Mother Earth

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Janet Salbert

Luminous Mystery, who fills the earth with vibrant, brilliant blessings,
In this silent moment, we pause to breathe, and sit between the wildness of life and the unmoving foundation of your Presence. When all seems to be uncontrollable and our hearts fill with concern for the deep needs of the earth and her people, you lead us to places where the birds are nesting and blooms too numerous to count. Fill us with the fresh beauty of your creation flirting beyond our doors. Use this season for bringing new brilliance to our lives sending us to respond boldly wherever there is need. Amen.

Place of Simplicity

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Janet Salbert

Refuge

Ancient Builder, who offers us refuge in the wilderness,
Use your silence to draw us in to a place of simplicity and shelter. Soak us in the peace of your Presence. When the day calls for more strength than we have, send others alongside to encourage and sustain us. When issues require careful discernment, let your wisdom arise from within the gathered community. When creativity is flagging and life seems dull, give us the imaginations of children full of fresh ideas. Remind us that you provide all that is needed to make us whole, and return us home to you. Amen.

Renew our Hope

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Janet Salbert

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Mover of Mercy, who leads us to places of renewed hope,
The time is come. Help us be still without running away as you expose our futility, our selfishness and emptiness. Your morning light reveals our darkness. Help us to bear these holy days with patience. Make our prayer one with the numerous refugees trying to escape the powers that condemn life. You have shown us the way that leads to life, increase our obedience to live in the purpose for which you created us. Make us those who live in the power of your resurrection. Amen.

Fill us with Mercy

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Janet Salbert

Rock of Ages, who carries us to places of refuge.
Use this silence to draw us deeper into the canyon of your love. Bring us low enough to soften our rough edges and fill us with your mercy. Then, direct us to footholds that elevate us to a place of your perspective. When we cannot see ahead, move us to simply listen, waiting upon your guidance for our discernment. Like all those who have gone before us, give us confidence to explore the mystery of your Presence today. Amen.

Fullness

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Janet Salbert

Creator of Clarity, whose light reveals magnificence in each detail of every hour,
Shine gently upon us as we take in the first breath of morning. We so often manage our stress by doing more. Our lives are starved for time, for a moment of stillness to see the reality around us. We blindly fill our days with activity and don’t recognize or receive the abundance you provide. Use this silence to help us make peace with our circumstances. Guide us in discerning how our energy can best bless the world around us. Give us the wisdom to let go of all that is unnecessary. Make the gift of this day be our attention in the fullness of your Presence. Amen.

Strength after Darkness

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Janet Salbert

Giver of Guidance, who watches our growth through every season,
In the middle of Lent, we tire of dealing with dark winter nights, the cold rain and snow. Spiritually we are fatigued as well, none of us have escaped the impact of a harsh word, the feel of a forceful arm, or fear in a tough crowd. It is not that we cannot see the light, perhaps we are too slow to admit our own darkness, for in the light of Divine Love, we all cast shadows. Help us to notice how often the most delicate things of creation come to life revealing their strength after a time of darkness. Let us move through the rest of this season, trusting in that. Amen.

A Simple Prayer for Lent

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Janet Salbert

Common Communion

Constant Companion, who walks down every path we take,
Slow our hurried steps and steady our anxious souls in these moments. We seek your guidance on our Lenten journey. Help us to let go and carry only what is needed. Turn us to face ourselves admitting our tendencies toward greed and pride. Relieve our condemnation of others transforming our hearts with understanding. Restore our common communion. Illuminate our paths with the life giving words of those who walk in the ways of the One who is above us, within us, beneath us, behind us and beside us. Amen.

A Simple Prayer From a Snowstorm

Posted on January 23, 2016 by Janet Salbert

Snowstorm

Divine Maker of Wind and Snow, who fills us with wonder and awe,
As we begin this day, use this blanket of white to erase any need for words. Bring us an assurance that your Presence is made real in the silent winter landscape. Help us to practice this trust in the interruption of our lives, today. Warm our hearts and widen our interiors as we breathe in the beauty of the snowfall. Rather than increasing our anxiety over our lack of control, let this time of quiet bring peace in our souls. Indeed, help us learn that even in when we perceive we are lacking, you provide all that truly satisfies. Amen.

Embody the Word

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Janet Salbert

Ancient Author, whose Word creates life and hope,
Our intent is to leave space on the page and time in our calendar to open ourselves to your living Presence. Yet, we are distracted by many things and pulled in many directions. Quiet us in this moment, wherever we may be. Remind us that a simple breath brings peace, a wordless moment allows us to listen. Bring to the surface a recovery of the word you have placed in our depths, with the sure knowledge that those around us are part of how you provide the very thing we desire most. Keep us this day, from ignoring those who complete the Living Word in us. Amen.

Simple Hope

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Future realities

Carrier of blessing, who meets us in both dreams and realities,
On this last day of the calendar year, rather than brooding about past failures or worrying about future actualities, quiet us to ponder the blessing in here and now. Help us to understand the only way to face our circumstances is to soak in your love, to open up to your mercy, to still ourselves long enough to be saturated with your goodness. We are all hungry for something, but only some of us need food. We all experience rejection but only some of us are truly alone. Increase our ability to become hospitable and kind to those who are left out. In the year ahead, make our dreams a reality and our realities distant dreams. Amen.

Janet Salbert

Put Out Into the Deep

Tag Archives: Contemplative Living