Lighthouse Beatitudes

When Liberator saw the crowd, he went up a mountain and sat down to encourage his people. He opened his mouth and spoke to his crew, saying:

Divine favour is on those battered and bruised by the storms of life. To them belongs the reign and rule of my Father.

Divine favour rests on those whose trauma erupts into tears or disassociation, for they shall know healing and comfort.

Divine favour rests on those gentle, wounded souls, for they will inherit a world of wonder.

Divine favour rests on those whose hearts burn for justice, for the world to be stripped of injustice, oppression, and domination. They shall be filled, satisfied, and made whole.

Divine favour rests on those filled with mercy, who walk the path of forgiveness. For they will behold the beauty of God.

Divine favour rests on those whose hearts remain soft despite life’s wounds. They will glimpse the presence of the Sacred.

Divine favour rests on those who seek to bring peace in a world of conflict. They are the sons and daughters the Father always wanted.

Divine favour rests on those who seek to walk in kindness but are bullied, abused, and mistreated. To them belongs the reign and rule of my Father.

-Rev'd Jon Swales

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#1 Beatitudes: A Lighthouse Meditation

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3, ESV)

"Creator’s blessing rests on the poor, the ones with broken spirits. The good road from above is theirs to walk." (First Nations Version)

"Divine favour is on those battered and bruised by the storms of life. To them belongs the reign and rule of my Father."(Lighthouse Version)

Jesus stood before a crowd of the battered and bruised—fishermen worn down by hard labour, beggars scraping by on the streets, women treated as property, tax collectors reviled by their own people. A mixed bag of image bearers. He saw their pain, their struggle, their longing, and instead of pity, he spoke revolution: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This was not a sentimental blessing.

This was an upheaval.

In a world where power and wealth rule,

Jesus declared that God’s kingdom belonged to those at the bottom.

Not the mighty, but the meek.

Not the oppressors, but the oppressed.

Not those who build empires,

but those crushed under their weight.

At Lighthouse, we know what it means to be poor in spirit.

We know what it means to be battered and bruised by the storms of life. Lighthouse is a gospel community that supports and empowers those who often feel they have been cast aside—by family, by society, Some of us have slept in doorways while politicians argue about statistics. Some of us have been turned away from services because our trauma makes us "too complex." . Many depend daily on food from the Crypt or street kitchens. Others struggle with mental illness, carrying burdens too heavy to bear alone.

But Jesus speaks of the kingdom of heaven as a blessing that belongs to us.

The world tells us we are failures, but Jesus tells us we are blessed.

This blessing is not an empty platitude. It is a promise of justice.

The kingdom of heaven is not a far-off dream; it is breaking in now.

Every time the hungry are fed, the lost are welcomed, the broken are lifted up, the kingdom is revealed.

Every time a system that crushes the poor is challenged, every time dignity is restored to the outcast, heaven touches earth.

The kingdom of God is an upside-down kingdom.

It is counter-cultural.

It subverts the worldviews that glorify domination, power, and exploitation.

t is a kingdom that drives a stake through the heart of systems built on inequality and violence.

In the kingdom of God, the last are first, the poor are rich, the meek inherit the earth, and the mourners are comforted.

At Lighthouse, we seek to live out this kingdom each day.

We join with others in raising a signpost to the compassionate kingdom.

It is not a perfect community, but in its brokenness, it mediates the blessing of God’s reign.

We proclaim the gospel of King Jesus, the good news that he is here to offer hope, forgiveness and blessing. We offer a welcome to the lost, the lonely, the battered and bruised , a place where grace, not shame, reigns. We feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and offer a sense of dignity to those society deems unworthy.

In this upside-down kingdom, we are all invited to become part of the restoration, to walk the good road together. As we take small steps of kindness, of forgiveness, of courage, we embody the kingdom of God in ways that make it real here and now. We show that God’s reign is not some far-off hope, but a tangible reality being revealed in the here and now—through us, together, as we live out the life of the kingdom.

And so, we are reminded: the poor in spirit are blessed—because God’s reign belongs to them, right here, right now.

The promise of heaven, the hope and love of the compassionate kingdom is breaking through, even in the midst of our struggle. And the kingdom is ours to embrace, not as a distant dream, but as a present reality.

A Lighthouse Prayer

Father God,

Your Son Jesus,

stood with the poor,

walked with the outcast,

challenged the powerful

and lifted up the oppressed.

We bring before you our struggles,

our hunger, our grief.

We cry out for justice.

We long for your kingdom.

Let your reign be made known

—In the streets and night shelters where the homeless sleep,

in our community of kindness,

in the hearts of those who wield power.

Give us strength to hope,

courage to resist,

and faith to believe that another world is possible

—because yours is the kingdom, now and forever.

Amen.

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#2 Beatitudes: A Lighthouse Meditation

‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." (Matthew 5:4, ESV)

‘𝘾𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧'𝙨 𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙞𝙥𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢’ (First Nations Version)

‘Divine favour rests on those whose trauma erupts into tears or disassociation, for they shall know healing and comfort."’ (Lighthouse Version)

Grief—the pain of loss—is a human experience.

It is the flip side of love.

We grieve because we have loved, because something or someone mattered to us.

We grieve death, but we also grieve what is broken, what is lost, what never was.

We grieve the families we should have had, the chances we never got,

the way the world wounds and crushes,

the fact that ‘this is not how things were meant to be.’

Lighthouse, a community for those battered and bruised by the storms of life, inhabits grief.

We see it in our own faces, in the lines etched by suffering.

We see it in the eyes of those who carry more pain than words can express.

We see it in the silent tears that stream down cheeks,

in the loud, angry shouts of those who don’t know how else to express their sorrow.

And sometimes, grief is so heavy that we are stuck.

Unable to move forward.

Numb to hope.

Many of us do what we can to cope—to dull the ache, to quiet the storm.

Disassociation.

Drink.

Drugs.

Pain relief for pain that feels unbearable.

But then comes ‘grief upon grief’—the weight of addiction, the loss of dignity, the shame, the regret.

And it is in this place—this deep pit of sorrow—that Jesus speaks.

He does not tell us to get over it.

He does not tell us to move on.

He does not tell us to pull ourselves together.

Instead, he speaks a word from the upside-down kingdom:

‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.’

This is not the end.

The darkest day is not the final day.

The pain that feels endless will not last forever.

Jesus weeps with us in our grief.

He does not stand at a distance; he steps into our sorrow.

And he speaks comfort—not as a wishful hope, but as a promise.

The day is coming when grief will give way to joy.

When all that has been lost will be restored.

When the tears we cry will be wiped away by the hand of God himself.

But even now, in the midst of the storm, comfort comes.

Sometimes it comes through the presence of a friend who sits with us in the silence.

Sometimes it comes through a shared meal, a warm embrace, a moment of laughter.

Sometimes it comes in ways we cannot explain,

as hope flickers in the darkness,

as peace settles in a restless heart,

as love reaches us when we thought we were beyond its reach.

The kingdom of heaven is breaking through,

even in the valley of grief.

And in this kingdom, the mourners are not forgotten.

They are blessed.

Because they will be comforted.

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A Lighthouse Prayer

Father of mercy,

you see the weight of grief we carry,

the loss, the sorrow, the aching wounds.

You see the silent tears.

You hear the unspoken cries.

You know the pain too deep for words.

Come close to the brokenhearted.

Hold those who are drowning in sorrow.

Let your presence be known in the darkness.

For those who have lost too much,

for those stuck in a cycle of grief upon grief,

for those who feel like they will never heal,

Father, bring your comfort.

Let us become a people who do not turn away from sorrow,

but who stand together in it.

Let us be a place where comfort is made real.

Let us raise a signpost to your compassionate kingdom,

where every tear will be wiped away,

where love has the final word.

For yours is the kingdom,

now and forever.

Amen.

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#3 Beatitudes: A Lighthouse Meditation

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”(Matthew 5:5, ESV)

“Creator’s blessing rests on the ones who walk softly and in a humble manner. The earth, land, and sky will welcome them and always be their home.” (First Nations Version)

“Divine favour rests on those gentle wounded souls, for they will inherit a world of wonder.” (Lighthouse Version)

⸻

🌍 In a world that exalts power, dominance, and self-assertion, meekness is often misunderstood. The meek are seen as weak, their quiet voices drowned out by the noise of the powerful. But Jesus tells us that the meek—not the rulers, not the strongmen, not those who grab power—will inherit the earth.

At Lighthouse, we see this truth lived out every day. Those who have walked through poverty, addiction, rejection, and grief—and yet remain gentle in spirit—reveal something of God’s kingdom. The world may call them powerless, but Jesus calls them blessed.

💡 Meekness is not about being weak.It is about a quiet resilience, a deep-rooted strength that does not always need to shout. It is the courage to respond to hardship without bitterness, to endure suffering without resorting to violence, to carry wounds without turning them into weapons. And this gentleness is found not among the powerful, but among the poor and overlooked.

🌿 The fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—are often most evident in those who have nothing but God to hold onto.** Society imagines that virtue belongs to the privileged, but we often see more grace, more kindness, and more gentleness in those whom the world forgets.

✨ And in this, we see Jesus.

For the Christ who proclaims blessing upon the meek is the same Christ who embodies it. The prophet Isaiah spoke of him:

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out.”(Matthew 12:20, quoting Isaiah 42:3)

Jesus does not crush the wounded. He does not extinguish the struggling. His gentleness is strong enough to hold the fragile, tender enough to carry the broken, and fierce enough to resist the violence of the world without mirroring it. He walks among the bruised and weary, not demanding but inviting. And to those who have been told they are too weak, too small, too insignificant, he speaks a different word:

💛 Blessed.

🔥 The inheritance Jesus promises is both future and present. The meek will inherit the earth—not by seizing it, but by receiving it as a gift. The powers of greed and violence will fade like mist, while the gentle will remain. A new creation is coming, where justice, peace, and mercy will reign. But even now, the kingdom is breaking in.

➡️ Every time gentleness overcomes harshness,

➡️ Every time kindness is chosen over cruelty,

➡️ Every time humility walks a different path than pride,

we catch a glimpse of the future world in the present.

🌊 At Lighthouse, we bear witness to this reality. Among the poor, the bruised, and the weary, the Spirit of God is at work, bringing forth fruit that the world does not expect to grow in such soil.The gentle wounded souls, those who have walked through darkness yet still choose love, are already inheriting the earth—one act of grace, one moment of mercy, one quiet strength at a time.

⸻

🙏 A Lighthouse Prayer

Wild Goose of Love, who mediates the gentle presence of Jesus,

Brood over us, and birth within us the fruit of your Spirit.

Where we have been hardened by life’s storms, soften us with grace.

Where we have been broken by sorrow, mend us with mercy.

Where we have been abandoned or rejected, remind us that we are seen.

Spirit of the Living God,

Dwell among the wounded, the weary, the meek.

Teach us the quiet strength of Jesus,

Who does not break the bruised reed,

Who does not snuff out the flickering wick.

Shape us in his gentleness,

That we might resist the world’s violence without becoming violent,

That we might endure suffering without losing our kindness,

That we might walk softly upon the earth,

As those who will one day inherit its renewal.

Come,

Wild Goose,

and lead us home.

Amen.

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#4 Beatitudes: A Lighthouse Meditation

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." (Matthew 5:6, ESV)

"Creator’s blessing rests on the ones who hunger and thirst for wrongs to be right again. They will eat and drink until they are full." (First Nations Version)

‘Divine favour rests on those whose hearts burn for justice, for the world to be stripped of injustice, oppression, and domination. They shall be filled, satisfied, and made whole."(Lighthouse Version)

Many of us at Lighthouse, a Christian community of those battered and bruised by the storms of life, know what it is to experience injustice. Some of us have been pushed to the margins, struggling with burdens we never chose. Others have been let down by systems that should have helped, or left without a voice in decisions that shape our lives. We have known the sharp sting of being overlooked, of being made to feel invisible, of longing for things to be made right. 🌍💔

The world is not as it should be. And yet, in the middle of this brokenness, Jesus speaks: 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.'

This hunger is not just about personal morality; it is a deep ache for a world where things are set right. It is the longing for a society where no one is left behind, where the vulnerable are cared for, where dignity is not earned but recognised as a gift from God. It is the thirst for a world where love, not power, shapes how we treat one another. 🙏💖

Jesus was a man of justice. Not the kind of justice that seeks revenge, but the justice that restores, heals, and brings wholeness. He spent his life walking alongside those who had been cast aside, lifting up those who had been told they were worthless, and speaking words of hope to those the world had forgotten. His justice was not about punishment but about transformation—about making all things new. 🌿✊

At Lighthouse, we share in this hunger and thirst. When we offer welcome to those who have been rejected, when we provide a warm meal and a listening ear, when we remind one another that we are loved and valued, we taste a little of the justice Jesus spoke of. We do not yet see the world as it should be, but we hold onto the promise that one day, all things will be made right. 💫🤝

And so, we do not lose hope. The kingdom is coming. The longing for justice will be satisfied. The ache for righteousness will be met with wholeness. And even now, in the small acts of love and mercy we share, we catch glimpses of the world made new. 🌎💛

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A Lighthouse Prayer

Father, we bring before you our hunger and thirst for justice.

We carry wounds from a world that is not as it should be.

We have known struggle, hardship, and the weight of unfairness.

We have seen pain that should not be, and we long for things to be set right. 🙏💔

We cry out to you. We long for healing, for hope, for a future where all are valued.

We bring before you those who feel unseen and unheard.

We lift up those burdened by circumstances beyond their control.

We ask for your kingdom to break in—bringing peace, bringing mercy, bringing justice. 🕊️✨

Help us not to grow weary.

Help us to trust that you are making all things new.

Give us strength to show kindness, patience to walk alongside those who struggle,

and faith to believe that another world is possible. 🌱💪

For yours is the kingdom,

the power,

and the glory,

now and forever.

Amen.

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#5 Beatitude: A Lighthouse Meditation

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." (Matthew 5:7, ESV)

"Creator's blessing rests on the ones who are merciful and kind to others. Their kindness will find its way back to them—full circle." (First Nations Version)

"Divine favour rests on those filled with mercy and who walk the path of forgiveness. For they will behold the beauty of God." (Lighthouse Version)

Many of us at Lighthouse, a Christian community of those battered and bruised by the storms of life, know what it is to need mercy. We have stumbled, made mistakes, and carried burdens of shame. Some of us have struggled with addiction, some have been in prison, some have spoken words we wish we could take back. Others of us have been crushed by life’s circumstances—abandoned, judged, or left with wounds too deep to heal on our own.

We know what it is to need mercy. And we know what it is to long for a fresh start.

Jesus speaks into this longing: blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. This is not a demand but a promise. Mercy is the shape of God’s kingdom. It is not a world of payback and retribution, but a world of kindness, grace, and second chances.

Jesus himself is mercy in human form. He saw the sinner and did not condemn. He looked at the broken and did not turn away. He ate with tax collectors, welcomed the outcasts, and restored those whom society had written off. When a woman caught in adultery was dragged before him, he refused to join the crowd in throwing stones. Instead, he spoke words of forgiveness and set her free:

"Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." (John 8:11, ESV)

When a criminal hung beside him on a cross, guilty and condemned, Jesus did not mock him or declare his punishment deserved. Instead, he spoke words of mercy:

"Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43, ESV)

Jesus shows us that mercy is not weakness but the very heart of God. It is the way of love that refuses to give up on people, even when the world has turned its back on them.

The church has long carried this call to mercy. From the first Christians who rescued abandoned infants left to die, to monasteries that provided food and shelter for the poor, to hospitals founded in the name of Christ, mercy has always been at the heart of the gospel. It is seen in those who visit the imprisoned, care for the sick, and welcome the stranger.

"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:36, ESV)

At Lighthouse, we seek to live this out day by day.

We are not perfect, but we are a people of mercy. We are patient with one another because we know life is hard. We have walked through our own storms, so when someone else is struggling, we don’t judge—we stand beside them. If someone lashes out in anger, we don’t turn away—we listen. When someone is lost in addiction, we don’t condemn—we remind them they are loved.

"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Colossians 3:13, NIV)

At Lighthouse, mercy is not just a nice idea—it is lived reality. We see it in the way we share food with each other, in the hugs given freely, in the patience shown when someone is struggling. There is peace here, even in the chaos. There is tangible joy in the room, even in the midst of struggle. When someone is distressed, there is no shame, only understanding. We know what it is to break down. We know what it is to cry out in despair. And we know what it is to be met with kindness instead of rejection.

"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." (Psalm 103:8, NIV)

We hold space for each other. We forgive quickly. We laugh together. We share burdens. We are, in all our messiness, a community of mercy. And in this, we catch a glimpse of God’s kingdom—a world where mercy is not weakness but strength, where kindness is not an afterthought but the very foundation.

Jesus said that those who show mercy will receive it. And in Lighthouse, we see this to be true. Mercy given is mercy returned. Love shared is love received. And in the giving and receiving of kindness, we behold something sacred—the beauty of God among us.

A Lighthouse Prayer

Father, you are a God of mercy.

You do not cast us aside when we fail.

You do not turn away from us in our brokenness.

Instead, you meet us with kindness, with grace, with love beyond measure.

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV)

Help us to be people of mercy.

When we are hurt, may we choose to forgive.

When we are wronged, may we choose love over bitterness.

When we see others struggling, may we extend a hand instead of turning away.

For we have received mercy beyond what we deserve.

May we now be bearers of that mercy to others.

And in the giving, may we find our own hearts made whole.

For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, now and forever.

Amen.

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#6 Beatitudes: A Lighthouse Meditation

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8, ESV)

"Creator’s blessing rests on the pure of heart. They are the ones who will see the Great Spirit." (First Nations Version)

"Divine favour rests on those whose hearts remain soft despite life's wounds. They will glimpse the presence of the Sacred." (Lighthouse Version)

Many of us at Lighthouse, a Christian community of those battered and bruised by the storms of life ⛈️, know what it is to be wounded. Life has been unkind. Some of us carry the scars of rejection, abandonment, and betrayal.

Others have been let down by the systems meant to help, crushed under the weight of addiction, grief, or poverty 😞. Some days, the world feels so harsh that it would be easier to shut down—to grow cold, to stop caring, to protect ourselves from further hurt.

But Jesus calls us to something different ✨. He speaks of hearts that remain open, tender, and undivided. To be "pure in heart" is not about being perfect. It is about refusing to let bitterness take root 🌱. It is about resisting the urge to turn away from love ❤️. It is about holding on to the sacred, even when life has tried to strip it away.

And there is a promise: those who keep their hearts open, despite the pain, will see God .

Jesus had a way of seeing people—not just their brokenness, not just their mistakes, but their hearts . He saw the ones the world overlooked. He saw the weary, the outcast, the forgotten. And in seeing them, he revealed the presence of God .

📖 "The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7, NIV)

To see God is not just about the future. It is about recognising his presence here and now 🌍. It is about glimpsing the sacred in the kindness of a friend 🤝, in the warmth of a shared meal 🍲, in the quiet comfort of knowing we are not alone.

At Lighthouse, we seek to live this out day by day . We are not a perfect community, but we are a real one. We try to be patient with each other. We give each other second chances . When someone is struggling, we do not turn away. We sit with each other in the pain, refusing to let shame have the final word.

In a world that often tells us to toughen up, to guard our hearts, to look out only for ourselves, we choose another way 🌿. We choose softness. We choose mercy. We choose love ❤️. And in doing so, we catch glimpses of the sacred—right here, in the middle of the mess.

📖 "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10, NIV)

A Lighthouse Prayer 🙏

Father, in a world that wounds and hardens,

help us to keep our hearts open .

When life is cruel, keep us from bitterness.

When we are hurt, keep us from turning away.

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." (James 4:8)

Help us to see you—in the kindness of a friend ,

in the beauty of a sunset ,

in the quiet moments of grace .

May our hearts remain soft,

and may we glimpse your presence in the sacred ordinary.

For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, now and forever.

Amen.

#7 Beatitudes: A Lighthouse Meditation

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9, NIV)

"Creator’s blessing rests on the ones who make peace, for they will be called children of the Great Spirit." (First Nations Version)

"Divine favour rests on those who seek to bring peace in a world of conflict. They are the sons and daughters that the Father always wanted." (Lighthouse Version)

Jesus calls us to more than just avoiding conflict. His peace isn’t passive—it’s active, restorative, and courageous. Jesus didn’t come to create a world without challenge, but to reconcile all things to God, to heal the broken, and to invite us into a new family where peace reigns. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you" (John 14:27). This isn’t peace as the world gives, it’s peace that transforms, peace that stands in contrast to a world filled with violence, division, and injustice.

At Lighthouse, we know that peace doesn’t come easily. We know what it’s like to be battered by the storms of life. Many in our community have faced violence, injustice, and personal loss. Yet, even in this brokenness, we seek to be peacemakers, to embody the peace Jesus offers.

Each Sunday, we share the peace. Before we do, we remind each other: "In a world where division runs deep, Jesus is creating a new family. A family where people like me and people like you, from different backgrounds and stories, can look each other in the eye and say, ‘You are my brother, you are my sister.’"

And then, we exchange the peace: "The peace of the Lord be with you." "And also with you." In that moment, we experience peace—not just in words, but in a tangible way. We shake hands, share a hug, or give a friendly fist bump. The peace floods the room. It’s a holy space, a thin space where we feel the presence of God among us. It’s a family sacrament—a taste of heaven, a glimpse of the Kingdom.

This peace isn’t always easy. It requires us to look beyond our differences, to choose reconciliation over division, and to extend forgiveness where it feels hardest. But as Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9). To be a peacemaker is to be a child of God, a participant in God’s Kingdom, which is always at work in the midst of conflict, bringing healing and hope.

At Lighthouse, we live this out every day. We don’t just talk about peace; we practice it. When we forgive each other, when we welcome the stranger, when we choose kindness in the face of anger, we are living as peacemakers. In doing so, we join Jesus in his work of reconciliation, bringing God’s peace into the world.

Lighthouse Prayer:

Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace,

you came to reconcile, to heal, to restore.

We long for your peace in our lives, in our communities,

and in our world.

Where there is division, bring unity.

Where there is hatred, bring love.

Where there is violence, bring peace

In this broken world, help us to be peacemakers,

to seek reconciliation, to extend grace,

to offer kindness, and to welcome the stranger.

We pray that your peace would flood our hearts,