Wednesday and Thursday - time of meditation

Ooops.  Did anyone read yesterday's  blog and say, "That sounds familiar".    It has been a full week here and I ended up pulling last week's retreat instead of Wednesday's  retreat.

So, today you have both the corrected Wednesday retreat AND Thursday retreat.   

Prayer:  No matter where we are today O Lord,  we know that You are with us in everything we say and everything we do.     If we are to rejoice in Your love,  help us to rejoice greatly.  If we are to meditate upon Your word,  help us to meditate fully.  If we are to be a blessing to our neighbours, help us to serve with love.  This we ask in Your Son’s name.  Amen.

Read Colossians 1: 24-29

St. Paul is sitting in jail.  Yet even as he is sitting in jail,  he is keeping the Colossians in his prayers.   He encourages them to  continue sharing the Good News of Christ with the world.  

God wants everyone to know the glorious mystery of faith.  The mystery is this:  Christ is in each of us, so therefore we can look forward to sharing in God’s glory.  It is that simple.   We must preach Christ.

We preach Christ and then teach about Christ so that everyone can be brought to maturity.  This is why St. Paul states that he is working day and night,  year after year, so that he can encourage others to share the Good News.

How will you encourage the Ministers and Elders this day to share the Good News of Christ?

How will you bring the glorious mystery of faith to your family and friends?

Prayer:  Heavenly Father,  may I encourage those who Preach Your Word,  those who visit the sick,  those who help cloth the poor, and those who feed the poor.  Be with these people so that they know they are being held in Your hand.  This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Thursday 23 August

Prayer:  Divine God,  please install courage,  balance, confidence, and joy into our lives.  Assist us to find blessings and opportunities even in the most challenging experiences.  Thank You God for the life You have given me.  This day I rejoice knowing that I am woven into the tapestry of Your love.  Amen.

Read Colossians 2: 1-5

St. Paul gives the Colossians (and us!) encouragement and wants to let them (and us) know that they (and us) are not alone in our tasking of spreading the Good News. 

St. Paul writes that he wants everyone to know that we are “woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God.   Then we will have minds confident and at rest, focussed on Christ,  God’s  great mystery.”(The Message  Colossians 2: 2).

Focussing upon Christ leads to a solid foundation in our  faith.  

It is amazing to know that we are not alone in the tasking of the Great Commission.   Together all peoples from every nation are woven into the tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God.    Amazing!

Prayer:  Great God,  move through every part of my body and mind.  Dissolve all feelings, thoughts, and patterns of frustration, irritation, and aggravation.  Please sweep away all impatience, struggle and suffering that resides in my consciousness.  Allow me to turn my frustration into inspiration and enthusiastic action.  Thank You God.  Thank You God that You weave the tapestry of Your love into our lives.  Thank You God!  Amen.  (Anke Hendry)

Many blessings!