Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 6/24

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When I come to pray, Lord, I often bring

    a basket full of troubles and tears, 

        needs and fears
            and shouts and cries for help...

 

But today I come with praise, just praise, and

    even if my heart's not yet quite there
I'm thankful still for all my blessings
    even if my feelings lag behind...

 

I praise you for this moment, Lord:
    another day to live, to change, to grow,
to make more of all I have     

    than I did yesterday, last week,
        last month, last year...

 

I praise you for all the gifts you've offered me:
    the ones I use, the ones I ignore,
    the ones I've wasted, the ones I've put away

        the ones I've yet to open...

 

I praise you for the best

    of all the blessings I have known 
and for lessons and the healings born 

    of loss and hurt and pain...

Make me mindful of the present, Lord,
    with hope for what's ahead:
I trust you'll guide and show me paths
    that lead me, safe, to peace...

I praise you for the people, Lord,
    who care for me and love me, 

who have my back and never fail 

    to stand by me through thick and thin
        when times are rough and tumble...

 

I praise you for the ones I love, 

    whose hearts I tend and hold,

who fill my days with blessings,
    many more than I can count...

 

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I praise you for the joy I miss      

    when I'm angry, sad and lonely,
when I stubbornly refuse to see

    what's there, what's right before me;
when my fear keeps me finding

    the peace that I'd been seeking,

        that I'd pleaded, pined and prayed for... 

 

I praise you for your mercy

    when you seek me out and pull be back,

pardon me and bring me home

    to rest in your strong arms...

Amen.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Wednesday 6/24

 

Praying on the 4th day of summer...

 

I'm so happy to welcome the summer, Lord,

but sad to remember that even now

the days are growing shorter

    - just by 2 minutes a day - 

but those minutes add up

'til the day we'll reach sweet summer's end:

    summer's very start

    is the beginning of its end...

 

Time moves so slowly, Lord,
    - and time moves so quickly -
and so much of the time 

    I'm not really sure
        if it's moving slow or fast...

As in my life, Lord,

    change in day's light is gradual, 

    barely noticeable, 

    imperceptible

'til I look back and see

    how much has changed,

    how much is changing

and how quickly and how slowly

    come the changes in my life...

Help me take this summer, Lord,

    just as it comes, 

        a day at a time,
    each gracious day

        a gift from you,

    given but once,

        and never to come again...

 

Keep my mind and heart and prayer, Lord, 

    trained on your gifts of light and life;

and grateful for all that I have,

    I entrust to your knowing, gentle care

        all that's passed me by...

 

I accept what I've lost like the setting sun, 

    slowly, slipping fast away:

the beginning of the end when life 

    forever  will be mine...

Protect me, Lord, while I like awake

    and watch over me in my sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

Day After Day by Maranatha Singers

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Day after day after day, you have been faithful to me.

Day after day after day I've known your grace...

Day after day, week after week, year after year,
I will declare your glory
I will declare your greatness
I will praise... your... name...

 

Day after day after day, you are my Savior my friend.
Day after day after day, I'm not alone...
Day after day, week after week, year after year,
You will be right beside me
You'll be here to guide me
I will praise... your... name...

 

Day after day, day after day... oh...

 

Day after day after day, you have been faithful to me.
Day after day after day I've known your grace.
Day after day, week after week, year after year,
I will declare your glory
I will declare your greatness
I will praise... your name...

 

Day after day. after day...

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Pause for Prayer: WEDNESDAY 6/24

    Art by Louis Glanzman in Soul Brothers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The church calendar celebrates only three birthdays: Jesus (December 25), Mary, his mother (September 8) and John the Baptist whose feast is today (June 24). Luke's gospel tells us that Jesus and John shared a relationship even while in utero: Jesus, in Mary's womb and John in Elizabeth's womb.  John is called the Forerunner because he announced the coming of Jesus when the Lord began his public ministry. 

 

Lord, 

John prepared the way for you,

he lived a simple life in truth,

he did what he was called to do:

    Lord, make me like John the Baptist!

 

He told everyone of your coming, Lord,

and the good news you came to proclaim,

help me prepare the way for you:

    Lord, make me like John the Baptist!

 

John was willing to sacrifice, Lord,

to spend and lay down his life for you:

    Lord, make me like John the Baptist!

 

Give me the strength and courage,  Lord,

of a worthy and faithful servant: 

    Lord, make me like John the Baptist!

 

As John prepared the road for your coming,

so help me, Lord, to pave your way 

into someone's heart today:

    Lord, make me like John the Baptist!

        

Amen!

 

Here's a rousing song about John the Baptist!

 

John the Baptist by The Ball Brothers

 

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It was John the Baptist, Prophet of God

It was John the Baptist (Oooh)

John the Baptist

Was a prophet of God Almighty in old Judea

John the Baptist was preparing a way for Jesus

It was John the Baptist 

Was a prophet of God Almighty in old Judea

John the Baptist was preparing a way for Jesus

 

John lived simple and he lived the truth 

    (Lord, make me like John)

He did just what he came to do 

    (Lord, make me like John)

He told everybody about Jesus coming 

    (baptized him in the river Jordan)

Oh John the Baptist was a prophet of God Almighty 

    in old Judea

John the Baptist was preparing a way for Jesus

 

It was John (prophet of God) It was John

He was willing to sacrifice 

    (Lord make me like John)

Was even willing to give his life 

    (Lord make me like John)

In the meantime the Lord preached up a storm

That's the way the faith was born

It was John the Baptist

Was a prophet of God Almighty in old Judea

John the Baptist

Was preparing a way for Jesus

 

It was John the prophet of God 

    (prophet of God)

Lord give me that strength and give me courage

(Lord make me like John)

Make me your faithful worthy servant

Lord make me like John

Oh help me to walk to pave the way 

Into somebody's heart today

Just like John the Baptist

Was a prophet of God Almighty 

    in old Judea

John the Baptist

Was preparing a way for Jesus

It was John the Baptist

Was a prophet of God Almighty in old Judea

John the Baptist

Was preparing a way for Jesus

It was John the Baptist

It was John the Baptist

It was John the prophet of God

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NIGHT PRAYER: Tuesday 6/23

Just outside my backdoor, Lord,

that's where I found this beauty,

just a few feet off the beaten path

that takes me to my car...

 

    Photo by CP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Had she not caught my eye, Lord,

then I might have passed her by

and missed a moment's mystery

of quiet peace and grace...

 

And she, Lord, in her shyness,

she might have passed the season

with no one taking notice

of the gift she came to offer...

 

How often do I miss, Lord,

so many of your gifts

dropped, placed and strewn across

the path I walk each day?

 

I plead for more, I cry for more

when more is what you always give

but I, intent on what I want,

miss much of all I have...

 

Open wide my eyes, my heart

to all the gifts you offer,

to the mystery of your presence, Lord,

in bloom at my back door... 

 

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. 

 

When I search for music to accompany Night Prayer I'm continually and happily surprised by songs I've never heard that have been out there for years - this is one of those wonderful times!

 

Everyday God by Bernadette Farrell

 

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Pause for Prayer: TUESDAY 6/23

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It's so easy in the moment
to see just this day's cloudy skies:
to fear the rain will never end,
the sun not shine again...

It's so easy to convince myself
that this day's troubles are my life,
their burden my sad lot,
that peace will never come... 

It's so easy to forget, Lord,
how many storms I've weathered,
the amazing grace you've offered
to keep me safe and sound...

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I've come and I've survived:
your grace has brought me safe thus far,
your grace will bring me home...

Amazing Grace by Pentatonix

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NIGHT PRAYER: Monday 6/22

Sometimes, Lord - life stinks.

And sometimes life's a burden. 

Sometimes life's an uphill battle.

Sometimes life is hard. 

Sometimes life is cruel. 

Sometimes life's a mystery. 

Sometimes life's not fair.

And sometimes life's a ...

- well sometimes life is best described 

    by words I won't use here!

 

Just now, Lord, my life doesn't stink

but there are so many people, Lord,

so many very good people whose lives are 

    painful, sad and empty,

    broken, burned and bruised by war,   

    overwhelmed by hunger and poverty, 

    impaired by disease and sickness,

    haunted by setbacks, letdowns and losses, 

    burdened with sorrow, mourning and grief,

    stretched by problems at home and at work, 

    wired with worry, fear and distress,

    unsettled by things beyond their control, 

    confused by questions too hard to answer,

    stressed by finances, debts and bills 

    and pushed, too often, too close to the brink...

 

So very many good people, Lord,

praying and reaching out to you

    for solace and comfort,

    a word of good news, 

    your healing touch,  

    the strength of your help, 

    your mercy and grace, 

    a respite from problems,

    a reprieve from worry,

    and a time of contentment,

    of peace and joy... 

 

There were days, O Lord,

- even many many days -

when you, too, knew and keenly felt

    how hard and painful this life can be:

you shared our distress, our grief and pain

    and you asked then as we pray now

to be spared this cup of suffering

    and be lifted up in saving arms

        that never will let go...  

 

Be generous, Lord, in helping us

to see you're always there

- with us and for us, behind and before us -

guiding us always 

and guarding the paths we walk through life

through good times and bad,

through thick and through thin,

to the peace you promise,

the healing that's ours,

in our faith in you

and your love for us... 

 

I'm praying, Lord, for all who feel

that life is hard, not fair - life stinks!

Ease their burdens and right what's wrong

    and let them inhale the beautiful scent 

        of the life that's theirs in you... 

 

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. 

 

I found two songs for tonight's prayer and couldn't decide between them - so I'm offering both. The share the same title but each has its own lyrics.  I encourage you to listen to both - especially if you found yourself in tonight's prayer...  

 

God Help Me by Plumb

 

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There is a wrestling in my heart and my mind 

A disturbance and a tension I cannot seem to drive 

And if I'm honest, there's quite a bit of fear 

To sit here in this silence and really hear You 

 

What will You ask of me? 

Will I listen to Your voice when You speak? 

 

Help me to move, help me to see 

Help me to do whatever You would ask of me 

Help me to go, God help me to stay 

I'm feeling so alone here 

And I know that You're faithful 

But I can barely breathe 

God help me  

 

Sometimes things, they are black and white 

Sometimes they are not and that leaves us torn inside 

And in the middle, we are left to wonder 

Who we are, what You want and where we're going 

 

Oh such a mystery I don't always understand 

But I believe! 

 

Chorus  

 

I don't know the future, it's one day at a time 

But I know I'll be okay with Your hand holding mine 

So take all my resistance Oh God I need Your grace 

One step and then the other 

Show me the way 

Show me the way! 

 

Chorus 

 

God Help Me by Unspoken

 

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When I'm at my end, Tears pouring down
And I can't see past, What's in front of me now

When it's all too much, For this heart to take
There's one name I call, One prayer that I pray

 

God, help me now
Feels like there's no way out
But Jesus, You're faithful and able
And You've never once let me down
God, help me now

 

No matter the pain my heart may feel
No wound cuts too deep for Your love to heal

So when fear comes to find me and doubt starts to grow
I lift up my eyes, I know just where to go

 

God, help me now
Feels like there's no way out
But Jesus, You're faithful and able
And You've never once let me down
God, help me now

No one else (no one else)
No one else (no one else)
Has the power that's in Your name
Nowhere else (nowhere else)
Nowhere else (nowhere else)
Can I run to, and be saved

 

God, help me now
Feels like there's no way out
But Jesus, You're faithful and able 

And You've never once let me down 
God, help me now
God, help me now

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Monday Morning Offering: 6/22

Image: George Mendoza

Good morning, good God!

I've mentioned this before, Lord,
but it stays in my mind, in my imagination -
and it's such a simple thing: 

it's the leaves on the trees...

 

A month and a half ago
I'd look out my second floor window
and see bare limbs scratching April skies 

where now, 

leafy branches brush puffy clouds 

on each rare day in June...

 

And for all this verdant beauty 

the trees did - nothing -

nothing but stand there:
soaking in the springtime downpours,

bathing in the brilliant sunlight, 
drawing moisture from the earth, 

budding branches,

greening leaves,

and fleshing out the glory

that lines my street

and fills my own yard...

The trees did nothing but stand there, Lord
- and you did all the rest...

Would that once or twice each day
I'd just stand there, Lord, 

or maybe sit or even kneel,
soaking in your showers of grace,
drawing up from each day's life
the moisture of your presence 

and bathing in the light that's found
only in the forests 

of my quiet time for prayer...

The trees do nothing but stand there, Lord
- letting you do all the work -
and then their beauty comes
and I find rest 

beneath their broad and shady arms...

Help me make some time each day,

help me find a place
where you and I can meet
and I'll do nothing 

but be still 

and simply rest  

in the quiet, 

in the silence of your presence
where I will bow and pray 

that you'll do, Lord,

what you do best... 

I'll pray you'll give me grace, Lord, 

to welcome all the ways 

you help me stretch and grow:
grace to let your life within me 

bud and leaf and flourish, 

filling my bare branches  

with the life that's only yours to give...

 

Slow me down, Lord:
bring me to a standstill,   

stop me in my tracks
and lift my face to yours;

let me meet you one-on-one,

eye to eye
and heart to heart...

 

Help me just sit quietly

while you do, Lord,

what you do best:

make of me the person

you created me to be...

 

Receive my morning offering, Lord,
and keep me faithful to it;

help me just to be here,

open to the gracious ways

you shape and grow my life each day

in mercy, love and wisdom... 

 

Amen.

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