God appoints our graces to be nurses to other men's weakness.

~ Henry Ward Beecher

Prayer does nothing to make God more present, for God is always present. Prayer is our response to the presence of God in our lives.

. . . from A Tree Full of Angels - seeing the
Holy in the ordinary by Macrina Wiederkehr

In His Presence

Holy Father,
Everlasting Light forgive my redundant thoughts. Unfailing Love rescue my reluctant heart. Extravagant Grace fill my repentant soul. Goodness surrounds my every moment, exceeding my vocabulary. You continue to weave an extraordinary tapestry with sacred threads, torn remnants and unspun fibers. All are being woven together by Your Light and Love and Grace. What a masterpiece You are creating - thread by thread, moment by moment, possibility by possibility. Gratitude shouts Hallelujah! A thousand Hallelujahs are not enough. On my knees, LORD, find me on my knees, for You are Great and worthy to be praised! Your presence delights my soul, encourages my spirit, mends my wounds, shows me truth, offers me peace. Lord, be my strength, my shield, my joy! I long to abide in Your presence. Amen. ~dho

I'm still in Your presence, but You've taken my hand. You wisely lead me, and then You bless me.
Psalm 73:23-24 (msg)

Listening in His Presence

God - You're my God! I can't get enough of You!
My soul thirsts for You; my whole body longs for You . . .
I have seen You in Your sanctuary and gazed upon Your power and glory.
Your unfailing love is better to me than life itself;
I bless You every time I take a breath, lifting up my hands to You in prayer.
You satisfy me . . . I will praise You with songs of joy.
If I am sleepless at midnight, I spend the hours in grateful reflection.
I think how much You have helped me; I sing for joy in the shadow of Your protecting wings.
I stay close to You; Your strong right hand holds me securely. . .

Psalm 63:1-8 (the Message, NLT, NCV) . . . a Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah


Holy Father,
Open my heart, for I long to hear Your voice. I listen for Your instructions, meditate on Your wonders. I collate my random thoughts and lay them at Your altar. Through the silence, I hear Your whispers of mercy and compassion and tenderness. Inside my longing heart, prayers of praise rise to You. My soul finds satisfaction in the shadow of Your protecting wings that exists nowhere else. Holy Spirit, bring His presence and His peace. Amen. ~ dho

Find His Presence

Hear the loon's mournful call in the distance,
Feel the hawk's graceful, slow dance with the wind,
Remember the night sky's luminaries
As they fade when another morning speaks,
And find His presence.

Hear thunder's rumbling call, "Storm Approaching!"
Feel wind's royal power command respect!
Recall the warning; listen to the wind
As darkness struggles to control and shout,
And find His presence.

Hear whispers in the night as angels sing,
Feel holy kisses as His angels pass,
Remember sweet songs of comfort and peace
As mercy makes a home within the soul,
And find His presence.

Hear gentle words offered without reason,
Feel the rhythm of glory-words that praise,
Recall holy words written on the heart
As the Living Word restores hope's voice,
And find His presence.

Hear the empty silence of loneliness,
Feel the wordless sighs of unspoken prayer,
Remember the promise of Perfect Love
As holiness seeks ordinary time,
And find His presence.

Hear the Holy Spirit summon, "Be still!"
Feel the solitude embrace calm's repose,
Recall the mystery and the majesty
As Grace falls softly and shelters the soul,
And find His presence.
~ dho 6/22/06

Be Faithful

In his book Everyday Simplicity, A Practical Guide to Spiritual Growth, Robert J. Wicks writes: People are not noble because they succeed or are applauded by others. Their lives are honorable and worthy of emulation because they are striving for what is good - no matter what the results! God asks us to be involved not because we are called to be successful, but because we are called to be faithful.

Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
Colossians 3:17 (The Message)

We live in a society that defines our worth by material possessions and worldly successes. Our involvement can easily be motivated by personal gain and recognition. The scriptures remind us that Jesus should be our motivation. We should be defined by our faithfulness. ~dho