A Bit More Background....

I bet it's difficult to stay with this for 40 days. If you prefer to start at 40 and do a countdown, let me just place here the quote regarding the Jesus Creed that begins the thread. Forward, backward, upside downward....who cares. Just dwelling on this theme is worth a thousand words!

From Mark 12:29-31, but similar versions found also in Matthew and Luke:

"The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

A little background...

This series of prayers and thoughts grew out my response to something called the Jesus Creed. It reflects 40 days of sustained focus on those new, but really not so new, commandments from the Lord. I make them available to anyone who may be interested and recommend you start at the first entry ('Forty Days'); the easiest route to get there would be to click on the '2008' link to the right. Then consider making the effort to embark on a 40 day journey yourself, using these little posts as markers along the way. May the Lord richly reward your commitment!

Day 40 - Love Divine

Love Divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,
All Thy faithful mercies crown:
Jesu, Thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love Thou art,
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast,
Let us all in Thee inherit,
Let us find that second rest:
Take away our love of sinning,
Alpha and Omega be,
End of faith as its Beginnng,
Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish then Thy new creation,
Pure and spotless let us be,
Let us see Thy great salvation,
Perfectly restored in Thee:
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise!

Charles Wesley

Day 39 - Boundless Love

Jesu, Thy boundless love to me
No thought can reach, no tongue declare:
O, knit my thankful heart to Thee,
And reign without a rival there.
Thine wholly, Thine alone I am:
Be Thou alone my constant flame.

O, grant that nothing in my soul
May dwell but Thy pure love alone:
O, may Thy love possess me whole,
My joy, my treasure, and my crown.
Strange fires far from my soul remove,
My every act, word, thought, be love.

Charles Wesley

Day 38 - Let the Humble Hear

I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall ever be in my mouth.

I will glory in the Lord;
let the humble hear and rejoice.

Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord;
let us exalt his Name together.

Psalm 34:1-3

Day 37 - Too Wonderful

Lord, you have searched me out and known me;
you know my sitting down and my rising up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.

You trace my journeys and my resting-places
and are acquainted with all my ways.

Indeed, there is not a word on my lips,
but you, O Lord, know it altogether.

You press upon me behind and before
and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is so high that I cannot attain to it.

Where can I go then from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

Psalm 139:1-6

Day 36 - Getting Close

My, O, my, we are getting close to the end of 40 days of prayer, focused especially on the great commandments and the November 4 election. Just a few days to go....

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51:11

Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice,
but you take no delight in burnt-offerings.

The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Psalm 51:17-18