October 30 Prayer
Saturday Slowdown Slowdown The perpetual push to excel in activity Long enough to listen, Long enough to hear wisdom’s voice echoing within The prayers of our hearts. Lord this morning, This moment I lean into the earth to ground me and look to the sky to uplift me up. I give you my heart. May I know what pleases You This very moment. For in pleasing you I find my true home where I can relax and be myself. Free from the fears the hinder me, Free to lay down on your solid ground and humbly receive the grace to be low. Let this be my slowdown today. Amen Dee Brill Lk.14:7-11 October 29 Prayer
“Jesus took the suffering man in front of him and healed him.”Lk.14:1-6 God sees the suffering one before you . He knows that if you could only draw near, take hold of the one, healing will come. How much do we miss what God is doing because we are concerned about what others think of us? Do we worry about who is judging our methodologies or the appearance of doing things a certain way? I think it may be much simpler than we make it. Just start with what you see and let God draw you there. Let your heart respond with what you know is right, with the compassion of Jesus . No matter what others think of you. Just do what is in front of you. Today we pray; Lord, we receive your compassion for us right now to take us and heal us where we need healing. Set us free from what constrains us so we may be bold enough and strong enough to let You heal through us. Help us to be present and see what You are doing and do it with You. Amen Dee Brill October 28 Prayer
‘We are no longer strangers or wandering exiles for now we have a true home.’ We are no longer on the outside looking in, now we belong and we are growing together carefully, a joining together into a household, a home, a spiritual dwelling place for God. This is a process so as we pray today try to see yourself not just as an individual with your own needs but a part of a larger family. A part of something much bigger and wider than you. You are being built into a home with others for God to be present in. Take a moment to ask God what He desires as a household. Praying; “I confess that my own needs and comfort takes preeminence over what You call a real home. Today I ask for a higher view to see how you are building up not just me but us into someplace You are able to live. Show us how to carefully connect with others as you join us together. May we be able to see another’s way as being a part of the way to belong. May we draw near to You Jesus as our center point, the very core of the household we are becoming. Keep us close to the foundation, to our heritage of those that have gone before us, and may we learn from their glories and their failings. Weave us with the sticks of our own humanity made holy into a glorious resting place for Peace to dwell. May we be careful in our growing and intentional in becoming a household for God. Amen Eph.2:19-22 Dee Brill October 26 Prayer
The same Spirit We all have. We are being changed, transformed as children of glory. It’s a slow process and takes endurance to wait for the day when all things, all people and all of creation are set completely free. Freedom will come, peace will come, justice will come and everything will be made right as it was intended from the beginning. So we wait with joyful anticipation with a yearning of what is yet to come. Like a rose bud beginning to unfold by the light of the early morning’s sun. Let this hope in waiting begin to rise within you now as you pray; “Come Holy Spirit, Enlarge within us the seed of hope that you have sown in our hearts. May our prayers rise up in our yearning for more. May we see within the decay and corruption of creation groaning that there is beauty in waiting and looking for your glory to be found. It’s here within us. It’s all around us when we let hope come by seeing. We all share your spirit. May we become more a part of the same spirit together. To show this hope to the world around us by living in unity. While we eagerly wait, come and grow this desire for your glory in us. May we work together for the common good, the higher place to dwell with you. In our thoughts and intentions we confess we need your spirit there. In our deeds and motivations, we need your spirit there. In our eyes to see and our ears to hear, we need your spirit. Come Holy Spirit and have your way in us today and let your glory unfold! Amen Rom.8:18-25, 1Cor.12:7 Dee Brill October 25 Prayer
“We are children of God when we are led by the Spirit to cry out Abba, Father. “When I cried out to him, he answered my prayer.” Prayer begins with a cry and it is answered with presence. We first come and in our coming we become. A place, a chapel, a temple where God is. Right here, right there deep inside of you. And together we become a circle, a center, of caring individuals crying out to God together. Arm in arm we walk side by side through suffering, grief and death. Arm in arm we share in the glory of Christ which is life in His spirit. We then receive the Joy and strength as we seek His face. In you, Christ in me and together we are led by the spirit. We are beloved children. Let the spirit fall afresh on you now as rain from heaven. “Lord, we cry out to you together as you heirs. Help us to see each other as not separate from us but one with us. One with you, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We pray now for those that feel alone and afar from your presence. May their spirits cry out and may we each hear one another and call out the best of God’s gifts. Put to death the lies that separate us and let us hear only the voice of the spirit calling us into the circle of Your prayers for the world. Reign over us this day that we may see a glimpse of your glory in the face of another. All glory be given to you! Amen Rom.8:12-17, Ps.105:3-4 Dee Brill October 22 Prayer
Finally, Finally we have rain! The very thing we have been waiting for all year here on the central coast. It’s a gentle rain which is so much better for the first rain of the season rather than a hard rain. We look to the sky and the earth to tell us what is happening in the weather. We trust in what the interpreters tell us and then Jesus asks us this, “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right or what is wrong?” Where is God moving right now on the earth? Be discerning, become aware of your waiting, don't waste this time. Draw near to God and his truth will be revealed to you through his word. There is a bigger story than our very own. Yet it is the grace that is working in you that will be the grace that flows out from you. The grace to wait and watch for what He is doing in those around you. Let this grace soften and restore you. “Wait , my soul waits on the Lord and I hope in God's word. For with the Lord there is loving mercy and in God is plentiful redemption.” Today we pray for your redemption Lord, not only in our souls but for the whole earth. May we be a part of your work of grace and redemption. For that is why you have saved us from our false selves. Forgive us for not paying attention to your word, and for listening to what others say more than You. May we sow generously your grace to restore what is true and trust in the gospel as we wait and watch where you are moving. May we do justly today and love your mercy to show it as we walk humbly with you. Thank you for your gentle rain that you are sending. May it prepare the earth for your appearance through us we pray. Amen Dee Brill Lk. 12:54-59, Ecc.11:4-6, Ps.130:5-7, Micah 6:8 October 21 Prayer
Happy trees are firmly planted Where their roots can spread out and down finding a life source to nourish them. There is always the promise of growth and fruit to bear in the due season. There’s the invitation of waiting again. The grace to be rooted and grounded in the midst of distractions. So today let us take notice of where we are and what our focus is upon. Let us be still to feel the earth below us and the sky above us. Let us become aware that surely God is in this place. “Lovely Lord, You fill us with wonder and questions and stirrings when we take the time to look for You. Cause our roots to go deeper into the well of your presence right where we are. May we delight in knowing your word for this season of our lives. May we wonder what’s to come with holy expectation that we do not miss your presence in this place. Move among your people we pray . Raise up a generation of power, love and grace. Being filled with faith keeping ourselves in the love of God Waiting for your mercy, let us build each other up by being firmly planted, rooted and grounded today.” Amen Psalm 1:2-3, Jude 20-21 Dee Brill October 20 Prayer
Grace is the perfect word That revives the soul Steadfast, right and true, it clears the eyes gives wisdom to the simple, joy to the heart. It’s sweetness abides forever. The word, this perfect word will bring life from death. And this is the grace that is freely given to those who believe, receive and choose to follow. If you want this way to live then pray, Lord, I want to live under the influence of grace. Set me free to choose life and not death in my words to others today. Stir in me a response that desires all these things that your grace gives. I am no longer under the law of my old self but have the power to let your grace change me. I have pondered and considered my ways and choose yours to flow from an obedient heart. Praise be to the Word of God, Jesus. May we follow in the steps of the noble purpose you have prepared for us to walk in. All that is good and right, true and clear, wise and pure Sweet and joyful. Let us live under the influence of your Grace today. Amen. Dee Brill Ps.19:8-11, rom.6:12-18 October 19 Prayer
I waited upon the Lord and then He …. Psalm 40 lists all the ways God comes and meets us as we wait. It’s a lovely reminder that God will fulfill his promise to us and take action when we pray. Waiting is a feature of trust and trust must rely upon the character of the person we are waiting for. Take some time today and remember all of the ways God has met you. What did it feel like to be lifted up during the hard times and grounded when chaos stirred around you? Breathe in the peace that comes when we can trust in the waiting. Trust in God’s goodness and his word. Praying, Our soul is waiting for the Lord, Our God is our help and our shield. All of your works are to be trusted and your timing is just. Open our eyes as we wait to look for you attending to where we are. May we be ready for you to appear and ready to listen to your words. May we trust always in your compassionate word that will lead us into an attentive life. One that is real and true and ever faithful to you. Like the busy hummingbird moving about until it finds an active resting place to wait. May we sing a new song as we eagerly wait on You. Amen Dee Brill Ps. 40, Luke 12:35-38, Ps.33:3-5 October 18 Prayer
“ There is a clear path being made in your heart for the Lord.” There is a new dawn that awakens us It’s the call into the embrace of eternal love. Where all is grace. Grace to rise and grace when we fall. Grace to receive and grace to give away. There need not be any fear here where truth is held near as a dear friend that desires only the best for you. Pause here to pray; Today Lord, I want to be aware of the pathway in my heart to truth. The kind of truth that brings joy and freedom. I yield my control of this day to the ever emerging surprises and opportunities that you will bring to me. May I be the kind of friend to you as you are to me. As I look at the shimmer on the sea and hear the glee of a bird chirping in the dawn. Help me to make the way with you, All is well here when the path is clear. Praise to you oh morning star, sun and moon.”, sky and sea, Awakens the beauty of creation for all to see. Glory to the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. Fall afresh on me! Amen Dee Brill Isaiah 40:3, Mark 1,Psalm 145:10-11 |