Morning Breaks -again

Morning Breaks - again

Morning Breaks - again …Thankfully, 

the birds sing this morning

flags wave in the fresh crisp air, a break from the sweltering heat 

Stones of remembrance in sight, streams of sunshine and red, white and blue dotting the Meadows of remembrance-lives just like us 

giving their all for the every day

News of senseless killings and massacres throughout our country and the world 

Wars and starvation

Beautiful lives, cut short, perplexing disturbing,  confounding 

“Brother and sister under the banner of your name “1

Wars fought and fighting still 

Songs being sung, “make us one all tribes and tongue” 

we see the need,but refrain at times,

to lay down the differences,  hard judging, taking  the side, taking on attitude as having the right and only view or solution on peace plan

“Prayers rise, every age, young old, every generation, praying, Rising, raising the battle flag

the banner of victory of God, 

who saw it all before 

And prayed at the end of His earthly life 

to all be one 

“Mothers, fathers

Under the banner of Your Name

All Your children”

Every age, every skin color,

Refresh others 

“….those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”2

let us build refreshing times

Times and gestures of empathy 

And humanity 

Building and living for that which will last

********

1 The Church, UPPERROOM ,Abbie Gamboa

 

The Church

2 Proverbs 11:25

The generous will prosper;those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

Proverbs 11:25

The Church - UPPERROOM lyrics 

For the different ways we see You

For all the ways You move

All the colors and expressions

Oh, the beauty of Your church

What a masterful reflection

When we are unified

Truly celebrate each other

And let go of our pride

That You would have a spotless bride

Our preferencеs, our plans

Would You help us work together

To be Your feet and hands?

Our heart is just to know You

To show them who You are

That the Gospel’s still the answer

For every searching heart

[Chorus]

Oh, praise the Father

Praise the Son

Holy Spirit

Make us one

From every nation

Tribe and tongue

This is our cry

Your Kingdom come, oh

[Bridge]

And brothers, sisters

Under the banner of Your Name

Mothers, fathers

Under the banner of Your Name

All Your children

All for the glory of Your Name

Brothers, sisters

Under the banner of Your Name

Mothers, fathers

Under the banner of Your Name

All Your children

All for the glory of Your Name

Brothers, sisters

Under the banner of Your Name

Mothers, fathers

Under the banner of Your Name

All Your children

All for the glory of Your Name

Your name

Through every story of revival

Every miracle we’ve seen

It’s a glimpse of what is coming

So by faith, help us believe

And we know the day is coming

When we will see Your face

Every knee will bow before You

And every heart will say

[Chorus]

Praise the Father

Praise the Son

Holy Spirit

Make us one

From every nation

Every tribe and tongue

This is our cry

Your Kingdom come

This is our cry

Your Kingdom come

Your will be done

Your Kingdom come

[Outro]

Unify us, Lord

Anywhere where we've been divided, Lord

Unify us, Lord

Anywhere where we've been divided, Lord

Unify us, Lord

All across the earth

Every person who claims Your name

Unify us, Lord

Oh, the church all across the earth

We're under the banner of one name

We're under the banner of Your name

We're under the banner of Your name

Every color and every language

Is under the banner of Your name

Every age group, Lord

Every skin color, Lord

We're under the banner of Your name

Every denomination, Lord

Is under the banner of Your name

Do you love God?

Do you love Jesus?

Then you're under the banner of His name

We're under the banner of Your name

Anchored

Anchored 

We suffer, we all suffer to some extent

The old question “if God is good then why is there suffering in the world?”

We hear of sisters Blair and Brooke, who died still holding hands when found from the Texas flood at Christian Camp Mystic

Local pastor age Rob 51, esophageal cancer, recently died, writes an encouragement last note to the church on Hope eternal.

Neighbor has best friend cutting grass on a mower falls over a bank -now gone, neighbor helped dig him out, Travis still having his gold cross that they got when they were saved from their wayward lives.

We live in a broken world, but our hope we have in our suffering is that we are anchored- Anchored by God, who says:

 “When someone is hurting or brokenhearted, the Eternal moves in close and revives him in his pain.” (Psalm 34:18)

Anchored –

 “Now I’m sure of this: the sufferings we endure now are not even worth comparing to the glory that is coming and will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18.

But anchored in our suffering:

“But God remembered Noah.

 Sent wind to blow over all the earth and the waters began to subside.”1

In suffering, we gasp for life, but hear:

“Don’t worry – I will guide you.

 I have plans to make a great people from your descendants.”2 

Look around you -North, South, East, and West.

“Do not be afraid –

 I am always your shield and protector. 

Your reward for loyalty and trust will be immense.”3

God sees you and anchors you and your suffering.

“I’m going to call you the God of Seeing. 

Well of the Living One who watches over me”.4

Without hope or sight, we hear:

“Is anything too difficult for the Eternal one to accomplish?”5

Light on cash, vision for the future, or seeing family through hard times?

“The eternal one will provide, 

I will reaffirm my covenant of blessings to you and your family.” 6

Surprised – in awe of fleeting time, we leave as we came, taking nothing of the wealth with us.

“Sarah reached the end of her life. She was 127 years old.” 7

That’s all that is recorded of a very full and important life. 

Sarah's life who is in the genealogy of our Savior, 

The One who brings purpose out of pain

and where suffering does not have the last word

“Oh, that, as a cloud ascending

  Upwards to the skies above,

We may rise, and with unending

  Rapture realise Thy Love!”

( Ann Griffiths , Hymn VI)

Bible version shared Voice

1. Genesis 8:1

2. Genesis 12:1

3. Genesis 15:1

4. Genesis 16:13,14

5. Genesis 18:14

6. Genesis 22:14,17

7. Genesis 23:1

"Now we have this hope
 as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul 
it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it—

a hope that reaches farther 

and enters into the very certainty of the Presence within the veil," 

Hebrews 6:19 (AMP)

Watching Over Me

You thought I was to die for

 

It could’ve been like any other ordinary morning 

Soon realizing that “Jesus was not here but raised”

The viburnum, arrowwood fragrance in the air

When we arrive, “we would see the stone rolled away in spite of its weight and size”

Dogwood blossoming -affection and new life

“Why are you seeking the living one in a place of the dead?”

                                 

Red bud blossoming in the background 

“After hearing these words, she turned around and Jesus stood before her”

Aspens quaking -“I give you the gift of peace”

New daffodils - “He drew close enough for them to feel his breath”

Hydrangea new growth with the old - 

“He breathed on them…

welcoming the Holy Spirit of the living God”

No ordinary day at all

“You thought I was worth saving 

So, You came and changed my life

You thought I was worth keeping 

So, You cleaned me up inside 

You thought I was to die for”

Worth - Anthony Brown

Worth - Spotify

“… Song of the Highway…”

Song of the Highway

New York, 1931

Written by Pauli Murray (1910-1985)

1st published poem

I am the Highway, 

Long, white, winding Highway, 

Binding coast to coast 

And people to people; 

I am the spine of the earth. 

Over the hills I glide 
And then, come swooping down 
To some deserted spot. 
Over river and lake I stride- 
Through farm and field, and town, 
Through desert sands, white-hot. 

I laugh when the brooklets laugh, 
And weep with wayside trees 
So bent-so broken by the wind. 
Sometimes the birds and flowers 
Fill my path with song and bloom; 
Sometimes a fragrant breeze 
Leaves me drenched with faint perfume. 

I hear the sounds of earth- 
The low of cattle on the plains, 
Clatter of hoof, sound of horn, 
Rustling fields of rye, 
Of wheat, of tassled corn; 
Sweet sounds, so dear- 
As through the year 
Life marches on. 

I am old-sad things I know, 
Ache of road-worn travelers, 
Lonely hours; the tragedy of pioneers 
Who trudged through scorching lands, 
Through rain-and snow, 
Who bartered with famine-thirst-
And death-to give me birth.

But I go on in silence, 
For those who know my life 
Will sing my song, 
Song of the Highway, 
Long, white, winding Highway. 

New York, 1931

Written by Pauli Murray (1910-1985)

1st published poem

Pauli Murray's poem “Song of the Highway” is about the possibility of democracy and is spoken from the perspective of the open road. The poem's final stanza alludes to the fate of silence that is racialized and gendered.