A Concord Pastor Comments: Monday Morning Offering: 5/1

The scriptures for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (4/30 this year) always offer images of Christ as the Good Shepherd. Seven years ago I wrote this Good Shepherd Monday Morning Offering. Of all the prayers I've written over 16 years of blogging, this is one of my favorites. Here it is in its latest version...

With yesterday's scriptures
still in my mind and heart, Lord,
I offer my prayer
for you to shepherd me
through all the ups and downs,
joys and sorrows,
temptations and graces

that come my way every day...

Shepherd me, O God, from here to there,
   from where I am to where I'm meant to be,
   from one moment to the next,
   from today into tomorrow,
   from my past into my future...

Shepherd me, O God,

from yesterday's problems

through this day's dilemmas

to the peace your Spirit offers..

Shepherd me, O God,
   from memories that hold me back
    to a future I've yet to experience...

Shepherd me, O God,
   from my failings, sins and errors
   to the grace of a new beginning...

Shepherd me, O God,
   from fantasies and daydreams
   to a life that's authentic and certain...

Shepherd me, O God,

far from all my foolish ways

to the path where Wisdom beckons...

Shepherd me, O God,
from selfishness and greed
to a generous, giving spirit...

Shepherd me, O God,
from arrogant pride
to humble self-knowledge...

Shepherd me, O God,
from the lies I've come to believe
to the truth that sets me free...

Shepherd me, O God,
from all that's less than pure
to what's clear and clean and chaste...

Shepherd me, O God,
from my lazy habits
to work that satisfies and serves...

Shepherd me, O God,
from mindless wandering
to the path you'd have me walk...

Shepherd me, O God,
from flirting with temptation
to doing what is right...

Shepherd me, O God,
from prejudice and bias
to open understanding and acceptance...

Shepherd me, O God,
from wasting what I have
to sharing all that's mine...

Shepherd me, O God,
from hopelessness and fear
to trust and confidence in you...

Shepherd me, O God,
from feeling sorry for myself
to gratitude for all I have...

Shepherd me, O God,
from doubts that cloud my thoughts
to faith that fills my soul...

Shepherd me, O God,

from here to there,

from one moment to the next,

from today into tomorrow,

from my past into my future...

Shepherd me, O God,

beyond my wants,

beyond my fears,

from death into life...

Amen.

Shepherd Me, O God by Marty Haugen

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Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants,
beyond my fears, from death into life.

God is my shepherd, so nothing shall I want,
I rest in the meadows of faithfulness and love,
I walk by the quiet waters of peace.

Gently you raise me and heal my weary soul,
you lead me by pathways of righteousness and truth,
my spirit shall sing the music of your Name.

Though I should wander the valley of death,
I fear no evil, for you are at my side,
your rod and your staff, my comfort and my hope.

You have set me a banquet of love in the face of hatred,
crowning me with love beyond my pow'r to hold.
Surely your kindness and mercy follow me all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of my God forevermore.