Prayer of St. Patrick

Christ be with me, Christ within me;
Christ behind me, Christ before me.
Christ beside me, Christ to win me;
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me;
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger.
Christ in hearts of all who love me;
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself today
The strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and One in Three.

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need;
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The Word  of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.


Note:  I put a simple tune to this prayer, and it has been running through my head for the last couple months.  I find this prayer very strengthening in that it reminds me of Christ's presence with us, always and everywhere, giving concrete examples.  What is there to fear when Christ is always with us?  Just believe.  Walk by faith, not by sight.  Christ is with us to strengthen us and grant us wisdom through His grace. God is our Father, the Son is our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit is with us to help us persevere, giving us courage and strength to work for God.

Praise, Praise to Thee

Shadow and coolness, Lord,
   Art Thou to me;
Cloud of my soul, lead on,
   I follow Thee.
What though the hot winds blow,
Fierce heat beats up below?
Fountains of water flow---
   Praise, praise to Thee.

Clearness and glory, Lord,
   Art Thou to me;
Light of my soul, lead on,
   I follow Thee.
All through the moonless night,
Making its darkness bright,
Thou art my Heavenly Light---
   Praise, praise to Thee.

Shadow and shine art Thou,
   Dear Lord to me;
Pillar of cloud and fire,
   I follow Thee.
What though the way is long,
In Thee my heart is strong,
Thou art my joy, my song---
   Praise, praise to Thee.

by Amy Carmichael,  Edges of His Ways

The Call

    My blood so red

   For thee was shed,

Come home again, come home again!

   You've gone astray

   Out of your way,

Come home again, come home again!

Anonymous,  17th century

Note:  We are now on our way back to Tanzania, our other home here on this earth, to encourage the African Church, the Diocese of Victoria Nyanza (Lake Victoria), also known as D.V.N.,  which we are grateful to have joined with on our Christian walk.  Why are we leaving our first home, Christ the King Anglican Church in Casey County, Kentucky, which we are grateful to be one with on our Christian walk?  My husband put it this way:  "We are called to bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ, as St. Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians."  This is our call, and we are answering this call.  Praise be to God!!!!

Road of my Desire

O Thou who dost direct my feet
   To right or left where pathways part,
Wilt Thou not, faithful Paraclete
   Direct the journeying of my heart?

Into the love of God, I pray,
   Deeper and deeper let me press,
Exploring all along the way
   Its secret strength and tenderness.

Into the steadfastness of one
   Who patiently endured the cross.
Of Him who, though He were a Son,
   Came to His crown through a bitter loss.

This is the road of my desire --
   Learning to love as God loves me,
Ready to pass through flood or fire
   With Christ's unwearying constancy.

by Frank Houghton, 1894 - 1972
found in A Treasury of Christian Poetry, compiled by Mary Batchelor

Love Through Me

Love through me, Love of God,
   There is no love in me;
O Fire of Love, light Thou the love
   That burns perpetually.

Flow through me, Peace of God,
   Calm river flow until
No wind can blow, no current stir
   A ripple of self-will.

Shine through me, Joy of God,
   Make me like thy clear air
That Thou dost pour Thy colours through,
   As though it were not there.

O blessed Love of God,
   That all may taste and see
How good Thou art, once more I pray,
   Love through me, even me.

by Amy Carmichael,  Edges of His Ways

Psalm 84: 1-7

How dear to me is Your dwelling
O Lord of Hosts;
My soul has a desire and longing
For the courts of the Lord.

My heart and soul rejoice
In the living God.
The sparrow has found her a house,
And the swallow has found a nest
Where she may lay her young.

By the sides of Your altars,
O Lord of Hosts,
My King and my God.

We are happy to dwell in Your house,
Singing praises to You.
Happy are those whose strength is found in You,
Whose hearts are set on the pilgrim's way.

Those who dwell in the desolate valley
Will find it a place of springs,
For the early rains have covered it
With pools of water.

They will climb from height to height,
And the God of gods
Will reveal Himself In Zion.

O, Lord of Hosts, hear my prayer;
Hearken, O God of Jacob.


Note: We truly are happy when we dwell with God, finding our strength in the living God.  He will bring songs in the night, rain for the dry spells, hope for the downcast, love to cast out all fear.  All we need to do is surrender our life to His Lordship.  We rest secure as we set our hearts to follow the path where He leads us.  All praise to God the Father, through Jesus Christ the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit, the blessed and undivided Trinity, now and forevermore.

Love for Hard-to-love People

O Beloved of my soul,
   This do I desire:
Faith for the impossible,
   Love that will not tire.
Jesus, Saviour, Lover, give me
Love for the unlovable,
   Love that will not tire.

O Beloved of my soul,
   Yet again I come;
Give me cords of love to draw
   Many wanderers home.
Jesus, Saviour, Lover, give me
Love that knows nor strain nor flaw,
   Love to lead them home.

by Amy Carmichael,  Edges of His Ways