Pilgrim's Door

On Easter Monday (2010)

Posted on 05. Apr, 2010 by Katherine Martinez.

The sunrise this morning was especially sweet, because my mind is full with memories from last week. There is just something about the movement through Holy Week: from life, to death, to life. I can feel it in my body this morning. [...]

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The Evangelist in Psalm 51

Posted on 13. Feb, 2010 by Katherine Martinez.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
and renew a right spirit within me.

12   Cast me not away from your presence *
and take not your holy Spirit from me.

13   Give me the joy of your saving help again *
and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.

14   I shall teach your ways to the wicked, *
and sinners shall return to you.

This version of Psalm 51:11-14 has hooked me. Can’t even figure out the version– it’s the language used in the Book of Common Prayer.

Somehow the writer’s request for saving help, and the promise to teach people God’s ways, reminds me that the OT and NT are one continuous story of God’s saving help and God’s plan– that we are God’s teaching representatives. God’s intention for us to be saved, and then teach, is the same yesterday, today and forever– from Torah, to Jesus, to the apostles, to us, to the generations.

This passage reminds me that we cannot teach what we do not know, and we cannot lead where we will not go.

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Prayer for the Unemployed

Posted on 13. Feb, 2010 by Katherine Martinez.

Beautiful and timely words from the Book of Common Prayer:

For the Unemployed

Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this land so to use our public and private wealth that all may find suitable and fulfilling employment, and receive just payment for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer

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Level 5 Indeed

Posted on 27. Jan, 2010 by Katherine Martinez.

I’ve been reading through Jim Collins’ Good to Great. Check out his description of David Packard, founder of Hewlett Packard. Collins writes: [...]

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Worship is

Posted on 06. Jan, 2010 by Katherine Martinez.

From Oswald Chambers this morn…

Worship is giving God the best that he has given you.

The measure of the worth of our public activity is the private profound communion we have with him

Rush is wrong every time. There is always plenty of time to worship God.

Jesus was always unhasting and unresting.

We have to pitch our tents where we will always have communion with God, no matter how noisy our lives may be.

We have to order our lives so that we are always at worship.

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A Good Prayer for the First Monday of 2010

Posted on 04. Jan, 2010 by Katherine Martinez.

From the Book of Common Prayer

O God, you make me glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of your Son my Lord: Give me this day such blessing through my worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.†

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Prayer for Grace

Posted on 02. Jan, 2010 by Katherine Martinez.

From the Book of Common Prayer…

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.†

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Happy New Year

Posted on 01. Jan, 2010 by Katherine Martinez.

Psalm 1, which frames the whole collection (of 150 psalms), teaches us that happiness is possible. And the path of happiness is the virtuous life. We don’t earn our happiness by doing good for God and others; but the the good person, who takes joy in God and God’s ways, is naturally fruitful, prosperous and “happy.”

1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; 2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. 3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

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Second Thoughts

Posted on 28. Dec, 2009 by Katherine Martinez.

I spoke this weekend at Crossroads. The topic was: Matthew 15:21-28. We ended, talking about how the LORD’s great love is relentless. There is no such thing (in the OT or NT) as being in the wrong group to receive God’s mercy. I mentioned the Hebrew word, hesed, which has layers of meaning… the overwhelming kindness of God.

But I failed… to say: hesed is ultimately expressed in the love of Jesus Christ– in his coming, his living, his dying, his rising and his return.

Kind of a big miss, on my part. So I thought I should mention it now, for anyone who is still listening.

Cheers!

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What to Say? When someone is grieving (1)

Posted on 26. Oct, 2009 by Katherine Martinez.

Here are some thoughts about the practical and spiritual conversations we have with folks who are grieving a loss.

Most people admit, “I feel anxious or awkward about talking to people who are suffering or have just experienced great loss.”

At the same time, suffering people need our presence and support.

Here are some simple wisdoms to guide us in our conversations with suffering people—especially those who are grieving immediately after the death of a friend or family member. [...]

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