Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 7/11

 

So many things keep me from prayer, Lord, 

so many things, large and small,
    pull me in a dozen different directions
and slowly, surely, my time for prayer
    slips to the bottom of my list of things to do
and then I'm too tired or I forget,
    or I'm too worried or afraid,
        too distracted, out of sorts,
    to find a quiet place, a quiet time
        to find the peace I long for...

I have the time - or I can make the time...

I have a place - or I can find a place...

And as you know well, Lord:

I really need the peace...

 

Who doesn't need your peace, Lord?

Who doesn't hunger for your peace? 

Who doesn't want a break, a breather, 
some respite from the worries and the fear
that every day can bring?

 

So many things keep me from prayer, Lord,
    and what keeps me from prayer 

        keeps me from you
    and what keeps me from you, 

        keeps me from hope
    and what keeps me from hope, 

        keeps me from  peace...

 

Help me to turn to you in prayer today, Lord:
    help me make the time to be with you,
    help me find a restful quiet place 

        to stop, to sit, to breathe,
    to close my eyes and find you
        at my side and in my heart...

Slow me down, I pray, Lord,
    and in your quiet presence,
        with your grace and in your peace,
    draw me close to you in prayer 
        before the end of day...

Amen. 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 7/10

Lord...

 

to whom, to what did I pay attention today?

 

to whom, to what did I give my time today? 

 

to whom, to what did I lend an ear today?

 

to whom, to what did I offer my help today?

 

to whom, to what did I give encouragement today? 

 

to whom, to what did I show my concern today? 

 

to whom, to what did I offer my praise today?

 

to whom, to what did I entrust myself today? 

 

to whom, to what did I give from my bounty today? 

 

to whom, to what did I offer acceptance today? 

 

to whom, to what did I bring my faith today? 

 

to whom, to what did I lend my spirit today? 

 

to whom, to what did I show my patience today? 

 

to whom, to what did I give a second chance today? 

 

to whom, to what did I give my energy today?  

     

to whom, to what did I offer my talents today?

 

to whom, to what did I bring the gospel today? 

 

to whom, to what did I give of myself today?

 

to whom, to what did I extend a welcome today? 

 

to whom, to what did I give my support today? 

 

to whom, to what did I offer some kindness today? 

 

to whom, to what did I bring the truth today?

 

to whom, to what did I bring joy today? 

 

to whom, to what did I give my heart today? 

 

Help me, Lord, 

    to give myself to you,

        to my family and friends

            and even to strangers,

    freely and generously

        gently and kindly,

            without hesitation, 

    all the days 

        all the nights of my life... 

 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

    and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep rest in your peace...

Amen. 

 

William Himes, a composer long associated with the Salvation Army, wrote this piece coping with the terminal cancer diagnosis of his first wife when their two children were still quite young.  

 

All That I Am by William Himes 

  

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All that I am, all I can be,
All that I have, all that is me,
Accept and use, Lord, as You would choose, Lord,
Right now, today.

Take every passion, every skill,
Take all my dreams and bend them to Your will;
My all I give, Lord; for You I’ll live, Lord,
Come what may.

1) Often I come with my problems and cares,
Running to You when distressed,
But I must bring You the whole of my life –
Lord, I must give You my best.

2) Life has no purpose unless it is Yours;
Life without You has no goal;
All that fulfills me is doing Your will,
Knowing that You’re in control.

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Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 7/10

When I'm here in Colorado, I join a prayer group on Thursday nights at the Clear Creek County Jail. I never fail to be moved by the faith of the men in this group and their freedom and willingness to share what's in their hearts. Last night we prayed about -and for- the grace of perseverance - and this was one of the scriptures we turned to:

Be joyful in hope,

 patient in affliction,

 faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12

This is a beautiful jewel of a verse: it's very much to the point and gets to the heart of things in just 10 words.

One of the things we spoke about last night was how the 6 components of this verse are interchangeable - and how mixing and matching them can refract the light of this gem in beautiful and gracious ways.  

The components:  

joyful   -  hope

       patient   -  affliction 

 faithful   -  prayer

 

Can become... 

Be joyful in affliction,

patient in prayer

and faithful in hope…

 

Be joyful in prayer,

patient in hope

and faithful in affliction…

 

Be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction, 

and faithful in prayer… 

 

Or...

Be joyful in hope,
be joyful in affliction
and joyful in prayer…

 

Be patient in hope

patient in affliction

and patient in prayer…

 

Be faithful in hope,

faithful in affliction

and faithful in prayer..

  

 Which arrangement of this verse from Romans do you find most helpful for your prayer? 

 

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Here's where I am - and where I'm taking a day off - see you tomorrow!

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NIGHT PRAYER: WEDNESDAY 7/8

Sometimes, while searching my archives, I come across a prayer that I can't remember writing! Tonight's post is an example of this.  As usual, though, I've done more work on it and it's now considerably longer than it was some years ago...

 

Lord,

    at just about every moment 

        of every day and every night...

             - I get to choose...

I get to choose

    between good and evil... 

 

I get to choose

    between right and wrong...

 

I get to choose

    between your word and my mine...

 

I get to choose

    between lies and the truth...

 

I get to choose 

    between prejudice and impartiality... 

 

I get to choose

    between willfulness and docility...

 

I get to choose

    between speaking up and keeping silent...

 

I get to choose

    between justice and unfairness...

 

I get to choose

    between sitting in sadness

        and rising to joy...

 

I get to choose

   between my neighbor's needs and my own...

 

I get to choose

    between my will, Lord, and yours...

 

I get to choose

    between integrity and deceit... 

 

I get to choose

    between pride and humility...

 

I get to choose

    between persevering and giving in... 

 

I get to choose

    between keep my mind open

        or closing it shut...

 

I get to choose

    between playing fair and cheating...

 

I get to choose

    between getting up 

        and going back to sleep... 

 

I get to choose 

    between forgiveness and retribution... 

 

I get to choose

   between foolishness and prudence...

I get to choose

    between moving ahead,

        falling behind

            and standing idle... 

 

I get to choose

    between sacrifice and self-interest...

  

I get to choose

    between reaching out and pulling back...

 

I get to choose

    to be part of the problem 

        or part of the solution...

 

I get to choose 

    between letting go and holding on... 

 

I get to choose

    between time for prayer and reflection

        or more time on a screen... 

 

I get to choose

    between paying attention and zoning out...

 

I get to choose

    between love and hate...

 

I get to choose 

    between the high road,

        the low road, 

            and the short cut...  

 

I get to choose

    between mercy and revenge...

 

I get to choose

    between isolating

        or seeking the company of others... 

 

I get to choose

    to be selfish or selfless...

 

I get to choose

    between the real and the fake...

 

I get to choose

    to be careful or careless...

 

I get to choose

    between doubt and faith... 

I get to choose

    between keeping things for myself

        or sharing freely and generously.. 

 

I get to choose

    to help or to hinder...

 

I get to choose

    to invite or exclude...

 

I get to choose

    between grace and sin...

 

I get to choose

    between enduring and giving up...

 

I get to choose, Lord - a lot -

    and I have choices to make

        every day and every night... 

 

Help me choose always wisely,

    out of love for you and my neighbor...

 

Help me to choose as you'd choose, Lord

    help me to choose 

        mercy and peace,

        kindness and truth,

        life and love 

        - and always, you! 

                    

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

    and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

 

Amen.

 

Tonight's song is based on Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and God's charge to his people, "I set before you life and good, death and evil... Choose life!" 

 

Choose Life by Big Tent Revival

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Pause for Prayer: WEDNESDAY 7/8

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Tuesday 7/7

I received word this afternoon that Gary Daigle has passed over to eternal life.  Since the 1970's Gary has been a composer, arranger and producer of liturgical music; a campus minister; a parish music director; and a nationally known speaker on liturgy and music.  Tonight's song is a well-known Daigle composition: I've used its refrain as a recurring verse in tonight's prayer.  Please keep Gary and his family in your prayer.

 

There's so much going on, Lord

- too much going on - 

    in this crazy world of ours

and in the craziness each of us knows 

    in our own lives,

    in our minds and hearts,

    and in our families and communities... 

 

Remember your love     

    and your faithfulness, O Lord,
Remember your people     

    and have mercy on us, Lord... 

 

There's so much mean-spirited acrimony,  

    nasty name calling, 

    discord and division,

    violence and abuse;

and so many wars 

    with the death and destruction

    war leaves in its wake...

 

Remember your love     

    and your faithfulness, O Lord,
Remember your people     

    and have mercy on us, Lord... 

 

In our desperation, Lord, we need to remember

that none of this comes from your hand,

that all of this comes from our pride and envy,

    our hunger for power, our lusty greed,

    our lazy response to those in need; 

    and our wrath and anger, often quick-triggered 

    and too often lethal... 

 

Remember your love     

    and your faithfulness, O Lord,
Remember your people     

    and have mercy on us, Lord... 

 

The craziness all around us, Lord,

follows our path away from you,

    away from the will of your wisdom and word,

    away from our call to tend the earth,

        our common home,

    and to tend and care for one another,

        all sisters and brothers

        in you and your love. 

It was all meant to be so simple, Lord,

    so good, so pure, so innocent,

    so free, so just, so fair,

    so beautiful - so delightful!

 

Remember your love     

    and your faithfulness, O Lord,
Remember your people     

    and have mercy on us, Lord... 

 

Restore us, O Lord!

Restore us all and restore our world

    to be the people you made us to be,

    to tend the garden you left in our care,

    to be the holy people and place

        where your love for us is revealed.

Remind us, Lord,

    that our lives are in your hands,

    that you give us what we need, 

    that you always show us the path to life,

        the road to peace,

    the highway that leads us home to you... 

 

Remember your love     

    and your faithfulness, O Lord,
Remember your people     

    and have mercy on us, Lord... 

 

Protect us, Lord while we're awake

    and watch over us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

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Remember Your Love by Gary Daigle

 

 

Remember your love
And your faithfulness, O Lord
Remember your people
And have mercy on us, Lord

 

The Lord is my light and my salvation
Whom should I fear?
The Lord is my life and my refuge
When I call, He hears

 

If You dwelt, O Lord upon our sinfulness
Then who could stand?
But with You there is mercy and forgiveness
And a guiding hand

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