our one desire

My God,

I pretend to nothing upon this earth,
except to be so firmly united to you by prayer
that to be separated from you may be impossible;
let others desire riches and glory;
for my part,

I desire but one thing,
and that is to be inseparably united to you,
and to place in you alone
all my hopes
of happiness
and repose.

Amen

- a prayer of St. John Scholasticus

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To See More Clearly

Great and Mighty God,

We praise you for  your provision and care for us today. Thank you for your love and compassion towards us. We acknowledge your great power and might,  also your gentle and merciful spirit.

Father, help us to see more clearly those around us in need. Help us to lean into what makes us uncomfortable. Guide us into a place obedient to your will. Help us to care for the widows and orphans, the refugees you welcome in. Help us to see your image in each one you've created. Help us to see their worth.

Praise and glory be, to You who sits on the throne. May the glory and majesty and blessing be to you now and forever.

Amen

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STOP ~~~~AND PRAISE HIM

Recently we were listening to Steve Lawson giving a message on Psalm 135.  In praying so many times our burdens are so heavy, our hearts so torn and our bodies worn out, that we just cry out for mercy and deliverance.  Those are good and needful reasons to pray, and we are encouraged to in God Word.   But, how often do I just STOP and praise Him like the little boy above?

Dear Lord I would ask that you give me a heart of praise.  No matter what the difficulties of my life or the circumstances I find myself in, I need to STOP and praise You.  Praise your Holy Name, which is so lovely.  I need to praise You for Your Goodness that never fails,  Lord you do what ever pleases You in heaven, on the earth and in the seas and all their depths.  You make the clouds rise from the ends of the earth,  You send lightening with the rain and bring the wind out of Your storehouses.  You are a great God.

Oh Father, there is no one like You.  And to think a God in command of the universe, thinks about me.  Loves me.  That love brought You to earth with a plan to restore a fallen world and a sinner like me.  Thank you.  May I always remember to Praise, Praise, Praise, and then make all my request and needs to You at the foot of the throne.  I love You Father.  Amen. 


 image from googleimages.com


Amen

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Goodness of God

 "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good....." 

Psalm 136:1 (HCSB)

Father we gratefully recognize and joyfully acknowledge that your essential nature is good.  Every gift you have given to us is rooted in the goodness and infinite generosity of your nature. So we gladly join the Psalmist in singing: “Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. ² Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. ³ He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. ⁴ He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. ⁵ He fills my life with good things…..!” Psalm 103:1-5 (NLT)

Father your goodness extends to the whole of my life, the depth of my soul and the enter recesses of my heart. It is an abundant goodness as Psalm 23:5 expresses: “My cup overflows.” So, I pray Father, that others who don’t know you will: “Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!" Psalm 34:8 (NLT)

In the gracious Name of Jesus, Amen.

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Granting Grace to other Believers

Lord God, teach us to be patient and appropriately tolerant within Your Church for believers who are weak in faith. May we live unto You in all situations because we belong to You. Show us the way of love and grant to us the spiritual strength to serve You in peace within the Body of Christ. We want to see our brothers and sisters built up in faith and godliness. We want to walk in faith ourselves. We need to turn away from all arrogance of our ideas of perfection rather than grace. Teach us the wisdom that comes from Your Son, Jesus.  Amen

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When we don't have the words ...

Heavenly Father, we need to hear from You, today!

We wait to hear Your voice, to receive the peace and comfort that only You can bring.

Life has delivered circumstances we didn't expect, so we run to You knowing when we don't have the words to say, and the prayers don't seem to come, we can just hide in the secret place of the Most High and abide in the shadow of Your wings!

Come and be our peace today; speak to our hearts in the way only You can.

Thank You Lord, for the hope and strength that comes when we hear You!

We ask You to lead us and let us hear Your voice in every situation we face today.

In Jesus' name.

Amen & Amen.

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the least

As I sit in Nicaragua this morning, my heart is heavy for the people that I minister to here. Everywhere we go...everywhere we look....is poverty. Need. Heartbreak.

My prayer today is not just for the people that I serve here, but for people all over the world.

LORD, today, show yourself mighty to all who lift their eyes to the heavens in poverty, in need, in want, in despair, in loneliness. Show hope to the hopeless. Mercy and grace to the needy. Show love to those who have none. Be the bright star for all who are looking for truth. Guide and direct. Lead and beckon all to come.

I thank you that when we can't, You can. 

Open the eyes of those blinded and pierce the hearts of those who are still searching.

God, You are an amazing God and the most that we can give is the least that you deserve.

"I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1-2) CSB

Amen

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To His Glory

Father,

We enter into our time with you this day with a heart of humility, acknowledging that it's only in your strength that we have victory. That in our weakness, you make us strong.

May we walk each day in step with the Spirit, listening for and hearing the conviction given to us. May our hearts be open to correction, our minds to understanding, and our hands open and willing to get into the muck and mire of life. May we not be afraid to struggle, to heal, to declare your truth, to stand and to fall, all in service to your will and to bring you glory and honor.

Let us worship with grateful and contrite hearts, seeing the whole of your faithfulness, how you keep your promises, and love us unendingly. 


I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
    before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple
    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
    for you have exalted above all things
    your name and your word.
3 On the day I called, you answered me;
    my strength of soul you increased (Ps.138: 1-3)



Amen

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Epiphany

Arise, shine, for the Light of the World has come!
Darkness covers the earth and its people,
but the radiance of God's Light
burns away its shadows,
illuminates the smallest corner,
and heralds in the start
of a new dawn,
where hearts no longer fear,
souls might be set free,
and sister shall follow brother,
nation shall follow nation,
and kings and princes bow down in awe
before the one who comes to reign.
Arise, shine, for the Light of the World has come!
Alleluia!
Amen

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WINDS OF STORM

God knows, not I, the reason why 

His winds of storm drive through my door;  

I am content to live or die 

Just knowing this, nor knowing more.  

My Father's hand appointing me

My days and ways so I am free.

~Margaret Sangster (1838-1912) 


Dear Lord, You alone know the deep winds of storm that whirl around us trying to frighten us and causing us to doubt Your care for us.  But  I'm reminded that you have assigned me my portion and my cup. You have made my lot secure. (Psalms 15:5)  You are a God of Love, so I can trust you.  I'm your child and you alone filters what can touch me.  I rest in that Love and Security today and every day.  I love You.  Amen.

Margaret Sangster immage
googleimages.com







Amen

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God Knows

Exodus 2:23-25 (ESV)

     ²³ During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. ²⁴ And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. ²⁵ God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.

Father these verses bring out three things that are of great comfort to my soul. God heard, remembered, saw……God knew.

Father as I think about my life and the various experiences encountered on a daily basis, I am so glad that you hear our prayers, remember your promises, see in depth our needs, and fully know our concerns. As we step into a new year, 2018, it is with confidence knowing that you will be us each step of the way. Father we also know that in accordance with your sovereign wisdom and power you will intervene in our lives for our benefit and blessing.

Thank you so much for such personal and compassionate care. In the Name of your beloved Son and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Lord, You make all things new, You bring hope alive in our hearts and cause our Spirits to be born again. Thank you for this new year for all the potential it holds. Kindle in us a mighty flame so that in our time, many will see the wonders of God and live forever to praise Your glorious name. Amen

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A prayer against the paradox

Gracious Heavenly Father,

We come before you this day in awe of who you are: a loving, compassionate, great, just and powerful God. One we can bring our joys and burdens to each and every moment. One who listens and speaks. One who is is quiet yet sounds a loud trumpet for us to hear. One who holds the earth in the palm of your hand and yet is so close we can feel your presence next to us.

In the midst of confusion, O LORD, we ask for clarity. We ask for guidance to navigate the muddy waters of this life. We ask you to give us a path to take that is not the way of the world, but your way alone.

Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, 
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.
(from The Valley of Vision prayers)

Amen

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New Year

Father, as we leave one year and go into the next, help us to remember that you are already there. Whether this past year has been good or bad, help us trust that you will work in everything in that year for our good. Grant us faith to trust that you are in control of the year ahead and that your love is always with us. As we go through this year, help us to know that when we can't trace your hand, we can trust your heart. Amen

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