WEEKLY PRAYER

Posted on by Lisa Deam

A prayer for wholeness from Evelyn Underhill:

O Lord, penetrate those murky corners where we hide memories and tendencies on which we do not care to look, but which we will not disinter and yield freely up to you, that you may purify and transmute them: the persistent buried grudge, the half-acknowledged enmity which is still smouldering; the bitterness of that loss we have not turned into sacrifice; the private comfort we cling to; the secret fear of failure which saps our initiative and is really inverted pride; the pessimism which is an insult to your joy, Lord; we bring all these to you, and we review them with shame and penitence in your steadfast light.

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WEEKLY PRAYER

Posted on by Lisa Deam

A prayer from St. Elizabeth of the Trinity (1880-1906):

O Jesus, even though I fall at every moment, in trustful faith I shall pray to You to raise me up, and I know that You will forgive me, and will blot out everything with care. More than that: You will deliver me from my miseries, from everything that is an obstacle to Your divine action;and will draw all my powers to Yourself, and make them Your captive…Then I shall have passed completely into You and shall be able to say: It is no longer I that live; my Master lives in me.

St. Elizabeth’s feast day is this Wednesday, November 8.

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FRIDAY FAVORITES FOR PRAYER AND WRITING

Posted on by Lisa Deam

Each Friday I share some of my favorite finds related to praying or writing. If I think it could help you pray or write better, or just “be” better, I’ll include it below.

Do you have someone else’s article or post to share? Join the Contemplative Writers Facebook group, comment on today’s post on my Facebook page, or follow me on Twitter (@LisaKDeam) to nominate your favorite articles, blog posts, and books by Thursday at noon each week.

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Dr. Gregory Hillis talks about 4th and Walnut via Gregory Hillis (on this podcast, Greg dishes about his Thomas Merton class, vocation, and what Merton means to him)

Theologizing with Julian of Norwich via Fr Aidan (Alvin) Kimel (we know that Julian of Norwich was an anchoress and a mystic; was she also a theologian?)

‘I’ll Push You’: Friends, one in a wheelchair, document their Spanish pilgrimage via Emily Miller (the moving story of two friends on the Camino de Santiago in Spain)

Tourists vs. Pilgrims via Drew McIntyre (“Am I a pilgrim, or a tourist?” A good question to ask yourself every day)

Pursuing Vision Without Power or Platform via Doug Bursch (in this podcast, Doug talks about defining success in the eyes of God; take a listen if you’re feeling discouraged or alone in your ministry)

Tomorrow via Brian Allain (“Tomorrow we will write, write and not waste time . . .”)

Revision, Co-Writing, Not Giving Up, and the Voices in Your Head via Shawn Smucker (why revision is your best friend, even if it doesn’t feel like it)

 

WEEKLY PRAYER

Posted on by Lisa Deam

 

A Prayer Meditation for All Saints Day by Safiyah Fosua:

We give you thanks, O God, for all the saints who ever worshiped you
Whether in brush arbors or cathedrals,
Weathered wooden churches or crumbling cement meeting houses
Where your name was lifted and adored.

We give you thanks, O God, for hands lifted in praise:
Manicured hands and hands stained with grease or soil,
Strong hands and those gnarled with age
Holy hands
Used as wave offerings across the land.

We thank you, God, for hardworking saints;
Whether hard-hatted or steel-booted,
Head ragged or aproned,
Blue-collared or three-piece-suited
They left their mark on the earth for you, for us, for our children to come.

Thank you, God, for the tremendous sacrifices made by those who have gone before us.
Bless the memories of your saints, God.
May we learn how to walk wisely from their examples of faith, dedication, worship, and love.

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FRIDAY FAVORITES FOR PRAYER AND WRITING

Posted on by Lisa Deam

Friday Favorites is back after a break last week! I love sharing my favorite finds related to prayer and writing, and I hope you enjoy this week’s selections.

Do you have someone else’s article or post to share? Join the Contemplative Writers Facebook group, comment on today’s post on my Facebook page, or follow me on Twitter (@LisaKDeam) to nominate your favorite articles, blog posts, and books by Thursday at noon each week.

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On Discerning the Meaning of Spiritual Experience via Carl McColman (how do you know if a spiritual experience is God-inspired?)

Climate Change via Richard Rohr (can science and religion be partners in stewarding Creation?)

Daily Lectio Divina: Isaiah 43:14-15 via Laura K Cavanaugh (a guided lectio divina podcast)

Saying No In Order to Make Room via Grace P. Cho (saying no to embrace life-giving rhythms)

Hobbies With a Purpose via April Yamasaki (loving God and loving others in our “spare” time)

The Uncontrolling Love of God via Exile Liturgy (Ryan Cagle of Exile Liturgy interviews Thomas J. Oord about God’s providence, knowledge, and non-coercive love)

Don’t Back Down: Choose the Writing Territory You Can Defend Long and Fiercely via Ginger Moran (a guest post on Jane Friedman’s blog)

WEEKLY PRAYER

Posted on by Lisa Deam

A prayer from the Sarum Breviary:

Thou, who art the eternal protection and salvation of our souls, arm us, we entreat Thee, with the helmet of hope, and the shield of Thy invincible defence; that so, helped by Thee in the straits of our necessities, we may be filled with joy and gladness with those who love Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

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FRIDAY FAVORITES FOR PRAYER AND WRITING

Posted on by Lisa Deam

Each Friday I share some of my favorite finds related to praying or writing. If I think it could help you pray or write better, or just “be” better, I’ll include it below. I’m extremely encouraged by this week’s favorites, which include the writings of a medieval mystic, reflections on the psalms, a reading list, and encouraging words for some of the difficult paths we find ourselves on in life.

Do you have someone else’s article or post to share? Find me on Twitter (@LisaKDeam) to nominate your favorite articles, blog posts, and books by Thursday at noon each week.

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“And then we shall all come into our Lord, knowing ourselves clearly and wholly possessing God” via Fr Aidan Kimel (a beautiful passage from Julian of Norwich)

Ordinary Saints via Father SJMC (a liturgical poem that might convince you that *you* are a saint)

The Secret to Praying During Horrible Times via Kate Bowler (how do we pray when our souls have been pummeled by tragedy?)

5 Reasons to be Inspired by Psalm 111 via April Yamasaki (be inspired by this Psalm of thanksgiving)

How to walk in another person’s shoes by Sharon R. Hoover (check out this awesome book list!)

Cancer Does Not Have the Final Say via Redbud Writers Guild (read these hopeful articles in the October issue of The Redbud Post)

What It Means to Be a Writer – and To Emerge as a Writer via Albert Flynn DeSilver (an extremely helpful and encouraging guest post at Jane Friedman’s site)

 

WEEKLY PRAYER

Posted on by Lisa Deam

This week, we are praying Thomas Merton’s most well-known prayer:

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though
I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

FRIDAY FAVORITES FOR PRAYER AND WRITING

Posted on by Lisa Deam

Each Friday I share some of my favorite finds related to praying or writing. If I think it could help you pray or write better, or just “be” better, I’ll include it below.

This week’s favorites begin with two reflections on the tragedy in Las Vegas. If you’re like me, you can always use help processing and praying through these terrible events.

As always, please let me know if you have suggestions for Friday Favorites. You can find me on Twitter @LisaKDeam.

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A Prayer for the Victims of the Las Vegas Shooting via Chelsen Vicari (prayer is more than a hashtag . . .)

Weary In Well-Doing? via Michelle Van Loon (in the face of national tragedy, how do we avoid becoming weary in doing good?)

What If Christians Need Empowerment More Than Oversight via Ed Cyzewski (can leaders and Christians help one another examine theology and spirituality?)

How Meister Eckhard Inspires Letting Go for Love via Mark S. Burrows (the startling appeal of the wisdom of a medieval mystic)

The outsider via Glynn Young (a poem after Isaiah 56:6-8)

Why we need Silence via Ian Paul (a book review and thoughts on silence in ministry and spirituality)

Deliberate Acts of Kindness via Lisa DeLay and Meredith Gould (a Spark My Muse podcast on service as a spiritual practice)