Psalms

September 17, 2022

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All expansive God,
one who sees all
and whose hands and heart
are always open–
help me surrender
all my defense mechanisms
to you.
Help me to recognize
all the ways I am closed off
to you,
to the world.
Begin to open my heart,
and turn my whole being toward you,
for that is what it means to live in faith–
trusting every part of me to you,
allowing myself to receive
the grace you so long to give.

Psalm 139: 1-6 God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too–your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful–I can’t take it all in!

Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything yo do, everywhere you go; he’s the one will keep you on track.

Isaiah 30: 18 But God’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you. He’s gathering strength to show mercy to you. God takes the time to do everything right—everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.


June 26, 2022

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Wildly wonderful world maker,
teach us to love creation
as you do
because, maybe then
we would learn
to stop destroying
and start stewarding–
to live in harmony,
joining in
this great interconnected dance–
for all your creation
is meant to bring you glory.

Psalm 104: 24 What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations.

Isaiah 55: 12-13 “So you’ll go out in joy, you’ll be led into a whole and complete life. the mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song. All the trees of the forest will join the procession, exuberant with applause. No more thistles, but giant sequoias, no more thornbushes, but stately pines–monuments to me, to God, living and lasting evidence of God.”

Colossians 1: 15-18 We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.

May 8, 2022

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God, our parent,
you know what it is
to hold your children close.
Thank you for the early morning snuggles
with my sweet child–
for the way she wiggled her feet
under my legs to warm her toes
and whispered
“Mama, on my next birthday I’m going to be this many”
as she raised five fingers and held them close to my face.
Thank you for these moments
of joy and connection–
for we need them when the going gets tough.

Psalm 73:23-24 I’m still in your presence, but you’ve taken my hand. You wisely and tenderly lead me, and then you bless me.

February 12, 2022

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Creator of all, you named me into being
stitched me together in my mother’s womb
and called me good.
May I remember–
deeper than in my bones–
may I remember in the depths of my soul:
I am good. I am valuable. I am loved.
Because I forget over and over,
and in the forgetting I follow any path
and lose the very person you created me to be.
So may I remember
every day
every hour
every minute
every moment
because you, oh creator, loved me first.
Because in you, oh creator, I am held.
Because in you, oh creator, I am found.

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Psalm 139: 13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, the days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.

1 John 4:19 We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.


February 5, 2022

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God of justice
God of the oppressed
God of those who have been shut out,
we pray for your justice
we pray for repair,
we pray for
respect
dignity
power
love,
and it begins with naming the truth–
because your truth, justice, and grace
will prevail.

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Psalm 89:14 The Right and Justice are the roots of your rule; Love and Truth are its fruits.

Psalm 25:4-6 & 8-10 Show me how you work, God; School me in your ways. Take me by the hand; Lead me down the path of truth. You are my savior, aren’t you? Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God; Rebuild the ancient landmarks!…God is fair and just; He corrects the misdirected, sends them in the right direction. He gives the rejects his hand, and leads them step-by-step. From now on every road you travel will take you to God. Follow the Covenant signs, read the chartered directions.

Isaiah 1:17 Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings so that I don’t have to look at them any longer. Say no to wrong. Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless.

January 29, 2022

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God of breath,
I don’t know what to pray,
so I breathe in and out
this air
that connects me
with all who breathe.
Let the rhythm of breath
and heartbeat
and open palms–
my just being
here–
be my prayer.

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Psalm 33 6-9: The skies were made by God’s command; he breathed the word and the stars popped out. He scooped Sea into his jug, put Ocean in his keg. Earth-creatures, bow before God; world-dwellers–down on your knees! Here’s why: he spoke and there it was, in place the moment he said so.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

November 20, 2022

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All expansive God,
there is no corner or crag
hidden from your care and love.
Help us to live open and expansive lives
welcoming in all that would come our way,
seeking out your will,
and all that would help us to live
as you have called us to live,
for that is the example you have given us.

Psalm 36: 5-6
God’s love is meteoric,
His love astronomic,
His purpose titanic,
His verdicts oceanic.
Yet is His largeness
nothing gets lost;
Not a man, not a mouse,
slips through the cracks.

2 Corinthians 6: 11-13
Dear, dear Corinthians, I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn’t fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way. I’m speaking as plain as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!

November 18, 2021

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Our creator
who made something out of nothing,
we pray that you would fill
the voids in our hearts.
Meet us in our grief and yearning
because, though it’s often hidden from us,
you are the deep desire behind the desire.
You are wholeness and home.

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Psalm 63:1
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

November 13, 2021

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Father of lights,
One who delights in your children,
thank your for blessing us with the children in our lives–
the wonderful, wiggly, curious, stubborn, playful, infuriating, irrational, original, loving,
little people created in your image.
Teach us to parent, grandparent, aunt/uncle, and friend them well.
Guide us in love
because they are yours.

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James 1:16-17: So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light.

Psalm 149: 1-4:
Hallelujah!
Sing to God a brand new song,
praise him the company of all who
love him.
Let all Israel celebrate their Sovereign
Creator.
Zion’s children exult in their King.
Let them praise his name in dance;
Strike up the band and make great music!
And why? Because God delights in his
people;
adorns plain folk with salvation
garlands!