Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 1/9

 

Who doesn't long and pray
    for restful nights and peaceful days?

Who doesn't wait an end
    to times of anxious, worried fears?

Who among us hasn't prayed
    for nights of deep and restful sleep?

Has anyone a heart not longing,

    aching to be loved?

 

Don't all souls seek what's beautiful,

    what's gracious, pure and good, 

        what's worth our keen devotion?

 

Who doesn't ask for good health?

    for shelter, food and comfort? 

        for liberty and freedom?

Indeed, do I know anyone

    whose needs and whose desires

        differ all that much from mine? 

We're all much more alike, Lord,

    than the ways that we are not: 

in our souls our similarities 

    outnumber our disparities.

From the same place deep within, then,
    we share a common thirst
and all who share our hunger
    seek that love that feeds the heart...

Help me then to see, Lord, 

    to care for and to nourish

        all the hearts of those around me

and open wide my heart to all

    who seek to feed and nourish me

        with all they have to offer... 

         

 Amen.

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 1/8

There's just no hurrying the winter, Lord! 

Even if it's a warmer-than-usual winter, even if there's very little snowfall, there's nothing will speed the earth's journey, on its path around the sun - and only the sun can warm the earth and coax another springtime to bud and bloom in beauty...

 

Staring out my window, I see the bare branches of maples, oaks and birches shivering through these nights and days, jealous of the evergreens who stand against the cold, well-dressed for this long wintry spell: give me their patience, Lord...

 

Give me patience with the universe, with how the sun and planets set the pace for springtime's sweet return - with longer days and colors bright and hope in every leaf and bloom - and in my heart and soul where the winter takes its toll while I wait for April's warmth... 

 

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. 

 

A Time for Every Blues by Holy Groove

 

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Tell everything. There's a season

and a time to every purpose under heaven's reason.

 

A time to be born, a time to die,

a time to plant, a time to cry,

a time to kill, a time to heal.

 

A time to pray, a time to seal,

a time to weep, a time to dance,

a time to lose, a time for chance.

 

He hath made all things beautiful in time,

but man can't grasp his full design.

He said, "Eternity in our soul,

yet we see only part not whole.

 

A time to cast away the stone.

A time to gather what was thrown.

A time to keep. A time to tear.

A time to speak, a time to care.

 

I know there's nothing better for man

than to rejoice and do what he can

to eat and drink and labor true.

 

This is the gift God gives to you.

He hath made all things beautiful in time,

but man can't grasp his full design.

He said, "Eternity in our soul,

yet we see only part not whole.

 

Whatsoever God do it shall be forever.

No adding, no taking none shall ever

fear before him standing on

for he is time eternal.

 

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Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 1/8

                     Georgetown Lake, Georgetown, CO
 

It's a week now, Lord,

    since New Year's Day
and of all the resolutions I made
    - or might have made,
        or should have made,
            or could have made -
the most important would be this: 

    I resolve to seek serenity:
        to live one day at a time;
        to accept the things I cannot change;
        to change the things I can;

    and to pray for the wisdom
        to know the difference... 

One day at a time, Lord,
   mindful of your presence...

One hour at a time, Lord,
   mindful of your grace...

One minute at a time, Lord,
   mindful of and grateful for

        your patient love for me...

Amen. 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Wednesday 1/7

 

Lord,

we're so much in need of peace,

    the peace that's only yours to give...

 

We pray for peace, Lord,

    the peace that comes from you alone...

We plead for peace, Lord,

    the peace to heal our deepest wounds...

We hunger and thirst for peace, Lord,

    a peace we cannot give ourselves...

 

We pray for peace in our homes and in our streets,

in our villages, towns and cities,

in our nation and in the world,

    we pray for the peace of which we dream... 

 

And we pray for that peace deep within

ourselves, in our minds and hearts and souls,

    the peace that makes us one with you... 

We pray for that peace that begins - not with us - 

    but always and only with you, O Lord...

Protect us, Lord, in your peace,

    day and night, enfold us in your peace

that awake, we might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest - in your peace...

Amen.

 

Lord, Make Me An Instrument of Your Peace 

    by Sir John Rutter

 

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Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace:

where there is hatred, let me sow love; 

where there is injury, pardon; 

where there is doubt, faith; 

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light; 

where there is sadness, joy; 

and all for thy mercy's sake. 

O divine Master:

grant that I may not so much seek 

to be consoled as to console; 

to be understood as to understand; 

to be loved as to love; 

for it is in giving that we receive; 

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; 

and it is in dying that we are born 

to eternal life.

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Pause for Prayer: WEDNESDAY 1/7

 

 

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Three years vs.. twenty-four hours...

This is the plaque honoring those who put their lives on the line in defense of the the members of Congress and the U.S. Capitol building on January 6, five years ago. It's been sitting in storage for three years now, waiting for Mike Johnson to find the time to get it hung. (Click for a larger image.)

 

Compare and contrast this with the mere 24 hours which passed between the board of the Kennedy Center announcing a name change for the Center for the Performing Arts and the installation of the DJT lettering above JFK's name on the building's facade.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Tuesday 1/6

Here's my adaptation of some old Celtic verse that used to be prayed in the morning when stirring up the embers on the hearth from the previous night's fire. 

Lord, when my trust is only dust 

and my confidence in ashes:

    stir the embers of my faith...

When I've lost the breath 

to fan the dying cinders back to flame:

    stir the embers of my hope...

When it seems my fire's out 

and all the coals have now gone cold:

    stir the embers of my love... 

 Stir the embers of my heart, Lord,

    into flames of love for you
and for my family, for my neighbor

    and for all who are my foe... 

 

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. 

 

Stir Up the Embers by Charlie Hines 

 

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Stir the embers of my heart 

Burn away all that is not Yours 

Fan the fire, keep it bright 

Steal away all I've claimed as mine 

I'm Yours
yeah, I'm Yours

Save me from myself, here as I am 

Call me forward from where I stand

Stir the embers of my heart 

Burn away all that is not Yours 

Fan the fire, keep it bright 

Steal away all I've claimed as mine
I'm Yours
yeah, I'm Yours

Save me from myself, here as I am 

Call me forward from where I stand

Spread wide this fire 'till all I can see 

Exalted Jesus living in me: I'm Yours 

 

Steal away all I've claimed 

Fan the flames of You in me 

Steal away all I've claimed 

And fan the flames

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Pause for Prayer: TUESDAY 1/6

Image source

Only a few days into the new year, Lord,
but my heart's' already filling
with the blessings and the burdens
a heart is meant to hold...

• So here are my sorrows, Lord,
lifted up in prayer,
for your comfort and your healing...

• And here are my joys, Lord,
lifted up in prayer
together with my thanks and praise...

• And here are my needs, Lord,
lifted up in prayer:
please help me make it through this day...

• And here, Lord, are my family and friends,
lifted up in prayer
that your face might shine upon them...

• And here's my world, Lord,

especially my own nation, 
for you to bless with mercy, grace and peace...

 

Only a few days into the new year, Lord,
but my heart's' already filling
with the blessings and the burdens
a heart is meant to hold

so I lift them all to your in prayer,

you in whom I place my trust

and find my help and hope...  

Amen. 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Monday 1/5

As this day ends, Lord,

    slow me down, close my eyes
       and open my heart to your presence...

I know you're here with me right now, Lord,
   waiting to spend time with me, 
   ready to hear me out,
   wanting to whisper a word of your peace...
 
You're here with me right now,
   waiting to strengthen me,
   ready to encourage me,
   wanting to console me...

You're here with me right now,
   waiting to calm me down,
   ready to lift me up,
   wanting to give me your peace...

You're here with me right now,
   waiting to forgive me,
   ready to guide me,
   wanting to hold me close to your heart...

You're here with me, Lord, as you always are:
   waiting, ready and wanting
      to help me be present to you;
   waiting, ready and wanting 
       to hear and to hold what burdens my soul

   so slow me down, Lord, and close my eyes        

    and open my heart to your presence...

 

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. 

 

You Are Here by by Dr Tumi 

 

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You are here 

and you said you'd never leave us

and we need you, Lord...

 

You are true

and your promises remain,

we trust you, Lord... 

 

You are King

and you reign forever more

with my life, Lord...

 

We love you, Lord... 

 

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