Ecc 3:1-11; Psalm 144:1-4; Luke 9: 18-22

entering
and flowing with
the seasons
of time
we accept
our life
with patience
and gratitude
relying on God’s mercy
knowing within ourselves
we are helpless
in the hard words of suffering
and death
yet in the timelessness
of our hearts in Christ
we gain strength
and courage
trusting daily
as we answer His question
“Who do you say I am?”
with Love

Who do you say He is?
Do you rely on God’s love and mercy and strength?

Eccl 1:2-11; Psalm 90:3-17; Luke 9:7-9

we leave
the despair
of vanity
where nothing
is new
the eye
not satisfied
with seeing
the ear
not satisfied
with hearing
we enter
the wisdom
of God
where each day
dawns
a kindness
that fills us
with a new song
of joy
in our heart
as we find
a refuge
in the heart
of God

Do you find refuge in the heart of God?

Luke 8:19-21

rejoicing
we enter
the house of love
brothers and sisters
in God’s care
desiring
and creating
a life in God’s will
listening always
for the Holy Spirit’s voice
guiding our minds
and hands
grateful
for what we have been given
generous
in what we share

For what are you grateful?
What is God’s will for you?

Luke 8:16-18

a light lit
cannot be concealed
it is made
to be shared
revealing
all God’s grace
to our seeing
we are in awe
as gifts
more numerous
than the stars appear
and all of our tears
turn to rejoicing
our weeping
to laughing
as we trust
in God’s time

What is the light in you that cannot be concealed?

Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; Psalm 54:3-8; James 3: 16-4:3; Mark 9:30-37

hearts exposed
revealing
murderous quests
jealousy
and strife
so far from wisdom
climbing over
one another
to test
with revilement
and torture
quarreling
and fighting
so far
from the hearts desire
to love–
if only
one were to ask rightly
wisdom would come
and uphold our lives
with peace
and mercy
and sympathy
leniency
and kindly deeds
leaving war behind–
a child raised up
we welcome the innocence
see this new life
and seek to serve
the love
that has been
freely given

Do you dare ask rightly and enter wisdom?
Do you see the love you are to serve?

Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13; Psalm 19:2-5; Matthew 9:9-13

be worthy
of the call
you have received
and the grace given
with humility
gentleness
patience
and peace
follow
as the day
pours out the word to day
and night to night
imparts knowledge
hear the voice that resounds
throughout the earth
“love one another
as I have loved you”

Are you worthy of the call you have received?
How do you live out your calling?

1Cor15:12-20; Psalm 17:1-8,15; Luke 8:1-3

resurrected
we see
the light
of Christ
healing touch
of love
and mercy
in a world
of desperate need
content
we share his Good News
and work
for peace
within
His peace
always mindful
of God’s presence
and love

Are you always mindful of God’s presence and love?
How do you share the Good News of Christ?

Luke 7: 36-50

at his feet
we see a path
a way
and put
our faith there
forgiven much
we love much
ever grateful
of the gift
given
and do not
neglect it
absorbed
in God’s word
we act on it
saving ourselves
and those
who will listen

What is the gift you have been given?
How do you use your gift?

The Greatest Gift
1 COR 12:31-13:13

Brothers and sisters:
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.
But I shall show you a still more excellent way.

If I speak in human and angelic tongues
but do not have love,
I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.
And if I have the gift of prophecy
and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;
if I have all faith so as to move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give away everything I own,
and if I hand my body over so that I may boast
but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, love is not pompous,
it is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.
If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing;
if tongues, they will cease;
if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.
For we know partially and we prophesy partially,
but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
When I was a child, I used to talk as a child,
think as a child, reason as a child;
when I became a man, I put aside childish things.
At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror,
but then face to face.
At present I know partially;
then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.
So faith, hope, love remain, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.

What is love?
How do you experience this greatest gift?

1Cor 12:12-14,27-31; Psalm 100:1-5; Luke 7:11-17

from sorrow
and death
we arise
at His command
one body
in Christ
each a gift
received
to give
again
healing
assisting
teaching
interpreting
feeding a world
in desperate need
with kindness
compassion
and love
we sing
God’s praises
everyday
with a joyful song

What is your gift?
How do you share your gift?