Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

SPEAK UP


"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute."  Proverbs 31:8.

Lord, I am so grateful that You love us, regardless of our appearance, our wealth, our social or political status.  We cannot impress You, nor do we need to.  You have chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom.  In light of this, Father God, give me a compassionate heart.  Help me to be as impartial in my love of others as You have been in loving me.  I love You. Amen

A few weeks ago, a gentleman who had little came by to see if we had any recyclables.  Don reach out in compassion and conversation.  I reached out with love and a bag of cookies.  It makes this verse and prayer seem very real.

Amen

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DON'T GIVE UP

2 Corinthians 1:8 (NLT)
     We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.


Father, this is such a startling confession by the Apostle Paul. Yet, it speaks so painfully well of his human condition and frailty. Life with all of its wonders can seem like a wreck at times. And the Apostle continues and says: ”In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.”
2 Corinthians 1:9 (NLT)

Father that is our hope in times of debilitating despair, to not give up. Well do I remember Father, many years ago when in a season of brokenness, and barren dryness of soul the following song was like soft rain that brought such refreshing and renewal.

Don’t give up
Someone really loves you
Don’t give up
Someone really cares
Don’t give up
Someone really loves you
And that someone is the Lord

Keep the faith
Someone really loves you
Keep the faith
Someone really cares
Keep the faith
Someone really loves you
And that someone is the Lord

And Father I recall your word in a very personal way: “Long ago the LORD said to me: “I have loved you, Don, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. 4 I will rebuild you, my son. You will again be happy and dance merrily with your tambourines.” Jeremiah 31:3-4 (NLT)

Father thank you that I have lived to see that day and tell the story of that love which always encourages us to: Don’t Give Up.

Healing Grace - Alive @ Saddleback - Album Rick Muchow “Don’t Give Up”

Amen

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exceeding JOY!

"But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are 
partakers of Christ's sufferings"
(1 Peter 4:13)

A.W. Tozer says, "The obedient Christian believer will continue to rejoice and praise God even in the midst of continuing trials and suffering in this earthly life!"

As God's people, as His children, we ought to adopt this same philosophy as ours. We know that things here on earth are not as God intended them to be. We know that things here on earth are vile and wicked. But, let's not be too busy wallowing in our sufferings to take time to rejoice in the gracious prospect of all that will take place when God fulfills His promises to His Redeemed children!

Our prayer should be not just to cope with the testings in life but to rise above them!

Let's bring to life the words of Peter - "When Christ's glory shall be revealed, you may be glad with exceeding joy!"

Amen

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Your Resurrection has brought us Joy

It is only right, with all the powers of our heart and mind,
to praise You Father and Your Only-begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear Father, by Your wondrous condescension of loving-kindness toward us,
Your servants, You gave up Your Son.

Dear Jesus You paid the debt of Adam for us to the Eternal Father by
Your Blood poured fourth in loving-kindness.

You cleared away the darkness of sin By Your magnificent and radiant Resurrection.

You broke the bonds of death and rose from the grave as a Conqueror.

You reconciled heaven and earth.

Our life had no hope of eternal happiness before You redeemed us.

Your Resurrection has washed away our sins, restored our innocence and brought us joy.

How inestimable is the tenderness of Your love!

Amen
... Gregory the Great's Easter Prayer

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Resurrection Life

Abba Father, we thank you for the Resurrection. Because Christ was raised we have confidence that we also shall be raised. Death no longer is in control. Indeed, we are raised with Christ now! Help us to live into that resurrection life as we go through our day. Remind us of who we are in Christ, that sin and death no longer have any dominion over us, but that we are free to live to Christ. Amen

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HE IS RISEN



All praise to you, Jesus Christ, risen Savior.  You triumphed over death and hell  You are King of kings and Lord of lords.  Forgiveness and salvation are Yours.  You have redeemed us and made us holy in the sight of God.  Grace and peace flow from You.  In You and through You we find strength and blessing and abundance life.  Let all heaven and earth declare Your praise as the risen Son of God, the Savior of the world.  We love You.  Amen.

Amen

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BLACK SABBATH


Luke 22:52-53 (ESV)
     52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."

 
John 20:19 (HCSB)
     In the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were
gathered together with the doors locked because of their fear of the Jews.

Father when I meditate on these verses and understand that the day between the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus was the darkest of times for the disciples. Judas had betrayed Jesus, Peter had denied him and the rest of the disciples had forsaken him running for their lives into the dark shadows of that dreadful night in Gethsemane. Gripped and nearly paralyzed by fear they now huddled together uncertain of anything. It was the gloom of the tomb that obliterated their hope and made that Saturday a Black Sabbath.

Father enable us to realize that without some insight into the deep trauma of those disciples’ depression and despondency we can never appreciate what the light of the resurrection really means which according to Your Word is: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.” Matthew 4:16 (NLT)

Father thank Your for that Light which means there will never be another Black Sabbath. “Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:28 (NLT)

Amen

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The Love of God

The Love of God Frederick M. Lehman 1917

The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled, and pardoned from his sin.

O love of God, how rich and pure!How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure The saints’ and angels’ song.

When years of time shall pass away, and earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray, on rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure, all measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race— the saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above, would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky.
Amen

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Choices

I choose to breathe the breath of Christ
that makes all life holy.

I choose to live the flesh of Christ
that outlasts sin’s corrosion and decay.

I choose the blood of Christ
along my veins and in my heart
that dizzies me with joy.

I choose the living waters flowing from his side
to wash and clean my own self and the world itself.

I choose the awful agony of Christ
to charge my senseless sorrows with meaning
and to make my pain pregnant with power.

I choose you, good Jesus, you know.

I choose you, good Lord;
count me among the victories
that you have won in bitter woundedness.

Never number me among those alien to you.

Make me safe from all that seeks to destroy me.

Summon me to come to you.

Stand me solid among angels and saints
chanting yes to all you have done,
exulting in all you mean to do forever and ever.

Then for this time, Father of all,
keep me, from the core of my self,
choosing Christ in the world.

 Amen.
... a prayer by Joseph Tetlow SJ

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bandage our wounds

Precious Father,

Today, we lift up so many hurting people to you. There are people hurting physically, spiritually and emotionally. There are people hurting at the hands of others and some at the hands of their selves.  Our world is filled with pain and suffering and disappointment. Father, I ask that you begin to minister to those in need. Send your sweet Holy Spirit down to manifest your goodness in their lives. Reach down and touch those hurting and needy places. Reach down and dispense sweet mercy and grace upon them. Draw them to you. 

I am so thankful, Father, that we have a God who cares about us. A God who identifies with us. And a God who is able to heal us and bandage our wounds. You are so good and we give you all praise and all glory and all honor!

"Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth"
(Psalm 124:8)

Amen

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A Palm Sunday Prayer


On this day of great rejoicing, Lord Jesus Christ, when we welcome You as our King and Savior, we also walk in the shadow of Your cross. Hosanna! we cry. Blessed are You who come in God’s name to save us. Hosanna! Strengthen our faith on this Palm Sunday so that when the time comes to carry the cross we might still call out to You with heartfelt praise. Give us the grace and the courage to follow You this Holy Week from death to resurrection, from darkness to the fullness of light.We need You, Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior. Hosanna!  We love you.  Amen.

*Prayer from Palm Sunday prayers
*image from googleimages.com

Amen

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NOAH

Genesis 6:8-9 & 22 (ESV)
      …..Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.  …….. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

Father You remind us in the story of Noah what it means to find favor with You. You favor the obedience born in the heart of faith, lived in confrontation of a corrupt society and steadfast through hostile opposition. It is a reasoning, righteous and radical obedience. Father it was Noah’s obedience that manifested itself in a life of righteousness, and faithful fellowship with You.

Father You certified Your approval of Noah’s obedient faith in Hebrews 11:7 (GW) “Faith led Noah to listen when God warned him about the things in the future that he could not see. He obeyed God and built a ship to save his family. Through faith Noah condemned the world and received God's approval that comes through faith.”

Father may our obedience be as transparent to the people around us so they can see our faith in
You as Noah’s generation saw his faith in You.  

Amen

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Teach us good Lord ...

Teach us, good Lord,
To serve thee as thou deservest;

To give and not to count the cost;

To fight and not to heed the wounds;

To toil and not to seek for rest;

To labour and not to ask for any reward.
Save that of knowing that we do thy will.

Amen
... a prayer of St Ignatius

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sweeter than honey

"...blessed are they that hear the Word
of God, and keep it"
(Luke 11:28)

Oh, God, give us hearts to desire to hear the Word of God! Give us hearts to desire to obey what we hear! We know that you speak to us not just to be heard, but you speak to us to be obeyed! May we read and study the Scriptures with attentive ears and receptive spirits. May the Word speak to our hearts loudly so we hear your Voice and are compelled onward to obedience. Open our ears, Lord. 

"How sweet are thy words unto my taste!
yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"
(Psalm 119:103)



Amen

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A prayer for what we need ...

O Gracious and Holy Father, give us:
Wisdom to perceive you;

Diligence to seek you;

Patience to wait for you;

Eyes to behold you;

A heart to mediate upon you;

And a life to proclaim you.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit Of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen
... a prayer of St Benedict

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Prayer for the Church

Father, bless your Church. Let her know your grace and love. Remind her that she is the body of Christ, that she is your family. Unify us in Christ and teach us again that our fight is not against flesh and blood, that our weapons are not political power and influence. Let us be people of prayer, and let your kingdom come and your will be done in us as it is in heaven. Amen

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GOOD MORNING, LORD.



"My voice You will hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You and I will look up."  Psalm 5:3

In my Daily Bread reading this morning, it was reminding us the need for morning prayer.  To begin our day with the Lord, His Word and Prayer.

"It's not magic ~ it's maintenance, as we ask the Lord each morning to fill and guide us with His love.

Dear Lord, give me a strong desire, to look into Your Word each day.  Help me hide it in my heart and that I might not stray from Your truth.  Feed me and teach me about Yourself and Your will for this day.  I love you.  Amen.

**Thoughts taken from Daily Bread 4/4/14
* Image from googleimages.com

Amen

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God Is Not Dead



Psalm 10:4 (NLT)
    The wicked are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead.

Psalm 14:1 (NLT)
    Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”

James 2:19 (NLT)
   You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.

Father as I meditate on these verses I am astonished at the foolishness of anyone who believes: “There is no God.” Amazingly of all your creation only a human would dare believe or say such a thing. Satan and his evil hordes are not so foolish even though they endeavor to deceive with such a false philosophy.

Father it is good to be reminded and encouraged by Your Word: “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.” Colossians 2:8 (NLT)


And Father it is also good to be reminded of Your redeeming love for the human race regardless of their response. How precious to remember: “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:10 (NLT)

Amen

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