Dream

Feeling quite weepy this morning.  The dream from last night seemed so real.  Not sure how I should be praying, but pray I will.

maundy thursday

Prayer For The Day

(taken from Liberti Church's lentbook 2011)

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

....and so I grieve as I remember the suffering and death of Jesus.  Inimitable Grace for all.  But in this grief, I also remember that Sunday's a comin'...

Lent VI

Reflection for the last week of Lent taken from Liberti Church's lentbook 2011: 

O Come and Mourn with Me A While

(Frederick W. Faber, 1849)

O come and mourn with me a while;

And tarry here the cross beside; 

O come, together let us mourn-

Jesus, our Lord, is crucified.

Have we no tears to shed for him, 

While soldiers scoff and scribes deride? 

Ah! Look how patiently he hangs; 

Jesus, our Lord, is crucified.

Seven times he spoke, seven words of love; 

And all three hours his silence cried

 For mercy on the souls of men; 

Jesus, our Lord, is crucified.

O love of God! O sin of man! 

In this dread act your strength is tried; 

And victory remains with love; 

For Thou, our Lord, art crucified!

First Sunday

It's been an emotionally charged weekend, starting Friday night as I helped the Bradford family, along with about 40-50 other people from liberti, load the truck with boxes and furniture.    On Saturday morning I was back at their house, to say a final goodbye before their drive down south.  What a somber morning it was in church as I felt the empty void, left by a family loved so dearly by Liberti  church.  My eyes welled with tears during worship as I thought of the finality of it all and the transition that liberti will be going through over this next year.

Transition.  A word I have despised, especially over the last three years as I've undergone through many difficult transitions in my life.  Even as I type this entry, I am in the midst of transition (something that is totally separate from what's happening at liberti) and I am so sick and tired of it.  I am aching for the day when I don't have to face perpetual change, when I don't have to say goodbye to dear friends who move away, and when I can finally feel rooted in one place.  I know that probably will not happen until I reach heaven.  But for now, I can only trust and hope.  Trust in God's sovereignty and goodness.  And hope in that one day I will finally feel rooted in one place.

Lent V

Prayer for the fifth week of Lent taken from Liberti Church's lentbook 2011: 
"Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant us grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who live and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen." 

Lent IV

Prayer for the fourth week of Lent taken from Liberti Church's lentbook 2011: 
"Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen."