GATHERING ...

the pieces

[image credit]
{yes, I downloaded the ebook}

"O Lord our God, help us to be faithful to GATHER what You have provided for our hearts and souls this day—that we may feed on You and live.  In the name of Jesus, the bread of life. Amen."

GATHERING

the One Word for this week's focus
I suppose that many of usfeel like throughout our life journeyswe have just been
GATHERING
the pieces
as the author of this newly published book writes in her memoir
After being
BROKEN
(our One Word last week)
this only makes sense that we would set aside the time to
GATHER
those pieces
I happen to think that there are many of us
who find ourselves this year, or maybe for awhile
in the place of 
GATHERING
or
in need of a place or space to
GATHER
our thoughts, our feelings, our pieces ...
or perhaps "ourselves" as
we deal with the circumstances of our lives
or the world in which we live, and so much seems
to be falling apart at the seams.
I know the best place for me to
GATHER
is at the feet of Jesus
listening to music
leaning in to
hear His whispers
but first
there needs to be a time of
GATHERING
<>
I was a bit curious at the end of last week's BROKEN
what might be the One Word that follows;
but now that I'm here
starting this Monday
with
GATHERING
I find myself in need of a brief "PAUSE"
momentarily
{just because I haven't & not quite ready still but know that I should ... }
[as I read this shared by Lennie Campbell]

[image credit: Lennie Campbell]

So as I continue to hear what God's speaking, I won't lose sight of this either. 

I really do need to learn how to "give grief a voice" or lament.

I will 

"take a few minutes"

knowing that the time will come when I'll take much more than this

"... to allow my mind and heart to be still before God"

this is how Jim Branch, author of The Blue Book, starts us out 

each day on his website

day 1 (2015) Monday (not Sunday for us)

 through day 7 (next Sunday)

(and all the days in between linked below)

GATHERING

[Bible Hub Topical link]

us together

to read from Scriptures (the bible, God's Word) according to

p.329

and the Readings of Reflection(s) (in 2015)

which sometimes are also the

Closing Prayer as a Reading for Reflection

Psalm 147 Monday - John 6:1-14, p. 331-333 for Reflection Tuesday - Exodus 16 Wednesday - Zephaniah 3:14-20 Thursday - Jeremiah 31:1-14 Friday - Deuteronomy 30:1-10;The Living Reminder by Henri Nouwen Saturday - Isaiah 40:6-11 Sunday - Ezekiel 34:11-16

{Note: there are times when the blog/JB website & The Blue Book differ}
For example; Tuesday's Scripture reading is Luke 9:57-62and the Reading for Reflection is"Abide" by Macrina Wiederkehr, not "A Tree Full of Angels"as it is in the book, p. 333and the next day is Psalm 147and it continues with new & differentReadings for Reflection thatare not in The Blue Book"The Book of Hours" by Rainer M Rilkeis later but with Isaiah 35:10 and then Isaiah 61:1-11 is onanother day with "Beginning Contemplative Prayer"by Kathryn Hermes (not in The Blue Book)
SOIf you have The Blue Book, go with that - 
otherwise follow the days at 
"room to flourish"
[for the next day, just click on Newer Post at the bottom of his blog post]
I may look for another sequence of 7 days on his website for
GATHER
in another year
[I found one in *January of 2013]
No matter, we will still
GATHER
read and reflect
* Day 1 (Monday) shares John 6:1-14 with 
GATHERINGby Jim Branchp. 330
Day 2 (Tues) Exodus 16 with Jim Branch
Day 3  Weds. (linked above to Zephaniah 3:14-20) with"A Tree Full of Angels" by Macrina Wiederkehr
Day 4 (Thurs) Jeremiah 31 with "The Book of Hours"
Day 5 (Fri.) we have that one above but this onehas another short Reflection "Breaking Bread" by M. Pennington 
Day 6 (Sat.) Isaiah 40:6-11 with"The Book of Hours" Rilke
Day 7 (Sun.) Ezekiel 34:11-16"Breaking Bread" by M. Pennington this one is the one in the book, p.335

Clearly we can see that I should have gone with 2013 first and not 2015
Live and learn
AGAIN
Hopefully before I post or plan for another
GATHERING
on my blog or at YouVersion
I will check out more of the years 
and find out which one is closer to our

 readings
and not make more 
MESSES
{ready for the repost with the corrections we need, I hope}
<><><>

I really like that Lennie Campbell is creating a page called
Memory Lantern
{we all have plenty of those, even if they're growing foggy a bit}
Today
I release some special memories of my dad
celebrating his birthday
today in heaven
1909-1998
Happy Birthday Dad!
💓