Poets & Saints

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...

Psalm 42:7 (NRSVUE) Deep calls to deep   at the thunder of your cataracts;   all your waves and your billows   have gone over me. Refrain   I am learning to stay with the silence. Quote   R. S. Thomas But the silence in the mind   is when we live best, within   listening distance of the silence   we call God. This is t...

Scripture   John 6:68 (NRSVUE) Simon Peter answered him,   “Lord, to whom can we go?   You have the words of eternal life.” Refrain   I am learning to stay. Quote   Thomas Merton My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.   I do not see the road ahead of me.   I cannot know for certain where it will end. Hosted on Acast. See...

Scripture   Habakkuk 2:3 (NRSVUE) For there is still a vision for the appointed time;   it speaks of the end and does not lie.   If it seems to tarry, wait for it;   it will surely come, it will not delay. Refrain   I am learning to wait with trust. Quote   John of the Cross In order to arrive at what you do not know,   you must...

Scripture   Isaiah 43:18–19 (NRSVUE) Do not remember the former things,   or consider the things of old.   I am about to do a new thing;   now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?   I will make a way in the wilderness   and rivers in the desert. Refrain   I am learning to make room. Quote   Meister Eckhart To be e...

Scripture   Psalm 62:8 (NRSVUE) Trust in him at all times, O people;   pour out your heart before him;   God is a refuge for us. --- Refrain   I am learning to name what is true. --- Quote   Julian of Norwich For I saw no wrath in God,   nor ever shall.   For our Lord is God, and God is good,   and goodness is enough t...

Scripture   Lamentations 3:22–23 (NRSVUE) The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases,   his mercies never come to an end;   they are new every morning;   great is your faithfulness. --- Refrain   I am learning to notice what is here. --- Quote   George Herbert Prayer the Church’s banquet, Angel’s age,   God’s breath in man retu...

Scripture   Psalm 131:2 (NRSVUE) But I have calmed and quieted my soul,   like a weaned child with its mother;   my soul is like the weaned child that is with me. --- Refrain   I am learning to pay attention. --- Quote   Simone Weil, *Waiting for God* The key to a Christian conception of studies is the realization that prayer consists of attention....