Opening Prayer:
Here, Lord, I abandon myself to you. I have tried in every way I could think of to manage myself, and to make myself what I know I ought to be, but have always failed. Now I give it up to you. Do take entire possession of me. Work in me all the good pleasure of your will. Mold and fashion me into such a vessel as seems good to you. I leave myself in your hands. Amen. (The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith)
Psalm for the Week: Psalm 51
Scripture for the Day: Luke 5:1-11
Reading for Reflection:
So
now the house [my identity] is in place, shiny and bright. I have applause and esteem. They congratulate me for my flexibility and
leadership and enthusiasm and what I’ve done and am doing. But this house of mine is somehow askew: it’s
my house, not the Lord’s house. “In vain
do the builders build.” And yet I know
in my heart that each step was taken because it was right and seemed to be the
Lord’s way. Yes, it was, but he had
something else in mind for it.
Then another image rose spontaneously as I
walked along. It was the Lord as an
artillery captain who came in front of my fine house dragging his cannon and
proceeded deliberately and systematically to shoot the whole damn thing apart. Story by story, wall by wall, brick by brick
he gunned down the house that took me twenty-five years to build until only
rubble was left, pieces of masonry on the ground, and I'm standing there with
the debris of my life at my feet looking at the ruins.
The strange
thing was this big wide grin on the Lord’s face as he gunned it apart in high
glee. It’s as though he said to me: now
watch the top story while I blow it apart.
There! Now watch the second
story: there it goes! Isn’t that
great? Now watch the back wall:
hooray! Now the side walls, now finally
the front and it’s all gone. Isn’t that
marvelous! And he turned to me with joy
and warmth and smiled on me with much encouragement. (A Traveler Toward the Dawn
by John Eagan)Reflection and Listening: silent and written
Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself
Song for the Week: Jesus, Lover of My Soul
Jesus, lover of my soul,
let me to thy bosom fly,
while the nearer waters roll,
while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide,
till the storm of life is past;
safe into the haven guide;
O receive my soul at last.
Other refuge have I none,
hangs my helpless soul on thee;
leave, ah! leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed,
all my help from thee I bring;
cover my defenseless head
with the shadow of thy wing.
Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
more than all in thee I find;
raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy name,
I am all unrighteousness;
false and full of sin I am;
thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with thee is found,
grace to cover all my sin;
let the healing streams abound,
make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art,
freely let me take of thee;
spring thou up within my heart;
rise to all eternity.
Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
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