Posted in Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Prayer for Today, tagged Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Prayer, Sunday, Today on May 19, 2013 | Leave a Comment »
O God, who at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending them the light of thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Savior, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
from The Methodist Book of Worship for Church and Home, 1965
Posted in Motherhood, Prayer for Today, tagged Mother, Mother's Day, Prayer, Today on May 12, 2013 | Leave a Comment »
“Blessed God of all grace, God of salvation,
God of comfort and the essence of a thousand other descriptions -
we cannot adequately nor fully describe you.
From hearts softened and awakened to the gospel,
liberated from the penalty of sin,
cleaned from the stain of sin,
indwelt by the Holy Guest,
prepared for an eternal dwelling in a city
whose builder and maker is God -
We praise you that mere man when born again can then love you and enjoy you forever.
This is all your doing,
your initiative,
your completion -
yours alone.
To God be the glory,
Great things he has done.
It was not my interest before, but now
help me to seek first your kingdom and your righteousness.
You know what I need even before I ask.
May I never think I prosper unless my soul prospers -
or that I am rich unless rich toward you,
or that I am wise unless wise unto salvation.
May I value all things in relation to eternity.
Many of us in this place today praise you for the blessed memory
of a Christian home.
Our prayers of thanksgiving join those of Timothy,
for the incredible blessing of learning the Holy Scriptures at a mother’s
and a grandmother’s knee.
We thank you, Father God, for our mothers who have loved us -
taught us -
prayed with us and for us -
and lived before us as women of faith.
May that heritage continue on in this generation.
Prepare our hearts to receive the seed of your Word.
Grant that it may take deep root and bring forth fruit to your glory.
Visit us with your salvation and instill faith in every heart. Amen.”
from Wendell C. Hawley’s book of prayer, A Pastor Prays for His People
Posted in Confirmation, Prayer for Today, tagged Confirmation, Prayer, Sunday, Today on April 28, 2013 | Leave a Comment »
Faithful and gracious Lord, Thou has granted us the joy of beholding our son confess his faith in Thee, the only true God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. We beseech Thee to keep him faithful to Thee all the days of his life.
O Lord, we, too, dedicate our lives again to Thee and ask Thee to give us strength and grace to live closer to Thee, who has so graciously been with us throughout these many years. We confess that we have not always served Thee as we ought; forgive us and grant that we may walk daily in Thy presence as an example of Christian devotion and consecrated living to our son. Preserve and keep us in Thy grace, and make our home Thy dwelling place, where Thy Word governs our every thought, word, and deed.
O Lord, let this be a day of rejoicing to all who confess Thee. We ask this is Jesus’ name. Amen.
Taken from The Lutheran Book of Prayer, 1951
Posted in Prayer for Today, tagged Fire on April 24, 2013 | Leave a Comment »
Year of Grace 1654
From about half past ten at night to about half an hour after midnight,
FIRE
“God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6), not of philosophers and scholars.
Certitude, heartfelt joy, peace.
God of Jesus Christ.
God of Jesus Christ.
“My God and Your God” (John 20:17).
“Your God shall be my God” (Ruth 1:16).
The world forgotten, everything except God.
He can only be found by the ways that have been taught in the Gospels.
Greatness of the human soul.
“O righteous Father, the world has not known You, but I have known You” (John 17:25).
Joy, Joy, Joy, tears of joy.
I have separated myself from him.
“They have forsaken me, the spring of living water” (Jeremiah 2:13)
“My God, will you leave me?” (cf. Matthew 2746).
Let me not be cut off from him forever!
“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).
Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ.
I am separated from him; for I have shunned him, denied him, crucified him.
May I never be separated from him.
He can only be kept by the ways taught in the gospel.
Complete and sweet renunciation.
Total submission to Jesus Christ and to my director.
Everlasting joy in return for one day’s striving upon earth.
“I will not neglect your word” (Psalm 119:16) Amen.
by Blaise Pascal – Discovered on a piece of parchment on which Pascal recorded the decisive experience of 1654 when he was converted. This testimony was found sewn into his clothing after his death. It appears that he carried it with him at all times. (Os Guinness)
Posted in Lent, Palm Sunday, Prayer for Today, tagged Lent, Palm Sunday, Prayer, Today on March 24, 2013 | Leave a Comment »
Almighty God,
on this day your Son Jesus Christ entered the holy city of Jerusalem
and was proclaimed King
by those who spread their garments and palm branches along his way.
Let those branches be for us signs of his victory,
and grant that we who bear them in his name
may ever hail him as our Lord,
and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life.
In his name we pray. Amen.
Taken from The United Methodist Book of Worship
Posted in Lent, Prayer for Today, tagged Fifth, Lent, Prayer, Sunday, Today on March 17, 2013 | Leave a Comment »
O Lord, our heavenly Father, we offer and present unto thee ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice unto thee. Take us as we are and make us more fit for thy service. Use us for thyself and for the edification of thy Church. We are not our own, but thine, bought with a price; therefore claim us as thy right, keep us as thy charge, and use us as thou wilt, to the glory of thy holy name and the good of our fellow men; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
From The Methodist Book of Worship, 1965 – p. 108
Posted in Lent, Prayer for Today, tagged Fourth, Lent, Prayer, Sunday on March 10, 2013 | Leave a Comment »
O Father of mercies, whose beloved Son was crucified for us, the just for the unjust, to bring us to thee: Give grace, we beseech thee, to every member of this family to look in faith upon that cross, and to crucify himself upon it to every impure desire and unchristian temper.
May we learn in humble devotion to our Master’s service to deny ourselves daily, for his sake, and for one another’s sake, that we may follow him. Remove from us every corrupt and unfaithful affection.
May we never be afraid to do right and never dare to do wrong. And so, out of the good treasure of the heart may we ever be bringing forth good things to the praise and glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
From The Methodist Book of Worship, 1965 – p. 108
