Lord of all lands and peoples,
We gather here to pauses and reflect on your nature, your goodness.
Our agenda feels barren of goodness,
And your agenda, dripping like chocolate, is rich and pleasing.
We admit, O Lord, the essence of our lives cannot be purchased in any store.
We do admit our continuing attempt to purchase life.
Only to, once more, experience the emptiness that our love for lavish gifts offers.
Dear Jesus of the lowly manger, give us ears to listen to the music of the falling snow,
Give us eyes to see the majesty in creation as you have created all things and called them good.
Give us noses to smell the presence of the Spirit moving in our days.
Give us hearts to feel the pain of sin and the joy of new life in and around us.
Let our hands move to receive you and then offer peace.
Let our feet run to you in the breathless passion of the shepherds.
Let our mouths speak of love, as even the words we speak become tools of reconciliation.
This night, Father, allow us to share what we have experienced of you,
Allow us to remember your ways as higher than our own,
Allow us to sing your carols of gladness and praise.
May you hold your people from all lands in your care
as you breath upon us once more your words of life.
As we together recall the words of prayer you taught us to pray saying:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is on heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
A Word on Prayer…
To pray is to focus ourselves within God’s presence. Prayer moves us to experience that which is already, but has remained unknown. To pray is to join with God in what God is doing. Therefore, prayer is either always selfish or never selfish, depending on how we understand the outcome.
Real prayer takes time. Thirty minutes every day is a good start. Real prayer offers a conversation with God regarding all the vital details of our lives as well as the mundane seemingly unimportant aspects of our days. All topics are welcome in prayer.
Yet, we do not know what to pray. No one ever does, nor can. We place ourselves in God’s presence and listen. Quietly waiting for God to speak is the hardest work of our praying. By listening, we begin to sense the message, which God has been speaking to us all along. Let us pray.
Real prayer takes time. Thirty minutes every day is a good start. Real prayer offers a conversation with God regarding all the vital details of our lives as well as the mundane seemingly unimportant aspects of our days. All topics are welcome in prayer.
Yet, we do not know what to pray. No one ever does, nor can. We place ourselves in God’s presence and listen. Quietly waiting for God to speak is the hardest work of our praying. By listening, we begin to sense the message, which God has been speaking to us all along. Let us pray.
Friday, December 16, 2005
A Prayer Written for the Songs of the Season Celebration
A Prayer Written for the Songs of the Season Celebration
Lord, It was a good decision to send your Son, Jesus. And to send Jesus as a baby born in a manger was an even better idea. Just a baby without any power, any money, any place to stay.
We thank you dear God that you did not send our Savior of the world as a powerful King;
striking fear, wielding iron, causing innocent blood to be shed.
If Jesus had come to the world as a warrior, none would be able to stand find grace for sin.
We all surely would die for our transgressions, for our human-ness.
A baby we can deal with, we can understand, we can love.
We can approach a baby in a manger.
We can rejoice with his dear young mother offering her life for the life of this child.
We can stand beside his sturdy father who protected what was not his, but listened when the angels spoke.
Yes Dear Lord, we can see ourselves among the shepherd, among the wise men, among the curious bystanders.
Thank You Dear Lord, that this child, this baby in the manger, would grow to become a King.
We thank you that this baby will grow to strike fear in the hearts of those who should know better;
We remember He will experience the wielding of iron;
That His life will cause His own innocent blood to be shed.
As we sing to you Lord, we remember the sacrifice, and we remember the new life offered.
Lord, we sing our praise to you. May you be most blessed.
Amen.
Lord, It was a good decision to send your Son, Jesus. And to send Jesus as a baby born in a manger was an even better idea. Just a baby without any power, any money, any place to stay.
We thank you dear God that you did not send our Savior of the world as a powerful King;
striking fear, wielding iron, causing innocent blood to be shed.
If Jesus had come to the world as a warrior, none would be able to stand find grace for sin.
We all surely would die for our transgressions, for our human-ness.
A baby we can deal with, we can understand, we can love.
We can approach a baby in a manger.
We can rejoice with his dear young mother offering her life for the life of this child.
We can stand beside his sturdy father who protected what was not his, but listened when the angels spoke.
Yes Dear Lord, we can see ourselves among the shepherd, among the wise men, among the curious bystanders.
Thank You Dear Lord, that this child, this baby in the manger, would grow to become a King.
We thank you that this baby will grow to strike fear in the hearts of those who should know better;
We remember He will experience the wielding of iron;
That His life will cause His own innocent blood to be shed.
As we sing to you Lord, we remember the sacrifice, and we remember the new life offered.
Lord, we sing our praise to you. May you be most blessed.
Amen.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
A Prayer for You:
Quiet and peace for you, my people.
Quiet and peace flow through your soul
until your voice is steady and even, with knowing and being fully known.
Quiet and peace be yours;
until your breathing slows to a long even pull and release of all that had held you captive today.
May quiet and peace overcome emotions remembered, painful days recalled, grief encountered.
God is calling you to come away to your quiet place, just for a few moments.
Feel the presence of Spirit holding you.
Honor the Son in prayer and actions.
Almost as silent, with your voice say. "abba, abba." And again.
Quiet and peace for you, my people.
May Quiet and peace flow gently through your soul.
Amen. . ><(((*>
Quiet and peace flow through your soul
until your voice is steady and even, with knowing and being fully known.
Quiet and peace be yours;
until your breathing slows to a long even pull and release of all that had held you captive today.
May quiet and peace overcome emotions remembered, painful days recalled, grief encountered.
God is calling you to come away to your quiet place, just for a few moments.
Feel the presence of Spirit holding you.
Honor the Son in prayer and actions.
Almost as silent, with your voice say. "abba, abba." And again.
Quiet and peace for you, my people.
May Quiet and peace flow gently through your soul.
Amen. . ><(((*>
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Praying on the Steps of City Hall
Have you ever prayed at City Hall? I will be on the West steps of the Council Bluffs City Hall to at noon today to pray with whoever gathers for our city. It is part of the National Day of Prayer movement and I will be one of seventeen pastors, almost a tag team kind of thing. We will be praying for about an hour. My prayers are supposed to center on children and youth. We shall see.
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