Water in the Desert

Photo by Adonyi Gu00e1bor on Pexels.com Holy God, you call to us from Scripture, from the preaching of your word, from the gift of song, from the love of a friend, from the beauty of nature. Are you speaking now, Lord? Help me listen. I am overwhelmed, stressed, full to the brim. I am at a breaking point, God. I don’t know why this is happening and I don’t know where you are. But I will give this…

Psalm 24 by Anneke Kaai Psalm 24 NIV The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, The world, and all who live in it; For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the…

The descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and Mary at Pentecost. © Elizabeth Wang, radiantlight.org.uk Open your hands. Take a breath. Call for the Holy Spirit.Come, Holy SpiritCleansing FireBurn away all that is false and fruitless Come, Holy SpiritGuiding FireLight the way through our wilderness Come, Holy SpiritRefining FirePurify our words, our ways, our hearts Come, Holy…

Forgive by Yongsung Kim No Condemnation by Lisa DegreniaJesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.” – John 8:10-11 Jesus, you do not condemYou revealYou write the truth on the sands of our souls We hear our prejudiceWe see our…

If you know the artist, please leave a comment so I can give them credit for their work. Are You the Messiah? by Lisa DegreniaThere was considerable complaining about him among the crowds. While some were saying, “He is a good man,” others were saying, “No, he is deceiving the crowd.”- John 7:12 Jesus,you come performing signsspeaking out against evilhealing and revealing Yet, we questionwe…

Christ in the Wilderness by Ivan Kramskoy Turn and Return by Lisa DegreniaWhen Jesus speaks words of sacrifice, many want no part of it. They turn and walk away. You can hear the heartbreak and pain in his voice, “Do you also wish to go away?” The wound grows even deeper as Jesus states someone who stayed will eventually betray him. We fall awaySlip awayTurn awayHide awayRun awayPush awayGo our…

Christ the Saviour with Eucharist by Spanish Renaissance artist Vincente Juan Masip Bread of Life by Lisa DegreniaJesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” – John 6:35 Blessed Jesus,Bread of Life, Bread of Heavencoming down for uslashed and leavenedhidden and risen Help us hunger for you alone Nourish…

I am the Bread of Life by Kennedy A Paizs. “I want to desire Jesus as much as I desire to eat each day to sustain my physical life.” John 6:25-27When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not…

The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes (La multiplication des pains) by James Tissot Trust and Act by Lisa Degrenia“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” – John 6:9 (NRSV) Miraculous One,Our own needs and the needs of our world overwhelm usWe question if anything can be doneWe become paralyzed with despair and fearWe numb and do…

Jesus Christ Liberator by Brother Robert Lentz OFM Prayer for Liberation by Lisa DegreniaVerily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. – John 5:24 (KJV) Merciful One, Liberating One,You break the chainsYou open the prison doorsYou pardon instead of…

Healing at the Pool of Bethesda by Carl Bloch Jesus, Come by Lisa DegreniaThe official said to him, “Sir, come down before my little boy dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” – John 4:49-50 Jesus, comemy son is dyingso is my daughter, with skin like mahoganyso is my child, pinned down in a school shootingso is my sibling, a victim of dictators and droughts Jesus, comesee my dear…

Washing of Feet by Leszek Forczek HAND WASHINGAs people arrive, they’re encouraged to wash each other’s hands. We choose to do this in our courtyard, outside the entrance to the sanctuary. Needed: Pitchers with water, soaps, bowls, towels, tables, facilitators Facilitator Script for Washing One Another’s HandsThe facilitator welcomes people to the handwashing station, explains the meaning of the…

Woman at the Well by Wayne Forte Jesus answered her, “Those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” – John 4:14-15 You Answer by Lisa DegreniaWe are…

Study for Nicodemus Visiting Jesus by Henry Ossawa Tanner Water and Spirit by Lisa DegreniaJesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.” – John 3:5-6 Holy SpiritPregnant with twins- Truth and New LifeWelcome home to my spiritLet it be with me…

Jesus Christ, mosaic detail from the Hagia Sophia Reveal yourself, JesusIn signsIn wordsIn healing and provision Reveal yourselfIn powerIn waymakingIn overturning all that distorts and obstructs Reveal yourself May trust and faith increaseMay truth and hope abound ************ I’ll be posting prayers based on the Gospel of John throughout Lent this year as part of our Lenten Reading Plan. Here’s…

Based on John 1:1-28Jesus, True Light, enlighten usDispel the darkness of pettiness and feardivision and falsehoodapathy and evil Offer your own prayers of confession You are here, You are coming, You are overcomingBlessed be your name. Based on John 1:29-51Come and Seethe One foretoldthe Fulfillment of promisesWho ranks ahead and comes before Come and Seethe Chosen OneLong awaitedWho welcomes…