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Posts Tagged ‘Prayer’

As I spend time in Scripture reading and prayerful meditation this morning, I am moved to pray for Haiti this passage from the writings of the Prophet Isaiah (chapter 62). God has promised healing and blessing to the nations from Abraham through Messiah Jesus. May it be so for our brothers and sisters in Haiti as the world watches. Spirit of the Most High God, help us to be revealing Light to the world for the glory of Your Name and Kingdom. Amen.

¹ Because I love Zion (Haiti),
I will not keep still.
Because my heart yearns for Jerusalem (Haiti),
I cannot remain silent.
I will not stop praying for her
until her righteousness shines like the dawn,
and her salvation blazes like a burning torch.
² The nations will see your righteousness.
World leaders will be blinded by your glory.
And you will be given a new name
by the Lord’s own mouth.
³ The Lord will hold you in his hand for all to see—
a splendid crown in the hand of God.
⁴ Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City”
or “The Desolate Land.”
Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight”
and “The Bride of God,”
for the Lord delights in you
and will claim you as his bride.
⁵ Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem (Haiti),
just as a young man commits himself to his bride.
Then God will rejoice over you
as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.

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Proper 26

Merciful God, good Lord, I wish that you would unite me to that fountain, that there I may drink of the living spring of the water of life with those others who thirst after you. There in that heavenly region may I ever dwell, delighted with abundant sweetness, and say, “How sweet is the fountain of living water which never fails, the water welling up eternal life.” O God, you are yourself that fountain ever and again to be desired ever and ever and again to be consumed. Lord Christ, always give us this water to be for us the “source of the living water which wells up to eternal Life.” Columbanus

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Morning Prayer:

You, O Lord, who command us to ask, grant that we may receive. You have put us on seeking; let us be happy in finding. You have bidden us to knock; we pray You open to us. Be graciously pleased to direct and govern all our thoughts and actions, that for the future we may serve You and entirely devote ourselves to obeying You. Accept us, we ask You, and draw us to Yourself, that we may henceforth be Yours by obedience and love, who are already all Your own as Your creatures, even Yours, O Lord, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. [Amen] Augustine

“As much as God loves the flower of trees, He isn’t interested in flashy bouquets or fancy floral displays. What He values is the inner beauty of the heart. Yes He understands our need for attention. Yes, He dances His attention on us. But what He really wants us to do is to grow, to be substantial, to give life.” Joshua Choonmin Kang

Psalm 37 (excerpted)

Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the LORD. Trust Him, and He will help you. Be still in the presence of the LORD and wait patiently for Him to act. .. The LORD takes care of the godly. Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever. The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand. The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong. They have made God’s law their own, so they will never slip from His path. The LORD rescues the godly; He is their fortress in times of trouble. He saves them, and they find shelter in Him. [Amen]

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O my Strength, to you I sing praises,  for you, O God, are my refuge,  the God who shows me unfailing love. By Your hand may the power of God preserve us. May the wisdom of God instruct us and the way of God direct us. May the hand of God protect us and the host of God guard us against the snares of evil and the temptations of the world.

Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey Him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

Let us not cling to fleeting things, which slip away and depart, but to those which are enduring and immovable. May we all attain them through the grace and loving-kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom and with whom be glory to the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always, for ever and ever. For the Word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything He does. [Amen] Prayer compilation: John Chrysostom, St. Patrick, Psalm 32, 33, 59

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“The greater the price of your redemption, the more respectful to God you ought to be, and not risk offending your Redeemer by falling back into your previous life of wickedness.” Bede

“Holy Father, we come before you with humble hearts, confessing our sins. We have chased after the vanities of the world and have wandered from our heart’s true home; and, forgetful of you, the living God, we have burned the incense of the soul before false gods that cannot deliver. Deal not with us as we deserve, but pardon our foolish and perverse ways. Of your clemency wash us clean from all sin, for no adversity shall harm us if no wickedness has dominion over us; through Jesus Christ our Lord…so we ask you, Lord and Master, to be our help and succor. Save those who are in tribulation; have mercy on the lonely; lift up the fallen; show yourself to the needy; heal the ungodly; convert the wanderers of your people; feed the hungry; raise up the weak; comfort the faint-hearted. Let all the peoples know that you are God alone, and Jesus Christ is your Son, and we are your people and the sheep of your pasture; for the sake of Christ Jesus. Amen”

A prayer taken from The Leonin Sacramentary and Clement of Rome

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I’ve flip-flopped several times about whether to post the latest experiment of my faith journey. I finally decided that I would post a portion of my journal since I have made it a practice of sharing how God continues to shape me as I endeavor to follow Jesus and be transformed into His likeness. This may become an ongoing post revisiting my experiences as I try to understand some of the practices and disciplines of my (our) faith. As you will read in the accompanying excerpt, there are a number of spiritual development practices that I struggle with…most specifically for this particular season of my life, the disciplines I feel God pressing me to examine, understand, and appropriate are: (in no particular order) Sabbath, Fasting, and Prayer (praying without ceasing). I sincerely hope that my confession and journal excerpt is not taken out of context or misunderstood; if there are questions or comments that would be better served with additional explanation and/or conversation, please feel free to comment or send me an email. My journal notes follow: Read the rest of this entry »

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I just gotta say it…

I stand in awesome amazement at the glorious and wonderous amazing grace of my God. I survey the landscape of my life and my eyes begin to well with tears at the mystery that is a God so vast and omnipotent yet close and intimate. It is the dichotomy of the ages a paradox that reconciles itself in the person of Jesus Christ. Words escape me and actions are far too inadequate to express my gratitude for a grace that exceeds my worth…it is, incomprehensible to me yet I am able to experience this wonderful gift and His life-giving Presence in every moment and with every breath of my existence. I am in awe. I am speechless. My heart cries out in a language of love beyond my ability to convey, “Thank You, O God! Praise You, My King! I Lay My Life Down For You and For the Sake of Your Kingdom. Use Me as You See Fit; For Your Glory! I Will Be Your Instrument now and forever to serve You and worship You for now and eternity. Amen”

Thank You, Jesus. Thank You Jesus. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

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