Years ago a therapist prescribed for me the daily practice of praying the famous Serenity Prayer to help me navigate anxiety. While this prayer is usually associated with recovery groups, it has much broader application for many other personal afflictions. I was asked to look up the “full version” which I didn’t know existed. It is medicine to the soul. … More Soul Medicine: Full Serenity Prayer
A pastor friend of mine sends me a personal prayer each Monday. They are rooted in Scripture, deeply personal, beautifully written — inspired. Sunday my kids and I performed a concert of carols. All month I’ve been doing concerts at senior homes and churches, hoping to bring some JOY to hearts through my songs. Let me share my friends’ prayer on this Christmas Eve, and I pray the same over you. … More Spirit and Songs of Joy
I’m on a solo retreat at the Pepin Forest Treehouse cabin Keri booked for me for my 45th birthday. Feeling a bit nostalgic and retrospective in the treehouse this morning, I stumbled across an old journal entry and poem written by a 23-year old Jeremy just after college. This led me to thinking about aging instruments and Willie Nelson’s guitar. … More My Life Song & Willie’s Guitar
This is my second grade son Isaak’s painting. I think it’s majestic and speaks to me on various levels. I wonder what message it sends to you? Even better, what Scripture might it evoke? … More Christmas Snow (Isaak’s Painting)
A friend shared this prayer of Thomas Merton with me. I enjoy my occasional morning walks with Merton in the woods. He’s a great guide to get lost with in the woods, and deep thought! … More Lost in the Woods with Merton
Awhile back I shared my kids’ custom bedtime prayers about dinosaurs roaring and monsters tickling feet. We grown-ups are watching living monsters lurk and nightmare scenarios discussed on the nightly news. Here’s my bedtime prayer. … More My Bedtime Prayer These Days
by Matt Erickson Let us join together in praying this prayer today. Lord, we lament the state of our nation.Lord, we lament the divisions between us as people in our nation that we cannot seem to resolve. Lord, we lament the pain, confusion, hatred, and violence that seems to reign in our personal and national … More A Prayer for Our Nation
This weekend I stumbled upon a fun faith-building project as I sat down with each kid and wrote a custom bedtime prayer together. Check it out! … More Homemade Bedtime Prayers
I went to the polling place to cast my votes, and ended up casting non-partisan prayers for all the candidates. As I stood over that ballot with pen in hand, looking at all the names and offices, tears dropped down indiscriminately on the ovals below. I turned that little space into a prayer closet and portal to the King of Kings. … More Prayers & Tears at the Poll
Danny Evans is a modern-day psalmist and spoken word prophet with a message for this moment. His mission is to erase division, and awaken people to the love that can cover the multitude of societal sins that are beguiling us. … More Scandal Follows the Sandal
Jesus, the very thought of thee with sweetness fills my breast. But greater still thy face to see and in thy presence, rest.
~St. Bernard of Clairvaux … More A Prayer of St. Bernard of Clairvaux
A prayer from Reinhold Niebuhr (1892 – 1971) … More A Prayer in the Confusion
Almighty God, who sits on the throne judging right… … More Two Prayers for Justice
What is this pandemic revealing or exposing in our nation and personal lives? … More We’ve All Been Exposed (Sarah Bourns)
A Sunday Prayer for a people in Quarantine … More God of All Patience
Life is short, And we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us. So… be swift to love, and make haste to be kind. And the blessing of God, who made us, who loves us, and who travels with us be with you now and forever. AMEN
Three Kings came riding from far away, Melchior and Gaspar and Baltasar; Three Wise Men out of the East were they, And they travelled by night and they slept by day, For their guide was a beautiful, wonderful star. The star was so beautiful, large and clear, That all the other stars of the sky … More The Three Kings (Longfellow)
Do you struggle to pray? Does your mind drift and wander off? Let’s turn one of the most familiar Scriptures of the Christmas season into a prayer. … More A Christmas Prayer (Isaiah 9:6)
A tearjerking poem I pull out every first (big) snowfall. With love to all who have suffered great loss, but who also know the grace that gently covers our great sorrow like a fresh blanket of snow. … More The First Snowfall
In out-of-the-way places of the heart, Where your thoughts never think to wander, This beginning has been quietly forming, Waiting until you were ready to emerge. For a long time it has watched your desire, Feeling the emptiness growing inside you, Noticing how you willed yourself on, Still unable to leave what you had outgrown. … More Poem for a New Beginning
A great companion for the “Pilgrimage of the Soul” and contemplative journey is Father Henri Nouwen. His writings are vast and very simple and down to earth. A great place to begin is a short book I recently read called, “The Life of the Beloved.” Here’s a blessing from Father Henri to savor on a … More Henri’s Blessing
“Justify my soul, O God, but also from Your fountains fill my will with fire. Shine in my mind, although perhaps this means “be darkness to my experience,” but occupy my heart with Your tremendous Life. Let my eyes see nothing in the world but Your glory, and let my hands touch nothing that is … More Prayer of Thomas Merton
by Malinda Fuller May you have clarity of thought and a morsel of sanity today. May you know that His grace is enough. For every season, every tantrum, every question, every failure. It is enough. Always. May you know that you are wildly loved by your Father, just as you are. Not because of what … More Prayer for a Stressed Out Mom
The Work of Christmas by Rev Dr Howard Thurman (1899-1981) When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To … More The Work of Christmas
Here’s the hauntingly beautiful ancient hymn we featured at our Christmas Eve service. Listen below after reading the words. O SAVIOR OF OUR FALLEN RACE Ancient Christmas Hymn, circa 6th Century O Savior of our fallen race, O Brightness of the Father’s face, O Son who shared the Father’s might Before the world knew day … More O Savior of Our Fallen Race
Jeremy L. Berg 