Genesis 14: 18-20; Psalm 110: 1-4; Corinthians 11:23-26; Luke 9: 11-17

eyes
raised up
to heaven
 blessing
 our scarcity
we become
enough
through His life
to feed ourselves
and others
 through His love
as a new covenant
is written in our hearts
we remember
who we are
in our hunger
we are fed by Him
in the bread we eat
in the cup we drink
and
the life we share

Do you see God’s love in every meal?
Do you share God’s love through all you do?

2Chr 24:17-26; Psalm 89:4-34; Matthew 6:24-34

serving idols
we lose our way
given over
to worry
of what we are
to eat
and drink
and wear
lost in tomorrow
we have forgotten
who we are today
in this kingdom of God
made for love
and kindness
sharing
and giving
we have become
hoarders
and possessed
by what we own
divided by our thoughts
and ideologies
as we seek power
not seeing what unites us
only what divides
until He comes
to remind us who we are
and opens our minds
to another way
where all is forgiven
and a new path
to love begins

What are the idols in your life?
What opens up God’s love in your life?
What is the kingdom of God?

Matthew 6: 19-23

heaven
among us
we seek
our treasure there
not in things
where moth
and decay
destroy
or thieves
steal
but in love
and joy
and peace
eternal
patience
kindness
generosity
and compassion
the fruits
of heaven
given
freely
to all

Where does your treasure lie?
Where do you find heaven?

Sirach 48:1-14; Psalm 97:1-7; Matthew 6:7-15

words
of fire
come
that illuminate
the mind
and hearts
of those who hear
we pray
to our God
for the kingdom
of heaven
to come to us
to receive
our daily bread
to forgive all
as we are forgiven
to be delivered from evil
and let peace
settle
in our hearts
and upon the earth

What words of fire come to you?
What is your daily bread?
How do you give and receive forgiveness?

2Kings 2:1,6-14; Psalm 31:20,21,24; Matthew 6:1-6,16-18

we go
to the inner room
of our heart
and shut the door
and pray
to the one
who knows us
and sees
all of our needs
no longer
trying to impress
or perform
we give
and receive
through His love
and mercy
and grace
true source
of our being
our hearts
take comfort
in God’s constant presence
and loving care

What do you hear in your inner room?
Do you experience God’s constant presence and loving care?

1Kings 21:17-29; Psalm 51: 3-6,11,16; Matthew 5:43-48

as the sun rises
on all
so it is
with God’s love
a justice
with no measure
but that we see
and respond
to the gift
given
seeking
the good
of All
friend
and enemy
we pray
into the light
where there is hope
compassion
and mercy
for each one

How do you respond to the outpouring of God’s love?
How do you love your enemy?

Matthew 5:38-42

resisting not evil
we refuse to engage
to participate
and empower
the force
of destruction within
and around us
compelled
by another
a greater good
we offer ourselves
to life
letting go
of all
that would keep us
from God’s love
and grace
we embrace
another reality
embedded
within our own
a clear vision
of Truth
enlightened
by the one who knows
no evil
no extra mile
no hardship
or affliction
can separate us
from God’s love

How does God’s love change your mind?

Prov 8:22-31; Psalm 8: 4-9, Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15

before all
she was there
wisdom
first born
of His ways
pouring forth
in creation
we are in awe
and delight
even in our affliction
her wisdom
brings endurance
to virtue
to our life
in hope
we live
in His peace
and we will not
be disappointed
spirit of Truth
poured out
into our hearts
more and more
we see the love
of God
foundation
of all that is
and here
we shall live
in God’s love
forever

Do you let wisdom reveal herself to you?
How are you shown God’s love in your life?

Matthew 5:33-37

saying yes
when we mean yes
and no
when we mean no
we choose
with a clarity
guided
by the Holy Spirit-
praying
listening
and acting on
God’s counsel
of love
set ever before us

knowing
who we are
we enter
God’s joy
living
in the confidence
of God’s Presence
in our life

Does your “yes” mean “yes” and your “no” mean “no”?
What or who guides your choices?

The Gift of Love

Corinthians 13:1-13
If I speak in the tongues of humans and of angels but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions and if I hand over my body so that I may boast[a] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part, but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see only a reflection, as in a mirror, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love.

Thank you for the gift of love.