A Christmas Prayer

Baby-small

vulnerable
risk-taking God,
re-enter our hearts
as we ponder your coming amongst us.

Holy and beautiful

radiant God,
shine in our dark
as we think of your birth in the stable.

Peaceful and merciful

all-loving God,
pour your compassion out through us.

Let us love like you,

live like you ,
bear your Good News to our world.

Let Emmanuel

live on through us.

Baby-small

vulnerable
risk-taking God,

re-enter our hearts

as we ponder your coming amongst us.

Amen

.

Flashes of Beauty

flashes of beauty

touch my soul

in the stillness

glimpses of holiness

pour

unbidden

into

the silent void

permeate my emptiness

with your fullness

touch my senses

with the presence of God

awaken me

to your reality

we are

as one

in the stillness

I in your rhythms

and you

in mine

.

Awesome God

awesome

unfathomable God

majesty, mystery, complexity

truth, Word

simplicity

architect

of all creation

ever-present

intimate friend

awesome God

nurture my soul

in the stillness

touch me tangibly

in the silence

reveal a little more

of the mystery of yourself

reveal your will

for me

.

Profound Simplicity

as simple
as washing one another’s feet

Lord, forgive us
when we make discipleship
difficult

that was never
how you taught it

when I search your gospel teachings
I discover nothing more
and nothing less
than great simplicity

a basin and a towel
bread and wine
a simple touch
a word of forgiveness
a rhythm of prayer

take nothing for the journey

a grain of wheat
a mustard seed
the profound simplicity
of love

as simple
as washing another’s feet

forgive us
when we complicate discipleship
help us instead
to simply serve
out of your great love
and our
naked vulnerability

Spirit's Flow

the world
keeps turning

life
is probably
unfolding as it should

accept and embrace
what is

offer yourself
to life’s unfurling;
let it carry you in its flow
to where
you are meant to be

all
will be well

let go
of all that is not

accept and embrace what is:
this situation
this now
this state of being

love yourself
love others
love God

accept

embrace

let go

be at peace

open yourself
to the Spirit's flow

Deeper

deeper

deeper into my love
that’s where I want to take you

closer
closer to my heart
that’s where I long
to draw you

washed
washed in my blood
that’s how much I forgive you

healed
fully healed
that’s how I want to bless you

filled
filled with my Spirit
that’s how I
want to see you

the question is

will you let me do this
for you

The Yes of God

I stand in awe
of answered prayer
stand in complete humility
before God’s Yes

the definitive Yes
the radical Yes
the active, dynamic, creative Yes
the Yes that brings miracles
into being
before my very eyes

the Yes of God
that gives new strength
to crippled bones
restores sight to the sightless
shrinks tumours amazingly
into oblivion
regenerates organs lost to disease
reverses the death march of AIDS
and heals, and heals
and heals
today

miracle maker
creative healer
abundantly, wonderfully
gracious God
I stand in awe
of your Yes

Whispers From Within

whispers from within

prompt me

to stop
take space
to pause

give myself permission
to grow still

breathe in
his presence
drink in
his peace

centre myself
once more

in him

The Slate

Psalm 32

God
holds nothing
absolutely nothing
against you

the slate’s
wiped perfectly clean

from the moment
the confession
begins to pour from your lips
you are free

it is forgiven
total
complete
instantaneous

let it go

make a new start

the slate
is clean

Come Spirit, Come

Spirit of God
come

come
as the gentle whisper
come as the raging torrent
come as the roaring storm
come
in the quiet moment

come
in whatever way
will catch my attention today

but come, Spirit
come

Abide

John 15.4

abide in me

remain
in my love
let me hold you
enfold you
comfort you
nurture you
create in you
all that you might be

dwell
in my presence

rest there
remain there
abide

let me shower you with
blessing upon blessings
let me circle you
wash over you
cascade my love upon you

remain
in my love

abide

Eleventh Hour God

when the chips
are really down
and there’s
not much to believe in
and nowhere else to run

strengthen my belief, Lord

when the rubber hits the road
and puts me
to the biggest ever test

deepen my trust
trust in you
trust in self

when it all seems impossible
in simple human terms

remind me
nothing
is beyond your help

and when I’m asking
again and again
how long

whisper to me
tenderly

that you’re a
not in advance
just in time
precisely the best moment
eleventh hour
God

and miracles
happen

and you
will
hold me through

Yeshua Love

Ephesians 3.14-21

beyond my deepest need
or highest hope

able to encompass
and restore
all humankind

endless
stupendous
enfolding
upholding

astounding reach of love
at one with me

surrounding
indwelling
healing
empowering

the source of all that is
and all I am

forgiving
renewing
nurturing
enabling

drawing out potential
for the call

beyond me
within me
limitless
yet personal

seeing
all that’s needed for my life

loving
always loving
infinitely loving

loving
with a love that says

let’s dance

Silent Wisdom

in the silence
there is wisdom

in the silence
there is love

in the silence
is my healing

and in the silence
I dare to meet my deepest self

at one
with the Creator

Infusion

rhythm
of the eternal

infuse me
transfuse me
cradle me here

rise up
from deep within
steep me
in yourself

Deep

simple words to lead into stillness

deep
journey deep
to the place beyond words

sink
slowly sink
to the silence within

let the Christ
who is in you
rise up to meet you

deep
journey deep
into him