Poets & Saints

Scripture Luke 24:13–16 (NRSVUE) Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. Refrain Even in disappointment, You are near. Quote Frederic...

Scripture Luke 24:1–6 (NRSVUE) But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body.  While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the gr...

Scripture Philippians 3:13–14 (NRSVUE) Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Refrain I press on toward what is ahead. Quote Frederick Buechner, from Wishful Thinking "The grace of God means something li...

Scripture Philippians 3:10–11 (NRSVUE) I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Refrain In my suffering, Christ is with me. Quote Nicholas Wolterstorff, from Lament for a Son "God is not only the God of the sufferers but the God who suffers. The one who suffer...

Scripture Philippians 3:10 (NRSVUE) I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Refrain I surrender in order to know You. Quote Brennan Manning, from Abba's Child "Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is ill...

Scripture Philippians 3:8–9 (NRSVUE) I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ. Refrain In losing, I find wh...

Scripture Philippians 3:7–8 (NRSVUE) Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. Refrain I release what I once held as gain. Quote Thomas...

Scripture Psalm 84:11–12 (NRSVUE) For the Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you. Refrain God withholds no good thing from me. Quote George Herbert, from The Pulley "When God at first made man, having a glass of blessings standing by, let us, said he, pour on...

Scripture Psalm 84:10 (NRSVUE) For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness. Refrain One day in your presence is enough. Quote C.S. Lewis, from The Weight of Glory "It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with d...

Scripture Psalm 84:5–7 (NRSVUE) Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion. Refrain Strength rises in me as I walk. Quote Eugene Peterson, from A Long Obedience in the Same Di...

Scripture Psalm 84:3 (NRSVUE) Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Refrain I have found a place to belong. Quote Henri Nouwen, from The Return of the Prodigal Son "Home is the center of my being where I can hear the voice that says: 'You are my beloved, on you my favor rests.'" Hosted on...

Scripture Psalm 84:1–2 (NRSVUE) How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. Refrain My soul longs for the living God. Quote Augustine of Hippo, from Confessions "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you." Hosted on Acast. See ac...

Scripture John 15:9–10 (NRSVUE) As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. Refrain I remain in love. Quote Brennan Manning, from The Ragamuffin Gospel "Jesus comes not for the super-spiritual but for the wobbly and weak-kneed who know they don't have i...

Scripture John 15:16 (NRSVUE) You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. Refrain I did not choose first — I was chosen. Quote Henri Nouwen, from Life of the Beloved "Long before any human being saw us, we are seen by God's loving eyes. Long before anyone heard us cry or lau...

Scripture John 15:7–8 (NRSVUE) If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. Refrain Fruit grows when I remain. Quote Frederick Buechner, from Wishful Thinking "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."...

Scripture John 15:5 (NRSVUE) I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Refrain I am rooted in the vine. Quote John of the Cross, from The Ascent of Mount Carmel "The soul that is attached to anything, however much good there may be in it, will not arrive at the liberty of divine union." Hosted on Acast. See a...

Scripture John 15:4 (NRSVUE) Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. Refrain I choose to abide. Quote Thomas R. Kelly, from A Testament of Devotion "For God Himself works in our souls, in the deepest depths, taking increasing control as we are progressively willing to be prepared for His won...

Scripture Galatians 5:22–25 (NRSVUE) The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Refrain I walk in step with the Spirit. Quote Tho...

Scripture 1 John 4:18 (NRSVUE) There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. Refrain Love has moved in where fear used to live. Quote Julian of Norwich, from Revelations of Divine Love "Love was His meaning. Who showed it thee? Love. What showed He thee? Love. Wherefore was it showed? For Love. H...

Scripture Galatians 5:13 (NRSVUE) For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become servants to one another. Refrain Free to love, I turn toward others. Quote Dorothy Day, from The Long Loneliness "We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love com...

Scripture Galatians 5:1 (NRSVUE) For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Refrain I have nothing left to prove. Quote Henri Nouwen, from The Return of the Prodigal Son "Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the Beloved. Being the Beloved constitutes the core tr...

Scripture Galatians 5:13–14 (NRSVUE) For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Refrain I was made for this freedom. Quote Meister Eckhart "The most powerful prayer, one well...

Scripture   Philippians 1:6 (NRSVUE) I am confident of this,   that the one who began a good work among you   will bring it to completion   by the day of Jesus Christ. Refrain   I am learning to trust what is unfinished. Quote   R. S. Thomas There are nights when the darkness presses so close   that I can hear my own heart quest...

Scripture   Hebrews 10:36 (NRSVUE) For you need endurance,   so that when you have done the will of God,   you may receive what was promised. Refrain   I am learning to stay in the middle. Quote   Henri Nouwen Every time you listen with great attentiveness   to the voice that calls you the Beloved,   you will discover within you...

Scripture   Proverbs 3:5 (NRSVUE) Trust in the LORD with all your heart,   and do not rely on your own insight. Refrain   I am learning to trust without certainty. Quote   Simone Weil We do not obtain the most precious gifts   by going in search of them,   but by waiting for them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...