Thursday, October 28, 2010
wild raspberries
Sunday, October 24, 2010
prayer
It was a blessing to worship this morning at Cross of Glory Lutheran Church in Mounds View, Minnesota. The guest preacher was Rev. Wendell Frerichs, Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul. His theme, following the Gospel text from Luke 18:9-14, was prayer. Central to his message was the following prayer by Charles Whiston, which Pastor Frerichs uses in his daily devotions. We would do well to follow his example:
Christ's claim:
I am your Lord Jesus Christ.
I was the agent of my Father in creating you.
I died on the cross and rose from the dead for you.
Therefore, you do not belong to yourself.
You belong to me.
Will you give yourself to me for today?
My response:
O Lord Christ, in obedience to your claim on me,
I surrender myself to you anew today,
all that I am, all that I have,
to be wholly and unconditionally yours for your using of me.
Take me away from myself and my preoccupation with myself.
Use me up as you will,
when you will, where you will,
with whom you will.
Amen.
Labels: Charles Whiston, Cross of Glory, prayer, Wendell Frerichs
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
prayer
If you want to set out in search of God without knowing how to go about it, learn to pray: force yourself simply to pray every day. You can pray anywhere, anytime. There's no need at all to be in a chapel or church. You can pray while working: work doesn't put a stop to prayer, nor prayer to work. If you feel in need of help, you can ask advice of a priest or pastor.
Try to talk directly to God. Speak to him; tell him everything, spontaneously, directly, just as it comes. He is the Father of us all. Whatever our religion might be, we have all been created by him and are his children. We can trust him, love him, believe in him, work for him. When we pray, our problems are resolved to the degree that it is good for us.
Without prayer I could not fulfill the work it is mine to do, not even for half an hour. I draw my strength from God by prayer.
-- Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)
Try to talk directly to God. Speak to him; tell him everything, spontaneously, directly, just as it comes. He is the Father of us all. Whatever our religion might be, we have all been created by him and are his children. We can trust him, love him, believe in him, work for him. When we pray, our problems are resolved to the degree that it is good for us.
Without prayer I could not fulfill the work it is mine to do, not even for half an hour. I draw my strength from God by prayer.
-- Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)
Labels: prayer
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Cross of Glory Lutheran Church, Mounds View, Minnesota
Friday, October 08, 2010
fall evening
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
ferns
Sunday, October 03, 2010
dew
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Friday, October 01, 2010
Oblate retreat at Blue Cloud Abbey
My recent stay at Blue Cloud Abbey concluded with a retreat for Oblates of St. Benedict affiliated with the Abbey.
Abbot Denis welcomes the Oblates
Oblate Director Br. Benet instructing us
Oblates renewing their vows
Abbot Denis
