Half-Step
Help us today, O Lord, to take a half-step to the right or to the left so that we can see
people,
situations,
problems,
opportunities,
obstacles,
ourselves,
life,
things,
and even
you
from a different perspective
and
in a different way.
Amen.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
A Prayer for Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Moore, Oklahoma
On the people who lost their loved ones, on the families who lost their homes, on the children who lost their sense of safety and security, and on the workers who lost their places of employment – pour out your mercy, O God.
On the teachers who shielded their children, on the meteorologists who gave as much warning as they could, on the community leaders who planned ahead for such an event, and on the relief organizations that always stand ready to help – pour out your grace, O God.
On the first responders who saved precious lives and recovered precious remains, on the searchers who are still searching, on the agencies and organizations that are offering help, on the medical personnel who are tending to the injured, on the ministers and others who are giving the gift of presence, and on the friends who are being friends – pour out your strength, O God.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Amen.
On the people who lost their loved ones, on the families who lost their homes, on the children who lost their sense of safety and security, and on the workers who lost their places of employment – pour out your mercy, O God.
On the teachers who shielded their children, on the meteorologists who gave as much warning as they could, on the community leaders who planned ahead for such an event, and on the relief organizations that always stand ready to help – pour out your grace, O God.
On the first responders who saved precious lives and recovered precious remains, on the searchers who are still searching, on the agencies and organizations that are offering help, on the medical personnel who are tending to the injured, on the ministers and others who are giving the gift of presence, and on the friends who are being friends – pour out your strength, O God.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Amen.
Monday, May 20, 2013
A Prayer for Monday, May 20, 2013
Free
We praise you, O God, for the great grace that led Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins; we praise you that in him we are set free from our sins and that in being set free from our sins we are set free to serve you freely.
We acknowledge, though, that we need to grow in both the reality of our freedom and in our awareness of our freedom; help us so to grow.
In particular, O God, help us to grow in freedom from pride that leads to self-centeredness and self-protection that we might be more and more free to serve you by serving others without self getting in the way.
Amen.
We praise you, O God, for the great grace that led Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins; we praise you that in him we are set free from our sins and that in being set free from our sins we are set free to serve you freely.
We acknowledge, though, that we need to grow in both the reality of our freedom and in our awareness of our freedom; help us so to grow.
In particular, O God, help us to grow in freedom from pride that leads to self-centeredness and self-protection that we might be more and more free to serve you by serving others without self getting in the way.
Amen.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
A Prayer for Sunday, May 19, 2013
Pentecost Sunday
O God,
Help us today to remember and to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit to the believers who had assembled at Jerusalem following the Ascension of Jesus.
Help us also to remember and to celebrate the ongoing presence of the Spirit with the believers who are gathered wherever we will gather today to worship you.
Make us constantly aware of your Spirit that is with us; keep us in constant communion with your Spirit.
Keep us sensitive; help us to listen; enable us to follow.
Amen.
O God,
Help us today to remember and to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit to the believers who had assembled at Jerusalem following the Ascension of Jesus.
Help us also to remember and to celebrate the ongoing presence of the Spirit with the believers who are gathered wherever we will gather today to worship you.
Make us constantly aware of your Spirit that is with us; keep us in constant communion with your Spirit.
Keep us sensitive; help us to listen; enable us to follow.
Amen.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
A Prayer for Saturday, May 18, 2013
Forty-Ninth Day of Easter
O God,
Even though we are walking in newness of life,
even though we are in you and you are in us,
even though we have been raised to new life in Christ, and
even though we are enlivened by the Holy Spirit,
sometimes the way is hard and life is difficult.
By your life, by your grace, by your love, and by your Spirit,
enable us to carry on …
Amen.
O God,
Even though we are walking in newness of life,
even though we are in you and you are in us,
even though we have been raised to new life in Christ, and
even though we are enlivened by the Holy Spirit,
sometimes the way is hard and life is difficult.
By your life, by your grace, by your love, and by your Spirit,
enable us to carry on …
Amen.
Friday, May 17, 2013
A Prayer for Friday, May 17, 2013
Forty-Eighth Day of Easter
O God,
Thank you for the renewal of our minds through the joining of our lives with the life of the resurrected Christ and through the presence in us of the Holy Spirit.
Help us to do whatever we can do to contribute to the ongoing renewal of our minds; help us to spend time being with you and to spend energy learning to think on the realities that truly matter.
Deliver us from that which is trivial; immerse us in that which is vital.
Amen.
O God,
Thank you for the renewal of our minds through the joining of our lives with the life of the resurrected Christ and through the presence in us of the Holy Spirit.
Help us to do whatever we can do to contribute to the ongoing renewal of our minds; help us to spend time being with you and to spend energy learning to think on the realities that truly matter.
Deliver us from that which is trivial; immerse us in that which is vital.
Amen.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
A Prayer for Thursday, May 16, 2013
Forty-Seventh Day of Easter
When Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father on the fortieth day after his resurrection, he told his disciples to remain in Jerusalem to await the coming of the promised Holy Spirit. Seven days later, on the forty-seventh day after Jesus’ resurrection and on the seventh day after his ascension, they were still waiting; perhaps they were starting to wonder how long it was going to be. Meanwhile, they were praying.
Help us, O God, to wait patiently for you to do with us whatever you are going to do.
Meanwhile, lead us to wait prayerfully, thereby keeping ourselves poised to receive whatever you have for us.
Keep us aware of all that we already have from you even as we wait for whatever the more is that you plan to send our way.
Amen.
When Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father on the fortieth day after his resurrection, he told his disciples to remain in Jerusalem to await the coming of the promised Holy Spirit. Seven days later, on the forty-seventh day after Jesus’ resurrection and on the seventh day after his ascension, they were still waiting; perhaps they were starting to wonder how long it was going to be. Meanwhile, they were praying.
Help us, O God, to wait patiently for you to do with us whatever you are going to do.
Meanwhile, lead us to wait prayerfully, thereby keeping ourselves poised to receive whatever you have for us.
Keep us aware of all that we already have from you even as we wait for whatever the more is that you plan to send our way.
Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)