Psalm 92

Psalms for Praying

Nan C. Merrill

It is good to give thanks you to You,

O Beloved,

to sing praises to your Holy Name,

To affirm your steadfast love

in the morning,

and your faithfulness through the night.

To the music of the spheres,

to the melody of the universe.

For you, Heart of my heart, gladden

my soul,

as I proclaim with joy the harmony

and beauty of creation.  

It is indeed good to give thanks with all of you.  I must pause my emails for a few days as I finish up September's ministry with SpiritCare and prepare for a few days off with Tyler.  I turn 63 this week so this beautiful poem by Mary Oliver seems a fitting gift.  Let us dare to celebrate the beauty of this world.  Such outrageous love is very much needed. 

 

 

Messenger
My work is loving the world.
Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird- equal seekers of sweetness.
Here is the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.  Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.

Are my boots old? Is my coat torn? Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect? Let me keep my mind on what matters, which is my work,
which is mostly standing still, learning to be astonished .
The phoebe, the delphinium.
The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.
Which is mostly rejoicing, since all the ingredients are here,
which is gratitude, to be given a mind and heart and these body-clothes,
a mouth with which to give shouts of joy to the moth and the wren, to the sleepy dug up clams, telling them all ,over and over, how it is that we live forever.  

Psalm 91

Psalms for Praying

Nan C. Merrill

   

Those who dwell in the shelter of

Infinite Light,

who abide in the wings of

Infinite Love,

Will raise their voices in praise:

"My refuge and my strength;

In You alone will I trust."

  

 

Lately I have been reminded that often when people ask me to pray for them, they cannot, or may not want to express exactly what their concerns are.  I am fine with that.  Sometimes, I think people just want to hold a hand and hear a prayer lifted just for them.  Sometimes, the ill or the very frail simply want some assurance that their waning voices can still be heard.  God does not necessarily need to me to understand.  That is God's realm.  God simply asks me to simply hold on. 

 

      

    

     

Psalm 90

Psalms for Praying

Nan C. Merrill 

  

O, that we might be converted

in our hearts

and walk together in peace and harmony.

Let your Word be known to the nations,

your Glory to our children's children.

Let the grace and gentleness of the

Holy Spirit be upon us,

guiding our feet upon paths of Love.

Increase the Light within us -

O Beloved, hear our prayer.

Amen 

 

  

 

Psalm 89

Psalms for Praying

Nan C. Merrill

 

  

Through you we are born anew,

the Spirit of Truth comes to us.

Your enduring love is with us forever,

and your Covenant stands firm

throughout eternity.

We will know You as Loving Companion

Presence now

and in the life to come. 

  

 

A few days ago, as I was leaving a home dedicated to the care of those with Alzheimer's, I noticed this vine that was growing outside the front door.  It was overcast that morning, and breezy. I paused and watched the blossoms move in the wind.  I marveled that the fragile blossoms stayed on the vine.  In that moment, I felt touched by eternity.  That no matter what, we belong. 

 

   

  

 

Psalm 88

Psalms for Praying

Nan C. Merrill

Let your Love encircle and envelope me,

in your mercy raise me up.

Let peace become my companion all day long;

by night free me from the bonds of fear.

Let me be reconciled with family and

friends; and may I know You

as Loving Companion Presence

as in days of old.

Amen. 

 

 

 

  

 

Psalm 87

Psalms for Praying

Nan C. Merrill 

   

In the heavenly realm stands 

the City of Light;

the Beloved welcomes all

who comes to the gate,

all who have surrendered themselves

to Love.

Glories await you within the citadel,

within the City of Light. 

Among those who enter

are the humble and kind,

those who reflect peace and

radiate integrity,

those who have faced darkness

with Love by their side.    

   

  

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Matthew 7:7

 

 

Psalm 86

Psalms for Praying

Nan C. Merrill  

  

Be present to me and receive my prayer;

imbue me with strength, and

help me to release each fear.

Pour forth your Light into my soul,

that all that is hidden in darkness

may come forth in awareness.
For You, O Beloved, are my Redeemer

and my Comforter. 

 

   

   

   

Psalm 85

Psalms for Praying

Nan C. Merrill   

  

Wisdom will spring up from the ground

and truth will look down from the sky.

Yes, the Eternal Giver will grant

what is good,

and the lands will yield abundantly.

Mercy and compassion are Love's way,

and will guide our footsteps

upon the path of peace. 

 

      

 

The weather has cooled and I was grateful to spend a little time in the garden yesterday afternoon.  I have much to do as we continue to make the change from a yard model to a garden.  However, yesterday I was accompanied by a butterfly, a bee, two grasshoppers, and two golden orb spiders.  Unfortunately, I did not get a close look at the bee, but I do not think it was honey bee, so I am hopeful that it was a native bee.  My plan to is plant more California natives to attract native bees. The cherry tomato plant is down to two tiny green tomatoes.  While we certainly could not have fed a family of four off that plant, we enjoyed a fairly steady harvest of sweet, golden tomatoes.  I let the basil flower, and I know at least one bee was happy with that.  The lavender is about to bloom. To say that this is a modest endeavor is quite the understatement.  The mail carrier came by as I was doing some pruning.  I think he was a bit underwhelmed by it all, but he did smile.  I apologized to the grasshoppers as I caught my breath and dispatched them by hand. They are now part of the soil.     

 

I am part of an effort here in San Leandro to bring awareness about the need to think of our yards as gardens.  Even if the only thing we ever did was to stop using pesticides, and plant some herbs like borage, lavender, basil, and rosemary, those steps would actually be great strides.   Our cooking might improve as well!  

 

May you find peace in your garden today.   So much of the world is on the run from war, storms, famine, disease, and despair.  A modest garden is heaven indeed, and I give thanks.

 

 

 

 

Psalm 84

Psalms for Praying

Nan C. Merrill  

 

 

For a day within the Heart of Love

is more to be desired than

a thousand elsewhere.

I would rather be a servant 

in your dwelling place,

than live in riches among

those who do not know Love.

For the Beloved is as radiant as the sun,

as strong as a steel shield,

and invites each one to come,

to partake of the Banquet.

Who will seek for spiritual treasure?

O Loving Creator of the universe,

blessed are all who put their

trust in You.

 

 

      

   

   

Psalm 83

Psalms for Praying

Nan C. Merrill

 

Clothe us in the dress of your peace,

and in the stronghold of your mercy,

that we might bear the power of Love;

Let us walk in shoes of integrity,

and don the mantel of truth.

Let us shed the tatters of envy and fear,

the rags of anger and greed,

and say, "We shall seek only the Truth,

which will set us free."    

  

Dedicated to my friend, Rev. Masaaki Shibano who holds vigil as 30,000 people in Japan flee their homes.  May all survivors and refugees in our world find peace, safety, and shelter tonight.  Holy God, please, a special prayer for the children who are carried through the storms of this world.  May they be held and fed.  May their feet be planted on holy ground.   

 

  

 

 

Psalm 82

Psalms for Praying 

Nan C. Merrill  

  

Arise! Awaken to the new dawn.

Come into the Light, shed darkness

like skin on the snake.

The foundations of the cosmos

are shaking with injustice.

 

I say, "Within you is the Beloved,

the Breath of your breath;

Open your heart in the silence and

know the One in the many."

 

Arise! Join the in the new creation.

Let harmony reign 

among all the nations.    

 

 

 

 

Psalm 81

Psalms for Praying

Nan C. Merrill

   

I hear a Voice I have come to know;

"I relieve your shoulder of the burden;

your spirit is free to create.

In distress when you call,

I come to you;

I answer you in the secret place 

of your heart;

I invite you to the grace of forgiveness.

Hear O my people, while I caution you.

O, dear friends, if you would but listen.

Do not make of riches and ambition a

powerful god;

do not be puffed up with pride and arrogance.

I am your very breath;

I have been with you from the beginning.

Open your heart wide, and I shall fill it.

I would satisfy your hunger,

and with streams of Living Water,

you would live in the joy

of heaven on earth."        

 

Psalm 80

Psalms for Praying

Nan C. Merrill   

   

Restore us, O Holy One.

Let your face shine upon us,

teach us to love.

 

  

      

 

Psalm 79

Psalms for Praying

Nan C. Merrill  

    

O Merciful Presence, the ignorant seem

unrestrained in the world;

they defile the Holy Temple, your

dwelling place within;

they leave those weaker than themselves

in ruins.   

Chaos and destruction follow them, as

they oppress the poor through

deception and greed, and

kill the faith-filled who resist.

Yes, they have poured out their blood

like water throughout the world;

may have disappeared without a trace.

How long will the unjust bring anguish

to the loving, to those

who seek justice and peace?  

 

Let the cries of the victims of injustice

come before You;

according to your great Power,

break the bonds of oppression! 

Let all that has been garnered through greed

be returned in full measure with open hands.

Then we your people, those who would 

companion with You,

will give thanks to You forever;

from generation to generation we will 

abandon ourselves into your hands

with grace-filled open hearts.     

 

 

On Sunday, I filled in for a pastor who was out of town.  I was grateful to be with that small congregation again. I first met them when I was still in seminary, and I have continued to return to them about once a year.  This year, I was blessed to baptize a baby and serve communion.  The small chapel was filled with family and friends, some of whom obviously felt uncomfortable being there.  I love that.  We humans must keep coming before that which we don't necessarily understand.  Otherwise, how will we grow?   Too much time and resources are being squandered in rejection, if not worse.    

 

Yet, a baby came before us, wiggling, but completely accepting the love of the mother who held her.  I am grateful to have touched such innocence once more.   Afterwards, we gathered around the communion table.  There, among the young and old, the confident, and the less so, bread was broken once more.          

Holy God, I thank you, and I will do so forever.  

  

 

 

Psalm 78

Psalms for Praying

Nan C. Merrill 

   

Listen well, O peoples of the earth,

to inner promptings of the Spirit;

Let Silence enter your house that

you may hear.

For within your heart Love speaks;

not with words of deceit,

but of spiritual truths to guide you

upon the paths of peace.

Do not hide this from your children;

teach of the inward Voice, and

help all generations to listen

in the Silence,

That they may know the Beloved

and be free

to follow the precepts of Love.  

 

    

 

Psalm 77

Psalms for Praying

Nan C. Merrill

  

I call to mind the closeness of my Friend;

yes, I remember the joy of

the Beloved's presence.

I contemplate in the Silence,

recalling how You led me along the Way;

For your Way, O Beloved, is holy,

there is no other like You!

You are the One who will bring

us to wholeness,

You manifest your Love to all

who call upon You;

With You the peoples are redeemed,

the nations brought to peace. 

 

  

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. 

 Matthew 28:20   

  

 

 

 

Psalm 76

Psalms for Praying

Nan C. Merrill 

  

In loving places, O Beloved,

are You known,

your mercy extends to all the earth.

You abode has been established

in our souls,

your dwelling place in our hearts. 

You break down our walls -

our anger, fear, and doubts.

Glorious are You, more majestic

than the everlasting mountains.

That which is haughty within us

is brought low,

our greed brings us to ruin.

The violence that we harbor

turns upon ourselves.

In your loving mercy, O Beloved,

You raise us up with Love. 

 

Surely our fear-filled hearts will

one day praise You,

the gold that comes out of the ashes.

Abandon yourself to the Beloved

with confidence, and

receive the blessings of Love

from the Heart of your heart,

From the One who forgives your

transgressions,

Who welcomes you home with joy.   

   

   

I confess one of the first thoughts I had this morning was, "I am tired of this drought."  I am tired of seeing abandoned dirt, withered flowers, and browning trees.  Therefore, my heart was ripe for this psalm.  I have little choice but to abandon my fears to God.  Yes, I can carry the bucket of shower water to the garden, but much is truly out of my hands.   

 

The plant in this picture is borage.  It is not an easy plant to photograph because of the tendency of the leaves and blooms to turn downward.  However, it is very bee friendly, and it has a long history of medicinal and culinary uses.  It grows well in a Mediterranean climate, so is a good choice for us here in the bay area.   

 

Yes, there is a balm.  Thank you, God. 

 

 

Psalm 75

Psalms for Praying 

Nan C. Merrill   

   

We give thanks to You, O Beloved, 

we give thanks; 

We call upon your Name and 

recount the ways of Love.   

  

For hidden within the heart of each soul, 

there dwells the Divine Guest. 

Let us rejoice and be glad!    

    

   

Yes, we are halfway through the psalms and you are receiving this one a few hours early.  I confess this psalm also warns of judgement and a refiner's fire. However, it does seem the refiner's fire is all around us.  I am seeking refuge elsewhere today. Perhaps because I have been asked to baptize a baby this Sunday.   Forgive me if I err on the side of rejoicing.  Surely we must baptize, and live in hope, not fear.     

I thank your for journeying with me.   I have loved this daily practice.  We can deal with the refiner's fire on another day.   Forgive me, God, if I assume too much. 

      

Psalm 74

Psalms for Praying 

Nan C. Merrill 

   

I shall always remember your covenant, 

as the shadows within rise up 

to the Light.  

   

    

Psalm 73

Psalms for Praying  

Nan C. Merrill 

   

As for me, I delight in walking 

with the Beloved; 

I invite the Friend into my heart, 

that I might live in Love.

   

    

Merrill's rendition has the line "I invited the Friend into my heart..." 

However, as I posting on Facebook, I decided that I like the sense of the ongoing invitation.   The process is ongoing.