Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Getting Started

There may be a few Year of the Bible-ers peeking in early on the blog to see what it's like.

So far, what I've posted are prayers for you to use as you begin the readings. There are many to choose one (see more prayers under "older posts" at the bottom of the screen)--I suggest picking one and using it for the entire month. There are also some poems to ponder in the meantime. Starting Thursday, January 1, I'll be posting some reflections on the readings and giving you a chance to comment or ask questions.

I pray that God will bless you as we begin this adventure in God's Word!

Let me know if you have questions!!
Allison

Thoughtful Quotes

"i am a little church" by e.e. cummings

i am a little church(no great cathedral)
far from the splendor and squalor of hurrying cities
--i do not worry if briefer days grow briefest,
i am not sorry when sun and rain make april

my life is the life of the reaper and the sower;
my prayers are prayers of earth's own clumsily striving
(finding and losing and laughing and crying)children
whose any sadness or joy is my grief or my gladness

around me surges a miracle of unceasing
birth and glory and death and resurrection:
over my sleeping self float flaming symbols
of hope,and i wake to a perfect patience of mountains

i am a little church(far from the frantic
world with its rapture and anguish)at peace with nature
--i do not worry if longer nights grow longest;
i am not sorry when silence becomes singing

winter by spring,i lift my diminutive spire to
merciful Him Whose only now is forever:
standing erect in the deathless truth of His presence
(welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness)


"Advent Prayer" by Bonnie Thurston
With Mary
we are all
expecting:
freedom for captives,
sight for the blind,
dancing for the lame,
singing from mourners,
justice like waters.

In bleak midwinter,
in darkest night,
before the crooked
is made straight,
we listen for her baby's cry:
a cry to silence angels,
a cry to herald peace,
a cry to rend the heavens
and harrow hell,
a cry announcing
"God has not forsaken you."

Cry from your cradle.
Cry from your cross.
Join our joy,
and share our loss,
our beginnings,
our endings.
Share our flesh;
feed us with yours.
Come swaddle us
in hope.
Come, O come
Emmanuel.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Prayers to Use Before Reading Scripture

Emmanuel, God-with-us, let me completely open as I come to this time with the Word. Teach me something new today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Prayers to Use Before Reading Scripture

Draw me close to You as I read Your Word. Let the words of faith be on my lips and in my heart, and let all other words slip away. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Prayers to Use Before Reading Scripture

O God, as I dive into Your Word, I pray as Moses did, "Show me Your glory." Open my eyes and my heart to understand Your truth and grace. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Prayers to Use Before Reading Scripture

Give me refreshment as I read Your Word. As You did in the beginning, send Your Spirit to hover over the chaos--the chaos of my life--and speak Your creative Word of peace to me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Prayers to Use Before Reading Scripture

O Lord our God, Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Give me grace to receive Your truth in faith and love, that I may be obedient to Your will and live always and only for Your glory; through Jesus Christ our Savior, Amen.

Prayers to Use Before Reading Scripture

O God, by Your Spirit, tell me what I need to hear, and show me what I ought to do, to obey Jesus Christ the Savior, in whose name I pray, Amen.

Prayers to Use Before Reading Scripture

Prepare my heart, O God, to accept Your Word. Silence in me any voice but Your own, that, upon hearing it, I may also obey Your will, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Prayers to Use Before Reading Scripture

Lord, open my heart and mind by the power of your Holy Spirit, that as the Scriptures are read, I may hear with joy what You have to say to me today. In Jesus' name, Amen.