Christ Beside Me, Christ Within Me: Celtic Blessings

by Beth A Richardson

Overview

Do You Long to feel God's presence in your daily life? Inspired by the prayers of Celtic Christians, Beth Richardson reflects on her own Celtic heritage and offers this rich collection of stories and prayers. This book will inspire you to become aware of God's presence in all the moments of your life-from waking to sleeping, from birth to death, from mundane chores to momentous celebrations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780835815239
Publisher:	Upper Room Books
Publication date:	03/01/2016
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

Beth A. Richardson serves as the director of prayer and Upper Room worship life at The Upper Room and is also dean of The Upper Room Chapel. An Oklahoma native, she is an ordained deacon in The United Methodist Church and is a member of the Mountain Sky Conference. Beth holds a master of divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School and a bachelor of arts in sociology from Oklahoma City University. Follow her writings at betharichardson.com and jackthescottie.com.

Table of Contents

Preface 11

What Is a Blessing? 12

Rune before Prayer 14

Acknowledgments 15

Introduction 17

Bless to Me Prayers 18

My "Celtic Clay" 18

Using This Book 20

1 Through the Day: Celebrating God's Presence in Each Moment 22

Grandpa's Story 24

The Blessings

Bless Our Waking 25

A Blessing of the Morning 26

A Breakfast Blessing 27

At the Midday 28

The Evening Meal 29

A Blessing at Sunset 30

Night 31

2 Holy Moments: Celebrating the Gifts of Life 32

Grandpa's Story 34

The Blessings

Walking the Dog 36

A Blessing of the Coffee 37

This Sabbath Day 38

A Blessing of a Bird Nest 39

A Blessing of a Summer Day 40

Sitting with an Aging Pet 41

Sowing Seed 42

Washing the Dishes 43

3 Seasons: Journeying through a Year 44

Grandpa's Story 46

The Blessings

A Blessing for the New Year 48

On the Eve of Ash Wednesday 48

Welcome, Spring 49

Good Friday 50

Easter 51

Memorial Day 52

Harvest 53

All Saints Day 54

A Blessing for the Long Nights 55

A Blessing of the Light 56

Christmas 57

4 Passages: Special Moments 58

Grandpa's Story 60

The Blessings

A Child Is Coming 62

A Blessing for a New Baby 63

First Day of School 64

Birthday 65

After the Death of a Pet 66

Graduation 67

For a Home 67

Marriage 68

A Leaving 69

5 Heart Prayers: Blessing the World 70

Grandpa's Story 72

The Blessings

May You Know Love 74

You Walk beside Us 75

Too Much 76

Beauty before You 77

The Hurting Places 77

6 The Struggling Times: Facing Illness, Loss, and Grief 78

Grandpa's Story 80

The Blessings

For One Who Is Hurting 81

Facing Illness 82

Choosing a Path 83

A Holy Pilgrimage 84

You Sit by the Bedside 85

The Shadowlands 86

A Blessing of the Grief 87

A Blessing of the Empty Space 88

Some Days Are Very Hard 89

7 God Is In: Celebrating Presence 90

Grandpa's Story 92

The Blessings

This Day 93

Christ before Us 93

Seasons 94

You, O God 94

God with Us 95

Notes 96

About the Author 97