MOIRAJO
  • Barry Manilow & Mother T
    • Post 1 "I Write the Songs"
    • Post 2 "I Am Your Child"
    • Post 3 "Life Will Go On"
    • Post 4 "Sweet Life"
    • Post 5 "Can't Take My Eyes off of You"
    • Post 6 "As Sure As I'm Standing Here"
    • Post 7 "All the Time"
    • Post 8 "Mandy"
    • Post 9 "Here Comes the Night"
    • Post 10 "Lay Me Down"
    • Post 11 "It's A Miracle"
    • Post 12 "Sunrise"
    • Post 13 "Looks Like We Made It"
    • Post 14 "Daybreak"
    • Post 15 "Where Do I Go From Here?"
    • Post 16 "Somewhere Down the Road"
    • Post 17 "It's a Long Way Up"
    • Post 18 "Ay Amor"
    • Post 19 "Copacabana (At the Copa) Remix"
    • Post 20 "New York City Rhythm"
    • Post 21 "If I Can Dream"
    • Post 22 "Memory"
    • Post 23 "You Begin Again"
    • Post 24 "If We Only Have Love"
    • Post 25: "Put Your Dreams Away"
    • Post 26 "Good-bye My Love"
    • Post 27 "Please Don't Be Scared"
    • Post 28 "Keep Each Other Warm"
    • Post 29 "Ready To Take a Chance Again"
    • Post 30 "The Stars in the Night"
    • Post 31 "We Can Be Kind"
    • Post 32 "Look to the Rainbow"
    • Post 33 "Life Will Go On"
    • Post 34 "God Bless the Other 99"
    • Post 35 "Not What You See"
    • Post 36 "Welcome Home"
    • Post 37 "Everything's Gonna Be All Right"
    • Post 38 "Do Like I Do"
    • Post 39 "Brooklyn Blues"
    • Post 40 "Old Songs"
    • Post 41 "Could It Be Magic?"
    • Post 42 "I Made It Through The Rain"
    • Post 43 "Paradise Cafe"
    • Post 44 "Beautiful Music"
    • Post 45: "Harmony"
    • Post 46 "One Voice"
    • Post 47 "Appendices" Let Freedom Ring" >
      • Postlude "Even Now" : Seeing Barry at Barclays After 37 Years"
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"Daybreak"

9/27/2018

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"Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" Psalm 118:24  

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."  Mark 1:35



"I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day. I had so much to accomplish that I didn't take time to pray. Problems just tumbled about me and heavier came each task. "Why doesn't God help me" I wondered, He answered: "You didn't ask." I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on gray and bleak. I wondered why God didn't show me, He said "But you didn't seek." I tried to come into God's presence. I used all my keys at the lock. God gently and lovingly chided, "My child, you didn't knock." I woke up early this morning, and paused before entering the day. I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray."

If you're anything like me, the minute I'm up I'm dashing to throw on clothes, run a brush through my hair, and get the dogs out for their walk.  Then of course they need to be fed and watered, not to mention Bobbie Cat, sitting by her bowl, patiently waiting for her 9-Lives. Is there coffee to gulp down? Glance at the New York Times and see the latest calamities in the world. Then fire up the computer to see the latest emails, Face Book postings..

What's wrong with this picture?!

Like many, I forget:  Put First Things First.  The morning is precious time.  Just rested from sleep, not yet bombarded by the demands of the day,  our brains and spirit are open.  That's when we need to connect spiritually with God. Maybe I need to consciously turn that dog walk into a "walking prayer," asking God to bless my neighbors, and all who have asked me for prayer.  Maybe I need to review a "gratitude list" as Gracie and Betty Boo are busy chasing the squirrels. Maybe I need to have a devotional ready with a scripture, to read with my cup of coffee.  Maybe before I read my emails, I can read spiritual postings from the many sites on line. 

The point is: Put First Things First.  That's what Jesus did. He got up early, went away to a quiet place to pray. We need to pray, ideally have some quiet time -- it doesn't have to be long  -- but the intention and focus need to be there. Then it can grow, as we develop the right habits to sustain our spirit.

We need to charge up our day with spiritual  energy, so we can be positive, engaging people who can minister to others just by our presence. Our presence can bring peace to others -- if we are adequately prepped. That's the best witness we can give to Jesus Christ -- to be a people whose spirits are open, ready to listen and minister, because we are nourished by prayer, and because we are in conscious contact with our God from the time we open our eyes. 

Have a wonderful day.  Remember:  First Things First.


Listen to:  Good Morning  by Mandisa (featuring Tobymac)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOVv8ySJREs


PRAY: "Show us what do to start the day right with you. Make us a blessing to others "        



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"Home Sweet Home"

9/17/2018

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One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.  Psalm 27:4 

     
     The poet  Maya Angelou wrote: "The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned."  We need a place in the world and in our hearts when we can be ourselves.  Where we are loved for who we are, warts and all.  Where we are loved.

Christians live in the tension:  we call heaven our home and surely that is were we belong.  Yet Jesus proclaims "The kingdom of God is in our midst" (Luke 17:21).  We have dual citizenship: in heaven and earth.  That's why we need to take seriously the saying "don't be so heavenly-minded that you're no earthly good."  We need to detach from worldly values that promote selfishness, rampant materialism and greed.  We are to care for the world, be active in its healing and movements for justice, peace and righteousness. In doing so, we are living out the heavenly values, and witnessing to the "kingdom of God in our midst."  
​
     As we face the hurts of our lives, and go about the work of mending others, we are reminded over and over again that  we belong to an eternal home that can never be taken away from us.  We are sojourners on this earth -- and we need to remind ourselves we are just passing through.  This is not a morbid thought.  It frees us from the traps of judging ourselves and others by worldly standards, and guides us to to see ourselves, and others, through God's everlasting, loving eyes.  
Let us find the kingdom, our home, in our hearts, and carry that piece of heaven wherever we go.



Listen to:   Building 429  "Where I Belong"
Cf. Eph. 4:29: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usAwtKwICzs&feature=related



PRAY: " Your home is in our hearts. Help us keep our eyes on our heavenly home as we work to make a home of the world for all people and creation "        

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"Love Is the Fulfillment"

9/11/2018

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  "Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8"




Yesterday I received a hand-addressed letter with this opening message:  "We've become so engulfed with saving our planet, Gay Rights Parades or who has the best church service that we've lost our way.  Please remove all unholy things from HIS House and your heart."

I agree with Pastor L-C.  Let's remove all unholy things from God's House and our hearts. But I happen to believe that healing our planet, caring for the poor and needy, making the church a welcoming place for ALL people, including the LGBTQ community, grounding ourselves in prayer --are all Holy healing acts. 

 Pastor L-C adds a PS.  "If you disagree with scripture, you're fighting against God..  Don't be lukewarm...Stand in the gap."  Again, I agree.  Moses wrote: “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:18)  
Jesus said: "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12."  
There are over 1453 verses addressing wealth. 446 about  the poor, over 100  about the widow and orphan. Prayer is mentioned over 500 times. 
Justice is mentioned 1576 times.  

Love is mentioned 232 times in the New Testament alone.
 
 So where should our attention be placed? 

Stand in the gap with Jesus. The gap between love and indifference. The gap between meanness and kindness.  The gap between self-centeredness and God-centeredness, other-centeredness.  Don't be lukewarm about loving others, caring for others, prayer,  standing with Jesus as he proclaims good news in word and need.   


Listen to: "It Could Happen to You."   Let us not be indifferent to suffering, no matter what shape it takes . 
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR9gyloyOjM
First Song: Trent Reznor "Hands Cover Bruise"
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hand-covers-bruise/id395740920?i=395740925

Second Song:Natalia Walewska & Rafal Lewandowski "Clair De Lune"
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/debussy-moonlight-clare-lune/id406413469?i=4...

Third Song:"Beautiful Boy" Coleen McMahon
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/beautiful-boy-single/id524418205
http://www.Facebook.com/ColeenMcMahonSinger
http://www.YouTube.com/ColeenMcMahon


PRAY: " Remove all that is unholy in our hearts. Remove indifference, apathy, selfishness: make us gentle, patient and tolerant - help us fill the gap."        

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September 04th, 2018

9/4/2018

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​​Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." John 14:23






Listen to: 
 
Switchfoot,"This Is Home"  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?=uK2WIFdeJ8E&feature=relmfu




Homecoming is this Sunday, September 9!  

Homecoming is a special day in the life of a congregation. Some churches call it Rally Day, or Welcome Home Sunday. It's usually the day that marks a return from summer vacation and the choir usually starts up again.  Homecoming is a day of celebration.

 It's a reminder to us that no matter where we go in life, we always have a place in the body of Christ. We belong to God, and we belong to each other -- and we also belong to the world. So Home is not a static place. Home in God's kingdom grows and changes as we open wide our arms and serve our neighbors.  Home is not the brick and mortar of our building. Home is us --  our beating hearts. Just as the Buddha says: “You cannot travel the path until you have become the path itself"  

​ So we must be made into home where the world's weary, fearful and lost can find rest -- and find Christ in us. As God makes God's home in our hearts as we follow in Jesus' footsteps, we make a home in each other's heart as we love and care for each other. 



So come to worship this Sunday --- bring a friend or two -- and welcome home!



PRAY: "God, may my heart be your home, and make my heart a home to all the homeless in this world"







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    Moirajo is a minister, social worker, wife, mother, writer and animal lover. That's just for starters. Join the story, there's so much we can share together! 

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