Silence

Both my father and my grandmother used to say, “silence is golden” my father would then say, “now shut up!” Both are long ago deceased, but I still hear their voices in a playful manner when my mind is all askew. However, to me, silence is love. Silence is a time when I can listen to my heartbeat and feel the blood flow through my body, reminding me that there is more to life than just hurrying up and doing what others want from me.
Silence is a time for me to think of all my unknown brothers and sisters on this planet earth and feel them in my heart. I cannot describe this feeling; it is not depressing, no is it uplifting, but it is heavy, without being burdensome. It is just there, a reality of being that rises within me, knowing that the presence of humanity is silently praying with the goodness of God’s Love and Blessings.
Can we understand why this can be heavy but not burdensome? It is a promise of Love for all of God’s creation. Be happy in Love; enjoy family, friends; and community? It is before us by God’s grace. . . and gracious wishes.
©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.

If you are inspired, read my latest book.

Life’s Direction

When we begin a new direction or restart an old purpose in our lives, we are not led by anything external to us. We are led by something within us. Some call this the Holy Spirit; some call it the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever it is, it comes from God. We should not and cannot reject or refuse this.
For years I did not listen to this inner voice; it was only when near tragedy happened that I changed direction and became a teacher. It is God that did the work within me which brought me and those I touched with good will and prayerfully good knowledge. As I followed this road that God placed me on, compassion and patience the unique characteristics of true spirituality grew within me.
I have learned to pray in the direction I want my life to go, the direction God wants my life to go. My compassion and patience grow within me and through prayer, I acknowledge all gifts of God that I share with others. I strengthen this daily by spending time alone in my mind and heart with only the presence of God as my companion.
©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.

If you are inspired, read my latest book.

The Way of Love

I don’t know about you, but when something good happens to me, I can’t wait to call my friends and relatives to share the good news. Sometimes, the news is so good, we get together to have a celebratory dinner at home or a nearby restaurant. We all love to share news when it’s good news. But sometimes that news is very bad news, or sometimes tragic news, we also share this with relatives and maybe a very close, longtime friend. Regardless of the case, good or bad, when news comes our way, we have the need to share it with others. It is our way. We as humans have the need to share our good fortunes and our not so good fortunes with those we love. God made us this way. The God of Love made us this way. Aren’t we blessed!

©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.

If you are inspired, read my latest book.

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Emotions & Light

Sometimes I feel lost; sometimes I feel low on life. I find that after eleven years of college at night and many letters after my name, my emotions are not so clear anymore when it comes to life. I need to take a walk in the light of day to hear the children laughing as they play some silly little game that we as adults could never understand. Just their high squealing and giggling has an effect on me, raising my emotions and feelings to a better place. Aren’t we blessed that God is so gracious to us to give us the beauty of the light from the Sun and the laughter of children remind us of the beauty of a not so normal day.

©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.


If you are inspired, read my latest book.

Write a Daily Prayer

In our daily meditations
we should add one thing,
start a prayer journal.
Write a prayer to someone
or write a prayer to God.
Do this with love
for God knows
our inner thoughts and cares
and in our prayers
we bring God closer to us
and to those we love.
D’not be shy.
God Loves us; and
God gives us the
words for our prayers.

©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.

If you are inspired, read my latest book.

Grace

When you embrace grace, you embrace God’s love, including all people who are Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, humanist, and atheist, pagan, including the hidden humanity of those Christians who beg your patience for one more second who have long forgotten the civility and patience of Jesus. When you embrace grace, you embrace the person with leprosy, the unwashed homeless person begging for help on the median of the busy highway, and the lady pushing the shopping cart stacked high with a life full of memories being her only form of existence. Grace is doing for the forgotten what the government and the fancy churches have ignored.
©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.

If you are inspired, read my latest book.

Ye of Little Faith

Oh dreamer, lost in your own world,
what is it that you seek?

You call on Elijah
and others of God’s prophets.
You go to the mountaintop
standing –
waiting –
looking for the guidance that only
God can give,
praying that God will hear;
praying that God will speak.
You offer yourself for 20 or 30
Pieces of silver,
looking –
waiting –
listening.
You leave the mountaintop
disappointed –
angry –
disgusted.
You know not where to look.
Oh, ye of little faith –
Look within you,
where God forever abides.

©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.

If you are inspired, read my latest book.

“Our” God

I read the Bible. . . diligently. I read the Old Testament and the New Testament. I read the English translation of the Quran. All three are wonderful testament to God. All mention how God blesses man. But then something strange happens. The Old Testament god is YHWH, the God of Israel; the New Testament has the Trinity God (God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit), and Allah is the god of Islam. All pray to “our” God. Are we making God too small? Is not God one God. Can we agree that we merely have a different name for him? Let us not make God small. God loves us all!
©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.

If you are inspired, read my latest book.

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Quiet Water on a Windless Day

Ripples may be on the horizon
I know not when!
Am I prepared for rough water
In my little boat?
For I have but one power oar,
when I set out on my boat with
quiet water on a windless day.

©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.

If you are inspired, read my latest book.

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Who am I

I am a retired high school history teacher and college writing and literature professor. In my prayer life, I have attended church since I was a five-year-old in East Orange, NJ. After a tour in the Marine Corps, I was in my own business for almost twenty-five years. During this time, I attended a UCC church in Summit, NJ and served as the chair of the Christian Education program and was a Sunday School teacher for almost twenty years. While there, I became a Stephen minister tending to the needs of those in spiritual need of missing God in their lives.
My wife and I moved to Fredericksburg, VA in 2009 and I immediately became active in prayer ministries. With two others, I helped create a Stephen Ministry at our local Episcopal church. I also helped in the creation of a prayer corner allowing people to offer prayers after our celebrating the Eucharist.
I am now an active member of prayer programs in both churches (NJ and VA). With others I spend most of my day in Bible reading and prayer.
This website is dedicated to prayer through meditations, prayers, and poetry and prose meditations on Love, Faith, Community, and prayer.
I pray that you will be nourished by my offerings of prayer.
©Russell Kendall Carter, BA. MAT. Dlitt.

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