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MOST RECENT POSTS

In this column you will find the most recent posts unless you have selected a specific poem, meditation or collection/index in which case that single item will appear here.

Monday 21 March 2022

FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS: DAY 20 (MONDAY) TO DAY 26 (SUNDAY) by Peter Thorn

 Day 20 – For those struggling to cope



DAY 20 MORNING

For all parents and guardians struggling to cope with difficult family situations. Those despairing and not knowing which way to turn. Remembering those living in confined quarters caring for children or parents with illness, disability or learning difficulties

Prayer – Loving Heavenly Father may we be of use to any who are struggling. Direct me to those in need

DAY 20 EVENING

Those trying to sleep beset by worry.  For everyone for whom this day has been difficult. 

Prayer - Holy Father be with all who suffer and are worried. May they feel your comforting presence in their lives


Day 21 - For those in debt

 


DAY 21 MORNING

Debt leads to so many other problems and often to the break up of family life. We think today of those in debt, for people who have taken loans from loan sharks out of desperation. Let us pray for them in their despair.

Prayer – Loving Jesus who overturned the tables of the money changers we hold before you  those expecting a knock on the door from Bailiffs or worse still unregistered ruthless lenders. Please protect them from violence and harm

DAY 21 EVENING                              

We give you thanks for the CAB and for their debt counsellors. We offer thanks for all who offer financial advice especially those who do it without reward. We remember those who try to sleep this night but are consumed with worry about the debt they are in. We hold before you the children of debt ridden families and for any who will go to bed hungry for this reason

We give thanks for Food Banks and for all who volunteer. These are a lifeline for those in debt.

Prayer- Lord Jesus into your hands we commend those with enormous money worries. May they see a way through their current situation


Day 22 - For the marginalised



DAY 22 MORNING

Many people feel marginalised through race, colour, intelligence, fear, lack of self confidence, poverty, bullying and all manner of things. Perhaps we have felt marginalised at times and along with that the feeling of being alone, unwanted or excluded. Help us this day to use every opportunity to look out for those who we suspect are feeling marginalised and help us to include them where possible

Prayer – Lord make me aware of any who might feel excluded. Give me courage to make them feel special

DAY 22 EVENING

Ask forgiveness for anyone we may have caused to feel marginalised this day either deliberately or unintentionally.

Prayer – Lord Jesus forgive me my sins

  

Day 23 - For those in jail and wrongly imprisoned



DAY 23 MORNING

Today we focus on those in jail especially those who have been wrongly imprisoned. 

Prayer – Holy God bless all those imprisoned and suffering torture. May they know the consolation of Christ’s love for them and that he shares in their suffering

DAY 23 EVENING

We hold before you those in pain from the torture they have had to endure whilst held prisoner this day. Comfort and make yourself known to them in their distress.

Prayer – Dearest Jesus we remember the families of all imprisoned, especially their children. We also pray for our prison wardens that they may show compassion

 

Day 24 - For the persecuted



DAY 24 MORNING

Today we are mindful of those who are persecuted and particularly Christians throughout the World. We think of those at danger from terrorist extremist groups. 

We remember with thanks those who have been martyred for their faith and for all now being persecuted for their love of Jesus. 

Prayer – Heavenly Father bring comfort, courage and your peace to all who are persecuted for loving your Son who is our Saviour

DAY 24 EVENING

We give thanks for charities such as Amnesty International and for the research they do in providing us with information about people being persecuted. For anyone knowing they will be persecuted this night.

Prayer – Make me aware of ways in which I can respond and give me the courage to do so

 

Day 25 – For the unloved

 


DAY 25 MORNING                             

Many have been involved in family break ups and differences and feel unloved. Others through experiences in their life-times will equally feel unloved. Victims of bullying or violence may also feel unloved. Partnership break ups may cause people to be feeling unloved this day. How we hope that all those feeling unloved may have an experience of our Jesus who loves everyone.

Prayer – Jesus please show me how to truly love

DAY 25 EVENING

Be mindful of all who will cry themselves to sleep this night for want of feeling they are unloved. 

Prayer - Lord Jesus make yourself known to them and if it is to be through me then guide me in the right direction

Day 26 - For victims of violence 



DAY 26 MORNING

The thought of violence is frightening and many will suffer this day at the hands of another or others. There will be those who will suffer innocently at the hands of violent men & women. 

Prayer - We pray to you our Father for all victims of violence. It is our hope and prayer that someone will come to their aid. Give us courage to act when we see others in desperate need.

DAY 26 EVENING                  

Some sadly will have lost their lives in acts of violence this day. It may be by someone they once loved and trusted or by a complete stranger. May they hear the voice of Jesus who whilst hanging upon the cross said ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do’ and who turned to one of those hanging there with him and said ‘today you will be with me in paradise’.

Prayer – Father for those who have inflicted violence this day and for those who have suffered violence we remember the words spoken by your Son whilst hanging on the cross

Wildfires: Evidence of Climate Chaos

Wildfires: Evidence of Climate Chaos
Wildfires: Evidence of Climate Chaos

Cascade of Stars and Gas (Imagined image: CGI)

Cascade of Stars and Gas (Imagined image: CGI)
Cascade of Stars and Gases. This image will take you to the meditation 'Deep Silence'

Butterfly Nebula (CGI)

Butterfly Nebula (CGI)
The Imaginary Butterfly Nebula . Anything like this would be a real Curiosity! The image will link you to the reflection titled 'Curiosity' which is actually a celebration of the achievement of landing the Mars Rover of that name

Ten thousand billion suns - A scintilla of God’s Universe

Ten thousand billion suns - A scintilla of God’s Universe
It is currently thought that the Universe has at least 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars! Hence the use of the word ‘scintilla’ for a mere ten thousand billion.

Cross and Particle Accelerator (CGI)

Cross and Particle Accelerator (CGI)
Cross and Particle Accelerator. The words of 'A Prayer for Understanding' can be viewed by clicking on this image

Nebula (Embroidery)

Nebula (Embroidery)
Nebula (Embroidery) to accompany the poem 'Invitation' which can be found by clicking on the image.

Nativity Star (CGI)

Nativity Star (CGI)
Nativity Star: This image will link you to the collection of new Carols on this site. Also, the image can easily be copied onto an overhead acetate and used as a window decoration. Easy for children to achieve. Note the cross at the centre of the star.

Orange Galaxy

Orange Galaxy
'Orange Galaxy' posted to accompany 'Bounded and Boundless'. Go to the poem by clicking on the image.

Cosmic Ikon 8 Moth

Cosmic Ikon 8 Moth
Cosmic Ikon 8: Moth Nebula(imagined-acrylic) The Gold field of deep space is intended to convey the Lordship of Christ over the whole of the Cosmos

Surprise garden rose (Photo)

Surprise garden rose (Photo)
This beautiful head of roses in our garden, which are giving off a delightful perfume in the morning sun, seems a fitting picture to link to the sonnet 'Evolution and Beauty'. Let the picture take you there. It is a surprise because it is growing high on a bush of otherwise pure yellow roses: amazing!

Cross and Vortex

Cross and Vortex
'Cross and Vortex' to accompany 'Stars and Planets Sing Your Glory'. Click on the image to go to the poem/hymn.

Gaseous Cosmic Threads (Mixed media)

Gaseous Cosmic Threads (Mixed media)
Gaseous Cosmic Threads: Mixed media - acrylics and painted threads

St Francis’ Sky (Photo)

St Francis’ Sky (Photo)
Warm Umbrian Hills: Click image to take you to the poem St Francis' Sky

Cosmic Icon 7 Summerflower

Cosmic Icon 7 Summerflower
Cosmic Icon 7 - Summerflower Nebula (Acrylic)

Cosmic Labyrinth (CGI)

Cosmic Labyrinth (CGI)
'Cosmic Labyrinth' - This icon is a symbol of the path through the near reaches of the Cosmos with its 'Havens' where current advances in science (2012/13) are celebrated. By clicking on the picture you will be taken to the latest version of the poem of the same name.

Cross of Autumn Leaves (cropped Photo)

Cross of Autumn Leaves (cropped Photo)
Time, perhaps to consider a restorative break before the approach of Advent/ Christmas. Let this image take you to 'On Drawing Apart'.

IONA: The Marble Quarry (Photo)

IONA: The Marble Quarry (Photo)
On the South shore of Iona is a bay which shows the industrial scarring of a beautiful place. Read of it by clicking on the picture

Celtic cross candle (Photo)

Celtic cross candle (Photo)
Celtic Cross and candle' linked to the poem 'Awesome, Wonderful Creator'. Go to the poem by clicking on the image.

Light of the World amidst stars (CGI)

Light of the World amidst stars (CGI)
'Light of the world' posted to accompany 'To Light'. Find the poem by clicking on the image.

Iona from Fionnphort (Watercolour)

Iona from Fionnphort (Watercolour)
Iona from Fionnphort. At this point of the Isle of Mull, the end of a pilgrimage or trip to Iona is in sight. Click on this picture to take you to the poem 'IONA - The Pilgrim Way'

My Mesh Mask for Radiotherapy

My Mesh Mask for Radiotherapy
This is the mask which was moulded to my face to ensure the radiotherapy I had in April 2017 was precisely targeted. You can read more by clicking on the image

Double Celebration

Double Celebration
Pam, who has been magnificent in caring for me since my Cancer diagnosis in October and I celebrate the end of Radiotherapy and our 36th Wedding Anniversary (Note the return of some hair!). Click on the image to read about the treatment - and waiting.

St Neots Sunset (Photo)

St Neots Sunset (Photo)
Surrounded by beauty: Whie 'Evolution and Beauty' became one of the most viewed poems on this blog, Pam, my wife took this gorgeous picture of a sunset over the flatlands of Cambridgeshire UK. Click on it to go to the poem

Gabriel - written/painted by Pam, my wife in 2015

Gabriel - written/painted by Pam, my wife in 2015
Gabriel began the Christmas story with his visit to Mary. The story is told in our Christmas collection in the Carol, Go to Nazareth My Great Messenger. Click on this image to take you there.

Maple Leaf Nebula (CGI)

Maple Leaf Nebula (CGI)
IMAGINARY IMAGE TO CELEBRATE CANADA DAY: Click on this his imaginary 'Maple Leaf Nebula' to take you to a poem entitled 'Nebula' (image not to be confused with NGC 2024, the Flame Nebula which is also known as the Maple Leaf)

Beauty in the Garden - June 2016

Beauty in the Garden - June 2016
Beauty in the Garden - June 2016

Aurora Imagined over Iona (Watercolour & pastel)

Aurora Imagined over Iona (Watercolour & pastel)
First posted here on Adomnan’s day (23rd September) 2015. An imagined natural phenomenom that could be seen to resonate mystically with the idea of Iona being a ‘thin place’ where heaven brushes earth.

Assisi Sunset

Assisi Sunset
Assisi Sunset

Thinking about the Brain

Thinking about the Brain
This image is formed from a small section of neural pathways posted by the Koch Institute, clipped, part inverted and stitched together. It is intended to impart a sense of our extensive, but still partial understanding of what goes on in that awesome part of our bodies, our brains. By clicking on the image, you will be taken to a celebratory poem/song ‘For Amazement by Beauty’ about all of our senses.

Source (CGI by Trevor Thorn)

Source (CGI by Trevor Thorn)
Source: Expand the image to reveal its heart

Rainbow spiral (CGI)

Rainbow spiral (CGI)
'Rainbow Spiral' to accompany 'Darkness,Illuminator' . Find the poem by clicking on the iImagined mage

Cross and simple Prayer rope (Photo)

Cross and simple Prayer rope (Photo)
Cross and simple prayer rope: make one like this to use as an aid to using ‘The Jesus Prayer'