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Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper. Psalm 30:11
When all I can do is pray for help, faith tells me that God is with me, listening and answering.
Today I will turn to the Lord when I am troubled, in pain, distressed, or grieving. The Lord will help me.
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Then Jesus asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” Mark 4:40
Faith tells me that whatever is happening in the world and in my life, God is in charge and all shall be well.
Today I will not let the storms of life terrify me. Instead I will put my attention on the Lord. I will ask him to increase my faith and help me trust God’s vision of love, peace, and unity is unfolding in God’s time.
We are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:6-7
It takes only the tiniest seed of faith to keep going each day. Faith the sun will rise and set, faith we are where we need to be, faith we live in the heart space of God.
Today I will give thanks to God for the courage to get out of bed and be in the world. I will plant a seed of love by performing an act of kindness for someone who needs shelter from the stresses of life.
Jesus said, “For whoever does the will of God
is my brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 3:35
We discern God’s will by reading sacred Scripture, spending quiet time alone with God in prayer and meditation, and listening to our hearts.
Today I will choose the Way of love and mercy and know I am carrying out God’s will.
The people all answered with one voice, “We will do everything that the LORD has told us.” Exodus 24:3
The Lord has told us to love one another. May we embody patience, kindness, respectful listening, nonviolence, forgiveness, gentleness, and generosity.
Let us join together to build up the Body of Christ in love and service to one another.
For those who are led by the Spirit are children of God. Romans 8:14
The Spirit leads us to trust the goodness of our hearts, to look for the face of God in all people, to treat each member of God’s human family with loving kindness, to listen to others with patience and understanding, to breathe peace into every situation.
Today with child-like faith I will let the Spirit lead me into God’s heart of compassion and wisdom.
Jesus breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:22
From the Risen Lord’s own breath, we receive the Holy Spirit: our breath mingling with God’s in an eternal communion of give and receive, receive and give.
Today I will receive the gifts and talents I have been given with gratitude and use one of them to benefit someone in need.
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Jesus prayed saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one.” John 17:11b
Let us be One
in kindness
in compassion
in nonviolence
in peace
in love.
Today I will remember we are all One in God. I will let God’s love and peace move in and through me to bless everyone I encounter.
Jesus said: “This I command you: love one another.” John 15:17
Love comes in many forms: courtesy, civility, nonviolence, respect, kindness, forgiveness, mercy, compassion, companionship, listening, encouragement, welcome, acceptance, patience…
Holy Spirit, show me how to love today.
Jesus said: “Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.” John 15:4
The fruit of our lives may be small or large, acknowledged or unacknowledged, but when we live in the heart of Christ , the fruit we bear is always love.
Today I will ask the Spirit to guide me so that the fruit of all my interactions is love.
Mary Ann McSweeny 