Author Archives: Mary Ann

Seeds of love

Millet, Jean François, 1814-1875
The Sower, ca. 1865
black Conté crayon and pastel
on paper
Clark Art Institute Williamstown, MA

Jesus said “But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” Matthew 13:23

The word I hear from the Lord is love. I understand love grows from many different seeds: Respect. Kindness. Welcome. Compassion. Encouragement. Attentiveness. Forgiveness. Reconciliation. Peace.

Today I will sow seeds of love wherever I am.

Yoked to Jesus

Jesus said “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Yoked to Jesus, I rest from the anxieties, worries, biases, prejudices, and injustice that flow in and around me. Yoked to Jesus, I let go of the burden of needing to have all the answers. Yoked to Jesus, I learn to be humble and teachable, and I move in the light and grace of the Lord’s unending love.

Today I will yoke myself to Jesus in gratitude and treat all people with mercy, compassion, and kindness.

Welcome God

Northward from Jerusalem. Shunem village.
II Kings 4:8

Jesus said to his apostles, “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” Matthew 10:40

May I never ignore or reject anyone. When I welcome you, I welcome God.

Today I will receive all people with kindness and reverence. I will remember to look for God in everyone.

God answers with kindness

Bilal Mirza
House Sparrows in Pakistan

Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31

God cares about us. God watches over us. God is with us through times of distress, grief, and persecution. God’s grace overflows into our hearts to give us the courage and faith we need in every moment. We have nothing to fear.

Today I will pray to the Lord for guidance in every situation and know that he will answer me with kindness and compassion.

Into the heart of the Lord

Frank Scholten (1881-1942)
Herd of sheep, NINO F Scholten Tel Aviv 06: 06

At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36

When we feel lost and abandoned, troubled and anxious, we need to remember the Lord is our shepherd. He always welcomes us into his heart of compassion and gives us peace.

Today I will receive the Lord’s gift of love and peace with gratitude, and I will freely give to others what I receive from the Lord.

Remember the Lord

© José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro / CC BY-SA 3.0

Moses said, “Do not forget the LORD, your God.” Deuteronomy 8:14b

We are always in the presence of God. We commit ourselves to remember the Lord no matter what is happening in our life, our family, or our world, to thank him for his gifts, and to call on him for all our needs.

Today I will start and end my day with an Our Father for peace and unity in our world. I will say grace before each meal and remember I am one part of the Body of Christ.

Harmonic power

Domenico Piola (1627-1703)
Blessed Maria Vittoria Fornari’s Vision of the Trinity, circa 1670 National Gallery of Art

Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11

Every day we are welcomed into the harmonic power of the Holy Trinity, a united community whose unfailing vision for our world is love and peace.

Today I will unite myself with the power of the Holy Trinity and help carry out God’s vision of love and peace by intentionally treating all people with respect and compassion.

Filled with the Holy Spirit

Ed de Guzman
Pentecost
gouache on special paper, 2014

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6

We work together in harmony to bring about God’s vision of love and peace for humankind. We are not in competition. We are each a part of the body of Christ, given the Holy Spirit in order to serve God’s human family.

Today I will reflect on the spiritual gifts I have been given. I will ask the Holy Spirit to show me how best to use these gifts to bring peace, harmony, and love to the world.

Take refuge in the Lord

James Tissot (1836-1902)
Ascension of Jesus
gouache over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

We belong to God, who is Love. There is no fear when we are in Love.

Today I will give all of my fears to the Lord. I will take refuge in the Lord’s strength and kindness and trust that all shall be well.

In Christ

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Psalm 66:1

Jesus said, “I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.” John 14:20

In Christ we are intimately entwined with God. There is no separation.

Today I will take joy in the gift of the Spirit of truth that helps me remember we are in Christ and Christ is in us. I will intentionally treat all people with deep reverence.