Jesus Hung Out With Ragamuffins.

For Ragamuffins, God's Name Is Mercy. We See Our Darkness As A Prized Possession Because It Drives Us Into The Heart Of God. Without Mercy Our Darkness Would Plunge Us Into Despair - For Some, Self-destruction. Time Alone With God Reveals The Unfathomable Depths Of The Poverty Of The Spirit. We Are So Poor That Even Our Poverty Is Not Our Own: It Belongs To The Mysterium Tremendum Of A Loving God.

The Sorrow Of God Lies In Our Fear Of Him, Our Fear Of Life, And Our Fear Of Ourselves. He Anguishes Over Our Self-absorption And Self-sufficiency... God's Sorrow Lies In Our Refusal To Approach Him When We Sinned And Failed.

The Good News Of The Gospel Of Grace Cries Out: We Are All, Equally, Privileged But Unentitled Beggars At The Door Of God's Mercy!

One Of The The Loveliest Lines I Have Ever Read Comes From Brother Roger, The Prior Of The Protestant Monks Of Taize, France: 'assured Of Your Salvation By The Unique Grace Of Our Lord Jesus Christ.' It Is Still Difficult For Me To Read These Words Without Tears Filling My Eyes. It Is Wonderful.

Choose A Single, Sacred Word Or Phrase That Captures Something Of The Flavor Of Your Intimate Relationship With God. A Word Such As Jesus, Abba, Peace, God Or A Phrase Such As "abba, I Belong To You." . . . Without Moving Your Lips, Repeat The Sacred Word Inwardly, Slowly, And Often.