine Community:
(We usually associate ‘fasting’ with Lent, but a time of recollection can be any time in the day or year. I have always found the words that follow uplifting.)
Fast from judging others, feast on the dwelling in them.
Fast from emphasis on difference, feast on the unity of life.
Fast from anger, feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism, feast on optimism.
Fast from worry, feast on divine order.
Fast from complaining, feast on appreciation.
Fast from hostility, feast on non-violence.
Fast from bitterness. feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern, feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety, feast on eternal truth.
Fast from idle gossip, feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from lethargy, feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from discouragement, feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress, feast on verities that uplift.
Fast from shadows of sorrow, feast on the sunlight of serenity.
Fast from apparent darkness, feast on the reality of light.
And from the women of Guatemala,
Forgive us that narrowness of vision which sees only the clouds and misses the RAINBOWS.
I Thessalonians 5:5-10
5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
To Walk in the Spirit Today
Holy God, in the daily journey from sunrise to sunset, remind me always of your holy presence hovering near, both within me to guide me, and surrounding me to protect me. Free me from shame and self-doubt; and help me, and all my fellow believers, to see the myriad opportunities to walk our path in courage, honesty, and wisdom inspired by your Holy Spirit.
Almighty God,
healer of the sick and strength of the weak,
look with mercy on all those who suffer at this time.
Bring healing to those who are sick,
bring peace to those who are anxious,
bring strength to those who care for them,
and bring wisdom to our leaders
that our whole society may journey together through this difficult time
with determination and generosity,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
