Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.
Opening Prayer
Father,
Allow the soil of my soul to be a place that is fertile and receptive to
all that you desire to plant in my heart.
Tend it carefully and nurture all that has sprung up in me that is of
you; that I may be a garden of your delight. Through Jesus. Amen. (JLB)
Psalm for the Week: Psalm 65
Scripture for the Day: Mark 4:1-20
Reading for Reflection:
When you meditate or abide in your quiet times of communion, you do not
charge in and do something, like saying, “I will now be good and move mountains
by my act of faith.” No, you water your
garden, knowing that these ideas are growing into a heavenly garden; the
indwelling spirit doeth the work, not you: you merely water it. Do you not see the comfort there is in
that? I can tell you in primer language
that a very gentle, calm, unemotional, selfless, and patient attitude toward
your spiritual growth is essential—such as all old gardeners know. They know that patience, hoeing, watering,
and certain order, a quiet rhythm, bring a heavenly beauty. (Letters of
the Scattered Brotherhood edited by Mary Strong)
Reflection and Listening: silent and written
Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself
Song for the Week: You Have Redeemed My Soul
You have redeemed my soul from the
pit of emptiness
You have redeemed my soul from death
(Repeat)
I was a hungry child, a dried up
river.
I was a burned out forest
And no one could do anything for me
But you put food in my body, water
in my dry bedAnd to my blackened branches
You brought springtime green and a new life
And nothing is impossible for you
Closing
Prayer:
Grow your good grace in me O God.
Make me receptive to the ways that you water and tend this garden of my
heart. Prune me where I need pruning,
nurture me where I need nurturing, weed me where I need weeding, and care for
me tenderly where I need your tender care.
I love you, O Gardner of my soul.
In the tenderness of Jesus. Amen. (JLB)
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