 April 30 Prayer
‘Where I am, there you will be also.’ Where are you, Lord? Where are you working and calling? Where is your healing grace and your power to save? Where are your riches and glory shown in the world? The Lord replies… ‘I am with you, in your waking and in your walking, in your working and in your praying. I have never left your side, only you need to believe and trust that I have prepared the way. Look for me for where I am, you will be.. Slow down your fast beating heart to notice where I am. Do not try to make things happen, rather look for what is happening and bless my work, and water my word of truth and grace. Affirm my hand of blessing, of justice and mercy. Call out the best in others, believe the best and do not live in fear. For I have prepared the way, I am the way.’ Respond in prayer, We believe in You, Lord and trust in the way you are and the way you have made for us to walk and work in today. Let us see and be amazed that where you are we will be also. Amen. John 14:1-6 DB  April 29 Prayer
‘Thank you Father,Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the ones who think they are wise and clever and have revealed them to children.’ Matt.11:25 Jesus continues to tell us that this pleases the Father to reveal the Son and that know one knows him like his father and no one knows the father as the son. We as parents know our children like none other for we are a part of them and they are a part of us. We see ourselves in them and they reflect back to us ourselves. There is an intimacy, an understanding that goes deeper than words. God the Father, God the Son, intimately known by each other, revealed to us through Jesus. Gentle and humble in heart. A child is open,honest, receptive, eager to please and trusting. Jesus shows us the way to be a child. To share in the secrets of the kingdom. ‘Give your life for another, Trust each other, Judge not, ‘Serve one another as I have served you.’ That’s a tall order to fill but, If we return to becoming childlike in our faith with our hearts opened and enlightened, then perhaps we will see this glorious inheritance that we as his holy children have become. All it takes is to be like a child again. in wonder, in trust, arms lifted high, eager to be picked up. By a loving Father, when we consent to love. Feel once again that chillIke joy of being held in a Loving embrace. ‘Sweet Jesus, we await your love embrace to pick us up and hold us tight to your chest. We rest in the intimacy of a child to a parent. Lift us higher into your heavenly realm so we may live with humble hearts, open and receptive. When we look at another, may we see them as your sweet children eager for love and wanting acceptance into your family. ‘We love because you first loved us.’ Amen DB Matt.11:25-30,Eph.1:17-19, 1Jn.4:19  April 28 Prayer
What is it like to be called? Sent forth, sent out , blessed by the holy spirit? There is a voice calling us all to rise up, have courage, believe, stand in strength and proclaim hope. It takes discernment to know when you are called and what you are called to. In the big things we ponder, wonder, pray and seek counsel. Fast and pray they did before sending, before blessing. But they heard and they followed. We are all called by the spirit for the word of God to grow and spread. How are you carrying this word? Is it heavy or light, a burden or a blessing? Pause to pray... letting go of heavy weights and forced rhythms in your life. ‘Grace we receive, from Jesus we believe, we follow your words that lead us to life. Open our ears to hear your call us into greater things through the little things we are given to do with your love. May we know the hope that we are called to and in by the Holy Spirit to be sent, to believe beyond ourselves falling into and letting go of, leaning back releasing earthly burdens for heavenly gifts. It’s so much lighter when we believe. Take us this day where you are calling us to be your words of life and lead us into love. ‘May we believe and see the goodness of the lord in the land of the living.’ Amen DB Act 12:24-13:5, Ps. 73:25, Ps.27:13  April 27 Prayer
And they asked him to tell them who He was, …’Are You the One?’ I woke up to a grand moon light reflecting from the sea, so close, so near staring at me as if to say ‘Look at me, I am here even when you're sleeping.’ I watch and wait as the cool moon begins to warm by the mornings colors. Jesus calls us his own, ‘The Father and I are one’ he says. We belong here. As the the moon is held to sky we cannot be snatched away, only fade into Dawn’s early light, until we are completely absorbed, becoming one, and we belong, and we are held in His hand. Today, let’s surrender to this light that always shines with us and upon us. Let us hear our name being called and turn to follow for we cannot ever outrun his shadow. Pause to feel his warm light on you as the day unfolds through prayer. ‘Jesus, we receive the blessing of your light that you reveal to us. May we know you better today than yesterday. May we know the smile of your face so we may smile upon others. Give us the awareness of your nearness that we may watch and wait to see your face here. Thank you for filling us with your joy so we reflect your loving grace today. Amen John 10:22-30, Ps.67 DB  April 26 Prayer
‘I am the gate for the flock, the gateway, ...I know them…’ To see is to recognize the gate as the shepherd who knows each sheep as his own. Sheep, that are wounded and lame, lost and wandering, scattered, listening for a familiar voice. So they may follow and enter into a pasture place where they are safe and sound, and secure. We can hear his voice and recognize him by what is going on inside. You can tell whose voice is calling by what it does in you... Does it bring hope or fear? Is it vibrant or dull? Does it lead you into fullness or desolation? Look to the heavens above and the land of abundance afar. His mercy calls us all to come into him. It is here we listen and follow the voice that will lead us into life. Wherever you are dull and fearful bring you whole self to the gate as you pray; ‘God of the dawning daylight shining upon us to lead us through the darkness. We look to the heavens where your mercy is and your truth in the skies. We trust in your way to lead us. We ask for your voice to be so strong to lead those in darkness into your light. Jesus, the light to our eyes, give us courage to say yes to the unknown, yes to the change inside of us that leads us into life. May we be light bearers in a dark world. May we bring hope to those that are wandering and are weak. May we show them the way to your pastures where you will bind up the injured and bring back the strays. May your shalom rest in us as we walk through You, the gateway to experience the fullness of life, freedom and truth. All glory be to our God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen DB John 10:1-16, Ps.57, Ezek.34:14-16  April 24 Prayer
Saturday Slow Down Take the day to cease from anxious work that does not produce peace. We work day and night out of fear of scarcity. Our spirits want and long for what satisfies. Yet, God gives rest to his loved ones. We are his loved ones, his fellow workers created to be a dwelling place. A sacred space where his spirit lives. So take this Saturday to slow down and breathe in what brings life to you. See beauty before you and gaze a while. Soak in life so you may be recreated and know what is fitting for the moment. Pray this day in reflection; ‘May my heart be an open container for your spirit life to grow. May my eyes see what astounds me as a message of hope. May we, your holy dwelling, be at peace with the works you are creating through us in this hour.’ Amen Psalm 127:1-2, 1Cor.3:9,16 DB  April 23 Prayer
‘I am a true sprouting vine’ ‘Abide in me just as I abide in you’ Let my words that cleanse you live powerfully through you. For I love you as we, the divine three, love each other . As you stay closely attached to me, the living vine, then you will grow and my love will be in you.’ See yourself as a branch sprouting from the true vine; Jesus, keep me from wandering from you, the true living vine. When my anxiety cuts me off I no longer am alive with you. I let those false branches, my own coping mechanisms be burned up so I may abide in you. I will abide with you and let your life sap flow through my veins so I may become strong, alive and full of love. Shape me,change me, form me into a fruitful branch. As I sprout forth from the vine I begin again, being nourished by your spirit flowing through me. What I ask for today is to stay close to you. To see you working around me, and in me to give out what you have given to me. So that the world may know You are the only way, The truth and life. Be glorified in what I say and do Let me abide in you. To know you and love you Let your love grow more in me that my joy may be full in you. Amen John 15:1-8  April 22 Prayer
The earth belongs to the Lord, He claims it and everything and everyone in it. His glory fills the earth and his name is written in splendor for those who have eyes to see it. Why does the creator bother with us, such lowly human beings? Because God loves! He creates and he loves and he calls us forth to do the same. He tells us that his love knows no end, on the cross Jesus gave up his human spirit and gave us his life. To live in us through our eyes, his voice in our ears, and the silence in our souls. He calls us to care as he cared for Mother, for brother from the cross, he cared for them until the very end. He cares for us to care for all creation. Pause and consider all of the splendor of creation in the night sky and dawn's awakening glory. Let the joy of being alive enter in where fear, and sin, and sorrow, and death, are overcome by the love in your heart, to love him until the end. His faithful love endures forever. ‘May we see your name written all over the earth as we care for what you have made. In simple things and simple ways,may we create with you a restored earth.’ Amen Psalms 8:3-9, 24:1-2, John 19:25-30 DB  April 21 Prayer
The Will of God A sweet fragrance in the air You sense it from afar Searching for its source as it pulls you in. This bread of life. This Jesus that offers his life so we will become an attractive perfume. A scent that calls forth enticing life that spreads wherever we go. The only way to have the scent of another rub off on you is to come close to their body. Come close to Jesus, Snuggle into him, feel his embrace all around you and smell his fragrance. Let it linger in you, like warm bread, take it in and eat it. Then let his fragrance like fresh field flowers be carried with you, for it is upon you. You will know when the fragrance fades, when the doubt and worry comes stealing life. Return, get close, linger longer with Jesus. It’s the only lasting work you will ever do. Washing his feet with fragrant perfume. Let him pour his anointing fragrance on you. Carry it out into the world today. ‘Lord we pray, You have given everything to us, your will be done in and through us as we come close and stay close to you in all we say and do. May we carry forth the enticing fragrance of life everlasting, a sweet-smelling bouquet.’ Amen John 6:35-40, 2 Cor. 2;14-15 DB  April 20 Prayer
‘All who are thirsty, Own to the water, All who are hungry, Listen and you will eat well’ Is.55:1 There is a bread of God that comes from heaven Giving life to the world. And we are a hungry world Seeking out our own way, wanting our own food. All along there is an invitation to come and believe with humility, dependence, and surrender. Come and bring your hunger and dissatisfaction, frustration and fear. “Take courage, wait for him to break through for you, all who trust in him.’ Pause to pray ; ‘Save us in your kindness, Hide us in your shelter Be our rock and defense. Fill us up with holy bread, words that nourish and bring life to others. Jesus you are all we need! May we become open mouths to feed, waiting and listening to your every word. Feed us, In hope we pray, So the world that is hungry may know the true bread of God. This day we yield our spirits to yours Into your hands. Show us your glory everywhere we have eyes opened to see. Amen John 6:30-35 Ps.31:24 |