 November 30 Prayer
It’s advent time! We sing O come, O come Emmanuel. Come, Lord Jesus, Come. He is calling, ‘Come after me, come follow me.’ Jesus is walking along the way when he calls. See him turn to look at you and hear him call your name. What are you doing when he calls that you must look up from? Are you willing to let that go to follow him? ‘How beautiful are the feet of him who brings good news, announcing peace.’ Look now at the beautiful feet of Jesus, there are none other like his. Pause in your heart and yield to his call to follow his footsteps. Breathe deeply and let go of the worries and concerns that are keeping you stuck in one place. Prayer ‘I do not know where this road will take me but I will follow the feet that lead me. I will make room in my heart for you, Jesus to stir within me a trust to follow your steps. Help me to discern your ways as you lead me upon mountain trails and not run back to what is more comfortable and safe. May I trust in the beautiful feet that were pierced for me. May I keep my eyes on your steps and not on what might be ahead. You are the way, the lamp and light for my feet and the path ahead. May we each have the courage to trust and follow him this day. In our waiting and our calling for him to come may we see the steps already marked before us and boldly place our feet in them. Amen Isaiah 52:7-10, Mart.4:18-22  November 28 Prayer
A flicker of hope will never die. When the sea of change comes like a fierce wind Hope will ignite and save us. This has been a very dark year and the weight of the world's pain is heavy on all of our shoulders. We would like this all to go away and for God to come down and show his power to annihilate the virus that has plagued our world. As we read Isaiah 64:1-10 for advent there is a familiar cry of desolation and yearning for God to appear. And so we wait for hope to come. Hope is a flicker in the far distance As we wait it comes closer. A light that burns brighter in the darkness. Hope works in us, shaping us. Hope works for us and we work for hope, as we wait. As we wait let the flicker of hope rise from your breath. Let it become the flame to burn out all doubt, fear and heaviness. ‘As we wait, we mourn, we yearn, we long for You, O God to come. As we wait, we surrender to your flame of hope to work in us. May hope cleanse us, free us from the virus of sin and shape us to be hope on our earth. Jesus, Come, Emmanuel! We welcome You, the flame of hope in our hearts this day.’ Amen  November 27 Prayer
What is now will no longer be and what will be is yet to be revealed. We hold this tension between what we know and what will be known, What we read from John's vision in the book of revelations is so mysterious for our minds to make sense of if we try to fit it into our world view of today. The book of life which has our names written, will be opened on the final days to be read and judged before all. Rev.20:12,21:1-4 Each of our lives becomes an open book. Regrets make us want to forget and not look back but what if we could look back and see our lives through God’s lens of love? Regrets will fill you with fear and shame so then truth is never seen. His grace is an invitation to see our lives through redemption to give us hope for the future. Today is our preparation time here on this earth for what is yet to come. Everyday a new beginning, a new creation of earth and of heaven. Everyday the book of our lives are opened before God to read to us to gain wisdom and for our understanding. We pause and pray using Psalms 84 God, you find beauty in your people, open our eyes to see the beauty you have placed within each of us. We long and desire to be in your intimate presence where we are near to your heart. Our souls come alive within you and sing with joy for the freedom you have given us. You are our true source and spring of life. May we find pleasure today in worshiping you wherever we are and find your presence there. Show us the pathway through our tears that winds through dark valleys and leads us to the brook of blessing. Cause our hearts to grow in strength upon strength with every step forward we take. You, O God are the sun and a shield that wraps around to protect us. May we never look back on our lives with shame and regret but let our hearts learn to see your redeeming grace that brings beauty from pain. Refined as gold let us shine with your light within us, and with your glory and grace you have given to us. We walk with our heads held high along the path you have for us with integrity and trust. May this prayer be for all those that are struggling just to survive another day. May they find God’s strength in faith w  November 26 Prayer
How can I say Thank You? ‘What can I give back to God, for the blessings he has poured out on me? I'll lift up the cup of salvation. I'll praise the name of God for all he's done for me. I'll complete what I promised God I'd do, and I'll do it together with his people.’ Ps.116 ‘Do not forget the Lord, for it is his power and strength that has brought you where you are today.’ Deut.8:11 He has redeemed and restored his people and he calls us to do the same. There is a well of thanks and gratitude in each of us to give back to him. For every desolation there are many more consolations so give thanks now by remembering them. Let your memories rise up as an offering for it delights the heart of the Father to receive our thanksgiving. He gives us everything, every spiritual gift, through grace and union with his son Jesus. Every good and perfect gift is from the Father of lights. Ja.1:17 We shall as His people live out our promise to Him through the daily grace we receive as we give thanks. Give thanks from your heart as a gift back to God….so many gifts... ‘How can I say thank you? God, you are gracious to me, kind and tenderhearted, you are always thinking of me, Your word brightens my eyes Your truth leads me into freedom When I cry out, you hear me and hold me close to your heart.’ Feel the warmth and welcome from God now as He holds you and receives all of your thanks giving beyond words to say. Let the silence speak to your heart. It is here that you will know Him as He knows you. ~ May Blessings abound to you this thanksgiving day!  November 25 Prayer
For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.’ Ps.11:4-7 What does God’s justice and righteousness look like? God is sitting on his throne observing everyone and everything. We are here on earth to be part of his plan to bring justice where evil prevails and injustice rules. That can be overwhelming at times especially as we see dangers everywhere. How does justice come down? Paul spoke of the dangers, toils and snares that he had faced in 2Cor.11:24-28 not to boast in all that he had gone through and survived but to point us to the power and grace that is found in God. The danger list goes on and on and we could all probably identify with at least a few of these physical dangers, pressures, sickness, and relational difficulties. So how does justice appear? When will all these dangers and toils disappear in our lives and in the world? ‘We cry to the Lord all day long and He hears and He sees.’ We will find him in our weakness, where we feel powerless, in our suffering and in our questions. Justice appears when lies are exposed and truth is known, when light comes where darkness has ruled. Justice appears when we realize it starts in our own souls where we resist love and want revenge, where we judge by our own standards and opinions, where we want only what feels good to us and to stay safe. Where do you feel weak and powerless today? As you speak it out let God's presence fill you there. “We confess our need for you Lord, and ask for your justice and grace to come and fill us. Lord have mercy Bring your heavenly justice Let your grace abound when our weakness is revealed let your power be shown. We know we are not alone in any dangers we face, for you are with us. May we offer your grace to others that struggle in their own powerlessness to find you there. “My grace is all you need, My power works best in weakness.” 2Cor.12:9 Amen  November 24 Prayer
Mercy and truth, Justice and Joy, These seemingly opposites somehow come together. Immanuel God with us! Open our hearts to receive in the natural what is spiritual, for God’s spirit will reveal what is unseen. ‘Blessed, happy are those who are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ Know your lack to know your needs. Less of you means more of God. Know your weakness Know your sin for there you will find Jesus, sweet mercy deep within. He is no stranger to suffering, sin or death, for there he has gone into hell's depth. Where Jesus is justice, there is joy to make everything that went wrong to become everything made right Everything is Holy, sacred, made whole. Fear no evil Immanuel is here! The stars begin to fade away as the night sky prepares to meet the dawn. ‘Let us now look heavenwards where joy and justice meet May they make their home in us Let us rise up with sickles to reap ripened grapes ready to make new wine, sweet mercy to drink. ‘Lord, we receive your mercy on us so we may be your mercy to others today. Amen Ps.85:10,45;6-7, Matt.5:3,Ps.23, Rev.14:14-18  November 23 Prayer
‘You are the hope of everyone on earth, The river of God has plenty of water; providing all the earth needs.’ Ps.65 There is a generosity of God that flows like a river, it is the abundance of life that is offered to us all. Do you have all that you need even in your lack? The widow gave all that she had, even out of her own poverty. ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit for there’s is the kingdom of God.’ When we can know who we are in our poverty and that evertyhting comes from God, even our very breath, then our hands may begin to loosen their grasp upon owning things. What owns me? My time, my, vision, my money? If there is a river of generousity that is God, then I ask, where am I in that river? Am I Standing on the banks waiting for everything to come to me or am I willing to give everything and all that I am to be in that river? Take a moment and feel what you are grasping in your hands. Begin to receive and know that God is everything and all you need to freely live and give yourself away. Breathe deep as you Prayer; Take Lord, all of me, Everything is yours and to you I return it. May I recognize and reverence You working to expand my heart and open wide my hands. You have visited the earth and slaked our thirst, offering living streams that will not run dry. Soften our souls to receive your waters and cause your seed to multiply in and through us. ‘Let love grow here, in me, and in you to live this abundant life today. May we stretch out our arms and open up our hands to give generously all that God has already given to us. To you, O Lord, we give thanks and live cruciform this day. Thanks be to God, the river of life, the hope for all the earth! Amen  November 20 Prayer
‘My house shall be a house of prayer!’ Jesus declared over the designated temple set apart to be holy. The enemy comes to rob, steal and destroy everything that is holy, sacred and good in our souls. We have this invitation and destination to become a house of prayer. Our very being, our body, mind, and heart. The way we think and the way we act. We are His holy place. We are his house of prayer. Where have you been robbed of hope, peace and freedom in your spirit? Bring all your thoughts, feelings, and desires before him now and let a prayer rise up from his spirit within you. See his loving presence of hope, peace and joy fill you in the deepest part of you for you are His holy dwelling place. A house of prayer. Let your prayer rise now, ‘With grace we come, with humble hearts to receive your prayer within us to be in our thoughts, our feelings, and our actions today. To be near you Lord is our happiness and our hope knowing that you are with us and will never leave us alone. We always have your presence. Your thoughts are ever upon us for peace and not affliction. You are our eternal source of life. Grant us courage and strength to be present to your prayer within us. May we see the world and all of the desperation around us as an opportunity to bring your hope, kindness and wholeness. May we be your house of prayer today. Amen Lk.19:46, Jn.10:10,Ps.73:22,Heb.13:15,Jer.29:11  November 19 Prayer
‘He visited his people and redeemed them...’He has come to set them free.’ To make his home in his people. I remember the day when I invited Jesus into my heart. That was how I was instructed to become a Christian back then, by asking him to come in. Not really understanding the full scope of this invitation that I gave to Jesus, he did willingly come in and began to live in me. My life, though pretty young, was in a bit of shambles and in need of some repair. The work of redemption is an ongoing one and one that we get to participate in when we welcome Him in. Open the door to our cracked walls and crumbling floors. Loving creator begins to recreate us. One room at a time, if we let him come in. David would not rest until he found a resting place for his strong God. Not because God was tired but because he desired to live and move and breathe in his people. He wanted to be invited in. We are chosen to be the dwelling place of God and to be his priests here on earth. Now may our prayers rise up like incense, from golden bowls reshaped into beauty. ‘Father, we believe in your creative design for our lives and yield to your will being formed in us today. Jesus, we welcome you into every part of us, even the broken bits for you to redeem and restore. Spirit, we cooperate with the work you delight to do within us and within the world. May we look for the invitation of hospitality in a wider sphere today. Welcoming all who come upon our paths and all that is within us. For the glory and love of God. Amen Ps.132:7, Rev.5:9-10  November 18 Prayer
There is a higher law on earth to follow, the one that leads to producing life. It’s the divine law of sowing and reaping . What are we sowing in the spirit? Are we sowing In love? Where do we hang out in our minds, in our hearts, in the garden of our lives? God’s Spirit is at work in the soil of our minds and hearts to produce the life giving fruit that will last. It can only come through making our home in God’s love. That’s what abide means, to dwell, hang out, be connected and stay there. Like the branches on the vine that send out their tendrils to wrap around anything that they can find to cling unto. For support and strength so they will grow strong and be able to hold the large clusters of fruit they will bear. Reflect a moment on the life giving spirit working in you to produce fruit. Pray; May we not grow weary or give up in the life giving hope you are sowing in our souls. Keep our minds and intentions ever focused on making our home in the love you have for us. Let us take every opportunity to do good to all, to love one another as you have told us to. May we not grow weary or give up in the life giving hope you are sowing in our souls. Renew us this day and give us a new perspective of the way things are unfolding. Let us always trust you and cling to the work of your spirit in our lives so we may see the full harvest of your love brought forth through us. We make our home in the love of the Father for the Son and the Son for us. Now help us Spirit, to love one another with that same divine love. May we sow and reap this love and bear the life fruit that will last forever. Amen John 15, Gal.6:7-9 |