Psalm 36:5,7
Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. Matt.11:25-30 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children On my morning prayer walk yesterday I stopped to watch the waves on the shore. While sitting upon a large rock embedded in the sand I noticed this crack in between the walls of this stone rock. The words from Leonard Cohen's song anthem rang in my ears. “There's a crack in everything that's where the light comes in” so when i returned home i looked up the lyrics of the song “Ring the bells, that still can ring forget your perfect offering, there's a crack in everything that's how the light comes in” I ponder this thought,that light breaks in when things are hard and dark . I open my heart to be softened by my beloved Father's hands. I think of Jesus who is humble of heart, who offers me his heart. When things are too heavy to carry, the burdens of others that are breaking their backs, my heart breaks too. But I know that there is the One whose heart is bigger than mine, that calls me to lean my heart to his and rest there. It is here I pray; I am weak and in need of your care, I do not try to figure things out nor be wise in my own eyes. I choose your heart this day. To be childlike and trust in what I do not know or understand. Beloved Jesus, reveal your heart to me. Where the cracks break let your light come in. I trust in your humble heart that is good and just. It may be hard at times to understand but I rest in you this day. I turn my heart over to you to soften and make it supple in your hands. Help me to become like a child ready to begin again and start anew and let your love and light come in. Amen Come to a place of calm in your body, mind and soul.
Know that the Lord is good and his love endures forever. Feel the sun rise up in your heart. Romans 8:15 “ And you did not receive the spirit of religious duty, leading you back into fear of never being good enough. But you have received the spirit of full acceptance, enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never feel orphaned, for he rises up within us, our spirits join him in saying the words of tender affection, Beloved Father!” How beautiful, how wonderful it is to know that we are adopted, enfolded , into this heavenly family. The Father, loves the Son and the Son, loves the Holy Spirit and all invite us into this union with them. Where have we been lacking in love toward another? Where have we been living in the fear of not getting it right? Talk to God about this now and let him enfold you with his love. Let go of the fear and welcome in being adopted, accepted, and held. Pause, be held in the Father's arms and pray. Holy Spirit, you make the fatherhood of God real to us as you speak gently in our ears that we are a beloved child. There is no other place we would rather be. We stop the striving to get it right and relax in being made right with you. Being your beloved child opens our hearts to see others as your children held by you. Make us tender in heart to have the quiet patience and humility to show generous love toward another. Help us to demonstrate gentleness with those that try our patience and seemingly do not get it right. Would you give us the eyes to see them in your arms too? Whenever we struggle to get away from your hold, cause our spirits to surrender into the calming warmth of your love. We are your little lambs, keep our eyes on your loving gaze this day. Amen. “With tender humility and quiet patience, always demonstrate gentleness and generous love toward one another, especially toward those who may try your patience.” Eph.4:2 Psalm 126:4 “Pour out even more of your love upon us, reveal more of your kindness and restore us back to you “
All night long I awakened to the words restore, restore my soul, restore my life . The question arose in my mind, what does it mean to be restored, and how do you want to restore my life, Lord? When one is worn down by isolation, desolation can creep in with a sense of nothingness, worthlessness and weariness. The battle becomes too hard,the lament too long to bear and the night never seems to end. Then morning comes and the light breaks in, and a steady sound of waves pounding upon the shore remind me to remember once again. There is a rhythm in being restored. It’s in the remembering, the recalling to mind the goodness of God. His faithfulness and mercy in our lives. It’s in the place of gratitude that a strength begins to come back and a new seeing comes into view. We each have been given a mantle from God. Like Elisha, we just need to look up into the heavenly realm and see it, believe it and use it to part the waters and walk into the sea upon a completely new path never walked on before. “ That’s where he restores and revives my life. He opens before me pathways to God’s pleasure and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness so I may bring honor to his name.” Psalm 23:3tpt Pause and ask God where you need to be restored today? Where are you weary or worn down? How does he want to re-story your life? Breath in his love and kindness to you and await the gift of the mantle he has to give you. Wait Then Pray; We are so ever grateful that you, God, are the one and only one that can give us what we need in our desolation. You provide for us a place to be restored and revived with your strength. Thank you for this. Would you grant us new vision to see the pathway before us that we have not walked on before. May we have eyes of faith to believe what seems impossible is possible for you. We seek you this day, we seek your face always. Let us see where you are moving in our lives and how you want to restore your kingdom here on earth. May we be a part of your work in and through us. Pour out even more of your love on us, reveal more of your kindness and restore us back to you. In the beautiful name of the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Amen “The Lord alone is our radiant hope and we trust in him with all our hearts. His wrap around presence will strengthen us.
As we trust in you our hearts find joy. Let your love and steadfast kindness overshadow us continually, for we wait upon you!” Psalm 33:20-22 Matt.5:48 “Since you are children of a perfect Father in heaven , you are to be perfect like him.” Take in the sounds around you and find a quiet place within. Settle there and await the warmth of God's wrap around presence to enfold you. Stay there a while. Then Pray; “Lord, we come to you today with our hands open and we are empty inside. There is no other place that we could go to find rest and completeness. Where we are weak we ask for help to be strengthened, and where we are strong we bow low to allow your presence to be our trust and hope. If there is anything that we are holding unto too tightly help us to release that into your radiant hope. There is a way that is perfect, complete and right in you. Lead us in that way we pray. May we each find our joy and completeness in you as we follow the son, the spirit and the creator God. You invite us into your wholeness, three in one. May we be one there with you and find your faithful love and kindness there. We receive your peace In the beautiful name of Jesus. Amen. Psalm 31:7 “In mercy you have seen my troubles and you have cared for me. Even during this crisis in my soul I will be radiant with joy, filled with praise for your love and mercy.”
“What does the lord require of you, but to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 Acts 2:43-47 “...and they were filled with gratitude and awe and held all things in common” Matthew 5:38-42 “ You have heard that it was said,...but I say to you,” Pause and hold these scripture images in your mind. What stands out to you? What does mercy look like for you, toward you, and what does it look like to love mercy and show it? As I think upon these things and read again Jesus' words to the disciples saying; “you have heard it said, but I say to you,” my heart suddenly halts and I pay attention to ask, what is it Lord, that you want to you say to me, right here, right now? Love my enemies, love my neighbor as myself ? Here we are in the midst of a crisis all around us. Can we, the church who have received the greatest mercy of all, God's Son, to save us, care for us and fill us with his spirit, show mercy to others? Ponder this for a moment. Pause, breathe deeply and pray, “Beautiful, gracious Lord, How you care for us, everyone of us and hold us close to your heart. We feel the warmth of being held during this time in our souls and allow you to fill us with joy. Help us to walk humbly in the way that you have called us to live. We are so grateful for the mercy you have shown us. Help us to see your generous spirit that you gave, so we may in turn be generous to others. Open our ears to listen to others before we speak, step aside and let others step up, and not hold back in fear of what we do not understand. May our hearts be mingled with yours to hold all things in common with each other. We ask for the spirit of generosity to be released in our world so we may live out your justice, your lovingkindness and your mercy. Lift up the oppressed and misunderstood to know your saving grace and love. May we all be filled with your joy in our souls this day for your loving kindness never fails us. Because of Jesus and our love for you we pray.” Amen 1 Peter 5:10
“And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all loving grace, who has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ, will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger than ever. Yes, he will set you firmly in place and build you up.” Beautiful Broken pieces Recently we had a guest stay with us at the sea star, our retreat house in cambria. She was in dire need of a respite from all that has been going on in the world and in her own life. A place to pray, worship and lament with her guitar and just be still enough to hear the ocean and take in the beauty all around. On a walk she found broken pieces of pottery upon the ground of which she collected and brought back. After she checked out to go home she left behind a beautiful arrangement of these broken pieces on a white canvas for me to create a work of art. As I graciously received this gift I saw within the beauty of just what it was. Broken pieces arranged in the shape of a heart . The colors of azul, gold, rose and green of various shapes and sizes all speak of the amazing expanse and multifariousness of the human race. God made us all in His vast image how should we then behold one another in this world? Here’s a question for us today. How is God trying to shape us through our brokenness into his heart ? Take a moment and think of your own sharp edges, the places that need mending. Can you offer these up to God now? Pause in prayer . “Lord , you are the master builder who creates within our hearts a place for you to dwell. We give to you the broken pieces of our lives for you to use and shape into your own heart. Would you show us each how to live in the posture of surrender and trust ? Show us in the day to day instances how to respond in the moment with grace. We allow your powerful holy spirit to restore and shape the broken pieces of our souls. Make us an open space for your eternal glory to shine forth.” Now sit with the image of the broken pottery pieces and offer them up as a gift to God for him to create a work of art . “We give thanks to you, O God, that our redeemer lives and restores and makes all things new. Give us eyes to see the beauty in who you are making us so we may see the beautiful art you are creating in others . Let us, your church be a part of this creative work here on earth. You make all things new In this we have hope.” Amen Matt 5:6 “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness
for they will be filled” IKings 19:9,11-13 My soul thirsts for you There I Find rest There I am filled Pause to breathe and await God’s presence Allow His spirit to come and hold you still, calm your mind and soul where the noise has crowded in. Surround yourself with thoughts of beauty and grace and remember a time when you felt at ease and at peace. Stay here a while… Let us Pray Gracious God , you who have all authority , all love, all power to move the mountains around us. We seek your face here in the midst of trouble. Come and fill us with what we really thirst for. Still ourselves so that we may hear your voice there in the wisp of a whisper, above the violent winds, and crushing earth, past the flames of fire. Hold us now with your arms of love and assurance that you have everything under your control as we surrender to you. Fill us this day with hope and peace and even delight as we are filled with every good gift that you give. O’ Lord above all lords, we are so very grateful and humbled to be your presence here on earth. May there be a great new awakening in those that are not satisfied and are at unrest. May they find you, the One who can only fill that hunger and thirst to be fully satisfied. In the beautiful name of Jesus we pray, Amen Acts 11:19-26, Ps.11:7 MSG
“Barnanbas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith.” I wonder what was the early church like when it started many centuries ago? These were real people just like you and I with preconceived ideas and rules to follow that were passed on from one generation to the other. Now they were to follow the ways that were taught by Jesus. A new covenant , a new set of rules to follow and these were the rules of the heart. God’s heart to make right what has been wrong, make straight lines to guide them. It says in the book of acts that Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. He was sent to check out what the other unknown believers were teaching the other people that were not like them. When he arrived there in Antioch he was overjoyed because he saw God moving in their midst. He saw the grace in the other people unlike himself. He saw the grace of God working and encouraged the believers to be strong and remain true to the Lord. Pause, breathe and Pray, Beautiful righteous Lord, we come to you with our minds and thoughts to be transformed by your Holy Spirit this day. We give you permission to change our hearts into your heart to see your grace in the other. Help us to be pliable in your hands to bend low before the other and stand tall in our faith for justice. We thank you that it is your love that makes all things right. That you love making our lives straight so we may look at you straight in the eye and be filled with the grace to live right. O Lord have mercy and show us our place to bring others out of oppression and encourage them to live as children of the king. With value and dignity and worth that you bring to all. O lord have mercy on all we pray. We thank you that we belong to you and there is no other greater joy than knowing this. Bless our paths this day as we follow your ways of justice and peace. May our hearts become more like yours . Amen Psalm 86:1-8, Acts 2:17-18, Phil.2:5-11
“Lord, bend down to listen to my prayer, I am poor, broken and humbled, and I desperately need your help. Guard my life , for I’m your faithful friend, your loyal servant for life. I turn to you in faith, my God, come and rescue me” Pause to pray We come to you Lord today with hearts that are hungry for you and your truth. We desire for you to dwell within us as we pray. May your heart of restoration be in us . We rejoice that you are the God who creates in love and who mends the broken. Thank you that you bend low to listen to all that is in our hearts. Take a moment and think about Jesus being emptied for you, humbly coming to this earth and bowing his head to be baptized in water. The heavens were opened up at that instant and a way was made for all to enter in through faith. What does this provoke within you? If Christ emptied himself then how must I? I empty myself now of what takes space away for God filling me with truth. My self, my rights, my wants, my expectations, my wrongs, my dreams, my griefs, my obsessions, my fears , my passions, my position ……… Speak honestly to our Lord Jesus who receives all of you as you give these places to him. Lord, we repent and turn away from all that blocks us from your filling presence. We ask for the change in our hearts to be your sons and daughters to prophesy your way of love for all. Pour out your spirit on all people as you promised in your word. Raise up those who feel less than, unworthy and unprepared for this hour. Give us the boldness of your holy spirit to love as you love no matter what others may think. “Whenever trouble strikes, I will keep crying out to you, for I know help is on the way. God , there’s no one like you. Lord Almighty, you are the one who created all the nation; Look at them , they are all on their way! Yes, the day will come when they all will worship you and put your glory on display. You are the one and only God.” We give thanks to you this day and surrender to your healing work in us. May our hands and feet answer the call of your mission for us today. Show us the way we humbly pray. Amen I would like to share with you a powerful way to pray from a prayer app from the UK called Lectio365. It touched me deeply and has caused me to examen my own heart .
I encourage you to take the time to pray with others across the world today. Pause As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly; to re-centre my scattered senses upon the presence of God. Pause and pray Prayer of Approach Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24) Rejoice and Reflect I choose to rejoice today in God’s love and justice for all nations, joining with the ancient praise of all God’s people in the words of Psalm 22... The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy. The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him. For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations. Psalm 22:26-28 Today, as I remember George Floyd I turn to a part of the Bible that has much to say about the purpose of power, the future of nations and the way that God Himself was oppressed and innocently killed by evil men. Philippians 2:5-11 “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” From Iswe Nkosi; I grew up in a South African township under the evil insitutionalised racism of apartheid. Where the colour of my skin determined which hospital I would be born in, and what kind of care my mother and I would receive. To be black was to be marginalised, despised, silenced and oppressed. I can remember days, as a child, when my mother would come home barely walking, with a swollen, bruised face and a purple eye. Embarrassed to tell us what had happened when we asked, she would try and crack a smile with her battered face and say ‘ke wele bohloko.’ Meaning, ‘I had a really bad fall at work.’ Later that night, when we went to bed in the small corrugated iron shack that housed six of us, we would hear her tell our father that she had been beaten by her employers for dropping their plates and not feeding their dogs at the right time. Experiences like these, of which there were many, have left their mark on me and my siblings and a sense of worthlessness and helplessness to see our mother so despised and stripped off her dignity. It is only in Christ that I’ve found my true identity as a Son of God, my dignity as a black man made in God’s image. George Floyd’s murder and his last words “I can’t breathe” have broken my heart, but they have also fired me up to hope and pray that perhaps now things can begin to change. This passage promises that one day, perhaps quite soon, every tribe and tongue will finally bow the knee - not before a flag, but before the Lord Jesus Christ. On that wonderful day, every culture will bring its own unique revelation - its food, its language, its music - as equals at the coronation of an innocent Middle-Eastern man, killed without justice and exalted by God to the highest place. Ask As I bow the knee today before You Jesus, I ask You to search my heart. Show me where I am proud and prejudiced against those who are different to me because of their race, or their beliefs or their way of life. Change my heart. Start the revolution in me. Pause and pray Jesus turns power and privilege on its head. He had everything but He made Himself nothing. He swapped supremacy for servanthood. And so, I pray now for world leaders, asking You Lord to bring them to their knees, to prick their consciences today, that they might use their power on behalf of the powerless, to reconcile, heal and make peace. Philippians 2:5-11 The original Greek word used here to describe Christ’s self-emptying is ‘kenosis’. It’s one of the most important concepts in Orthodox theology. Kenosis is not just something to be admired in Jesus; it is also something to be copied in my own life too. The way of Jesus means emptying myself of power, privilege and possessions again and again for the sake of the least, the last and the lost, trusting the Lord to replenish what I relinquish and to raise me up in due course. Yielding Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, I often ask You to fill me but today I choose to empty myself for Your glory. Give me opportunities in the coming week to pour my resources out for someone who is vulnerable, to spend my sense of entitlement in the service of someone who feels forgotten, and to give my attention and admiration to someone from another race or culture. Yielding Promise Considering the pain and anger in my world right now I thank you, Lord, that you’ve promised, one day, there will be, ‘a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.’ (Revelation 7:9) Closing Prayer Father, help me to live this day to the full, being true to You, in every way. Jesus, help me to give myself away to others, being kind to everyone I meet. Spirit, help me to love the lost, proclaiming Christ in all I do and say. Amen. |