O Almighty God, who pours out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and of supplication: Deliver us, when we draw near to you, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
Book of Common Prayer

Footprints

When my daughter Francesca was in grade school, she made a plaque for me that had three small footprints on it, and a poem by the same name. The poem describes God’s presence with us throughout our life, and especially in times of trouble, and I will share it with you today. No doubt many have read it before.

Christ’s footprint, Chapel of the Ascension

Everywhere we go, we leave our footprint, our “mark.” Often the footprint cannot be seen by the average person, but it is still there, an indelible sign that we have passed by. So it is with the Footprints of Christ in this world – he left the Church, his body as the most visible sign of his presence. He leaves his “mark” on all of us, and the mark becomes easier to read with time, as we come closer to union with God.

An interesting summer project would be to record the times and places where we have noticed God’s “mark” or footprint in our lives. We might be surprised at the many times when God has been present to us.

Footprints in the Sand

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed
he was walking along the beach with the LORD.

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene he noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand: one belonging
to him, and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.

He noticed that many times along the path of
his life there was only one set of footprints.

He also noticed that it happened at the very
lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he
questioned the LORD about it:

"LORD, you said that once I decided to follow
you, you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when
I needed you most you would leave me."

The LORD replied:

"My son, my precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."
Mary Stevenson

Debra's Midweek Meditation
Pentecostal Fire

"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability."
Acts 2:1-4

Fire cuts both ways, doesn't it?
It warms and it also burns,
a bit like the Word of God when taken seriously.
Pentecost came in a rush-
the creation itself conspiring with the Spirit to bring both a violent wind and a burning flame.

We have often seen fire accompany profound messages
from God-
the burning bush for one.
Does fire come to announce the power of God or to get our attention, or both?
Certainly, we might be more likely to pay attention to people with flames over their heads than a simple group of sincere believers.
There is drama here
as well as intense heat.
The Spirit comes with violence, rending the air with its power,
and making those who might slip off
minding their own business,
sit up and take notice.
This is the power of the Holy Spirit to change our hearts in completely unpredictable ways.
The Spirit is not tamed nor will it be.
The Spirit is wild with the creative power of God.

If the landscape reveals one certainty, it is that the extravagant gesture is the very stuff of creation. After the one extravagant gesture of creation in the first place, the universe has continued to deal exclusively in extravagances, flinging intricacies and colossi down aeons of emptiness...The whole show has been on fire from the word go. I come down to the water to cool my eyes. But everywhere I look I see fire; that which isn't flint is tinder, and the whole world sparks and flames.

As we walk through this extravagant creation, and particularly as we prepare to celebrate the heat of Pentecost,
I wonder if we are flint or tinder.
Do we ignite others as we live with the Holy Spirit?
Are we open to being set on fire?

Blessings,
Debra

Daily Morning Prayer:
http://www.episcopalchurchingarrettcounty.org/churchonthewebpage.htm

Fountain of mercy,
Light of truth,
Faith without limits,
Love without end,
Exemplar of virtue,
Proclaimer of Justice,
Leader of men,
Your footprints show the way to heaven.
Clement of Alexandria

This Week at St. James:

Thursday: 9:00 Newsletter Folding
Friday: 9:00 EFM
Saturday: 11:00 Baptismal Preparation w/Charlie+
Sunday: Day of Pentecost: No Sunday School
Monday: Church Office closed for Memorial Day
Wednesday: 8:30 Healing Service; 9:30 Bible Study

Prayers Etc.

If we behave as if we were the only
People for whom life is difficult;
I few believe as if we were far
Harder worked than anyone else;
If we behave as if we were the only
People who ever got a raw deal;
If we are far too self-centered and
Far too full of self-pity:
Forgive us, O God.
Wm. Barclay

For those on our prayer list:
Christy K.; Alden; Martina; Rob; The Hamill Family
Brittany; Andy B.; Mac K.; Donna & Jim; Owen B.
Annabelle; Thomas; Pat; David; Ray
Jeffrey; Mike H.; Matt S.; Judy E.; Rosemary
Clem B.; Maia; Mike P.; Barbara W.; Joanne B.
Peggy H.; Joyce R.; Tony M.; Kim K.; Mike R.
Susan L.; Carey B.; Natalie; Jeannie; Lon-toc
Jody B.; John; Kate; Josh; Michael D.
Jack ; The Rev. Pat Underwood; Bud D.
Tom

For Laura and Lyle
For those who are graduating
For those who are deployed and their families.

In Closing:

Lord Jesus,
Make yourself to me
A living, bright reality.
More present to faith’s vision keen
Than any outward object seen.
Hudson Taylor

May the everlasting Father Himself take you
In his own generous clasp,
In his own generous arm.

Pax et Bonum,
Loree+

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