Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 4/16

Teach me, Lord, 

    to pray for peace,

    to long for peace,

    to strive for peace,

    to study peace 

    to work for peace,

    to dream of peace, 

    to keep the peace, 

    to search for peace, 

    to lobby for peace, 

    to hunger for peace,

    to teach peace, 

    to counsel peace, 

    to envision peace, 

    to nurture peace,     

    to practice peace,

    to pursue peace, 

    to dwell in peace,

    to cherish peace, 

    to cling to peace, 

    to foster peace, 

    to preserve peace, 

    to argue for peace,

    to champion peace, 

    to surrender to peace, 

    to secure peace, 

    to embrace peace, 

    to preach peace, 

    to plead for peace,

    to enkindle peace, 

    to sing of peace, 

    to cultivate peace, 

    to strengthen peace, 

    to yearn for peace, 

    to thirst for peace, 

    to treasure peace, 

    to design for peace, 

    to encourage peace, 

    to favor peace, 

    to endorse peace, 

    to prepare for peace, 

    to deny myself for peace, 

    to desire peace, 

    to promote peace, 

    to support peace, 

    to inspire peace, 

    to hold out for peace, 

    to speak for peace,

    to empower peace, 

    to bend towards peace,

    to embolden peace, 

    to prioritize for peace, 

    to sacrifice for peace, 

    to speak up for peace,

    to expect peace,

    to believe in peace, 

    to choose peace,

    to sustain peace, 

    to plant the seeds of peace,

    to serve the cause of peace,

    to walk in peace,

    to make peace,

    and to be at peace,

    with you Lord

    and with my neighbor

    and myself... 

 

Amen. 

 

Peace by Ed Cash

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Fun fact - floral!

 

   Writing my Night Prayer yesterday, I came upon this fun fact: 

                    All jonquils are daffodils

                        - but not all daffodils are jonquils.  

 

Here's the whole story... 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Wednesday 4/15

 

Lord, these are the first blooms you've opened

    at my backdoor, in my backyard this spring... 

I was tempted to pick up the leaves before snapping this picture and then tempted again to shop them out before I posted here... but something kept me from editing your signs of spring, budding and popping open over winter's dried remains... fine, bright harbingers of hope, defying a thief who, for a season, robbed me of the sun, light and warmth my soul has sorely missed...

 

As in the garden, Lord, so in my life: open my eyes to the times and ways your gracious presence blooms around me - in and out of season... and help me sort through the brush cluttering my path as I seek for signs of healing grace, reaching out to touch and to delight me...

 

Be the daffodils my wintered heart has longed for, Lord, and bloom, deep in my soul, with the beauty and the glory that only you can bring... 

  

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...

 

All Things Bright and Beautiful 

    by John Rutter

 

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All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful:
the Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,
each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors
He made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountains,
the river running by,
the sunset and the morning
that brightens up the sky.

The cold wind in the winter,
the pleasant summer sun,
the ripe fruits in the garden:
He made them every one.

God gave us eyes to see them,
and lips that we might tell
how great is God Almighty,
who has made all things well.
 

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A lot to chew on here...

 

I keep running into Robert Arnold's videos online and find them to be consistently filled with clear thinking and wisdom - things many of us are hungering for these days. The video above is an example.  I needed to watch this several times - and will watch it yet again - because there's so much to chew on here...

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Pause for Prayer: WEDNESDAY 4/15

 

 

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Tuesday 4/14

For this evening's prayer I've written a litany which prays for the gift of God's grace while giving thanks and praise for how that gift is already ours...

 

For the grace to trust your love, Lord,

in good times and in bad:

    for this I pray

    - and give you thanks and praise...

For the grace to believe you're by my side

especially when I'm feeling all alone:

    for this I pray

    - and give you thanks and praise...

 

For the grace to hear your good news, Lord,

when sad news fills my heart:

    for this I pray

    - and give you thanks and praise...

 

For the grace to face tomorrow

when I'm locked in this day's sorrow:

    for this I pray

    - and give you thanks and praise...

 

For the grace to pray in tears, Lord,

when words won't come to speech:

    for this I pray

    - and give you thanks and praise...

 

For the grace to see what faith reveals

when grieving veils my vision:

    for this I pray

    - and give you thanks and praise...

 

For the grace to treasure memories, Lord,

when my aching heart is broken:

    for this I pray

    - and give you thanks and praise...

 

For the grace of faith in life to come

when letting go the life of one I love:

    for this I pray

    - and give you thanks and praise...

 

For the grace to thank you for your gifts,

    the ones I have, the ones I've lost, 

        the ones I've not yet opened:

    for this I pray

    - and give you thanks and praise...

 

For the grace to praise you for your love

    at all times, in all things,

        whatever comes my way: 

    for this I pray, this evening, Lord

    - and give you thanks and praise...

 

Protect me, Lord while I'm awake

    and watch over me while I sleep

that awake,  might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen. 

 

By the Grace of God by Brian Johnson

  

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I rest my soul on Jesus 

When the mountains shake 

I put my trust in Jesus 

The moment I awake  

 

And when my soul is lost as sea 

He will be my rock 

My vision be in Christ alone 

This grace is all we’ve got 

 

His love is like the mighty ocean 

His love for me will never stop 

Oh his arms are strong enough to carry me 

Through it all by the grace of God 

 

So high upon his shoulders

Safely brought this far 

Helper of my helpless soul 

The King of broken hearts 

 

Refrain 

 

You are the passion of my life, Lord Jesus 

You are the song within my soul

My strength, my hope, my all in all is You, 

Jesus, you... thank you...

 

When breath grows still 

And night draws near I will not be afraid 

I know the plans He has for me 

Don’t finish at my grave 

 

His love is like the mighty ocean 

His love for me will never stop 

Oh his arms are strong enough to carry me 

Through it all by the grace of God 

Through it all by the grace of God 

By your grace I'll stand...  

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Pause for Prayer: TUESDAY 4/14

Image source

When I get in the way 

    of another's progress and peace,

sit me right down, Lord

    - and give me a time-out...

 

When I get in my own way, Lord, 

    stubborn in self-pity, 

with gripes and grudges blocking my path,     

    open my eyes to all my blessings and gifts...

 

When I get in your way, Lord, 

    and fail to heed and follow 

where I know you lead and guide me: 

    reboot my GPS - and get me back on track...

 

Help me clear my path for you, Lord, 
   and for my neighbor and for myself,

the path of your healing mercy, 

    the path that brings me to peace... 

Amen!

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NIGHT PRAYER: Monday 4/13

When I want to shut out all the bad news,

    all the lies and angry name-calling,    

    all the hue and cry and clamor:

open my ears, Lord,

    to the silence of your presence,

    the music of your Spirit

    and a word to bring me peace...

 

When I want to close my eyes 

    to the ugliness of violence 

    'round the world and in our streets:

turn my gaze, O Lord, my God

    to nature's budding beauty,

    to spring's most timely promise,

    to the joy of paschal peace...

 

When I want to run and hide

    from what angers and disturbs me,

    from what drains my drooping spirit:

open up my soul, Lord,

    to your mercy and your grace

    and the power of your love

    to strengthen and embolden me

        to seek and do your will... 

 

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. 

 

This is a wonderful, prayerful arrangement of a great song!

 

10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman

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What do you see?

The president says he depicted himself here as a doctor.  Are these the scrubs your medical caregivers wear?  

Shall we give the president the benefit of the doubt and presume that among the shadowy figures at the top there might be some people of color? 

This is what you get when you cross blasphemy with narcissism. 

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Monday Morning Offering: 4/13

 

The story of Thomas' doubt and belief is proclaimed every year on the Sunday after Easter.  I wrote today's Monday Morning Offering 14 years ago and have posted a variation of it almost every year since.  I like how this prayer acknowledges my doubt but at the same time reminds me of the depths of my belief - and I hope it might do the same for you...

Good morning, good God!

Still got doubting Thomas on my mind...

There are certainly times when I’m a doubter, Lord,

but also times when, without a doubt,

    I believe in you, my Lord and my God... 

 

No matter how long the winter may be

    how frigid the cold, how deep the snow,

I do, without a doubt, believe
    that spring will come to warm and melt 

        what chills my bones, my soul…

 

No matter how long, how dark the night,

    how real the dreams that haunt my sleep,

I do, without a doubt, believe

    the sun will rise and a new day dawn

        with hope of a new beginning

            born of your mercy and grace...

 

No matter how difficult things may be,

    how alone I am, how lonely I may feel,

I do, without a doubt, believe

    that you and my good friends 

        will have my back and see me through

            ‘til better times are mine...

 

No matter the depth of my pain, Lord,

    no matter how broken my heart,
I do, without a doubt, believe
    that just as others’ hearts are healed
        so, too, will you mend mine...

 

No matter how confused and conflicted I am,

    how entangled my thoughts might be,

I do, without a doubt, believe

    there’s a wisdom, a light and a path to truth

        for your Spirit to guide me on my way,

            drawing closer, always, to you...

 

No matter how far I stray from you, Lord,

    or fail to respect your claim on my life,

I do believe, without a doubt,

    that your heart is always open wide

        to forgive and welcome me back...

 

Even when death comes calling, Lord,

    and my heart is aching with grief and loss,

I do, without a doubt, believe

    in life with you forever

        in the company of friends and family

    and all who've gone before me, Lord,

        marked with the sign of faith...

 

So, if I believe, without a doubt,

    in so many signs of promise and hope

then why do I often, too often doubt,

    that you're there for me, Lord, 

        always here for me, Lord, always with me,

            right by my side?

 

So this morning, Lord, I offer my need
    to believe in you, without a doubt,

    to trust in you, without a doubt,
    to hope in you, without a doubt...

 

And without a doubt 

    to call on you:

        Jesus, my Lord and my God! 

 

 Amen.

 

 

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