Pause for Prayer: SUNDAY 5/1

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When we're lost in the dark and wait for your light,
   Lord, let your face shine upon us...

 
When worry and fear cloud our hope and our trust,

   Lord, let your face shine upon us...

 
When confusion eclipses our view of the truth,

   Lord, let your face shine upon us... 

 
When we shut out the light and we hide in our pain,

   Lord, let your face shine upon us...

 

When worries and troubles darken our path,

   Lord, let your face shine upon us...

 
When we walk in the valley of the shadow of death,
   Lord, let your face shine upon us... 

 

When a river of grief  overflows in our tears,

   Lord, let your face shine upon us... 

 
At sunrise each day, ever guiding our way,

   Lord, let your face shine upon us...

 

Lord, Let Your Face Shine Upon Us by Marty Haugen

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Saturday 4/30

When my soul's bone dry, shrunk by grief

    and thirsty for solace and comfort,

then make of my heart a sponge, Lord,

    parched, absorbent and porous,

    waiting to soak in waters of mercy,

        streams of lasting peace... 

 

 

Make of my heart a sponge, Lord,

    drinking in every consoling word,

        every sweet memory of happier days,

every photo of good times past,

    every lyric of every tune        

        of every song that soothes my soul...

 

 

Make of my heart a sponge, Lord,

    moistened by tears of sorrow and joy, 

        immersed in waves of grief and hope,

            imbibing the love of family and friends...

 

 

Make of my heart a sponge, Lord,

    filled with the waters of saving grace,

        soaked in the promise of life to come,

            drenched in the hope only faith supplies...

 

 

Make of my heart a sponge, Lord,

    to hold and to keep every warm embrace,

        every story told, every silence shared,

    every email and text, every word and prayer

        that touches my soul with healing peace...

 

 

 

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. 

 

Come, Fill My Heart by Stephen Kramer

 

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Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 4/30

 

My prayer today is simple, Lord: 

    please walk with me - right by my side...

 

And, yes, I know, you're always there,

    you walk with me every day

but today I want to be sure you'll be with me

    if the road gets rough and my step's not steady,

    if it's all up hill and I don't have the strength,

    if the twists and turns leave me lost and alone,

    if my path takes me somewhere I don't want to go,

    if this day's journey seems too much to bear,

then I need to be sure that you'll walk with me, Lord,

    walk with me, right by my side...

Be with me, Lord, should I stumble or fall,

    hold me up when I'm feeling weak;

level and straighten the road I travel,

    stay with me, don't leave me alone...

If my path should lead where my heart fears to go

    be my strength and companion,

    my courage and grace

and most of all, Lord, and this I pray,

    be with me and walk by my side today...

Amen.

 

 I Want Jesus to Walk With Me, 

        - arranged by Milburn Price

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I want Jesus to walk with me

I want Jesus to walk with me

All along my pilgrim journey, Lord

I want Jesus to walk with me

 

In my trials, Lord walk with me

In my trials, Lord, walk with me

When my heart is almost breaking

Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me

 

In my troubles, Lord, walk with me

in my troubles, Lord, walk with me

When my head is bowed in sorrow

Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me

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NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 4/29

There are so many things we take for granted, Lord:

    things we seldom give a second thought to,

    things we think we can always count on, 

    things we think will always be there, always be ours

- until we find out

    things aren't as sure as we had thought,

    as we had expected, planned and dreamed,

    as we had hoped and we had prayed...

.

Even the basic things:

    peace and freedom, 

    truth and justice,

    generosity and honesty,

    a word given, a promise made,

    tomorrow  - even life itself,

even the most simple, basic things, Lord,

    can't be taken for granted...

 

So, when we feel lost, disoriented, wondering

    how to get from here to there,

    from now to then,

    from today to tomorrow,

    from tomorrow to forever,

remind us, Lord, we can be sure of you:

    sure of your love and your goodness,

    sure of your faithful mercy,

    sure of your word, your truth,

    sure of your promise to be with us,

        to lead us, to guide us,

        always and everywhere,

        in good times and in bad,

            from here to there,

            from now to then, 

            from today to tomorrow,

            from tomorrow to forever...

Lead us, Lord, 

    from folly to truth,

    from despair to hope,

    from tears to laughter, 

    from the unbearable to relief,

    from fear to trust,

    from grief to joy, 

    from here to there,

    from today to tomorrow,

    from death to life 

         with you and those we love

            forever...

Protect us, Lord, when we're unsure

and watch over us night and day

that awake, we might keep watch with you

and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

 

There's a long intro to this evening's music

    but the piece is not instrumental, the lyrics are uplifting...

 

Prayer for Peace by Margaret Rizza

 

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Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 4/29

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Be my next breath, Lord,

when I can't catch my own...

Be my reason for hope

when I can't face tomorrow...

Be a leg up for me
when I need a good boost...

Be my second wind

when I can't go on...

Be a word of wisdom
when my thoughts run amok...

Be the beat of my heart
when I tremble with grief...

Be the friend I can trust
when I feel all alone...

Be a helping hand
when it's all just too much...

Be my get-up-and-go

when I'm all out of gas...

Be a light in the dark
when I'm waiting for dawn...

Be the truth I seek
when I'm really confused... 

Be the words of my prayer

when my heart cannot speak...

Be all that I need
when I need so much...

Be the Lord of my life
and I'll ask for no more...

Amen.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 4/28

Of all I have, Lord,
all's a gift
from your heart, from your hand,
to mine...

My being, my life,
my heart and my soul,
my mind's best thoughts
- all are your gifts to me...

My family and friends,
the roof above me, the food on my table, 
my freedom to speak and believe
- all are your gifts to me...

My talents and skills,

my dreams and ideas, 

intuition and creativity
- all of these, gifts from your hand...

My faith and my trust,
my passion and love,
my joy and my strength
- all are your gifts to me...

My desire for truth,
my hunger for peace,
my thirst for lasting, deep joy
- all are your gifts to me..,

Nothing I have is all my own.

all's on loan from you to me:

given to me to give away,

to share with any and all in need...

Of all I have, Lord,
all's a gift
from your heart and hand
to mine...

For all I've received,

I thank you, Lord,

and for all I have,

I offer you praise:

Giver of every good gift...

 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake,

and watch over my sleep tonight

that awake, I might keep watch with you

and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

 All Is Gift by Luke Spehar

 

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What do I have that has not been given to me?

What do I have that is just my own?

When all vain pride is gone I see

that all is gift to me, given freely.

 

Now from my mother my body was taken,

my father too that's how I was made.

Creator's breath blew into this dust:

withdraw your love, Lord, I would go away.

 

What do I have that has not been given to me,

all my strength, clever wit or strong might?

Though I can choose what to do with all that I have,

the ability is no work of mine

 

What do I have that has not been given to me?

This faith I hold and believe,

this gift was withheld until my hands wearied of grasping,

slowly opened to fully receive.

 

What do I have that has not been given to me?

what do I have that is just my own?

When all vain pride is gone I see

that all is gift to be given freely.

 

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Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 4/28

When fears and worries overwhelm
    then give me courage, Lord,
    to "keep it in today..."

When darkness tempts and beckons me
    then draw me to the light.
    let your face shine bright upon me...

When easy answers seem enough
    then lead me to your word
    that in your truth I'll be set free...

When angry grudges weigh me down
    then teach me to forgive
    as you have pardoned me...

When gossip's brewing in my thoughts
    then bless my speech with kindness,
    put your word upon my lips...

When my heart grows green with envy
    then let me see how much is mine
    of all you've freely given...

When I'm discerning right from wrong
    then give me wisdom, Lord,
    to choose as you would do...

When time for me is all I have
    then open me to others, Lord,
    to serve you in their needs...

When I've run out of words to pray,
    then help me listen, Lord
    to hear what you would say to me...

And when all is said and done, Lord
    then let all I say and all I do
    be gentle, just and loving...


Amen.

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Wednesday 4/27

For this evening's prayer I've written a litany which prays for the gift of God's grace and gives 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 we pray

    - and give you thanks and praise...

For the grace to believe you're by our side

even when we feel abandoned,

    for this we pray

    - and give you thanks and praise...

 

For the grace to hear your good news, Lord,

when sad news fills our hearts,

    for this we pray

    - and give you thanks and praise...

 

For the grace to face tomorrow

when trapped in this day's sorrow,

    for this we pray

    - and give you thanks and praise...

 

For the grace to pray in tears, Lord,

when words won't come to speech,

    for this we pray

    - and give you thanks and praise...

 

For the grace to see what faith reveals

when grieving veils our vision,

    for this we pray

    - and give you thanks and praise...

 

For the grace to treasure memories, Lord,

when our aching hearts are broken... 

    for this we pray

    - and give you thanks and praise...

 

For the grace of faith in life to come

when letting go the life of one we love,

    for this we pray

    - and give you thanks and praise...

 

For the grace to thank you for your gifts,

    the ones we have, the ones we've lost, 

and the grace to praise you for your love

    in all things, at all times,

for this we pray, this evening, Lord

    - and give you thanks and praise...

 

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. 

 

Tonight's song is one I find to be equally 

   challenging and comforting...

 

By the Grace of God by Brian Johnson

  

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