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

for integrity, humility, patience and love

O Lord and Master of my life, 
spare me from the spirit of apathy and meddling, of idle chatter and love of power. Instead, grant to me, your servant, the spirit of integrity and humility, of patience and love. 
Yes, O Lord and God, 
grant me the grace to be aware of my sins and not to judge others, for you are blessed, now and ever and forever.
Amen.
- a prayer of Saint Ephrem   

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that we might see and hear with our heart

Lord, open our eyes
that we may see you in our brothers and sisters.
Lord, open our ears
that we may hear the cries of the hungry,
the cold, the frightened, the oppressed.
Lord, open our hearts
that we may love each other as you love us.
Renew in us your spirit.

Lord, free us and make us one.

Amen

-a prayer of Mother Teresa   

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Oh, the power of prayer...


Never underestimate the POWER of PRAYER.

It is the key to spiritual survival.

It is of the utmost importance in our Christian walk.

It is how we tap into the power of God. How we tap into His STRENGTH. 

It is vital to our intimate relationship with Christ.

Pray often. Pray fervently. Pray expecting.

“...be unceasing and persistent in prayer...” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Amen
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JESUS THE SERVANT



"Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments and taking a towel, He girded Himself.  Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the discipes feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded."

Dear Jesus, my Lord and Teacher, as you humbly washed the feet of Your disciples, I glimpse a portent of the greater humiliation to come, when You will be crucified for all humanity.  Even thought You possessed the very nature of God, You claimed nothing for Your own advantage but emptied yourself, taking the form of a slave.  As the Son of Man destine for divine glory, You came to serve and give Your life as a ransom for many.  With your disciples I hear You call to imitate You in humble servanthood.  O Master, teach me to serve You gratefully by washing the feet of my brothers and sisters.  Help me to worship You by giving myself to serve others.  I love You.  Amen.


The Path of His Passion
Worship Bible




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True Friendsip

Friends for 75 years Kris on the left 
and Wanda my wife on the right.




Father, you created and redeemed us for many reasons and one was for friendship. It is quite astonishing that you, the infinite Triune God, desires friendship with us. It is an amazing friendship that is rooted in your truth, love and goodness. Your wonderful friendship is the basis for all true friendship and is revealed in the following Scriptures. 

The dignity of friendship: God said: “Abraham, my friend;" Isaiah 41:8 (ESV)

The intimacy of friendship. "God's intimate friendship blessed my house, Job 29:4 (NIV)

The foundation of friendship. "The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him...." Psalm 25:14 (ESV)

The privilege of friendship: "....Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me." John 15:15 (NLT) 

The loyalty of friendship: "A friend loves at all times," Prov. 17:17 (ESV)

The compassion of friendship: "Our friend Lazarus...." John 11:11 (KJV

The influence of friendship: "As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)

The witness of friendship: “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” Mark 5:19 (ESV) 

The council of friendship: "The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense." Proverbs 27:9 (NLT) 

The communication of friendship: "The LORD would speak to Moses personally, as a man speaks to his friend...." Exodus 33:11 (GW) 

The confrontation of friendship: "Faithful are the wounds of a friend;" Proverbs 27:6 (ESV)

The reach of friendship: ".... a friend of tax collectors and sinners!" Luke 7:34 (ESV) 

The commitment of friendship: "....there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24 (KJV) 

The sacrifice of friendship: "There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." John 15:13 (NLT) 

That you Father for your gracious and generous gift of friendship. And thank you for the friends in my life that follow your example of true friendship. "Surely God is my help (my Friend); the Lord is the one who sustains me." Psalm 54:4 (NIV) 

In the name of our dearest friend, Jesus. Amen.


Amen
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a prayer of repentance

O Lord,

The house of my soul is narrow;
enlarge it that you may enter in.

It is ruinous, O repair it!
It displeases Your sight.

I confess it, I know.

But who shall cleanse it,
to whom shall I cry but to you?

Cleanse me from my secret faults, O Lord,
and spare Your servant from strange sins. Amen

 - a prayer of Saint Augustine

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releasing our cares

Sometimes it is so hard to let go of the way we want things to be. So often things go so wrong. People die. Loved ones suffer. Our hearts break. And the end of our painful trials does not seem to be anywhere in sight. In such times it is good to release our burdens to the Lord in prayer.

Our days are in your hands Lord. Our future is in your hands. Our lives are in your hands. We release our cares and worries to you knowing that you are good. We confess our trust in you and the acknowledge that you are at work in our lives, bringing beauty from ashes.  Amen


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come boldly




Confession of Sin

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name. 

 Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life.

May the words of Isaiah 12 be our assurance this day:


Surely God is my salvation; 
    I will trust and not be afraid.
 The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;
    he has become my salvation.” 
With joy you will draw water 
    from the wells of salvation. 

In that day you will say:
         “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
                make known among the nations what he has done,
                 and proclaim that his name is exalted. 
         Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;
                let this be known to all the world.
           Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, 
                for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

                            -Isaiah 12:2-6

We come boldly to the throne of grace this day, O Lord, to confess all that we lack, knowing You are gracious and quick to forgive, drawing towards us in love.

Amen
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Come, My Light

Come, my Light,
and illumine my darkness.
Come, my Life,
and revive me from death.
Come, my Physician,
and heal my wounds.
Come, Flame of divine love,
and burn up the thorns of my sins,
kindling my heart
with the flame of thy love.

Dimitrii of Rostov

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WORDS OF WISDOM



Proverbs 1:1-7  "The proverbs of Solomon son of David, King of Israel:

for attaining wisdom and discipline;
for understanding words of insight;
for aquiring a discipline and prudent life,
doing what is right, just and fair,
for giving prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young ~~
let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance,
for understanding proverbs and parables,
the saying and riddles of the wise;
For the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge
but fools dispise wisdom and discipline.

Wonderful counselor.  You have provided simple guidelines for every demension of our lives ~~principals that bring peace, justice, and good sense to everything we do.  Thank You for being aware of the ordinary aspects of our earthly existence ~~ the buying and selling, the winning and losing, the joys and sorrows.  You are a Father Who advises His children carefully and kindly.  Help us always to put You first and to seek Your will instead of our own.  Father, give me understanding and wisdom as I study Your Words in Proverbs.  I love You.  Amen.


Amen
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Everyday is a Good Day


Ezra 8:22 (GW) 
"......Our God works things out for the good of everyone who dedicates his life to serving him...."  

Romans 8:28 (NIV) 
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  

Father how encouraging and comforting it is to know the good plans you have  for our lives today.  Your infinite good, everyday, is always greater than any finite bad that any day may bring. 

Father I know that in your wisdom and power your good purpose is always bigger than the bad days I may experience. As you have reminded me: "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah  29:11 (NLT)   

Thank you Father for the good gift of this day and the goodness we will experience through your grace, wisdom and power. "for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." 
Philippians 2:13 (NIV)  

With deep appreciation in the name of Jesus. Amen.


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in thanksgiving and trust

Thank You, dear Father in heaven, for the blessings and graces You have give me this day. Once more I entreat Your continuing protection. Conscious of my own weakness and frailty, of my many faults, I entrust myself to Your loving care.

I entrust to Your protection, loving Father, those dear to me, my relatives, friends, and all those around me. Be pleased, Eternal Father, to keep in Your care Your Church and all who serve You. Please assist also all civil officials to exercise authority justly, and to direct all our people according to Your will.

In Your loving and tender mercy, Lord and Father, assist especially those who are poor and deprived, those who suffer, and all who are without hope in this life unless You come to their aid. It is You alone Who can bring great good out of the worst evils by Your unbounded power. So we trust You to curb the malice of the wicked, to transform the lost, and bring us all to a knowledge of Your love.

These favors we ask in the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your only Son, Who reigns forever with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, through all ages. Amen.

...adapted from "Prayers for Today," published by Leaflet Missal Co.

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for my friends in texas

Each day I hear from different friends in Texas that are experiencing crisis level tragedies. Snow and harsh freezing temps have crippled their cities. Power is out and pipes are freezing. It is so hard to read their stories. Would you please join me in praying for these who are suffering?

We come to you Lord knowing that you have a heart of compassion and mercy for all who suffer. We simply ask you to help the people of Texas in this really hard time. 

We ask you to give wisdom to national and local leaders. Help them and others find ways to help those who were hit hard by the storms.

We pray that each person in this crisis might know that you love them and are with them as they suffer. Help each person to turn to you in trust. Give all a sense of community and caring for each other. We ask with hearts of love for the people in Texas.

Amen
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Obedience

LORD, give us hearts to pursue obedience in our Christian lives. 

Help us to see that the sacrifice of obedience will always lead to the beauty of blessing...




Amen
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