Aurora... All We Can Do Now...

We don't always understand why the bad and senseless things happen in our world...   and we aren't always in a position to do anything about them when they do happen...  but we can always pray.

Today, we learned of a shooting rampage that occurred in Aurora, Colorado last night, as fans who were watching the new Batman movie, were attacked by a man armed with tear gas and several weapons.  At least 12 people died in the attack and many more were injured.  The various news stations on radio and tv can fill you in on other details.

At this point, the only thing most of us can do to help this situation is to pray...  for the people shot and injured, for those who were killed and for their families and friends.  I would suggest that we also pray for the gunman (who authorities believe they have in custody) and his family and friends who may be trying to make just as much sense out of this as the family and friends of those who were shot.

At times when our hearts ache, it is hard to know what to pray.  I saw this on Facebook and am using it in this post... if you are not sure what words to use as you pray, borrow these...   but also know that God's Holy Spirit is also praying to God for you with deep "groanings that cannot be expressed in words" (Romans 8:26 NLT).

This incident reminds us that life is fleeting...  don't wait to tell those you love, your friends and family, how you feel about them... and spend some extra time with them... and remember those whose lives have been changed forever because of this event, and countless others like it that never make it into the news.

On this Day of Worship...

A simple prayer for each of you:


                       Shabbat Shalom

Prayer, Praise and Daily Devotions...

As you woke this morning and began your day, did it include a little time to say, "Praise you" and "Thank you" to the Lord?  Praising God simply for who he is and thanking him that you woke to see his newly created day?  The Psalmist reminds us:


"From the rising of the sun to it's setting the name of the LORD is to be praised."
                                                                                               ~PS 113:3 NASB


"The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands."                                                        ~Ps 19:1 NASB


"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting."
                                                                                               ~Ps 118:1 NASB


Did you give all of this day to the Lord?  Did you invite the Lord into your life, to guard your heart and guide your steps, as you live out the day? Or did you, as so many of us do, simply get started with the busy-ness or even the fun-ness of the day, thinking that there was so much to do, that you had no time now for a "devotional time" and you'd do it later?  


In his book, A Pocket Guide to Prayer, Dr. Steve Harper reminds us "God does not call us to have a devotional time but to live a devotional life."


There is much that can be said of what it means to live a devotional life, but in the context of this post, I believe it means prayer is to be ever present in every aspect and at all times of our daily lives.  


The Apostle Paul reminds us:
"Pray without ceasing;"  ~1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB


Prayer is not meant to be just another thing we do added onto the rest of the things we do in our daily lives... it is not meant to be another item to check off of our daily to-do list...  Rather, prayer is to be that which undergirds, infuses and invades all of the other aspects of our daily lives, in both obvious and subtle ways.  Prayer, as communication with God, is that which keeps us in contact with our source of strength and joy and wisdom and life, so that we might get through all of each days challenges - challenges that usually exceed our to-do list.  


Again Paul reminds us:
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  ~Philippians 4:6-7 NASB


The day is not yet over... we can still give thanks and praise to the Lord for this day... we can yet connect to our source of strength and joy and wisdom and life for the living of this day.


Once again, borrowing from Dr. Harper's A Pocket Guide to Prayer, I offer this simple prayer for you to use as you begin to live your "devotional life":


"Dear God, I rise from my bed of sleep, to adore your holy name, to live for you this day, to work with you in the building of your kingdom, and to find in you eternal life.  In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen."


Don't wait until tomorrow morning when you are getting out of bed to pray this beginning prayer.  Wake up from your "sleep" and do it now!

A Prayer...

I came across this today as I was taking some time for prayer and thought I would share it with you.

Set us afire, Lord,
Stir us, we pray!
While the world perishes
We go our way,
Purposeless, passionless,
Day after day.
Set us afire, Lord,
Stir us, we pray!
      ~Ralph S. Cushman


I pray the Lord will bless you, "stir you" and "set you afire" to do his will on this day and every day to come!

Day 13... The Lenten Journey Continues... A Prayer of Self Denial...

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."
~Psalm 51:10 (KJV)

A prayer for this day in Lent:

Dear God, my number one problem is me.  I have embraced a false self that tries in every way to tell me that I am in control - and even more dangerously, tells me not to trust you but rather to trust my own alleged righteousness.  I am ashamed at how many times I have listened to the voice of the false self instead of your voice.

Today, I deny that false self and ask that you would renew a right spirit within me, a self that attends to you and lives accordingly.  Especially today, I ask that I might deny the false self in relation to (      ).  I am tired of going where it leads me.  Instead, lead me in paths of righteousness for your name's sake.  I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen

(Prayer taken from: "A Pocket Guide to Prayer" by Steve Harper)

Ash Wednesday...

“Even now,” declares the LORD, 
   “return to me with all your heart, 
   with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

Rend your heart
   and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
   for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
   and he relents from sending calamity.

         ~Joel 2:12-13 (NIV1984)

Today is Ash Wednesday.  It marks the beginning of Lent, a 40 day period of time set aside for introspection and reflection as we journey with the Lord to the cross.  It is a time to remember why the Lord had to die for us... to remember our sins and to repent.  Ashes are a symbol of our mortality as well as a symbol of repentance.  As the prophet Joel encourages, rend or tear open your hearts... pray and deeply mourn and grieve over the things that you have done that have grieved the heart of God... and repent.  For our God is indeed "gracious and compassionate... abounding in love..."  God will have mercy and forgive.

as evening approaches...

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.

~The Book of Common Prayer

daily scripture

Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; 
   I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe. 
Lead me in the right path, O LORD, 
   or my enemies will conquer me. 
Make your way plain for me to follow.
~Psalm 5:7-8  (NLT)

answered prayer

A big thank you to all who took time to pray for my friend Charlie Awad.  It seems as though Charlie has come through his surgery ok.  Please continue to lift Charlie up in prayer, that he would continue to recuperate and recover.  Again, thanks and please keep praying.  And if you know someone who is a colon cancer survivor with a story to tell, go to Charlie's site, www.cancersucks.tv, and add their story!  God bless!

prayer request

Today, I ask that all who read this post would lift up my friend, Charlie Awad, in prayer.  Later this morning, because of cancer, he will have surgery to remove a part of his lung.  Please pray for the surgeons and other medical professionals that will be involved in this procedure, as well as for Charlie's recovery and healing.  Also, please lift up his family in prayer, that God would give them strength and peace.

To learn more about Charlie and his battle with cancer, click on his name in the first sentence of this post... that should take you directly to his blog site.

Thank you all for your prayers.

the knots prayer...

A friend posted this on facebook, and I thought I'd share it.  It is interesting that all the "nots" in our lives can sometimes tie us up in "knots"...  let the Lord untie your "knots" today, whatever they are.  God bless.

daily prayer...

I call upon God, the Father of all our fathers.  I spread out the palms of my hands in prayer.  You who created the earth and all living beings, listen to me.  You who send rain from the sky, have mercy on me.  I trust in you for all things.       ~Shilluk, Sudan


Today's prayer is taken from:  African Prayers: Praise, Thanksgiving, Hope and Trust by Robert Van de Weyer, Dimensions for Living, Nashville, TN.  2002

morning prayer

Praise the LORD.  Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.   Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore.  From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.    Psalm 113:1-3

O Lord...   it happened again today...  my pups woke me up before my alarm went off... I could have slept another hour...  but Lord, I thank you anyway!!  I thank you for the gift of this new day.  Help me to praise you this day in everything that I think, everything I say, everything I do and with all that I am.  May  I see all people today through your eyes, and share with them your love.   In Your Name.  Amen.