THEMATIC BACKGROUND from: Received Without Payment

   "You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore
   you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.  Now 
   therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you
   shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples."
                                        Exodus 19:2-6 (NRSV)

So marvellous this teaching of Jesus
so marvellous this story of Israel,
this tale of the children of Abraham.

We are loved and gifted and blessed - and called,
called into a life giving relationship where the blessings
multiply for us and through us for the world, 
a relationship of trust and obedience 
a relationship of joy and peace and wholeness.

									
CREATIVE CLOSING
When you review your life, can you find ways in which God has 
protected or delivered you from danger?  Are there signs of God's
love in your life?  Do you know that God loves you?  Do you feel 
loved?

It is good both to remember the ways that God has blessed you and to be
grateful for what God has done in your life. Are you able to thank God
for the love and blessings in your life?

Let us take a moment right now in a time of silence to remember and rejoice
in God’s love for us. Allow yourself to feel loved and to be nurtured
by God ’s love. As I pray and in this time of silence afterwards,
recall the ways that God has blessed you and rejoice and thank Him for
that love. Allow yourself to feel loved by God.

Heavenly Father help us by your Holy Spirit to remember the ways in which
you have delivered us from danger and loved each one of us and to feel
loved by you.

(Time of silent reflection)

When you recall God’s love for you and the blessings of God in your life;
when you express thanks to God, you may begin to realize that you a
treasured possession and precious person to God.
 
And, it may become your heart’s desire is to enter a sacred covenant with
God - to be a blessing to him and to others.  If it is so, may you find joy 
in knowing God’s love for you and in sharing God’s love with others.


copyright - George Hartwell, 2002, 2005
            Rev. Richard J. Fairchild - Spirit Networks, 2002 - 2006
            please acknowledge the appropriate author if citing these resources.