July 4 Prayer

John 20:24-29
“My Lord and my God”
Enter prayer now with taking a breath as if this is the breath of God breathing peace and hope into you.
Let it bubble up inside you, this hope of Christ’s resurrected life in you.
This world is not our home , we are only passing through.
What are you so attached to that you can not let it go long enough to loosen the tight hold on your life here?

Thomas was not convinced that his beloved Christ could be alive until he saw him with his own eyes. Jesus in his understanding and compassion allows Thomas to actually put his finger and hands into Christ’s open wounds.
That’s vulnerability and power for both of them.

Sit with this image for a little while in your imagination and be with Jesus there.

What hopes deferred do you need to release to him now? What are you holding unto that is too tight?

Release them into his open wounds and let the spark of new life come in.
As you breathe in again this time feel a new life and hope begin to grow inside of you.
As if the resurrected Christ lives in you
As if you believe
As if this is your last breath
As if the miracle of the resurrection is real and you believe life can come from death
As if..
As if..
Something new is emerging from the old
dark world of suffering, poverty, hunger and loss
His wounds open up to bring a hope that is heavenly, other worldly
and is yours.
Hope As is
Faith
Here, now in you, in me, in this world
We are only passing through.
We cry out together , “My Lord, and My God.”

“May the grace of our lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Cor.13:14