Month: December 2015

Dearly Beloved,
Grace and Peace to you.
         
         

Against the brutal urge
only a mass of gentle people
will be effective.

Against the deep night
which is not bottomless after all
only light will bring release.

Against the lie that nothing can be done
only people doing it anyway
will prevail.

Against our own despair
only one who comes in love
can defend us.

Against the monstrous powers
only the invitation to love the poor child
will save us.

Deep Blessings,
Pastor Steve

__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

To receive Unfolding Light as a daily e-mail,
write to me at unfoldinglight(at) gmail.com

Dearly Beloved,
Grace and Peace to you.
         
         I am confident of this,
         that the one who began a god work in you
         will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
                  —Philippians 1.6

Yes, that’s a typo. I do that a lot.
It’s supposed to be a “good work.”
But this time I’ll leave it. That is my prayer.

                  •

You give me no punishment,
no requirement, no burden,
only you.
Repentance is not my work but yours:
you are a child growing within me.

I surrender myself to your deep delight.
I make of my rough heart
an open manger.

Come to wholeness in me,
that I may become
what you already cherish.

Come, be born in me.
Come, give birth to me,
Holy Child, my Lord,
my Mother, my life.

__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

To receive Unfolding Light as a daily e-mail,
write to me at unfoldinglight(at) gmail.com

         
         Prepare the way of the Lord,
                  make a straight path for God.
         Every valley shall be filled,
                  and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
         and the crooked shall be made straight,
                  and the rough ways made smooth;
         and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
                  —Luke 3.4-6

God of love, take my heart and change it.

Take what is rough in me and let it become gentle.

Take my fear and let it become wonder.

Take my anger and let it become sorrow.

Take my grief and let it become compassion.

Take my discouragement and let it become acceptance.

Take my doubt and let it become courage.

Take my hurt and let it become forgiveness.

Take my not knowing and let it become faith.

Take my self-centeredness and let it become love.

Take my broken heart and let it become my strength.

Take my life and let it become yours.

__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

To receive Unfolding Light as a daily e-mail,
write to me at unfoldinglight(at) gmail.com