Welsh Cakes Blog No Longer Active

I will not be writing anymore posts on this blog.

I have a new blog titled Contemplative without a Cloister.
http://judith-lawrence.blogspot.com

This will be to supplement my new book, Highway of Holiness: Soul Journey, which is available at http://wipfandstock.com

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Hallelujah

We who set our hope on Christ
Live for the praise of His glory.
(Paraphrase: Ephesians 1:12)

I will praise the Lord for waking me to this new day
With all its hope and promise.
We who set our hope on Christ
Live for the praise of His glory.
I will praise the Lord for opening my eyes to this new day
To see the sky lighten in the east from whence comes the Son of Man.
We who set our hope on Christ
Live for the praise of His glory.

I will praise the Lord for opening my ears to this new day
To hear the birds sing their morning praise to God.
We who set our hope on Christ
Live for the praise of His glory.

I will praise the Lord for opening my hands to this new day
To feel the textures of creation: the grass and stone and earth.
We who set our hope on Christ
Live for the praise of His glory.

I will praise the Lord for opening my nose to this new day
To smell the scents of nature’s bounty: the flowers and the rain.
We who set our hope on Christ
Live for the praise of His glory.

I will praise the Lord for opening my mouth to this new day
To taste the nourishment of harvest: water, bread and berries sweet.
We who set our hope on Christ
Live for the praise of His glory,
Live to thank him for His gifts,
Live to thank him for His bounty.
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord, O my soul!

Book Trailer: Highway of Holiness: Soul Journey

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Creation Unfolds

"The entire world is a divine scripture unfolding like cosmic prayer."
Entering the Castle by Caroline Myss

As all creation unfolds
Energy explodes in prayer.

The butterfly emerging
From the chrysalis
Opens its wings and
Flies aloft in prayer.

Bulbs’ leaves push through
The lately snow-covered
Ground and petals
Open in flowers of
Crocus, daffodil,
Lily and hyacinth.




Baby birds emerge from
Eggs and fledge from
Nests in a matter of days.
Young wild animals
Mature in a matter of months.


They write creation
On the forest floor
Flora and fauna alike
Unfold in cosmic prayer.




Humans, evolving into
Spiritual beings, unfold
Slowly and steadily,
Their souls open to
God like lotus petals
In the morning sun.

Book Trailer: Highway of Holiness: Soul Journey

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Glory

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Christ is risen from the dead.
His tomb is empty—
An angel sits where laid Christ’s head.
Christ is walking in the garden
He will speak your name.
If you seek him, he will be with you;
He will reveal himself to you.
Talk to him and he will answer;
Follow him and he will lead you,
In the way that you should go.
Hallelujah! Christ is risen,
Christ is risen from the dead.

Book Trailer: Highway of Holiness: Soul Journey

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Hummingbird Watch

I waited and watched
from the middle of April.
I knew it was too early.

It hung there
like a red jewel
reflecting the sun’s rays.

I replenished its strawberry shape
with fresh sweet-water
every few days.


One week into May
I heard the hum of his wings
and saw him in his ruby-throated splendor.

He was the first of many to come -
the expected one -
the harbinger of summer’s migration.

He stopped only for strength
for the journey,
then pressed on further north.

Others will come and stay until September,
when their departure
will herald the coming of winter.

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Trailer for Highway of Holiness: Soul Journey by Judith Lawrence coming soon

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Easter Garden

In the garden
Where I wept
Jesus called my name.

Rowan Tree

A Conversation between Christ and the Rowan Tree

O Rowan Tree, weep not for me.
Limb on limb, I lie outstretched,
Thou hold’st me up in thine own arms,
Thou cradlest me from birth.
Weep not, weep not, O Rowan Tree,
Weep not for me.

O Christ, I can’st but weep for Thee,
I sorrow to be the instrument of torture for Thy limbs.
My tears pour down in steady flow,
The sap pours from my wounds,
Where nails have held Thee fast to me.
I did but wish to cradle Thee as in the manger days,
And now I weep from guilt.
Sorrowing, I weep for Thee.

O Rowan Tree, thou should’st not weep,
The sin is man’s not thine.
See, here, I bless thy flowing tears
And make them drops of wine.
Blood red, henceforth, thy berries be,
Thy berries, red as blood,
Thy tears, blood red as wine,
Wine red, as my own blood.