She lived in a land of darkness oppressed by cruel foreigners. She carried deep personal shame: “barren” was her common name. No hope for a descendant! No sign she could conceive! Her husband had not spurned her,his name must have consoled her:“place of rest: Manoah.” So she was quick to tell himthat a God-sent messengerhadContinue reading “Unnamed but Chosen”
Tag Archives: prayer
The Cleansing
I stand in the wind while it whips along, plastering my body with fine dust, the powdered aftermath of life and death and thirsty earth.Deadwood and seedpodshit the roof, my legs. Birds of prey swoop overheadlooking for the innocent,uncovered, to devour.O Wind of God,protect your own.Hover over, cover us.Breath of Life, strengthen us.Heart of Sun,Continue reading “The Cleansing”
The God Who Parts Waters
The river ahead is at flood stage, water spilling over the edges and onto the shore sand all around, no way to cross, full of sledge. The other side is out of sight. We’ve been stranded three days, waiting for word: what’s next?Now Joshua tells us to break camp.We priests must carry the ark aheadandContinue reading “The God Who Parts Waters”
The Acacia Speaks: I Was Made for This!
When I saw the old man pass us to climb the slope, I shivered as wind blew through our dense grove. He had passed this way not long ago,then spent forty days on the summitbefore angrily stumbling back down.We wondered what was up, and whyhe’d thrown away two stone tabletsfilled with divine fingerprints of light.SomethingContinue reading “The Acacia Speaks: I Was Made for This!”
Within the Forward Push of Time
minutes tick away turn into hours then days and silently within the forward push of time blossoms become tiny bulbs hidden baby mangoes soak in sun and sap swelling as the weeks slip by even without rain strips of clouds float northwardwhile we wait for dark onesto splash respitesomeday they will come somedayour Lord isContinue reading “Within the Forward Push of Time”
Absolute Light
You, Lord, are Light: original essential light clear all the way through absolutely pure absolute with no dark edge no shading showing capriciousness or shallow inconsistency and yet — alive! Vital from core to cosmos filling space with Being the One Who Is and Was and Is To Come overarching time yet entering it therebyContinue reading “Absolute Light”
Just What We Need
When our hands are empty, fill them up, we pray— not too much, not too hearty a ration, or we may topple and then fall.You set the table in desert landsas well as on mountaintops.We need you!When poverty strips awayour access to foodit’s you we call!And you come, Father, to your kidsand feed them withContinue reading “Just What We Need”
Gentle in the Storm
In the middle of this whirlwind may gentleness become the strong, long root that fixes me to what is true, that calls to othersto come to youto find that inner confidence,that deep ironic peace,that stands against the gale.Only you, living in me, can takemy frail impotency andempower it to healwhen all aroundinjustice rules and wipesContinue reading “Gentle in the Storm”
Prayer Like Waves
I’ve been crying out to you, my Lord, my Father and my King, over and over and over again like ocean waves rolling in to crash and humbly recede into the mass of other currents, like other prayers.This one overwhelming longingwill not let them stop. I beg:Please bring my loved ones homeinto your arms, intoContinue reading “Prayer Like Waves”
I Am Yours
Because you love me, forgave me, chose me and then sent me, want to use me, I bring the only offering I can: my self, my soul, my life. You set aside the Levites for yourself, a wave offering to you, committed to serve, a living sacrifice for ongoing worship.Continue reading “I Am Yours”
Linnea's Lines 