Mark 7:31-37

Opened
to God’s healing touch
upon our ears
our mouth
and our hardened heart
we hear His voice of love
guiding us
in new ways
of Being
away from deception
away from hatred
and weapons of war
to kindness
generosity
and peace

Have your ears been opened to the voice of God?
What do you hear?
How do you act on it?

1Kings 11:4-13; Psalm 106:3-4, 35-40; Mark 7:24-30

praying
for our children
we persist
in our love
that they stay
on the path
of Truth
and light
goodness
and love
always guided
by the Holy Spirit
to a place
of healing
and courage
and are not lead astray

What do you pray for the children?
What do you pray for the parents?

1Kings 10:1-10; Psalm 37: 5-6,30-31, 39-40; Mark 7:14-33

the mouth
of the just
speaks wisdom
bringing light
and peace
to our heart
offering refuge
in time of distress
providing goodness
to the world
through the strength
of the Holy Spirit
counter to a culture
of weapons, lies and war
She offers peace
love and mercy
and kindness
to All

Who do you trust?
In what do you put your faith?
Is your heart open to the Holy Spirit?

1Kings 8:22-30; Psalm 84:3-11; Mark 7:1-13

you cannot be held
by walls
or named
by our careful prayers

yet you lean
toward the cry
that rises
from an honest heart

even the sparrow
knows where to rest
the swallow
where her young are safe

not in perfection
but near
your altar

how easily
we polish the outer cup
while love waits
unserved
at the door

you are not impressed
by clean hands
if mercy is withheld
from mother or father
neighbor or stranger

teach our hearts
your way
bend them gently
toward what matters

let our lives
be a threshold—
close enough
to hear your breathing
yet far enough
to stay humble

better one day
awake to your presence
than a lifetime
busy
and distant

stay with us,
Spirit of truth—
make your home
where our longing lives.

Are your hands open with God’s love and mercy?

1Kings 8:1-7,9-13; Psalm 132:6-10; Mark 6:53-56

in the dark 
cloud of unknowing
we come
to be healed-
healing for ourselves
and all those
we love
even our enemies
as we see God’s word
as life
long have we followed
with hearts
of endless need
seeking only
our daily bread
and God’s will
for love

Who do you offer up to God’s healing touch?

Matthew 5:13-16

a light
that shines
within
drawn out
to meet another
drawn out
to meet
our God
we are guided
by this-
our prayers
for love
and healing
are answered
as we provide
each other
with sustenance
creating
a culture of Life
from a culture of death
we are the salt
of the earth

Are you guided by your inner light?
What is the source of your light?

1Kings3:4-13; Psalm 119:9-14; Mrk 6:30-34

our hearts
are moved
with His
for wisdom and
understanding
of God’s way
for a love
and mercy
and compassion
that finds
all the lost
and heals
all divisions
releasing
all sin
suffering
and death
into His hands

How is your heart moved by Him?
Do you seek God’s wisdom?

Sirach 47:2-11; Psalm 18:31,47 and 50, 51; Mark 6:13-29

coming
to the morning
in darkness
with heavy hearts
we pray
and are met
with songs
of praise
that resound
on earth’s altar
opening our hearts
to God’s generous spirit
all is forgiven
as we see
the face of God
and live
in love and hope

Is your heart touched by God’s generous spirit?
What is your hope

Mark 6:7-13

sent out
two by two
no money
no food
only
their Faith
and a walking stick
they lived
on the kindness
of strangers
who opened
their hearts
and homes
to Good News
seeing
a new way
to live
not in fear
but in the love
written
in their hearts

What do you carry on your journey?
What is written in your heart?

2Samuel 24:2,9-17; Psalm 32:1-2,5-7; Mark 6:1-6

thinking
we know
we miss
God’s voice
in the familiar
and the ordinary
wanting
to control
we plan against
God’s desire
until
in a light
of awareness
we see
and are struck
with a great sorrow
that becomes
mercy

Have you missed God’s voice in the familiar and the ordinary?
How does it feel to know you have been wrong?
How have you experienced the mercy of God?