when our days don’t go as we plan

Dear Lord,

Help us to remember that when our days don’t go as we plan that you are still at work in life’s events.

Help us to trust you throughout each day and be mindful that you are present in our struggles.

Open our inner eyes to eternal things, like love and hope, that are unnoticed and ignored.

In all things teach us to be spiritual seekers and followers of your ways. Amen

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When it seems...

We sometimes wonder if our prayers are being heard. 

One thing we can be assured of is this.... when we are Children of God, He hears. He cares. He responds. 

As I looked back over some prayer journals from 2 years ago, I could see all the things that I had been crying out to God for. I could see all the hurts and frustrations that were embedded deep in my soul. I could see the pain and turmoil of some horrible situations.

But then...

I could see the answers that had come. I could see God working. I could see His Hand in so many ways.....

Just because God is silent.... it doesn’t mean He isn’t working.

Keep believing. Keep trusting. 

Keep praying.

Amen

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a prayer beyond our worry

Lord, 

In a season when every heart should be happy and light, many of us are struggling with the heaviness of life—burdens that steal our joy. Our inner voice whispers, 

"I am not enough!” 
"I must do better!" 
"My sin is so big."
"I wish I was more like..."
"Why can't I overcome...?"

We need your peace, Jesus. We confess that our hearts are too often filled with wonder of a different kind: wondering when when things will get better, when we will be better. In a world where worry prevails, stir up that good news again. Make it real in our hearts. We need Your joy and peace more than ever, right now. 

Thank You for the gift of Jesus, God with us, the Word made flesh. We not only need Your peace and joy; Lord, we desire it. You’ve promised rest for the weary, victory for the battle-scarred, peace for the anxious, and acceptance for the brokenhearted—not just at Advent, but every day of every year. 

Your name is still called 
“Wonderful,” 
“Counselor,” 
“The Mighty God,” 
“The Everlasting Father,” 
and 
“Prince of Peace.”

We know that peace on earth can only come when hearts find peace with You. You are still our Joy. You are still our Peace. You are Lord of lords and King of kings. Keep our minds and our hearts on You alone.

Amen

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when we are struggling

Today I am struggling, Lord
Today it is not so easy to believe
Today the voices of the world ring loud
Today the center of my life is ‘Me’

Today will you be the strength I need
Today will you be the hope I desire
Today will you be the voice I hear
Today be the center of all I yearn to be

Amen

... with attribution to the authors at the Faith and Worship site.

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let us find our rest in thee

Come, thou long expected Jesus,

born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.

Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

Amen

United Methodist Hymnal, 1989

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as we prepare for Christmas

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Prayer to the God of Hope

God of hope, who brought love into this world,

be the love that dwells between us.

God of hope, who brought peace into this world,

be the peace that dwells between us.

God of hope, who brought joy into this world,

be the joy that dwells between us.

God of hope, the rock we stand upon,

be the centre, the focus of our lives
always, and particularly this Advent time.

Amen

- from the Faith and Worship site.

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for a change in attitude

O Father,

Give us the humility which realizes its ignorance,

Admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice,

Accepts rebuke.

Help us always to praise rather than to criticize,

To sympathize rather than to discourage,

To build rather than to destroy,

And to think of people at their best rather than at their worst.

This we ask for thy name's sake.

Amen

... a prayer of William Barclay

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a prayer for waiting and hope

Loving Father,

As we enter this season of celebration, may we remember to wait. May we be expectant of the joy you bring us, and the wisdom you will give us. May we hope for all that you have promised in Jesus. All that you have promised for us. We wait because you ask us to to be still and wait.

For in our waiting we can find hope.

In our waiting we open our hearts to who you are.

In our waiting we seek your face.

In our waiting we look for your redemption.


In our waiting we remember all that you have done... and all that you promise you will do.

We wait to celebrate the birth of your Son. And we wait for his return to earth, where he will reign forever.

Your kingdom come, your will be done.


Amen

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to guard our hearts

Help us Lord to care for our hearts.

When we are hungry and dry,
   encourage us to eat good spiritual food.

When we are weak,
   help us to spiritually stretch and exercise.

Each day motivate us to give and receive love.

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DECEMBER AND LUKE

Live in the Scriptures, and you will be Kissed by God

Can you believe it's December?  Didn't we just finish off the turkey and dressing?  The older I get the faster the clocks ticks, and like the cartoon the pages of the calendar just seem to fly off constantly.
One good way to reflect on the Reason for the Season (Our Lord Jesus Christ) is to read about His life on a daily basis.

Several of my friends are going to join me and many others, reading one chapter a day in the book of Luke.  This will take us to Christmas Eve, and we will have seen our Savior from Birth to Ascension.  I can't think of a better way to Celebrate Christmas.

Father God, as we read of your life during the Christmas Season from the pen of Dr. Luke under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, I pray you will do something new in our hearts.  May we see You in deeper and more personal ways.   Lord, look deep into our hearts, and show us by your life how we can be victorious and over-comers by following your example, and by the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  You have so much for us to meditate on and contemplate during this Season.  Father God, thank you for Your mercy, Your grace, Your forgiveness and Salvation.  Thank You for your Holy Word to show us Yourself!  I love You.   Amen

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help us to forgive

People hurt us and seem to not even care.
Help us Lord to forgive them anyways.

In hard times it is so hard to see you working.
Open our eyes Lord and soften our hearts.

Days sometimes seem to be so depressing.
Fill us Father with your hope and peace.

We sometimes sin and disappoint ourselves.
Teach us Lord to trust and forgive ourselves.

Loneliness and estrangement plague us.
Cause reconciliation to come as well forgive.

In all things, and in all ways, help us to lead lives of forgiveness. Amen.

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prayer of commitment

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giving thanks when it doesn't make sense

Remember what the Holy One has done, and give him thanks! [Psalm 30:4 GNT]

There is something healing about the giving of thanks. We acknowledge God's goodness when we give thanks to him in the midst of struggle and pain. We seemingly reach back to times of divine blessings when we remember what God has done in our lives. Such memories can be an anchor in the storm.

I can relate to times of pain when all I had was a memory of the goodness of God. There is something about a memory that can cause me to be thankful. When my parents passed on my memories of them caused me to be thankful for their lives. I think that it is helpful to give thanks to God in hard times.

The issue, I believe, is whether we follow the loud shoutings of our head and ignore the small voice of our speaking heart. Our minds are somewhat rational and have difficulty giving thanks to God when it does not make sense to do it. Yet the heart has a different perspective because it has a different memory.

We remember what you have done in our lives Lord. And we give thanks.

For your presence in good times and bad. We give thanks.

For the people that you have placed in our lives. We give thanks.

For the ways that you work all things together for our good. We give thanks.

Fof the gift of your Son. Our hearts are filled with Thanksgiving.

Amen

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