May 7 Prayer
‘I call you my friend and I have chosen and appointed you to go…. To bear fruit that remains To listen to the secrets I will tell you to ask anything, To love one another as I have loved you. I give you everything...’ Jn.15:12-17 A friend loves at all times, and you are my friend. Oh Lord, I fail so much at loving, I trip and fall so many times and yet you still love me. You have given me everything I need, How can I not love you in return? Call me deeper into this friendship,with you As you share everything with me, may I not withhold anything back from you I that I call my own, My thoughts, my concerns, My desires and dreams, My doubts and apprehension I lay them all out for us to share at the table. As friends that care and love and understand, You meet me there right where I am. I pray that I may open my heart and ears to listen to your deep secrets that tell me how to love, Even when it hurts. I will listen and take your hand to lead me on the path through the valley and hills to walk with you as you walk with me. Show me how to love you more by loving more. May I welcome all you bring to me today to love. In Jesus name and for his glory! Amen 1Pet.4:7-11 DB May 6 Prayer
God knows the human heart condition. He has purified our hearts through faith when we believe. When we encounter one another we see oh much we do not believe. Can we look upon each other without making distinctions become divisions? Can we accept one another as Christ unconditionally accepts us, without insisting others conform to our ways and opinions? DIstinctions come in the form of differences. Maybe we could we see in those differences something we lack and even need? Could we welcome the full presence of others without wanting to change them? Pause to examen the condition of your own heart as we pray; ‘Jesus, we receive your grace and believe that you have purified our hearts but we are in great need to be renewed and remade into your image. Open space in our hearts to welcome fully others that think differently than we. Help us to welcome unfamiliar places as an invitation to discovery. ‘May everything we are become an offering of our full selves and everything we do come from our deepest centre.’ ST. Therese of lisieux ‘May we become like green flourishing olive trees in the house of the Lord reflecting your glory.’ Ready to be pressed and poured out for others this day. Amen Acts 15:8-12, Rom. 15:5-7, Ps. 52:8 DB May 5 Prayer
Bearing fruit, a shared life with Jesus. ‘This is how my Father shows who He is…’ ‘Come in, stay awhile, hang out with me, linger and loiter here to make yourselves at home in my love..’ This invitation stands open for all of us. He shows us that we are not lone branches cut off but we have the gift of being, the gift of having a home with him. Christ’s home is in me, His home is in you, our home is Christ’s home. So come and stay awhile, and return home when you feel the chaos and tension inside you. That is from the world and not the peace that he left you with. Seek the one thing, ask to dwell in his house and your heart will be filled and your branches will grow and you will bear the fruit of peace. Allow his presence to fill you now as you receive his blessing of peace. Heal our hearts Lord, so we may see the good in others and receive the gift of home. We pray, ‘Give to us hearts of mercy so that we can have eyes of mercy to love beyond measure and to love beyond ourselves. May we bear the fruit from your vine. Today be at home with Christ And let the flowering of peace crown your head. Christ be with you, Christ be in you, Christ be you- Amen John 15:1-8, Ps.27:4 DB May 4 Prayer
We have peace as a gift left for us and it is not from this world. It is not achieved through fighting, demanding nor grasping. It is as a river that flows freely and completely to bring life to everything that it touches. God’s peace cost him his very own life so we may have life and be right with him. As our friend Julian would say:‘So all will be well and all manner of things shall be well.’ It cost him his broken body to suffer all harmful things to make all things healed and whole. This is peace, that we may be his river to flow. An open door of faith for others to enter into life. Pause now to receive this peace and let it become completely within you. Ask... Where am I broken and incomplete, in need of healing? Pray; Today, I give my attention to your peace already within me. Help us to know we do not need to earn our way to you but receive what is given by giving it away. Fill us this day with your spirit to make us whole, complete in you. Open the door to the gift of peace May we trust and surrender to follow the right path. Open the door of faith to unbelievers that do not have your peace. Do not let our hearts diminish anyone we meet this day by a quick judgement nor any critical thoughts. Oh Lord, make us peace rivers that flow out into the world. We pray and bless those that are hurting, those that are confused and sad. Bring you peace and comfort this day. Open the door of their hearts we pray. Amen John 14:27-32, Ps. 5:7-8, Ro.12:18 DB May 3 Prayer
Jesus shows us the way to the Father and even more than that he becomes the way. The Father dwells in him and he dwells in the Father for they are one, and the way he made it is that we are one in them. So God’s works became in us and we become His works to do even greater works. Greater work, than the way maker? Asking in his name, Jesus, we pray, ‘Lord, do the greater works in us and through us. Help us get out of the way for you to make the way for us. Humble us and fill us to overflow with the love you share so we are not vying for love from one another or seeking out our own way. May our true home be in you so we may be your home for others. ‘May we devote ourselves to one another in love and to honour one another above ourselves.’ Show us where you are working as we look up to the heavens and see the declaration of your glory all around creation. May we behold the way you are making today. Lord have you way in us we pray. Amen DB John 14:6-14, Rom. 12:9-13, Ps.90:1-2 May 1 Prayer
Saturday Slow down We enter the first of a new month with a pause long enough to begin again. Take a look at your hands Your hands are made to create, to work and to play. Hands to shape the days to come Hands to offer up a praise, a prayer of release into grace that holds your hands to comfort and be a comfort, To love and be loved is kind and hopeful. On this Saturday slow down enough to see your hands as they are. Bless them and rest them. Give thanks for them. Let them become as flowers to the sun holding radiant light beams of glorious color reflecting this God we serve with the hands he has made. Amen DB |