Hang it on the Cross......
Hang it on The Cross
Each year the Lent and Easter season offers us a moment in time to take the opportunity to consider the deeper meaning of life. We are all from time to time on our journey through life given a Cross to carry. So let us during this Lenten and soon to be Easter season keep in our prayers all who wake up this week who carry a heavy burden. Sometimes we can see clearly the Cross of sickness, bereavement, a broken relationship, other times some of us carry a hidden cross of pain, stress, loneliness, depression and if we look deeper into life we never really know what people are going through in silence. So let's make the rest of Lent and Easter be lending a hand, lifting a heavy load. Lent and easter can be a smile on a cloudy day. Lent and Easter can be a crust of bread to the poor, giving shelter from the storm. Lent and Easter can be a thought, a poem, a blessing, a prayer. Lent and Easter can be showing support, care and enthusiasm. Lent and Easter can be listening quietly while someone else has something important they’d like you to hear. Lent and Easter can be a friendly hug, a smile or a warm embrace. Lent and Easter can be offering your time. Lent and Easter can be sitting silently beside someone to watch the sun behind a silver sea. Lent and Easter can be wiping a tear. Lent and Easter can be chasing the moon at night. Lent and Easter can be a whisper, a word, a soft touch at the right moment. Lent and Easter can be a telephone call.text, email or a letter, closing the miles. Lent and Easter can be a kiss on a fevered brow. Lent and Easter can be the gift of a flower. Lent and Easter can be teaching with kindness and love. Lent and Easter can be sharing the depth of a powerful silence. Lent and Easter can be wishing you were somewhere when you must be someplace else. Lent and Easter can be a time of healing and a time of forgiving. Lent and Easter can be taking someone’s place when they must be somewhere else. Lent and easter can be walking, running or driving through the blazing brilliance of the seasons of nature. Lent and Easter can be just holding hands or looking into one another's eyes. Lent and Easter can be waiting out the tough times. Lent and Easter can be touching God through the heart and soul, and letting His will be done.
A Fresh Look
Lent and Easter brings with it changes in weather, sending many of us outdoors hopefully all going well more regularly. We get to experience bright, sunny days that are often quickly followed by torrential rains and cooler temperatures and then sunshine a bit like four seasons in the one day type of thing. As we move to the interiors of homes and workplaces for refuge it’s also a good time to consider the interior of our hearts and minds. God is present with us at all times, of course, but Spring, Lent and Easter invites a fresh look inside to see where God stirs. As the leaves start to blossom on the trees, we are prompted to watch their slow ascent to the air, seeing how at times, a burst of strong wind can blow off half the leaves from a tree in an instant. How well do we watch the movements of our spiritual lives and how often do we reflect on what the slow breezes or strong gusts of wind signal? Here is a beautiful Prayer for Lent and Easter Days I love to pray, "God of the seasons, there is a time for everything; there is a time for dying and a time for rising. We need courage to enter into the transformation process. God of Lent and Easter, the trees are saying hello to their green, letting go of what has been. We, too, have our moments of surrender, with all their insecurity and risk. Help us to let go when we need to do so. As we see the patterns of our own growth, may we learn from them. God of misty days and harvest moon nights, there is always the dimension of mystery and wonder in our lives. We always need to recognize your power-filled presence. May we gain strength from this. God of Spring seeds wagons and fields of new sown grain, many gifts of growth lie within the season of our surrender. We must wait sow the seeds and then pray for a harvest in faith and hope. Grant us patience when we do not see the blessings. We yearn for insight and vision. God of flowers touched with spring frost and windows wearing white designs, may your love keep our hearts from growing cold in the various seasons of Life. God of life, you believe in us, you enrich us, you entrust us with the freedom to choose life. For all this, we are grateful. Amen"
My Prayer for You
My prayer for you this week is that you may always rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. God will listen, if you only speak. Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path. Ignorance, conceit, anger, jealousy and greed stem from a lost soul. Pray that they will find guidance. Search for yourself, be yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you. It is your road and yours alone. Others may walk it with you but no one can walk it for you. Treat the guests in your home with much consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best beds and treat them with respect and honour. Do not take what is not yours whether from a person, a community, the wilderness or from a culture. If it was not earned or given, it’s not yours. Respect all things that are placed upon this earth - whether it’s person, animal or plant. Honour other people’s thoughts, wishes and words. Never interrupt another or mock or rudely mimic them. Allow each person the right to personal expression. Never speak of others in a bad way. The negative energy that you put out into the world will multiply when it returns to you. All persons make mistakes. And all mistakes can be forgiven. Bad thoughts cause illness of the mind, body and spirit. Practise optimism. Nature is not for us, it is a part of us. They are part of your worldly family. Children are the seeds of our future. Plant love in their hearts and water them with wisdom and life’s lessons. When they are grown, give them space to grow. Avoid hurting the hearts of others especially those of children. The poison of your pain will return to you. Be truthful at all times. Honesty is the test of ones will within this world. Keep yourself balanced. Your mental self, spiritual self, emotional self, and physical self - all need to be strong, pure and healthy. Work out the body to strengthen the mind. Grow rich in spirit to cure emotional ailments. Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you will react. Be responsible for your own actions. Respect the privacy and personal space of others. Do not touch the personal property of others. Be true to yourself first. You cannot nurture and help others if you cannot nurture and help yourself first. Respect others beliefs. Do not force your belief on others. Share your good fortune with others. Participate in charity.
'One'
The following poem called ‘One’ I came across on a wall in one of Mother Teresa houses that I worked in for the physically unwell goes as follows: ‘One song can spark a moment; One flower can wake the dream. One tree can start a forest, One bird can herald spring. One smile begins a friendship, One handclasp lifts a soul. One star can guide a ship at sea, One word can frame the goal. One vote can change a nation, One sunbeam lights a room. One candle wipes out darkness, One laugh will conquer gloom. One step must start each journey; One word must start each prayer. One hope will raise our spirits; One touch can show you care. One voice can speak with wisdom. One heart can know what’s true. One life can make the difference; you see it’s up to you.’
Hang it on The Cross.
If you have a secret sorrow, a burden or a loss, an aching need for healing...Hang It On The Cross. If worry steals your sleep and makes you turn and toss, if your heart is feeling heavy...Hang It On The Cross. Every obstacle to faith or doubt you come across, every prayer unanswered...Hang It On The Cross. For Christ has borne our brokenness and dearly paid the cost To turn our trials to triumph...Hanging On The Cross.
As a final thought, never forget how very important and how very special each and every one of us is in this life. in finishing may I offer up this comfort blessing or a prayer of mine for a good Lent and Easter for you the reader on your life's journey that you may see the light in the darkness during these challenging times! May you feel the loving presence of those who hold you in their thoughts and prayers! May your spirit find what it needs to sustain you on this journey of life! May you discover your inner strength and face all difficulties with dignity and grace. May you be filled with comfort, love, acceptance, strength, grace and a lasting sense of peace! May the light of your soul guide you. May the light of your soul bless the work that you do with the secret love and warmth of your heart. May you see in what you do the beauty of your own soul. May the sacredness of your work bring healing, light and renewal to those who work with you and to those who see and receive your work. May your work never weary you. May it release within you wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration and excitement. May you be present in what you do. May you never become lost in bland absences. May the day never burden. May dawn find you awake and alert, approaching your new day with dreams, possibilities and promises. May evening find you gracious and fulfilled. May you go into the night blessed, sheltered and protected. May your soul calm, console and renew you. May there always be work for your hands to do. May your purse always hold a coin or two; May the sun always shine on your windowpane; May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain; May the hand of a friend always be near you; May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. May the blessing of God's soft rain be on you, Falling gently on your head, refreshing your soul. With the sweetness of little flowers newly blooming. May the strength of the winds of Heaven bless you, Carrying the rain to wash your spirit clean. Sparkling after in the sunlight. May the blessing of God's earth be on you, And as you walk the roads, May you always have a kind word for those you meet. May joy and peace surround you, contentment latch your door, and happiness be with you now and bless you evermore! May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow. May the soft winds freshen your spirit. May the sunshine brighten your heart. May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you, and may God enfold you in the mantle of His love now and always. I also pray for us all to have the power to be gentle, loving, kind and caring to one another and to ourselves; the strength to be forgiving and be forgiven; the patience to be understanding and compassionate and merciful; and the endurance to accept the consequences of holding to what we believe to be right and good and peaceful. May we put our trust in the power of good to overcome evil and the power of love to overcome hatred. Pray for the vision to see and the faith to believe in a world emancipated from violence, hatred and war, a new world where fear shall no longer lead men and women to commit injustice, nor selfishness and unkindness to make them bring suffering to others. Help us to devote our whole life and thought and energy to the task of making peace and a better life for people and children in need in our world and country, praying always for the inspiration and the power to fulfill the destiny for which we and all people were created and that we will always look after the needy in our county, our country and in our world especially so many vulnerable and needy people in our country and world who are in serious need at this time. Remember change starts within yourself and that you can't change others you can only change yourself so be a change for goodness and genuineness in your own life and always remember for evil to exist it takes good people to remain quiet. Much peace and love to everyone. Also Some friends and family asked me to light a candle for them during Lent and some friends and family are in need of a prayer and candle at this moment especially any of you that are unwell or ill or in hospital or suffered an accident or a loss or some who are having worrying times with family and financial problems and for some who are lacking peace and mercy in their lives. For them and for all of us I offer up my Lenten prayers and candle through this thought for the week and especially for peace in all our lives and in our families and in our world. Amen.