 December 30 Prayer
‘Fill us with wonder’ Lk.2:26-40,Ps.19,119 Anna waited and worshiped her whole life as a young widow in God's house. I wonder if she lives inside or next to the church and what her duties were. What were her prayer habits and conversations with God like? As she grew old did she ever grow weary in waiting ? Then the Promised one arrives at her door to be presented to the Lord. How her heart must have overflowed with joy and wonder to actually see what she had been waiting for all of those 77 years. So much joy that she told everyone she met about Jesus. As we sit at the threshold of a new year allow the spirit of God to fill you with wonder. Present your whole self to Him now with everything you are wondering about and worrying about. Breathe deeply and slowly to receive his presence of peace, healing and joy for the future. God’s path ahead is an open space for you to freely walk on. Lay aside the past and throw off anything that would hinder you from moving forward. His way is right, steadfast, pure, clear and true; His way revives the soul, Gives wisdom to the simple, Gladdens the heart, Gives light to the eyes, Abides with us forever - So let us have a simple heart like Anna to seek the way of the Lord and see the promised One before us now as we prepare for a new year. Present your hopes before The Faithful One, And let your heart begin to fill with the joy of wonder once again. “I shall walk freely upon your spacious path for me for I will seek your ways and will not be ashamed.” I receive every good and perfect gift to walk with You, O Lord. Amen  December 29 Prayer
Holding a long awaited promise…. Lk.2:22-35 Simeon was old now and had waited his whole life to finally get to see the foretold promise before his own faded eyes. And all the while he had kept this blessing inside him ready to declare over the promised one. I wonder, as I look into my own heart, for the long awaited for promises to be fulfilled through me. Simeon had been waiting, praying and hoping for the promise of salvation and consolation for his people. How am I praying and hoping for consolation for my own family and land? Can I place my desires for what is best for them ahead of what I think is best for me? Take some time to reflect upon this past year and where God has been calling you to lay down your own agenda and opinions for the sake of others. Be aware of the feelings inside of you, your thoughts, memories, desolations and distresses. Offer them now to the promised One who offers to you his consolation and salvation. Breathe deeply in a new hope and promise to hold within you. We pray with this hope from Psalm 119;57-60,73,76-77 ‘You are my satisfaction, Lord, and all that I need, so I am determined to do everything you say. With all my heart I seek your favor, pour out your grace on me as you promised! When I realize that I’m gone astray, I turn back to obey your instructions. I give my all to follow your revelation light; I will not delay to obey. Your very hands have held me and made me who I am; give me more revelation-light so I may learn to please you more. Now, let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me and surround me with your tender mercies so I may live..” Amen May these next days be ones filled with more revelation and light to guide you into the new year.  December 28 Prayer
‘Follow another way back home’ Matt. 2:12 Walk in the light, for the light makes everything visible, and Christ will shine His light on you. Eph.5:8-10 For You O’ Lord are the fountain of LIfe, the light by which see.’ Ps.36:9 The wise men that followed the star to the Christ child were warned in a dream to find another way back home. As we look to a new year ahead and reflect on this past year let us ask God for his light to shine upon us and reveal His way before us. Holding all of the past struggles and challenges, losses, dreads and dreams, fears and fragilities, we offer them up to a God who knows and holds them for us now. We ask God to help us follow another way an unfamiliar way that with every step we will find a little more wonder and see a little more to ponder, with every step to discern what this way will unfold in the silence and the unease, when everything is out of balance, May we listen carefully and closely to the voice calling us home by another way. May we receive the promise, the guiding star, to hold God and let him hold us. Lead us the only way to find our true home and be the light so that we might see the perfect way ~ We receive your joy with thankfulness in our hearts, all that you have prepared for those who love and follow you. Amen  December 26 Prayer
The Holy Family - A promise fulfilled Christmas is over, the gifts unwrapped, the mess is still left to clean up and yet Christmas has just begun. We look to the holy family this day to recognize God's promise being fulfilled on earth. Lk.2:22-40 This year has been a trying year for all of the world and continues to be. Not the unlike the world Jesus was born into. We were made to return to and stay in our homes with our families and close companions. Some of us have been alone and felt that loneliness more than ever. But it is here that Jesus comes. Here where you find yourself today that He comes to dwell with you. May we find the courage and strength to grow within our souls as we let Jesus come to us. May we continue to unwrap the gift of salvation and life freely given to us. May we be the ones like John to prepare the way for those living in darkness to see the rising sun come from heaven and shine upon them and give them the knowledge of salvation. Ps. 8 There is no other way but the way to trust in the promise foretold l. As Joseph had to trust God and trust Mary to be true to their words and Mary had to trust in the Holy Spirit to birth the Christ Child within her. And even Jesus had to trust in his earthly family to provide for him a home that would teach him wisdom and give him strength. Pause to Pray; We pray with thanks for the promises you gave to us to be fulfilled throughout our lives. Help us to find the courage to trust and believe in what you have spoken. May we believe in the impossible things that you have declared over us and may we participate in their fulfillment. We offer up to you this past year with all of its struggles and challenges and reflect on how you have met our every need. Give us eyes to see you on the road ahead and lead us on the path of peace. May we find our hope within You and be the family of God within the body of Chrst. Amen  From our home to yours, a Christmas Eve blessing.
#Waiting in the Dark What is it like waiting in the dark? inside behind closed doors, Under a cloud covered night sky, Waiting for the splitting open of the dark Waiting for a light to break forth. What is it like to wait in the dark? Crawling through a damp, cold slippery cave Listening for a crack Searching for just a pinhole of white to appear. What is it like waiting in the dark? Walking along a path grouping a small instrument that beams a way forward One step at a time, the landscape obscured ahead and behind It’s hard to see the whole picture now. But wait and search for what will appear before you as you wait. Never lose the wonder of waiting in the dark For as you wait a yearning for light will grow from within the cave of your heart. In the dark abyss grows a space to let this blessing come. It comes then in waiting, anticipating, in the fear of unknowing, in the making of a space in the darkness to enfold you, and overshadowing you, without pushing it away. This blessing It will come suddenly as the strong offshore wind blows against the coastal waves. It comes gently in the ‘bleak midwinter frosty wind made moan, snow on snow.’ It comes as a ‘silent night, a holy night, when all is calm,’ And the night grows old. This blessing comes and calls to you as an annunciation A greeting to awaken the dawn The flame is inside you ready to ignite a fire so bright To be birthed this night. A calling for all to come and bow, on earthly stone, where blood and straw and wood lay A savior, a Lord, a humble king, a God-man Birthed in darkness Shrouded in humanity as one of us Light comes and calls forth this blessing Let us hold this moment of darkness on this eve, and let it linger and grow in every breath without grasping the air - Let heavenly lightness fill your lungs and grow the space inside you To bring this blessing of God beholding you Beholding Him On this dark eve This holy, Christmas night. DB Amen  December 23 Prayer
As children when we come closer to Christmas our waiting starts to wane. The day draws near and preparations are the focus. As we wait... What are you waiting for? What have you been waiting for to happen? Have you even given anytime to notice? Where are your hopes placed as the day draws nearer for His arrival? The prophet Malachi foretells of the Lords coming as a refiner's fire and as soap to purify his people. Isaiah tells us that a child shall be born for us, a son will be given to us; and the government will be on His shoulders.” Is.9:6 He comes in a time when there are battles to be won, oppression and injustice to be exposed. Much like the times we are living in today. He comes with His kingdom of peace to establish justice, and sustain it with righteousness and peace forever. Where does your hope rest this Christmas time? Is it in resolving the problems we face? All of our challenges and the world He takes upon His shoulders. Rest a moment in this knowledge. and offer your hopes to him now to pray; ‘Gracious and strong God, we await your coming this Christmas. and as we wait we hope. As we hope we surrender to your grace to work in us. To purify our motives and cleanse our vision, to burn away all that is of the world that is not lasting. May our hearts rise up as a pleasing offering to you. And may we receive your gift to us as a child being born anew. Begin to birth within us a new hope for the future. We ask for your holy wisdom to lead us as we pray for others and share this new hope for the year ahead.’ We turn our faces towards yours this day believing that, ‘yes, you are coming soon.’ Emmanuel, Come , Lord Jesus!  December 21 Prayer
“Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one and come away.” Song of Songs 2:8-14 Advent is the time we wait for God to come to us. Incarnation, God with us to be birthed on the earth. Yet all the while He is searching for us, waiting for us, calling to us to come away with him. He calls out, ‘let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.’ How often do you let God hear your voice and think it is sweet to his ears? So much of the time we think our vexing cries are heard as grumbling and complaining for what we do not have or we do not see. Yet, He hears sweetness because God hears love, for he is love. God is the beloved and so we are to him. Listen now to his voice calling you to come. See his eyes gazing upon you with love and desire to have you be with him. Let your hearts sync with the trinity love, mutualities of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. ‘ O, beautiful Lord, we stop now to hear your voice and to see your eyes of love looking at us. May we seek your face ever more this Christmas time. To be present to you appearing in our midst. In the little ones we are gathering with, in our prayers and times of frustrations that things are not the way we may want them to be. May we trust in the words of promise you speak to us. ‘Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away; for the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come!’ Give us a new song to sing today. One of hope, one of faith, one that brings glory to your name. May we see ourselves and each other as your beloved and beautiful presence here on earth. We sing Emmanuel, God with us! May we be with you as you are with us. Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.  December 19 Prayer
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour for He has looked with favor on his lowly servant.” “Not a single word has gone unfulfilled of the entire gracious promise He made through His servant Moses.” Let Us prepare a room for the day of nativity and welcome within us the Eternal God who became like us. The One who has no beginning and knows no end came to birth something new, that would have its beginning is us. The long awaited promise of a Saviour to bring the kingdom of peace to the world. What promise have you been looking and waiting for to come? How have you expected it to come? Ponder this as you pray, We open our hands from grasping that which is beyond our reach and surrender to the power of the eternal Christ. O Wisdom, God and Saviour May we look to you to come and birth your promise of peace through us. Help us to let go of our earthly expectations and all that we cling unto that keeps us from receiving your promise. Give us clear and open hearts and minds to look for your promise today. May we sing songs of faith and declaration with Mary and Elizabeth in harmony and without discord. “He who is to come will come and not delay, and now there will be no fear within our land, for he is your Saviour.” Heb.10, 1 Kings 8:56-58, Lk. 1 Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel Come, Lord Jesus Amen  December 18 Prayer
“The days are coming when the Lord will raise up a righteous branch for Judah, a king who will rule wisely and with justice. His name is ‘The lord of justice and a righteous king.’ No longer will the people be exiled but they will be brought back to live in their own land.’ Jer.23:5-8 A king is coming, we hear foretold. Not a ruler that will banish us but a ruler that will bring us home. Every breath inhaled and exhaled, The beating of your heart, The movements of the thoughts in your mind Is all a flow of God creating you. What are you created for and for whom? Let your soul come home to the space that is your very own land. The one that was prepared for you to live and move and have your being in. It is a land that is ruled by a righteous king. A merciful force of love. Seeking out what is good in you to create a space for his grace to grow. And as it grows you become like him. Someone who sees with eyes of justice and works for what is right and true and beautiful to create in the world. Surrender now all of your wandering thoughts of failings and the sin of missing the mark of love. Surrender to your king and ruler who has called you home. Raise your heart and hands to pray, ‘O merciful king and Lord of all. Forgive us for missing the mark. We so desperately need your grace to live your righteous and just way on earth. Lead us to our very own land marked out for us. We turn everything back over to you and trust in your kingdom being created. ~ ‘Lord through all generations You have been our home! Before the mountains were born, Before you gave birth to the earth and the world, From beginning to the end, You are God. Satisfy us each morning With your unfailing love, So we may sing for joy To the end of our lives. Let the favor of the Lord be upon us; Establish for us the work of our hands-‘. Ps.90:1,14,17 May we join with the angels this Christmas to sing; ‘Glory to the newborn king.’ Emmanuel, God with us. Be birthed anew today! Come, Lord Jesus. Amen  December 17 Prayer
O wisdom Lord and Ruler Root of Jesse Key of David Bright morning star King of the nations Emmanuel Come,Lord Jesus Now is a pause midway through Advent to look back and recall our heritage, the humanity from which Christ came. 42 generations of wanderers, slaves, refugees, family secrets and scandals, all of whom were Christ‘s forebears. Matt.1:1-17 Nothing is hidden from God and there is no shame in Him. There is where His glory shines! Wisdom is the name of Jesus. Who came from heaven to dwell in us. ‘From the vault in the highest heaven and the depths of the abyss Wisdom came as a mist searching over the waves of the sea, over every people and nation to find a resting place. Sirach 24 Can we be that resting place, our own hearts and minds for wisdom to come, to live and grow strong in? ‘Jesus, we offer you our past, that we may learn from those who have gone before us. You have named us and called us your own. May wisdom enlighten and illumine every broken thing in our lives and enliven truth that heals and remakes a place for light to shine forth. ‘O lord, I give my life to you and trust in you. ‘Let none who hope in You be put to shame. Make me know your ways, show me the right path to follow. Lead me in your truth and teach me. You are the God who saves me. All day long I will put my hope in You. Psalm 25:1-7 ...With Mary we may proclaim the greatness of the Lord! For He has looked upon us with favor and has called us blessed! He will do great things in us! Lk.1:46-55 O Wisdom, Lord and Ruler, Jesus come and make your home in us today. May our hearts joined together become a cathedral for your glory light to shine forth this Christmas. Emmanuel Come, Lord Jesus! Amen |