New Year's Prayer

O Lord, our Father! We have gathered here at the turn of the year because we do not want to be alone but want to be with each other, and together be united with you. Our hearts are filled with sombre thoughts as we reflect on our misdeeds of the past year. And our ears are deafened by the voices of the radio [and television] and in the newspapers, with their numerous predictions for the coming year. Instead we want to hear your word, your voice, your assurance, your guidance. We know that you are in our midst, and are eager to give us all that we need, whether we ask or not. On this night we ask for one thing only: that you collect our scattered thoughts, getting rid of the confused and defiant thoughts that may distract us, and thus enable us to concentrate on your limitless generosity to us. You were abundantly generous to us last year, and will be no less generous to us next year, and in very year to come. Fill us with gratitude for You. (Karl Barth, 1886-1968)

Another Year is Dawning

Another year is dawning; dear Father, let it be,
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee;
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace;
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon They loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love;
Another year of training for holier work above,
Another year is dawning; dear Father, let it be,
On earth or else in heaven, another year for Thee.
(Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879)

Greater Faith

Teach us Lord, not to ask for lighter loads, but greater faith for steep and rocky roads. (Fred Bauer in Daily Guideposts, 21 Nov 2007)

God's Order

God's order rules not only my life but the entire universe. As I cooperate with divine order, I will see every situation unfolding in harmonious, orderly ways. (Colleen Zuck, Daily Word, Day 332)

Serenity

Today help me quiet my mind. Help me seek serenity one day at a time. (Body, Mind, and Spirit, 14 December)

Go Tell It On The Mountain

While shepherds kept their watching o'er silent flocks by night,
Behold, throughout the heavens there shone a holy light.

The shepherds feared and trembled when lo above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior's birth.

Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born,
And God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.

Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and ev'rywhere.
Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.
(Traditional Spriritual)

A Christmas Wish

I wish you the joy of Christmas,

The Season's sweet repose.

I wish you the peace of Christmas

To mark the old year's close.

I wish you the hope of Christmas

To cheer you on your way.

And a heart of faith and gladness

To greet each coming day.

(Author unknown)

Christmas Benediction

The Lord bless and keep you and make His face shine on you and give you peace.

As you remember the Child born in Bethlehem may you also remember to honor the child in your own heart.

May you follow the light of the stars in your dreams and know that God is with you wherever you go.

Let the hope that was born in a stable be a sign that God can change the world through one small child.

May the spirit of Christmas warm our hearts all year long.

Grace and peace be with you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now, and will ever be, world without end.

Amen.
(Author unknown)

Come Fill Our Hearts

We thank Thee, dearest blessed Lord,
For all you've given us to share.
Come fill our hearts with Christmas love
Your peace be here and everywhere.
Amen.
(Father Paul Keenan)

Holiday Season

Grant me, O God, ears to hear and eyes to see the wonder of Your presence this holiday season, in the ordinary places of my life. (Jeff Japinga, Daily Guideposts, 22 December 2007)

This is the Day

This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

Change

Lord, today help me focus on what "I" can change. Guide me to a new way of thinking about the situation. (after Courage to Change, 17 December)

Old Business

Today let me begin to clear up old business. (Body, Mind, and Spirit, 5 December)

Faith

Unless we have the key of faith to unlock the meaning of life, we are lost. We choose faith not because it is one way for us but because it is the only way. Many have failed and will fail again. For others there is no life of victory without faith. We are at sea without a rudder, aimlessly drifting, when we attempt to live without faith. [Without faith] life is a meaningless succession of the kinds of turmoil we had in the past. ... I realize that faith is imperative... (Alan L. Roeck, Look To This Day, 18 December)

Spiritual Life

I pray that I may choose today the way of the spiritual life. I pray that I may live today with hope and faith. (Alan L. Roeck, Look To This Day, 17 December)

Die for a Lie?

One area often overlooked in challenges to Christianity is the transformation of Jesus' apostles.

Their changed lives provide solid testimony for the validity of his claims ... I can trust the apostles' testimonies because, of those men, eleven died martyrs' deaths on the basis of two things: the resurrection of Christ, and their belief in him as the Son of God. ...

The response that is usually chorused back is this: "Why, a lot of people have died for a lie; so what does it prove?"

Yes, a lot of people have died for a lie, but they thought it was the truth. Now if the resurrection didn't take place (i.e., was fake), the disciples knew it. I find no way to demonstrate that they could have been deceived. Therefore these eleven men not only died for a lie -- here is the catch -- but they knew it was a lie. It would be hard to find eleven people in history who died for a lie, knowing it was a lie.

(Josh McDowell in His Passion, Day 310)

Seek & Knock

Seek in reading and thou shalt find in meditation; knock in prayer and it shall be opened to thee in contemplation. (St. John of the Cross, in Soul Searching, p. 361)

Christian Society

Christian society, as it now exists, doesn't follow Christian law in its real meaning. (Leo Tolstoy, A Calendar of Wisdom, 9 June)

Earthly Trips

Lord of the journey, help me to end my little earthly trips the way I want to end the longest one: looking ahead to the best of homecoming. (Elizabeth Sherrill, Daily Guideposts, 1 Dec 2007)

Commonplace Things

Let me observe with new interest, even the commonplace things that happen in each new day. (One Day at a Time in Al-Anon, 10 December)

Thanksgiving

I pray that my day may be filled with thanksgiving. (Alan L. Roeck, Look To This Day, 25 November)

Understanding

I pray that I may not worry about things I do not now understand. I pray that I may have faith that someday I may have deeper understanding. (Alan L. Roeck, Look To This Day, 3 December)

Real LIfe

Photo: Corel

• Prayer, exercise, [reading], and proper nutrition are preventive measures that help me stay healthy. (Daily Word for Healing, Colleen Zuck, et al., p. 287)

• The only real life is one lived close to God. This does not happen by itself; you must make an effort to make this happen, and this effort will bring you joy. (Leo Tolstoy, A Calendar of Wisdom, 2 April)

Daily Guideposts: http://www.dailyguideposts.com

Right Choices

I will meditate on God's word and direction today as a key to help me make the right choices in my life. (Soul Searching, p. 330)

The Message

God, give me the capability to hear your message as clearly as possible in my everyday life. (Soul Searching, p. 307)

Habits

If I have adopted habits that I know are not healthy ..., I ask God for guidance and strength in releasing those habits and leaving them behind. God will show me what I need to do. (Colleen Zuck, et al., Daily Word for Healing, p. 283)

People Along the Road

Lord, thank You for all the people along the road [of life's journey] who have been happy to help me. May I always be willing to pass on the kindness in Your name. (Penney Schwab in Daily Guideposts, 12 Sep 2007)

Your Presence

God, Your presence in my life is dearer to me than I could ever hope to put into mere words. (Colleen Zuck, Daily Word, Day 313)

Life of Jesus Christ

The life of Jesus Christ is very important to us as an example of a life of one who could not see the fruits of his work during his lifetime. (Leo Tolstoy, A Calendar of Wisdom, 3 May)

The Choice

God asks no man whether he will accept life. That is not the choice. You must take it. The only choice is how. (Henry Ward Beecher, in At My Best, 22 November)

Instant Messaging

God was using Instant Messaging long before the invention of the Internet. (after Elizabeth Sherrill in Daily Guideposts, 1 September 2007)