A Prayer for Growing Older

Lord,

Thou knowest better than I myself that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.

Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all; but Thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains; they are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.

I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cock-sureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others.

Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken. Keep me reasonably sweet, for a sour old person is one of the crowing works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people; and give, O Lord, the grace to tell them so. Amen.

This prayer is attributed to Theresa of Avila. Either the language has been very, very updated, or some contemporary person wrote it and attributed it to Theresa. Whichever it may be, it’s a great prayer that rings all too true.

Prayer for Third Sunday After Epiphany

Almighty and everlasting God, the radiance of faithful souls, who didst bring the nations to thy light and kings to the brightness of thy rising: Fill, we beseech thee, the world with thy glory, and show thyself unto all the nations; through him who is the true light and the bright and morning star, even Jesus Christ they Son our Lord. Amen.

from The Book of Worship for Church and Home of The Methodist Church, 1965

Scripture for this Lord’s Day (Psalm 62:5-12)

Psalm 62:5-12

 ⁵ Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
   my hope comes from him.
⁶ He alone is my rock and my salvation;
   he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
⁷ My salvation and my honor depend on God;
   he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
⁸ Trust in him at all times, O people;
   pour out your hearts to him,
   for God is our refuge.
                         Selah

 ⁹ Lowborn men are but a breath,
   the highborn are but a lie;
if weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
   together they are only a breath.
¹⁰ Do not trust in extortion
   or take pride in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
   do not set your heart on them.

 ¹¹ One thing God has spoken,
   two things have I heard:
that you, O God, are strong,
 ¹² and that you, O Lord, are loving.
Surely you will reward each person
   according to what he has done.

Choir of New College, Oxford – Missa brevis

Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 4 (God’s Justice)

God’s Justice

9. Question: Is God, then, not unjust by requiring in His law what man cannot do?

Answer: No, for God so created man that he was able to do it.[1] But man, at the instigation of the devil,[2] in deliberate disobedience[3] robbed himself and all his descendants of these gifts.[4]

[1] Gen. 1:31. [2] Gen. 3:13; John 8:44; I Tim. 2:13, 14. [3] Gen. 3:6. [4] Rom. 5:12, 18, 19.

10. Question: Will God allow such disobedience and apostasy to go unpunished?

Answer: Certainly not. He is terribly displeased with our original sin as well as our actual sins. Therefore He will punish them by a just judgment both now and eternally,[1] as He has declared:[2] Cursed be every one who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them (Galatians 3:10).

[1] Ex. 34:7; Ps. 5:4-6; 7:10; Nah. 1:2; Rom. 1:18; 5:12; Eph. 5:6; Heb. 9:27. [2] Deut. 27:26.

11. Question: But is God not also merciful?

Answer: God is indeed merciful,[1] but He is also just.[2] His justice requires that sin committed against the most high majesty of God also be punished with the most severe, that is, with everlasting, punishment of body and soul.[3]

[1] Ex. 20:6; 34:6, 7; Ps. 103:8, 9. [2] Ex. 20:5; 34:7; Deut. 7:9-11; Ps. 5:4-6; Heb. 10:30, 31. [3] Matt. 25:45,46.

Do You Read Much?

I’m a bit of a late bloomer. I’m convinced that it was God’s grace moving in and through my call to ordained ministry that empowered and encouraged me to become someone who enjoys reading. Prior to that… all the way through college (to my parent’s horror) I seldom picked up a book (my grades reflected this fact).

Yet, even in college, when I was interested in something, such as politics, I would actually pick up a book and read it. It was after I graduated from college that I found myself reading books, mostly on theology. It was partly through reading that God ignited my heart and mind for him and for ministry. I’ve been a fairly active and consistent reader ever since.

However, to my frustration, there are just too many good books worth reading and not nearly enough time. Therefore, the discernment process is key… which  books to read and when. This process is a work in progress for me.

One thing has been very helpful is reading book summaries and reviews. I once heard Os Guinness say that we can’t possibly read everything we want to, so why not benefit from others who have read and summarized (and even evaluated) some of the same books that you have been meaning to read, but just haven’t gotten around to yet. If the summary of the book really excites you, you can always buy the book for yourself.

There’s a very helpful post today at Church Relevance on this point. I recommend that you read it as well.

Here are a few Book Summary providers that I’ve come across. Two of them I have already subscribed to. A couple of others I’m considering. If you have other recommendations, I’d love to hear from you.

• Christian Book Summaries - This is a free service. They have a great collection of Christian books on a wide variety of topics.
• Success Book Summaries - I have also subscribed to this. It comes in both audio and print. They cover books on leadership, personal development, business, etc.
• Leaders Book Summaries - This is one that I’m about ready to pull the trigger on. It looks great. The Church Relevance blog specifically mentioned this one in today’s post.
• Business Book Summaries Reviews is a website that reviews other “book summary” websites. They have a great list of other good services with their respective strengths and weaknesses.

Again, let me hear from you if you have some other good suggestions. I’m always looking for ways to read more (as well as to remember what I read).

Happy Reading,
Dale

Prayer for Today (Epiphany)

A Prayer from St. Augustine

O God, the light of the hearts that see you, the life of the souls that love you, the strength of the minds that seek you; from whom to turn is to fall, to whom to turn is to rise and in whom to abide is to stand fast forever: grant us your blessing as we offer up our confessions and supplications, and though we are unworthy to approach you or to ask anything of you at all, hear and forgive us, for the sake of our great High Priest and only Mediator, Jesus Christ your Son. Amen.

from Ancient Christian Devotional

Beautiful Prayer by William Barclay

From Prayers for the Christian Year by William Barclay

O God, our Father, we know that the issues of life and death are in your hands, and we know that you are loving us with an everlasting love. If it is your will, grant to us to live in happiness and in peace.

     In all our undertakings,
          Grant us prosperity and good success.
     In all our friendships,
          Grant us to find our friends faithful and true.
     In all bodily things,
          Make us fit and healthy,
               Able for the work of the day.
     In all things of the mind,
          Make us calm and serene,
               Free from anxiety and worry.
     In material things,
          Save us from poverty and from want.
     In spiritual things,
          Save us from doubt and from distrust.
     Grant us
          In our work, satisfaction;
          In our study, true wisdom;
          In our pleasure, gladness;
          In our love, loyalty.

And if misfortune does come to us, grant that any trial may only bring us closer to one another and closer to you; and grant that nothing may shake our certainty that you work all things together for good, and that a Father’s hand will never cause his child a needless tear. Hear this our prayer; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Second Sunday After Epiphany

O Thou who art the true sun of the world, ever rising, and never going down, who by thy most wholesome appearing and light dost nourish and make joyful all things in heaven and in earth: We beseech thee mercifully to shine into our hearts, that the night and darkness of sin and the mists of error on every side may be driven away, and that all our life long we may walk without stumbling as children of the light and the day. Amen.

from The Book of Worship for Church and Home of The Methodist Church, 1965

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Scripture for this Lord’s Day (Psalm 139:1-14)

Psalm 139:1-14

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

 ¹ You have searched me, LORD,
   and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
   you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
   you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
   you, LORD, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
   and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
   too lofty for me to attain.

 ⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
   Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
   if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
   your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
   and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
   the night will shine like the day,
   for darkness is as light to you.

 ¹³ For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.

Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 3 (The Cause of Our Misery)

The Cause of Our Misery

6. Question: Did God, then, create man so wicked and perverse?

Answer: No, on the contrary, God created man good[1] and in His image,[2] that is, in true righteousness and holiness,[3] so that he might rightly know God His Creator,[4] heartily love Him, and live with Him in eternal blessedness to praise and glorify Him.[5]

[1] Gen. 1:31. [2] Gen. 1:26, 27. [3] Eph. 4:24. [4] Col. 3:10. [5] Ps. 8.

7. Question: From where, then, did man’s depraved nature come?

Answer: From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise,[1] for there our nature became so corrupt[2] that we are all conceived and born in sin.[3]

[1] Gen. 3. [2] Rom. 5:12, 18, 19. [3] Ps. 51:5.

8. Question: But are we so corrupt that we are totally unable to do any good and inclined to all evil?

Answer: Yes,[1] unless we are regenerated by the Spirit of God.[2]
[1] Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Job 14:4; Is. 53:6. [2] John 3:3-5.