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Oratio: A Font Of Peace
Practice silencein your inner roomso that when the worldspeaks out against youand the devilantagonizes you to respondthe stillness of the Lordmay fill your spiritlike a font of peaceprotecting youfrom prideand the temptationto return evil for evil ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Oratio: God In The Trees
Looking for GodI gaze out at the forestit is stilland yet it is notit is quietand yet it is notthe forest movesand breathesit singswhispersand criesI am in itand yet we are apartjust as He is in meand yet we are apartmovingbreathingsingingwhisperingand cryingtogether and apart ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Oratio: Not A Passive Love
The Lord’s loveis not passiveHe does not waitfor us to come to HimHe is constantly seekingintimacy and closenesswith His childrenknocking on the doorswe have closed in shameawaiting our consentto His presencethat we may not suffer aloneHis is not a passive lovethe love of the Lordis patient but persistent ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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For A Moment
In the quiet hoursbefore the dawnwhile the worldis still sleepingI sitinviting your presenceopening my heart to youand sometimeseven if for a momentyou pull back the veilbetween usto let me knowthat though the roommay be emptyI am not alone ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Oratio: Within Me
My courage comesfrom you Lordon my ownI am a cowardand I am selfishall of my goodnessI owe to your Spiritwithin methrough your loveand grace Lordhelp me to decreasethat you may increasewithin memay I tastethe sweet fruitof your divine mercyand share that fruitwith those about meuntil there is nothing leftbut Christwithin me ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Oratio: For My Mother
Born into this worldthrough water and fleshmy mother’s armsheld and comforted mewiping my tearsand giving me strengthuntil I could reachfor the Lordentering the watersof baptismdying to the fleshreborn of the spiritwith and in Christin whom I find comfortHe dries my tearsand gives me strengthforevernone of whichwould be possiblewere it not for my motherfrom whose…
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Oratio: Borrowed Troubles
The songbirds singtheir beautiful songwhile my mind runs awaywith worrydeafened by the noiseof borrowed troublesI cannot hear them calling mesuddenlya melody catches my earthe veil of imagined sufferingis liftedin this momentI see the Lordand the glory of his creationwho am I to worrywhen he has chosen mein love ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Oratio: To Do Your Will
Lord Jesusgive me strengthto dowhat I must doto carry the crossthat lies before meI am weary Lordand my burdenis heavymay your graceand mercygive me courageand wisdomto do your will always ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Oratio: One Step
Though the way aheadappears dark and dauntingthe lamp of the Lordshines before my feetI need only takeone step at a timein faithno more and no lessit is not for meto stay behindnor to knowwhere the path leadsonly to trustthat it leads me to Him ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Oratio: Named By Love
The devil wants meto name myselfby my pride and vanitymy guilt and shamemy anger and fearmy success and failurehe wants me to take onany name besides the namegiven to me by the Lordwho calls me belovedwho calls me son or daughterwho calls me friendI will not be named by Satanonly the God who knew…