April 19 Prayer
‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’ Sounds too simple. We want to work harder, create something to make a mark in the world. We want the magnificent! We are Looking for Jesus and he is creating something eternal within. ‘Do not seek to do the things that will not last but seek that which will last forever.’ He gives to us Bread from heaven to feed our souls Our work is to believe and receive and then give it away to feed the hungry. Pause and see God's creative hands making something new within you. New faith, hope and love bursting forth from your deep hunger. He is the magnificent, the wonder and poetry we desire to read and he is the Poet creating in us a living message. Respond to him now in prayer; ‘Lord, I believe in You, I receive your work in me. Create something beautiful that will last within me and create through me this day. May my hands look to give and create out of the grace I have received from you. Let me be a living poem, a unique expression of your creativity. May I offer hope to the hopeless world that is clinging onto things that will not last. I pray for the young that are in doubt and despair that the world is failing them. May they find you Jesus and believe. Renew the face of the earth with a new faith in God who gives his all and saves us all. Fill us anew with that which will last for eternity.’ Amen John 6:22-29, Eph.2:10 DB April 16 Prayer
“If this is of God you will not be able to stop it, and you may discover you have been fighting God all along.” Acts 5:39 Words from a wise man in the book of acts cause me to wonder how do we know what is of human efforts and what is of the Divine. Could we be fighting against God’s purpose in our lives when we strive to hard? Pressure, pushing are reactions of the self that could be a tell tale sign. God will have his way in the end and sometimes the only prayer we should pray is “Lord I give up, Have mercy on me.” Wherever you are feeling pressure and resistance breathe and exhale, releasing all that you are holding in. “Lord, we come with our hearts in our hands, worn and tired of striving to change things, tired of fighting. Help us Lord right where we are and for what we need.” I yield my will to yours and pray; Lord have mercy! May your kingdom come and protect the most vulnerable. May you open up the eyes of my heart to see where you are moving and how I can join in with what you are doing. To be with you and not resist you. For in you is rest. No shadows are too dark that a tint of colour cannot be seen. Amen DB Acts 5:34-38 April 15 Prayer
A new dawn awakens It amazes me sometimes how when you feel so bad and down one day then a new day begins. It becomes a fresh start for the body, soul and spirit . Renewed after rest Return, Jesus calls us to return. And in the turning and in the changing of our minds there is renewal. Listen to the birds sing outside the window. It’s spring! And God brings resurrection in all things! In Jesus is everything! Today we come with single hearts to pray; “Lord in you is everything We ask for simple things and for the impossible things knowing that the Father is in you and you are in him. We seek, ask and knock on the doors of the holy kingdom to come to the here and now, right where we are. Forgive us for becoming overwhelmed with the details of the everyday that we lose sight of the eternal. May we awaken to the new dawn in us. May we speak boldly of your goodness. May we see you in everything and everyone. Grace and peace are yours forevermore. Let us received it! Amen John 3:31-36,Ps.86:11-12 DB April 14 Prayer
Truth brings light As light brings truth Jesus speaks compassion for all and we are to respond. How? It starts with coming to terms what is true inside us and where we deny what is real out of our own comfort or fear of the unknown. Truth comes not to only shine the light in darkness but to come as a companion, A compassionate friend To lead the way. And this friend is trustworthy to not let us stay stuck in the lies we have become so used to. Truth calls us higher to who we really are And it is there we climb. And it is there we can rest while taking off the old familiar masks that no longer fit us. Pause a moment to pray; Jesus, you are the truth, And You are the way. May our hearts follow you and bring all of ourselves to you. May we find your companionship in the truth that is most real and finally find freedom in the fullness of life. May we look outward to others different than we and be a truthful companion to light their way. To bring freedom and peace. In Jesus name. Amen DB John 3:16-21, 14:6, Ps.104:1 April 13 Prayer
“Those who believed in the risen Lord were of One heart and one soul Power and grace was given to them.” Light and life New creation Here and now I wonder what it would had been like to be there with them? The ones who saw him In glory. Would I be different than I am today ? Would I give more of myself away? Come, holy spirit and illuminate the dullness of my soul. Whatever is dormant and lying in darkness Cause your word to be spoken and heard there. Let us create together the world you have designed to stand forevermore. Open space in me to be of one heart and one soul. To give what I have, To be who I am designed before time. I receive the resurrection in me to come and rest my soul there, See what is created through the colors of God. May your love grow even deeper in me So my joy will be full of only You. Amen Acts 4:32-37, Ps.33,Jn.1 DB April 12 Prayer
Born of the spirit Born of water Born of earth Born of the wind Born anew. The things of the natural realm speak of the invisible. As Jesus speaks the words of life To be born from above born anew, and begin again, what comes to your mind? These things are not tangible to hold in our hands but they are like the wind of the spirit that blows upon us. Can we trust in the unscene workings of God? Breathe slowly and deeply letting the grace of the spirit rise up and fall. Let the wind blow Afresh upon your now. Ask your soul where the earth weighs you down, What keeps you from rising with faith, hope and love? Be not limited by your mind’s constraints but let him strengthen you with every gift of the spirit to bear the light of the risen Christ to the world. Pause and pray; Lord, loosen our feet from the weights that keep us down, our hands from grasping air, and let us see in the natural the supernatural workings of your spirit. May we attend to these workings in our bodies where we are limited and see your spirit there. May we attend to creation around us and see the spirit there. May we have faith to believe you are working in people and situations we see as being Impossible. Let your spirit stir there within us to be born from above, born anew, born of your wind Let faith arise and joy come like a newborn babe. Fall afresh today! Amen John 3:1-8 April 10 Prayer
Saturday Slow Down “Do you love me”? The question echoes in the wind swept bluff when I walk along the shore “Do you love me?” I hear in the passer by, in the beauty of the creation that appears before me. “Do you love me now?” In the stillness and in the slowing down to notice Me, even in your breath as a resting place to receive this day as a gift. “Do you love me!” Then look for me everywhere and attend to my love. Yes Lord, my heart responds I love you! Show me how. Amen DB John 21:12-17 April 9 Prayer
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you, show me the way I should go.” Ps. 143:8 Today I come to your table of fullness Lord, I open the door to your invitation to come To come, Be with you As you desire to be with me and share a meal with you already prepared. To bring my offering of what you have provided Grace upon grace An Abundance that never runs out. Today I want to recognize you on the shore The one knocking at my door Waiting to come in For me to trust in you and receive your unfailing love. Today I come, and start with eating breakfast with you. May I attend to the way you show me to go. Amen DB John 21:1-14, Rev.3:20 April 8 Prayer
Lk.24:35-43 “He opens their minds to understand.” He opens their doubting hearts Frightened by the world’s sway Deep in sorrow and confusion He comes and reveals himself Speaking over them his peace Through His very real presence. “Touch Me” He says to them, See that I am divine, real enough to be with you. He shows his wounds like theirs to heal their doubts and send them out. Pause here, Simply receive His peace and let him open your mind to see him really present with you now, where you are. Hear him say; “Peace be with you.” See his wounded hands and feet. He has walked the way before you. Through the resurrection of hope brings the peace of Christ. May we all breathe his peace today. Deep into our souls where we doubt his words and do not understand, May we be open to seeing him here in a different kind of way. A real tangible presence. To touch his wounded hands and understand his compassionate love will guide us home. Peace be with you! Go out with hope and bring his peace to all you meet this day. Amen DB April 7 Prayer
Do you recognize him? Lk.24:13-35 “He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” In the conversation being had and in the questions, debates In the wandering along the roadside In the wondering In grief and doubts, In discontent He is walking there alongside asking questions entering into the conversation Drawing near But not seen For who he is Not recognized The risen one~ He was made known to them in the tearing apart to reveal what’s inside All along He was there He is here now Waiting to be seen To be recognized In our waking and our walking In our waiting and grieving In our conversations to be had In the tearing apart The breaking of the bread Let us find him there. We Pray; “Lord open our hearts to recognize the burning inside for you. May we carry the flame to others and find you there burning within them too.” Amen DB |