Prayer for Those Affected by Natural Disasters.

With Harvey having devastated parts of Texas, Irma threatening the Caribbean, drought causing famine in Uganda and other parts of Africa, and wildfires blazing in the Pacific Northwest of the US, it seems time for a prayer for those affected by natural disaster.

This one comes from jesuitresource.org.

May we who are in Christ pray it sincerely.

Compassionate Lord

Compassionate Lord, we pray for those who have been devastated by recent natural disasters. We remember those who have lost their lives so suddenly. We hold in our hearts the families forever changed by grief and loss. Bring them consolation and comfort. Surround them with our prayer for strength. Bless those who have survived and heal their memories of trauma and devastation. May they have the courage to face the long road of rebuilding ahead.
We ask your blessing on all those who have lost their homes, their livelihoods, their security and their hope. Bless the work of relief agencies and those proving emergency assistance. May their work be guided by the grace and strength that comes from You alone.
Help us to respond with generosity in prayer, in assistance, in aid to the best of our abilities. Keep our hearts focused on the needs of those affected, even after the crisis is over. We ask this in Jesus' name.
Amen.


Have a blessed day. 

Song for Sunday: Ding Dong the Witch is Dead!

I got home last night to find the snow banks were only up to my waist, not over my head anymore. They'd gotten smaller in the 24 hours I'd been away, so they can identify with the Wicked Witch of the West.

There's no song in that seen, but there is a related song....

The Wizard of Oz always aired near Easter when I was growing up, so between that and the MMMEEELLTTIINNGG snow, this song from the classic movie became today's Song for Sunday. 

Have fun!

My Snow Banks Have Snow Banks

There is an awful lot of snow here in the northeastern US.






 The snow banks are over our heads.

Our lawn furniture is buried and our roofs carry so much weight that some have collapsed. (I raked the garage roof after this photo was taken -- but it's full again.

In fact, there is so much that some of us wonder if we'll ever see the ground again ... or at least if we'll see it before June. It feels like it will be a long hard road.. but summer will come sooner than we really expect.

And in the meantime there is beauty.. and sledding. 

Lent can seem like that, too. From this vantage point of the beginning this season of fasting and focusing on spiritual disciplines, of voluntary depriviation and self-evaluation feels like it will be long and dull. It can be a difficult time...and the deepest comes at the end, when we commemmorate Christ's death on the Cross.

But the joyous season of Easter will be here before we really expect it...

and in the meantime there is the beauty of a deepening relationship with Jesus and the wonder of increased maturity.

May your Lent be blessed and productive and may you grow closer to the one who sacrificed for you.

It's going to snow tomorrow. Blizzard conditions, they say. Likely to cancel school and all that.

So....

For wintry weather, today's song for Sunday -- a classic rock song by the Doors .....Winter Time Love.

Hope you enjoy it!

Aftermath

We dodged a bullet around here. A few branches down, etc. but the worst thing we had to face was cabin fever. The power never even went out.

We are thankful.

But from this vantage point it is easy to forget that Hurricane Sandy has caused real devestation elsewhere. Manhatten without electricity, Atlantic City underwater, Haiti devestated.

Nearly 100 people lost their lives because of the storm. The death toll is expected to rise.

People are going to need help.

So let's breathe a sigh of relief, hug our loved ones tight, and get to work. I am not sure what most of can do -- pray, raise funds, send supplies. Perhaps join a mission trip bringing hope to the damaged areas, once those are organized. I know we can all help somehow.


How did you fare in the storm?




This is my 30th post for the October Ultimate Blog Challenge. One to go!

Hurricane!

The winds are picking up, smaller branches are already falling. It's raining. The roads are quiet. Things are not too bad, yet.


So... we are already.


Saying prayers for everybody's safety.


Not much time for blogging...going to keep my son occupied with school work and a game of Risk.


Stay safe, everyone!!




Then come the wild weather, come sleet or come snow, we will stand by each other, however it blow.
                                                         ~Simon Dach 





This is my 29th post for the October Ultimate Blog Challenge. On track!

Two Beautiful Days

This week, I have been blessed by two wonderful days.

First, there was today. I attended the baptism of a friend's young daughter. We worshipped in a tent, went down to a cove for the baptism ceremonies and fellowshipped together at a barbecue. The weather was lovely, the spirit amazing. It was a truly fabulous way to celebrate new life in Christ. Such a happy occasion.

Then, there was last Thursday. I went out to Martha's Vineyard with CYC friends for a Memorial Service. The weather was gorgeous and John Wilbur --whom we were remembering -- had been the Conference's weatherman for decades. We worshipped at a lovely church, ate together, comforted the family and then went walking about before we got back on the ferry. A few of us even rode a carousel. We all talked about what a good day it had been.

And it had been a good day, for all that we were at funeral. John was close to 90 and was a man of faith who is surely with God. Our memories of him are good ones, his legacy a vital part of our lives. We were together. We laughed, remembered, shared, worshipped. In sunshine and warmth with just the right breeze. Yes, a good day.

What beautiful days have you been blessed with recently?






CYC is  a two-week conference for high school teens that combines worship, Christian education, friendship and fun to offer a life-changing experience on the beautiful southern coast of Maine.

This is my first entry in the July Ultimate Blog Challenge. I am going for 30 posts in 30 days!

Random thoughts on hot weather.

Well it's over 95 degrees and bike club got canceled because of it. Hear that up in Ocean Park it's 105+ at the horsefield. So I thought I'd put up a few quotes about the heat. Here you go:

Hot weather brings out snakes and slaveholders, and I like one class of the venomous creatures as little as I do the other.

~ Harriet Ann Jacobs

Maybe... do you find people are worse on hot days?



This is going around Facebook. Don't know where it started:

I was going to complain about how hot it is.. then I realized that at least: 1.) it isn't 109 degrees; 2.) I'm not 5,700 miles from home; 3.) I'm not dressed in a full ABU uniform and helmet and carrying 70+ lbs.; and 4.) there is very little chance that anyone will shoot at me or that I might drive over a bomb in the road today! Thanks to all who serve. REPOST so they all know how thankful we are.

Adds some perspective, doesn't it?

It's the same every year, you always have rain, you always have hot weather,

~ Robert Lane

And that's true, too.

How are you doing with the heat.