Today’s text
1 John 3:1-3
“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all you have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.”
Prayer
I know what it is to have a child, Dear One. I have held my children’s cheeks to my own and felt the tender skin of new creation. I have watched over them, stealing into their rooms late at night to hear them breathe, each breath whispering reassurance that they were well and safe and warm, each breath filling me with gratitude and wonder at the blessing of caring for them.
I have watched them grow and given up opportunities for myself, utterly convinced that what happens for them is more important than what happens for me. I deserve no credit or praise. It was no sacrifice. I wanted to do it, and in the giving I discovered a joy surpassing any loss by the length of eternity.
In loving them, you let me taste eternity, the eternity of your everlasting love in which, by which and for which you made me and all your children. Is this the way you love me? Do you know such joy in giving gifts to your children, to me? Do you find unspeakable delight in my breathing, in my stumbling attempts to grow into something more whole and human than I am?
I think so. And I bask in the love in which you hold me, the same love you allow to abide in me. Your abiding love opens my heart to see you and share your delight--and sorrow--in loving. Seeing you as the love you are, we become like our brother Jesus, the face of eternity. What more could I want? Amen.
Pr. David L. Miller
http://prayingthemystery.blogspot.com/
Posts
All Comments
Friday, March 30, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Today’s text
1 John 3:1-3
“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed we will be like him for we will see him as he is.”
Prayer
We will be like you, Jesus, my brother? Should this fill me with longing or move me to quake in fear? You were unknown, disbelieved, rejected and denounced. Yet, your heart relished a quiet unity with the Love that fashioned the universe, the Holy Mystery you named Father but who exceeds all naming.
I long to be like you, sharing the uninterrupted harmony with the Love that my soul knows is my only true home. But this comes at the price that I should also be like you in a world that often despises the fire of love and holy justice to which your heart belonged.
But fear is not enough to crush the craving of your Spirit within my spirit. You fan holy desire in our souls. I want you, blessed Jesus. I want to be like you, as you promise, participating in that ceaseless gracious sharing of the triune life of God; that is your joy and strength, your identity and purpose, and you would have it be mine.
You made us for this, but our sharing in your life is so partial and intermittent. We want more, more of you. Grant that we should see and taste you today that we might be like you. We need this more than we can say. Amen.
Pr. David L. Miller
1 John 3:1-3
“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed we will be like him for we will see him as he is.”
Prayer
We will be like you, Jesus, my brother? Should this fill me with longing or move me to quake in fear? You were unknown, disbelieved, rejected and denounced. Yet, your heart relished a quiet unity with the Love that fashioned the universe, the Holy Mystery you named Father but who exceeds all naming.
I long to be like you, sharing the uninterrupted harmony with the Love that my soul knows is my only true home. But this comes at the price that I should also be like you in a world that often despises the fire of love and holy justice to which your heart belonged.
But fear is not enough to crush the craving of your Spirit within my spirit. You fan holy desire in our souls. I want you, blessed Jesus. I want to be like you, as you promise, participating in that ceaseless gracious sharing of the triune life of God; that is your joy and strength, your identity and purpose, and you would have it be mine.
You made us for this, but our sharing in your life is so partial and intermittent. We want more, more of you. Grant that we should see and taste you today that we might be like you. We need this more than we can say. Amen.
Pr. David L. Miller
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Today’s text
1 John 2:27-28
“As for you, the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and so you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he is revealed we may have confidence and not be put to shame before him at his coming.”
Prayer
You are Life Abiding, Everlasting Love indwelling. You are the Holy Attraction that holds together all that is, lest creation fly apart and be no more than a fine and formless dust driven by galactic winds, a gritty, senseless chaos of no order or beauty.
You are the abiding, erotic power drawing all that is into community with you and all you love, and you delight in all you have made, even me.
You are the Holy One, the Loving Mystery on whom my heart relies and rests, especially on days of illness and fatigue when I have little strength to hold myself together and meet the day’s challenge.
Let me rest today in the anointing of your Spirit that abides and teaches heart and mind what I need to know and share with your people. They are yours, and you cherish them and dwell in them. And I desire not to deprive them of any small graces you would give through me.
Abiding in your divine love that abides also in this existence you privilege me to live, grant gentle confidence that I may dwell not in shame or apology but in joy, knowing that I, too, am yours, a child of your delight, a soul of your abiding. Amen.
Pr. David L. Miller
1 John 2:27-28
“As for you, the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and so you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he is revealed we may have confidence and not be put to shame before him at his coming.”
Prayer
You are Life Abiding, Everlasting Love indwelling. You are the Holy Attraction that holds together all that is, lest creation fly apart and be no more than a fine and formless dust driven by galactic winds, a gritty, senseless chaos of no order or beauty.
You are the abiding, erotic power drawing all that is into community with you and all you love, and you delight in all you have made, even me.
You are the Holy One, the Loving Mystery on whom my heart relies and rests, especially on days of illness and fatigue when I have little strength to hold myself together and meet the day’s challenge.
Let me rest today in the anointing of your Spirit that abides and teaches heart and mind what I need to know and share with your people. They are yours, and you cherish them and dwell in them. And I desire not to deprive them of any small graces you would give through me.
Abiding in your divine love that abides also in this existence you privilege me to live, grant gentle confidence that I may dwell not in shame or apology but in joy, knowing that I, too, am yours, a child of your delight, a soul of your abiding. Amen.
Pr. David L. Miller
Monday, March 26, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
Today’s text
1 John 2:26-27
“And I write these things to you concerning those who would deceive you. As for you, the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and so you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, abide in him.”
Prayer
What is this anointing, Holy Mystery? What is this substance that abides and teaches so that I know all I need to know? What can it be, if not your own dear life? You dwell at my depths, stirring awareness of who you are and how you seek to take shape in my life.
From depth of heart beyond my reach, you invite me to rest in the love you are abiding in me. To rest and remain there is to grow strong, loving and wise, gentle and true. Abiding, I learn again who you are and who I am.
I am yours, and more. I am one in whom you are pleased to take a particular shape, rooted in the seeds you planted in my life through genetics and history, through saints and sinners, through places I have seen and dreamed, through those I have loved and those who have loved and rejected me, through every street I have walked and every voice I have heard.
All of them: seeds sown in the soil of my freedom. You abide in and among all these to birth a soul of your own anointing, bringing your living Spirit to particular expression in this life that I, possessed by illusion, dare to call my own.
Let me listen to the life you continue to create in me that I may hear your anointing and be true to that love and wisdom you are pleased to fashion from the seeds you have sown. Amen.
Pr. David L. Miller
1 John 2:26-27
“And I write these things to you concerning those who would deceive you. As for you, the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and so you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, abide in him.”
Prayer
What is this anointing, Holy Mystery? What is this substance that abides and teaches so that I know all I need to know? What can it be, if not your own dear life? You dwell at my depths, stirring awareness of who you are and how you seek to take shape in my life.
From depth of heart beyond my reach, you invite me to rest in the love you are abiding in me. To rest and remain there is to grow strong, loving and wise, gentle and true. Abiding, I learn again who you are and who I am.
I am yours, and more. I am one in whom you are pleased to take a particular shape, rooted in the seeds you planted in my life through genetics and history, through saints and sinners, through places I have seen and dreamed, through those I have loved and those who have loved and rejected me, through every street I have walked and every voice I have heard.
All of them: seeds sown in the soil of my freedom. You abide in and among all these to birth a soul of your own anointing, bringing your living Spirit to particular expression in this life that I, possessed by illusion, dare to call my own.
Let me listen to the life you continue to create in me that I may hear your anointing and be true to that love and wisdom you are pleased to fashion from the seeds you have sown. Amen.
Pr. David L. Miller
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)