Create

A “found” prayer from the psalter…

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me. (51:10)

The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours;
the world and all that is in it— you have founded them.
The north and the south— you created them;
Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name. (89:11-12)

Remember how short my time is—
for what vanity you have created all mortals!
Who can live and never see death? (89:47-48a)

O LORD, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created;
and you renew the face of the ground. (104:24,30)

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for God commanded and they were created. (148:5)

Let everything that breathes praise the LORD!

Praise the LORD! (150:6)

Cannon Beach was, for me, a place where creation and habitation meet: the power of the crashing tide, the majesty of soaring birds, the rugged endurance of Haystack Rock. It was a place in which to consider the wonder and glory of God and of the intricate harmonies of time and tide woven together by God’s creative hands. This “found” prayer comes from verses in the Psalms that speak to creator, creation, and creature and closing with the psalter’s closing verse—150:6.

Cannon Beach is now among the “thin places” I will remember and long for. What are the thin places that draw you and when you are there, what do you pray?

 

Daily Reading in the Psalms

One of the spiritual practices that feeds me is Thomas Cranmer’s daily practice of reading the psalms. In this practice, Psalms are assigned for morning and evening reading by the day of the month (day 1 through day 30). In the course of the year, one would read the Psalter a dozen times, with all its language of praise, lament, joy, and sorrow.

In undertaking this practice, I try to be gentle with myself, to lay aside self-nagging and pick up at the current day if I have left readings unread. Grace in all things!

So I share the pattern–and invite you to enter into it. If you will, let me know how the reading goes. Blessings, Martha

Psalms of David

Day 1: 1-5 Morn, 6-8 Eve

Day 2: 9-11 Morn, 12-14 Eve

Day 3: 15-17 Morn, 18 Eve

Day 4: 19-21 Morn, 22-23 Eve

Day 5: 24-26 Morn, 27-29 Eve

Day 6: 30-31 Morn, 32-34 Eve

Day 7: 35-36 Morn, 37 Eve

Day 8: 38-40 Morn, 41-43 Eve

Day 9: 44-46 Morn, 47-49 Eve

Day 10: 50-52 Morn, 53-55 Eve

Day 11: 56-58 Morn, 59-61 Eve

Day 12: 62-64 Morn, 65-67 Eve

Day 13: 68 Morn, 69-70 Eve

Day 14: 71-72 Morn, 73-74 Eve

Day 15: 75-77 Morn, 78 Eve

Day 16: 79-81 Morn, 82-85 Eve

Day 17: 86-88 Morn, 89 Eve

Day 18: 90-92 Morn, 93-94 Eve

Day 19: 95-97 Morn, 98-101 Eve

Day 20: 102-103 Morn, 104 Eve

Day 21: 105 Morn, 106 Eve

Day 22: 107 Morn, 108-109 Eve

Day 23: 110-113 Morn, 114-115 Eve

Day 24: 116-118 Morn, 119 1-32 Eve

Day 25: 119 33-72 Morn, 119 73-104 Eve

Day 26: 119 105-144 Morn, 119 145-176 Eve

Day 27: 120-125 Morn, 126-131 Eve

Day 28: 132-135 Morn, 136-138 Eve

Day 29: 139-141 Morn, 142-143 Eve

Day 30: 144-146 Morn, 147-150 Eve