Example of an ACTS prayer with a trinitarian format

Adoration
Holy God, Holy and Mighty,
Holy and Immortal One,
Have mercy upon us.

Gift of the Father’s unfailing grace,
Light from Light; True God from True God,
Dwell among us.

Source of Wisdom, Creation, Compassion,
Bringer of Justice, Peace, and Power,
Fill us.

Confession

You claim us as your sons and your daughters,
one tribe out of all,
but our love fails.

I have not forgiven tresspasses,
I have not loved others as myself,
Save me.

I am not a light to the world,
I am not a servant to others,
Free me.

I do not know how to build a just world,
I am not a peace-maker,
Transform me.

Thanksgiving

(I give thanks for family members, co-workers, and the difficult people in my life.)
Supplication

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Let me be employed by thee or set aside for thee,
Let me be full,
Let me be empty,
Let me have all things,
Let me have nothing,
I yield.

Amethyst Review

Amethyst Review publishes poems on spirituality and the sacred (broadly defined), and its editor was kind enough to accept two of my poems.  Paradox is based on my understanding of Wesleyan works of mercy as a means of grace.  My poem The Iron of the Holy Spirit is about grace in its sanctifying aspect.  If you love poetry and have an interest in spirituality, I think you will enjoy the poems in this online magazine.

Forgiven, even when you don't feel the forgiveness

My poem "Imperceptible Forgiveness" was published on The Same, a journal dedicated to sharing the writing of women and girls from around the world.  It's about two people in the early stages of getting to know one another, who hit a bump in the road.  The power of forgiveness helps them move through the bumpy patch, even though they don't see any evidence that this power is working on their relationship.

The Good Book Week One

Luke 1:17 -- απειθείς εν φρονήσει δικαίων.  The angel Gabriel tells Zechariah that his son John will convert the unpersuaded to correct practical wisdom.  They are currently unpersuaded by God or by God's teachings.  John, empowered by the Holy Spirit, will have the ability to persuade them to both believe and act according to God's justice.

φρονήσει means a visceral understanding of the action to take.  δικαίων identifies this as not just any practical wisdom, but the understanding of the just or righteous ones.

I'm comforted by the notion of instinctively knowing how to react in a situation, but also fearful of any religious leader who claims to know what God wants the followers of that leader to do.  

If the course of action is limited to imitating the behaviors of the saints, then perhaps that narrowing of all possible actions to only the saintly ones will protect the persuaded from mistaking a human opinion for the voice of God.

Good Book Club for Lent

The Episcopal Church is hosting a Lenten/Easter devotional practice that anyone can join.  The Good Book Club provides resources for reading the Gospel of Luke during Lent and the Book of Acts during the Easter season.  Find those resources here.  My goal is to read along in the Koine Greek Bible.  Thanks Episcopalians!