New Year to Share God's Love

On Sunday, our  pastor helped us reflect on the past and the coming New Year with his sermon “Everlasting.”   The word is found primarily in the Old Testament, and is equivalent to the New Testament word, Eternal.  However, the two have different connotations.  While eternal  has a linear quality, as in a time that never stops, everlasting is far reaching, outside of time altogether.  God is everlasting.  If God is everlasting, therefore so are his attributes and promises, giving us great comfort. 

Lord God, what we ultimately need from you is this promise that you will be our dwelling place…everlasting…both from outside of time, and right into our moments.  As Noah, Isaiah, Jeremiah all experienced God’s everlasting love and faithfulness, this love from outside of time came down to us as Jesus Christ,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, God With Us. Our hearts are full of gratitude.

And in very individual ways, Lord, you have shown your love and faithfulness to us.  Give us a thirst to take time to reflect on the ways you have been with us in this past year.  These precious remembrances give us the hope and expectancy of your presence with us in the coming year.  We give thanks for the remarkable ways you make yourself know to us, and we pray we will see you at work in our lives. 

Father God, as we begin the New Year, help us invite you in, to be with us in our ordinary moments, our significant moments, and in the unexpected.  You have claimed us for your own, and given us the wisdom, heart and character of Jesus Christ, your only Son.  Through the power of your Holy Spirit, help us shine this everlasting love out into our world, wherever we are, so the world will see and know that to know you, is to be Loved.  In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray.

Advent

Holy Father God, God of the most high, Everlasting God, Lord of peace, Faithful Provider, Abba-Daddy – 

You, who formed us in our mother’s womb, who called us by name, and who commands our every breath. You alone are worthy, and How we love to worship you during this joyful time of year. 

Lord we thank you for your Word, especially during this Advent season. As we read and drink in the story of Joseph, a righteous man, give us a thirst to listen, trust, and obey as He did.  Like us, he loved you, and had his own plans.  Lord, He allowed Grace to interrupt.  He listened to your voice, he received the words, and obeyed all that you commanded.  And, Lord he obeyed again and again as he kept his ear to your voice, so that your plans would be fulfilled.

Lord,  we are like Joseph and Mary. We are the common shepherd and we are the prideful king.  Let us hear your voice. Amidst all that we think we need to do this season, help us to open our eyes to the star that lights the way to our Savior’s face.

On our way, God with us, Grace will interrupt.   Let us feel the strength that only you can give, as we wait upon your guidance each day, and act …to reach out to the lonely, to lift up the downhearted, to touch the untouchable, and to give to the needy.  In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

 

Prayer for Being in Community

Father God, there is no one like you.  Your power, your beauty, your faithfulness and grace bring us to our knees. We thank you for the opportunity to worship you.  We thank you for the gift of your own SON, Jesus Christ, who calls us friend and teaches us how to be a Godly neighbor.  We thank you for your Holy Spirit, sent to us to guide our way.

Yet… we go through our days forgetting to believe and failing to act upon our belief in what you can accomplish through our lives.  Forgive us. 

We lug unnecessary baggage into our opportunities to live in grace.  Forgive us for that, and help us to break through to freedom.

Out of fear and ignorance and lies of insecurity, we put up barriers to those who you name our brothers and sisters.  Forgive us and warm our hearts to melt the perceived differences.

 Greater things are meant to be done through us, here in our city, in our neighborhoods, in our church.  Give us a thirst for your word each day, so that as we go out…..we are first filled with you.  As we gaze upon our neighbors, may we see that we are gazing upon your children.  Urge us to pray for them and open our eyes to their needs. 

Lord as we work alongside others in our community, may our words and actions sing your praises.  Guide us to pray for our community leaders and for how we can lend a hand.  Greater things are still to be done here.

As our hearts overflow with your presence, Lord, light a fire in us to share our own story of your faithfulness in our life.  Give us the courage to take these small risks, as we learn to let ourselves trust you throughout the many moments of our day.  As we glimpse your Glory, our hearts overflow and our passion grows.  Father God, there is no one like you, and we praise your Holy Name.  Amen.

 

 

Change

The words of Mother Teresa of Avila linger in my mind this month:
"Let nothing disturb thee;
Let nothing dismay thee:
All thing pass;
God never changes.
Patience attains
All that it strives for.
He who has God
Finds he lacks nothing:
God alone suffices."
Such wisdom, spoken so simply, yet the living out of these words requires great faith.  Lord, there are several people who sit in my heart as I reflect on change.  Some are dealing with change due to loss of a loved one or a relationship change.  Others are moving or looking forward into coming life changes. Some of us are left behind.  Whether it is good change, happy change, or sad change, it involves letting go, and that involves stress for us.  Looking into the unknown of the future is scary.  Father God, change is hard for us!  I pray that for each of us, the freshness of your spirit, the encouragement of your closeness to us, and your deep love will sustain us.  You invite us to cry out to you, "Abba! Father!" Then we wait. "We hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words." We wait and hope with confidence. "And, God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, wo are called according to his purpose." And, Father, for this we give thanks!  We praise you and we glorify you.  We trust you, and rest in this trust.  You alone satisfy the needs of our hearts.  You seal our future. Thank you, Father!
(Scriptures from Romans 8:15-28)

Inclusiveness

Everlasting God.  The God Most High. Creator. Provider. Our shepherd.  The God who Sees. The Lord who Heals.  We sing our praises to you.  We are in awe of your mercies.  We thank you for your mighty works.  Lord, we are humbled by your majesty, and we ask that you be merciful to us.

We confess that we do not always treat people as you would.  Too often we are quick to judge others or discount them.  We close our eyes to the marginalized… to those who serve us all through the week… to those who have hurt us. We are partial to those who keep us comfortable.

Gracious God, renew our hearts; make our spirit right and true.  Remind us of our salvation through Christ, and make our willing hearts steadfast for you.  Lord, only you can blot out our transgressions, and leave us clean and white as snow.  We praise you and thank you for your vast and deep love for us. 

We thank you that your world is inclusive.  It is unfathomable that you call us friend.  You command us, saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Father God, teach us to see and treat people the way that Jesus would.  Grow our hearts.  Form the expressions on our faces to reflect you….despite the circumstances of our day. Get us out of ourselves and our little world.

Expand us.  Send us out to be Your hands and feet.  Lord, some among us seem so equipped for that.  Others of us wrestle with how we can be used. Some of us need our eyes open to service.  Help us realize that we each can be used by you.  Help us to know that in spite of ourselves, you have a plan for us to serve.  Your plan is unwavering, and it is for good.

Clarity in Confusion

     Lord, the world at large is changing so fast.  I read articles in magazines, headlines in the newspaper, and life presented in books, that just set my mind into a spin.  How am I already so old that new ways of life seem so foreign and unnatural, the future seems so close, and the past so comfortable, but distant.   I have more questions than answers, and I crave understanding.  How do I sort it out to understand? And, Lord, there is so much need in the world, where do I go to help? How do I help? Who do I help? It seems there is so little I can do. I weep inside.
     Yet, every morning when I rise to praise you and read the scriptures, you are there. This morning I find answers in John. The confusion is cleared in John:5 & 6. Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life." 
     Father God, your Word outlines the claims that give the answers I need. I thank you for the scriptures that teach and comfort.  I praise you for the assurances you bring:
I AM the Ressurection and the Life
I AM the Light of the World
I AM the Gate
I AM the Good Shepherd
I AM the Bread of Life
I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life
Answers to confusion.  Focus for my life.  I will follow you. You have promised that if I have Faith in you, and if I call to you, you will answer.  Father-Son in One, Your plan is Divine.  Your mind is omniscient.  You are omnipresent.  You are enough for me, and I can rest in your mighty fold.  Your Holy Spirit envelopes me, gives me freedom and urges me forward.  Thank you, Father. Thank you.

Holy Week - On Our Terms, or His?

Lord, we sing your praises. Your love for us is so amazing that we are in awe. And we shout your name, Lord....we cry out to you in prayer ...with the assurance that you hear us. But as we approach you, Father God, we are in need of forgiveness. Forgive us for the control that we try to take over the role of Jesus in our life. Forgive us for our desire to dictate the unfolding of our life circumstances. God, too often, we expect you to fit into our mold. Save us from ourselves....from our worries....our fears. Forgive us. During this time, we pray for the authenticity of the community of the early church to root itself here and now. Like the early church, may we each ask the question, "Who are you, Jesus?" During this Holy Week, stir our hearts to know you in a deeper way. Give us a thirst to meet you in scripture, and prompt us to remember the sacrifice you so obediently made on the cross. Quiet us, and urge us to listen to the whispers of the Holy Spirit. Because of your love, we, too,  are heirs of Your Father. We praise you! We pray that a community of love and peace will extend outward from us, into our local world, and in turn, to the ends of the earth. You are the King of Glory, Lord Jesus, and we thank you for hearing us when we call. We are on our knees in your presence, and the whole earth shakes in the knowledge of your power. Amen

Joyful Prayer

Isaiah 56:6-7 "And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to  be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant - these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer.... for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." Lord, I thank you for the steadfast promises I find in your scriptures.  Thank you for the consistent reminders that you are everpresent.  You are strong, mighty, and sovereign. You will not leave us nor forsake us. You have called us, and you invite us into prayer.  You have promised that you will hear our cries, and you will answer.  You will take our mourning and from the ashes, you will create beauty. In all circumstances you call us to praise you, and in that, we find our joy.  In the quiet rain, your voice is near, and in the storms, your voice is strong.  If we quiet ourselves to listen, we can hear you.  Lord, I thank you for this day of rest, and for the gift of time to focus on you. Hear my prayers for friends and family, as I offer them up to you, for peace of mind, for protection, for direction, for health, for restoration of relationships, and for a thirst for relationship with you.  In the name of Jesus, I pray.

Everything

Father God, we  owe all to you. You are strong, we are weak. You are perfect, we are not. You are omniscient, we are of small mind. Lord, we seek you, and we find you. We call on you….you are near. Your love for us is wide and deep.Your world is in magnificent order. Ours is one of ordinary days.
We are grateful to be your people. Teach us to set our minds on you. Lord, give us a thirst for your Word. Call us into knowing you. It is in knowing YOU, that we begin to see who we are. You are our Father, and we, the inheritors of your Godly plan.  Lord, you are everything to us. You are our rock in times of trouble, our strength in times of sorrow, and our song In times of joy. I thank you, Father, that you have chosen us, and called us to be your people. You are everything to us, and we love you.

South Sudan

1Corinthians 12:4-6
4 "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work."

Father God, how mysterious are your ways. You are soverign and Holy. You reign over our world, and pour out your blessings upon us. And, Lord, you have given each of us gifts. Give us eyes to see them, ears to hear your call, and an open heart to answer. Eliminate the obstacles we put in the way of serving you. Help us to understand that we are each unique. We don't need to compare ourselves to others and all that they are doing to serve you. We have our own purpose, divinely guided by you. Help us trust in that purpose, and be obedient to your voice.  Help us to know that, indeed, you are at work in us in ways that matter to you.

Lord, I specifically have on my heart to pray for Sudan and South Sudan.  The Christians who have lived in the Nuba Mountains need our help and support.  They need our prayers.  Lord, show me how I can pray for them.  And, Father God, I have the desire to raise money for a well in the refugee camps there.  If it is your will, show me how I could possibly do that.  Anything is possible through you, and even young children have accomplished great things like this.  The seed was planted in my heart years ago.  Now a seedling of hope is compelling me.  How can I make this dream come true?  Only through you, Father God.  I trust in your guidance. I will wait on you.  In the meantime, I will continue to prayfor this persecuted people across the world from me.  In your precious name, I pray.

Job 16:20
"My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God."

Open our Eyes

I come before you, Father God, humbled. I enter into your presence, which is LOVE and healing wholeness. And there, Lord, I am convicted of the ways I have not been obedient to your call. I ask for the forgiveness that you have promised, if I come to you. I acknowledge I am wounded. And, therefore, I have hurt others. Stir my heart, now, to see where I need to ask the forgiveness of others. Urge me to seek that forgiveness, Father.Make me aware of grudges I hold, and help me release them. In your love, God, bring forward my needs for healing. Only you can heal me Lord, and make me white as snow.
Father, you are a loving God. You know no boundaries, and your love is vast and deep. You are faithful. You are powerful. You are God.
I thank you. Open my heart to needs of people I see daily – and open my eyes to the needs of people I choose not to see. Open my mind to people too far away to see. Urge me to pray for them every day, to disrupt my comfortable routine to help them. Put a thirst in the hearts of each one of us to serve one another….to reach out to those in need of love, support, encouragement, justice. Lord, we give you thanks that you first loved us, even before we opened our eyes to you. You shelter us and provide for our every need. Your grace amazes us, and your mercies overwhelm us. Through the power of Christ Jesus, may we be the arms that shelter one another. In Jesus’ sweet name. Amen