when we do not understand

God, thank you for being with us right now.  

We confess that we don’t understand why things happen the way they do.  We don’t understand why illness comes into our lives, but we do know that you walk every path of life with us. 

Remind us that you are walking with us right now.  Remind us that you love us, no matter what we are going through.  We also pray for our family. Give them your strength as they care for love ones.

God, we thank you that you never leave us, that you never forsake us, but you love us. 

We trust you, and pray this in your name.  Amen.

- a prayer adapted from the Crossroads Hospice site

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starting over

The words in this image remind me of these words from the third chapter of Lamentations:

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Remind us Lord that a new day is one where we can start over again. When we awake, we rise to a day of new beginnings. Help us Lord to forget what lies behind us and press on believing that you are with us and leading us. Attune our inner ears to your wise and hopeful words. This is a day of new beginnings that you have made - we will rejoice and be glad it it. Amen

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Do we?

Christianity is so much more than simply filling a pew at church. It is so much more than mere words. 

Christianity is an intimate, personal relationship with Christ. It’s BELIEVING deep, TRUSTING fully, CONFESSING humbly.  

It’s KNOWING Jesus. It’s being like Him. 

Listen to the words of Christ.

ℍ𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕤𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕕, “𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕃𝕠𝕣𝕕 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝔾𝕠𝕕 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕤𝕠𝕦𝕝, 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕟𝕘𝕥𝕙, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕕....” (𝕃𝕦𝕜𝕖 𝟙𝟘:𝟚𝟟)

DO WE??

Do we love Him with all our soul and strength? All our hearts and our minds?

It’s so easy to say that we do, but are we living our lives to reflect that?

DO WE show mercy? DO WE treat others like Jesus would??

DO WE love ❤️  like Him? DO WE want good for others and not harm? Are we extending love to those who persecute us? Wound us? Wage war against us? 

DO WE sit at His feet and soak up His Words? Are we listening for His Voice? Digging deep into the Scriptures? Are we desiring to learn more about Him every day?

DO WE put Christ first? Make the right choice? Or are we distracted by our flesh...

DO WE push through the crowds so we can touch the edge of his robe? 

DO WE believe that the words of Jesus have the power to HEAL? 

DO WE desire good for others?

DO WE encourage others in their spiritual walk through our words and our actions?  DO WE exude Jesus ??

Oh, my friends, my prayer today is that we will seek His face and begin to love like Him!! 

Amen

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slow work

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything
to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something
unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress
that it is made by passing through
some stages of instability—
and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you;
your ideas mature gradually—let them grow,
let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don’t try to force them on,
as though you could be today what time
(that is to say, grace and circumstances
acting on your own good will)
will make of you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming within you will be.
Give Our Lord the benefit of believing
that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
in suspense and incomplete.

—Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ
excerpted from Hearts on Fire

Amen

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Election Season

Father, in the days to come, let us remember that no matter who is elected to public office, Jesus is the true King. Keep us aware of our responsibilities to love our neighbors no matter what their political beliefs may be. Amen

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MOMENTARY AFFLICTIONS

We too can worship with gladness when we lift our eyes above our momentary afflictions and focus on the innumerable blessings of eternity.

Philippians 1:9-11

"And this is my prayer; that your love may abound

more and more in knowledge

and depth of insight.

So that you may be able to discern

what is best and may be pure and blameless

until the day of Christ,

filled with the fruit of righteousness

that comes through Jesus Christ ~

to the glory and praise of God."

Heavenly Father, we feel the affliction of the world we live in.  The restraints and rules that me must follow, but we have no experience in the afflictions the early Christians faced.  So Paul writes this letter of encouragement.  That our love may abound in the knowledge and insight of God's Word.  That it would cause us to seek every day to live pure and blameless lives, filled with the fruit of righteousness that only come from Christ.  And that our loves and devotion would bring praise and glory to our God and Savior, Christ Jesus.  This is our prayer.

I love You.

Amen

Amen

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Anger Verses Mercy

Anger

Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.”

James 1:20 (NLT)

 Father there is so much to be angry about in the world. The list of injustice would be too long and actually too aggravating to enumerate. And yet you tell us to “Be angry and do not sin. Don't let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and don't give the devil an opportunity.” Ephesians 4:26-27 (CSBBible)

Father what a conundrum and complicated challenge. To be angry and not sin seems impractical if not impossible. And yet you have given us the answer in how we are to deal with our strong emotions of anger that simmer and sometimes boil over. Of course your example is to be the pattern for our expression and behavior. “God is a fair judge, a God who is angered by injustice every day.” Psalm 7:11 (GW)

Human anger is sinful because it from an evil heart. “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT)  That is why you tell us Father to: “Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated it can only bring harm.” Psalm 37:8 (CSBBible)

Your anger Father is rooted in your holiness. “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty…”  Isaiah 6:3 (NIV)  You are holy in your character, holy in your conduct and holy in the consequences you bring on human sin. “ For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice..” Psalm 11:7 (NIV)  Again Father we are reminded in Psalm 77:13 (NLT) “ O God, your ways are holy…”

Father I lift my voice with Habakkuk: “I have heard all about you, LORD. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy.”  Habakkuk 3:2 (NLT)  Amen.

Exodus 34:6 (GW)
“The LORD, the LORD, a compassionate and merciful God…”

 Mercy

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spiritual intercession

Come Holy Father,

lead and guide us according to your will.

Come Holy Son,

teach us the ways of mercy and compassion.

Come Holy Spirit,

pray through us that the kingdom may come. 

Amen

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an autumn prayer

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make me

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy;  

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.  

For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.  

Amen

 

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PRAISE THE LORD!

Sometimes amid the frustration, fear, chaos of our world, we need, of course, to pray for God to touch men's hearts and bring a sense of calm.  But what I found as I read the Scriptures this morning is, God calls us to Worship and Praise in the midst of darkness.  

Listen to Psalm 150 and let it rise your heart and emotions above the cloud that hangs over our country.  Praise is a command from our Lord.

Praise the Lord!

Praise God in His sanctuary

Praise Him in His mighty firmament.

Praise Him for His might acts

Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.

Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet

Praise Him with the lute and harp,

Praise Him with the timbrel and dance.

Praise Him with the stringed instruments

and flutes.

Praise Him with loud cymbals;

Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath 

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

Do you hear the noise?   Do you see the celebration?  Don't you want to join in?  This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!   

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What This Mad Mad World Needs

“….redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins…”

Ephesians 1:7 (NIV)

 1 Peter 2:22-24 (GW)

     ²² Christ never committed any sin. He never spoke deceitfully. ²³ Christ never verbally abused those who verbally abused him. When he suffered, he didn't make any threats but left everything to the one who judges fairly. ²⁴ Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross so that freed from our sins, we could live a life that has God's approval. His wounds have healed you.

 \The price of forgiveness is the blood of Christ, his life sacrificed for us. The purpose of forgiveness is reconciliation with God. The power of forgiveness is the freedom from all hostility toward God and people including a peaceful relationship with each other. That is why we: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. ³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT)

Father, thank you for the price paid for our forgiveness. Thank you for the restoration of our relationship through your forgiveness. Thank you for the peace of your forgiveness. Thank you for the power of your forgiveness that enables us to forgive. Thank you that we can share with others your forgiveness available through faith in your beloved Son, Jesus.

 Father the only hope, help and healing this mad, mad world can have is through your forgiveness made possible by: “…. the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” 1 Peter 1:19 (NLT)

Amen.

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a prayer of submission

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for new sight and a forgiving heart

Give us dear Lord:

eyes that see the way that you do;

hearts of compassion like yours;

minds that think like Jesus;

and hands that build your kingdom.

Amen

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