Shine Bright

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Gentle Rhythm of Life, who brings creation forth through a pause,
We confess our pace is frantic in this season, we are all strangers looking for a place to rest in unfamiliar surroundings. We don’t quite know where our journey is taking us. Slow our breathing in this moment. Hold us until we become quiet and aware of your Presence. Rather than being lost in the world, help us lose ourselves in you that we might be recreated, as you bring to birth the Word made flesh. The peace on earth we long for will shine bright when it happens first in us. Amen.

Transform Paths with Peace

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Janet Salbert

God of Day and Night,
whose wisdom invites us into divine collaboration,
We are grateful every day begins with change, for this new day is different from the last. Yet, in these silent moments, our breath in yours, assures us of the constancy of your loving Presence. Steady our souls to meet the challenges ahead. Guide our steps to gently transform hardened paths with peace. You have made this day different than the last, and have given us freedom in how to live it. Deepen us through experiences that move our minds toward our hearts. Help us to learn we are most free when we are bound with you and one another. Amen.

Fresh Perspectives

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Beam of Blessing, who sends sparkles of light into every moment,
Our first morning breath, as we attend to the fullness of your Presence, gives us focus. Our hearts fill with gratitude by the way your creation nurtures us each day and yet, is often overlooked when there is much imperfection in our world. It is easy for us to find the broken branches, the shadows and woundedness in our midst. Help us to not only see from fresh perspectives but to act with renewed hope. Strengthen us to persevere and give us eyes of grace to see the beauty that is emerging in difficult places. Amen.

A Simple Prayer for our Work

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Holy God, who courses beside us every hour,
Draw us toward the light of your Presence as we delve into the details our our work this day. Move us from one grateful thought to another for all that you provide. Like the squirrels outside our windows, flirting from one golden tree to the next, release any fixation we have on our ideas or opinions so that love may flow freely upon our sisters and brothers amongst us. As the day begins to fade into evening, help us to carry home the tender ways your fullness is being revealed, sustaining us in the dark and accompanying our rest. Amen.

Persevering in Trust

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Indwelling Spirit, whose energy renews life,
We admit that sometimes we avoid the silence, we hold our breath gasping at the trouble we see in our world. Steady our souls to spend time in your Presence. Help us to take one breath at a time. Rather than holding so tightly in our attempts to maintain the past, release even our rational fears and forget our problem solving and planning. Move our hearts forward in trust to find what is needed most is already in front of us, within us and beside us. Open us to receive your Living Presence so that we can willingly enter your reworking of creation. May all that emerges in our community life be evidence of the perseverance of your Spirit alive in us all. Amen.

Are Not the Flowers the Stars of the Earth?

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Creator of Wonder, who immerses us in the beauty of the earth,
As the stars fade in the morning light, flowers illuminate our view, and we greet the new day finding your fullness in it. Make each breath a taking in of the gift of your Presence. Slow us to savor the richness around us. Our anxiety over our circumstances is relieved when we accept that what you provide is enough, perhaps far more than we deserve. Day after day, we receive your goodness. Under canopies of stars and amongst paths lined with flowers, turn us into wide-eyed lovers, eagerly anticipating deeper connection with You and all the earth. Amen.

Standing Ready

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Protector of Life, who watches over our days,
In the morning silence, we face our uncertainties, finding your Presence standing guard. You quiet our fears with simple compassion. You strengthen us to live in our truth again and again. You never promised that acting on faith would be easy, you did promise that nothing can separate us from your love. And so we ask today as we watch for your faithfulness: make us like you, standing ready to pour out grace where there is need. Amen.

Living Hearts

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Wisdom of the Ages, whose desire is fullness of life,
Enlighten our hearts with your Presence. As we become aware of our breath and pulse, unify our bodies and souls. It is awesome to consider the vast expression of human vibration. It is beyond our comprehension how granite mountains can be so still and yet so alive. Even a single drop of water can carve a stone. And when we stand before the mystery of death, compassion overflows and somehow life arises from despair. You make all things possible through your transforming Love. Amen.

Delicate Strength

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Weaver of Life, whose simple designs create spaces of wonder,
We return to our homes this evening grateful to have experienced the tension, the fragility and the brilliance of the threads that have made up this day. Even when we have wanted to go in one direction, you gently turned us toward another direction in life-giving ways. Remind us not to enclose ourselves too tightly and miss moving toward the edges that enable us to increase our trust in the wisdom of your plan. Grant us rest in the delicate strength of your loving Presence this night. Amen.

A Prayer for a Summer Day

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Nurturing Maker of Earth, whose creative work is revealed in each season,
Send us outdoors this day to be immersed by your loving Presence. Refill us with breaths of sunshine and color. Our hearts fling open to take in the beautify of your fields and sky. Our bodies are sustained by your summer fruit. Return our thoughts to your constancy and your bounty. Everywhere you recreate us with a goodness that is real right now, and forever. Amen.

Janet Salbert

Put Out Into the Deep

Tag Archives: Contemplative Living