Thursday, January 28, 2010

Update on Haiti



Heartbreaking. Hopeful? It's easier to see the heartbreak. So often, hope seems to linger in the shadows, bursting forth in full display of its brilliance at times, but often just casting an undertone to contrast the darkness, illuminating our efforts as our humble feet stumble forwards, led by Christ into the milieu of our messy humanity.

Thursday Morning

Glorious God of sunrise and sunset,

In your majestic palm, carry me through this day. May all my efforts be directed towards you. Give me the strength and the courage to set down my self-serving tools and pick up the Bible, the hymnal, and other words that direct my praise toward you. Just as the birds swing so sweetly of your majesty, may this one life be directed towards the praise and glory of your everlasting name.

Amen

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Wednesday Morning

God of morning and night,

I trust in you and your gracious love that your hand will cover me all the day long. Thank you for your faithful love and your abundant grace--I pray they will lead me forward on this day, that I may serve and follow you with boldness on this day. May the Good News of your Gospel guide my heart and my mind on this holy day, making all of today an offering to you.

Amen

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Tuesday Morning

God of Heaven and Earth,

It is so very cold outside. There is a frost that lingers upon the surface of the earth, blanketing all I can see. Remind me that your grace does the same, in beautiful ways. In my mind it is so fragile, as though I can shatter your grace with my wayward, clumsy footsteps. Your reality is strength and mercy, peace and wonder. Bring awe to my mind, remind me of your goodness, and may this day be worship of you.

Amen

Monday, January 25, 2010

Monday Morning

Holy God,

Move in ways unexpected today, that I might not settle into a routine, but rather be made aware of your awesome presence in my life today. May my eyes see your reality that surrounds me and be made aware of the rivers of grace in which I swim. Lord, teach me to depend on you, rather than striving against you for my own independence. I pray for the people of Haiti, for those who struggle with understanding, who grieve, who cannot find the sustenance for daily life. May your hand move in their midst, that the hope and comfort we find in you might surround them in this their hour of need.

Amen

Give to Haiti

Save the Date

Every now and again I get to thinking I understand how to use a computer. Then I see something like this and realize I am light-years behind! Great save-the-date!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Thursday Morning

Holy God,

On this rainy day, remind me of my baptism, the moment in which we celebrated your claim over all of life. On that day a congregation, as well as all the saints of the church, celebrated the victory of your Son Jesus Christ over the power of sin and death. With those drops of water we remembered your grace and acknowledged your power. May my baptism be a constant reality today as I seek to love you.

Amen

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Wednesday Morning

Holy God,
I pray for the strength to stumble through today. May my humble efforts somehow bring you glory. May your radiant glory overwhelm my downcast eyes and remind me of your grace and wonder. May this day be one in which I remember your eternal kingdom and live like a citizen of it.

Amen

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Tuesday Morning

God-

May this day be one filled with an awareness of you. May I recognize how near you are and be grateful. So often I live in a daze, forgetting your presence and your promises, unaware of your constant presence, your faithful love. You are faithful in the hours of my unfaithfulness, and so I return to you, weak and broken by the empty promises of the world. Fill me with your love, that I may learn to rely only on you.

Amen

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Wednesday Morning

Dear Lord,

On this day, cover me in grace, that I may live as a grateful child of God. All around me the world is filled with chaos and despair, yet in you is hope and joy. May your Spirit speak within me, calling me to point to wonder, love and majesty where it is abundant in the world. May the work of my life contribute to the coming of your kingdom, that all the love I share and lives I touch might look to you as Lord and Savior.

Amen

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Tuesday

Holy God,

Stir within me the passion for you. My days and my hours should be focused around you, centered around your amazing love. May I be transformed by your grace, overwhelmed by your love. Create within me the image of you, writing on those tablets of stone, concerned about ordering all of life around you. May all of my life come together as worship. May my time here be an offering to you.

Amen

Monday, January 11, 2010

Monday Morning

Holy God,
You are the author of all of life, and you have defeated death as well. Write your words upon my heart, that when I speak, the words will be yours, rather than my own. May the story you have written, the love story between Creator and created, be the one I long to read, rather than the stories of my own selfishness and greed. Thank you for your love and mercy.

Amen