Poets & Saints

ScriptureRomans 8:14–17 (NIV)For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.RefrainGoodness was planted in me from the beginning.QuoteRichard Rohr, from The Universal Christ"From the very beginning, faith, hope, and love are planted deep within our nature — indeed they are our very nature. The Christian life is simply a matter of becoming who we already are."

ScriptureColossians 3:11 (NLT)In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.RefrainIn every face I see, Christ is there.QuoteElizabeth Bowen, from The Heat of the Day"To turn from everything to one faceis to find oneself face to face with everything."

ScriptureGenesis 28:16-17 (The Message)Jacob woke up from his sleep. He said, “God is in this place—truly. And I didn’t even know it!” He was terrified. He whispered in awe, “Incredible. Wonderful. Holy. This is God’s House. This is the Gate of Heaven.”RefrainGod is here. I am waking up to it.QuoteRichard Rohr, from The Universal Christ"In God you do not include less and less;you always see and love more and more.The more you transcend your small ego,the more you can include.When you look at any other person,a flower, a honeybee, a mountain — anything —you are seeing the incarnation of God's lovefor you and the universe you call home."

ScriptureEphesians 3:10–11 (NRSVUE)So that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord.RefrainI am part of something larger than myself.QuoteRichard Rohr, from The Universal Christ"When you can honor and receive your own moment of sadness or fullnessas a gracious participation in the eternal sadness or fullness of God,you are beginning to recognize yourselfas a participating member of this one universal Body.You are moving from I to We."

ScriptureEphesians 1:9 (NLT)God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ — which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ — everything in heaven and on earth.RefrainGod's yes to me is older than time.QuoteAugustine, from Retractions"For what is now called the Christian religion existed even among the ancients and was not lacking from the beginning of the human race."

ScriptureColossians 1:19–20 (NIV)For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.RefrainIn God I live and move and have my being.QuoteRichard Rohr, from The Universal Christ"I have never been separate from God, nor can I be, except in my mind."

ScriptureRevelation 21:5–6 (NRSVUE)And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life."RefrainGod is making all things new — including me.QuoteRichard Rohr, from The Universal Christ"Faith at its essential core is accepting that you are accepted. We cannot deeply know ourselves without also knowing the One who made us, and we cann

Scripture2 Peter 1:4 (NRSVUE)Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature.RefrainI am a participant in the divine nature.QuoteAthanasius"God was consistent in working through one man to reveal himself everywhere, as well as through the other parts of His creation, so that nothing was left devoid of his Divinity and his self-knowledge... so that the whole universe was filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters fill the sea."