Come, Thou Fount

You are the Fount of every blessing, O Holy Spirit!  All the good I am is because of Your presence with me.  Without You, I couldn't make it.  Too often I forget You're with me and start grumbling.  I lose sight of Your blessings, Father God, and start looking at all that's wrong with the world - and especially with my neighbors and those closest to me.  I begin making comparisons instead of having compassion.  I just make a mess of things without You at the forefront of my life, dear Jesus!   So, as the hymn so beautifully puts it, Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise!*   Father-Son-Spirit, I place the rest of this night into the safe keeping of Your hands and trust You with the morrow. Forever and ever - Amen!

* Robert Robinson 1758

The Challenge of Summer Heat

Gracious Father-God, it's a hot summer afternoon.  I can't remember a June this hot day after day.  I am thankful that I have air conditioning and cool, clean water to drink.  What can I do to help those who don't?   I have shelter from the pop-up afternoon thunderstorms and I am so grateful for a safe place to be.  What can I do to help those who don't have sanctuary from the summer storms?  With all there is to be thankful for, there is Your challenge to me to share  with others - to be blessed to be a blessing.   In the heat and humidity of this day, help me to not only be full of thanks, but to be the cool blessing You would want showered on someone else's life.  In the name of He who is our Living Water - Amen

for Charleston SC

Out of the depths we cry unto You, Father God.  We lift to You our brothers and sisters in Christ at Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston as they grieve for their loved ones, murdered so brutally last night.  O Lord, how low have we sunk into depravity, when our young people believe they are doing right by doing such evil?  Lift us up onto holy ground that will not turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to those who suffer.  Give us courage to confront evil and overcome it with Your love, Your mercy and Your truth.   We wait for You, Lord, our souls wait and in Your Word we put our hope.  Still and quieten our hearts and fill this nation with Your peace and justice, that love of You may flow through our streets and into our troubled minds.  Cast out all that is sinful, renew a right spirit within us, and lead us forth in Your Kingdom - united as Your children - indivisible in Your grace - together as Your family.  For out of the depths together we cry unto You, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer - Amen. 

Holy Habits

Father God, obedience is a hard word to us in our culture.   When we hear the word "discipline" we think of punishment instead of good, holy habits.  But I know I cannot be a disciple unless I have discipline.  Why should You bother with me if I won't even discipline myself to prayer, reading Your Word, fasting and works of mercy for others?  I know I need to grow closer to You, but my selfishness resists the discipline it takes.  Holy Spirit, only You can transform me.  Only You can enable me to stand firm against my own resistance to You and help me to kneel at the cross.   Draw me closer, I pray.  Even if I seem to be kicking and screaming about it, don't let me disobey You.  I know I will thank You in the end for the effort it takes now.  For You are my loving Shepherd, the one who keeps me from harm and leads me beside still waters that calm my soul.  Instill Your holy habits in me for Your sake, O Christ - Amen.

Break down the barriers

Heavenly Father-God, You never wear out Your patience.  Mine snaps way too often!  You never stop listening attentively.  Too many times I don't hear what someone says to me because I'm thinking of other things - all too often what I'm going to say next!   You are always generous and pour out on us blessings we can't number.   I'm too regularly stingy and worry about myself more than I do about others - NOT the way You want me to live!  And You never cease to forgive.  O how that cuts me to the heart, because I am so slow to even think about forgiving someone.  I hold on to grudges and make my forgiveness conditional on their saying they're sorry.  That's not how You forgave me on the cross.  O Jesus, if You had waited to die for the world until the world said, "I'm sorry; please forgive me" we would all still be lost in the darkness of death!  Please help me, O Holy Spirit, to break down all the barriers, all the excuses, all the pride that keeps me from living a life of forgiveness.  Grant me Your patience, enable me to listen, create in me a selflessly giving spirit and, Lord, lead me to forgive as I am forgiven.  And may it all be for Your love's sake, Father-Son-Spirit, Three in One.  Amen

In the Nighttime

The darkness is wrapped around us, Heavenly Father.   When we can feel that You are close to us, the nighttime can bring a blessing; as though You are wrapping the world in a blanket, tucking it in for the night.  When all that fills us is fear and uncertainty, the dark can be a place of deep loneliness and sorrow, even despair.  May our memories comfort us rather than grieve us.  May the night bring Your peace and rest rather than turmoil and restlessness.  Help us to hold Your nail-scarred hand in the dark and know that we are safe in Your love, and that the morning will indeed dawn again in our lives.  Where there is pain, grant healing.  Where there is despair, pour out hope.  If there is anxiety, bring Your blessing of contentment as we trust in You.  May we all sleep within Your arms of mercy, dear Savior Shepherd.  Thank You that You never leave us, that You are always watching over us. No matter how dark the night; whether we feel Your presence or not, You are with us - always - everywhere - Alleluia! Amen

Into Your Hands

Gracious Heavenly Father, into Your hands we place this day.  Touch us, use us, help us pray.  All that's good, please bless and lift; and please forgive all that's amiss.  We love You, Lord and want to stay upon the path that is Your Way.  But often we're distracted by temptations, idols and the lie.  It tries to lure us away from You, to grasp what's false and not what's true.  What we need, we humbly ask, to live this life and discern the task, grant us Holy Spirit, please.   And may it all be wrapped in love and grace and mercy from above.  In the name of the Father, in the name of the Son, in the name of the Spirit, Great God Three-in-One!  Amen