Friday, July 31, 2009

Plans of the Lord

Photo: Aztech New Media


For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. (Jeremiah 29:11, found in Daily Word for Healing by Colleen Zuck, et al., p. 169)

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Beginning Each Day


Beginning each day with a few minutes of prayer and meditation, I build a spiritual strength that keeps me uplifted throughout the day - every day. (Colleen Zuck, et al., Daily Word For Healing, p. 176)

I have seen the workings of the unseen God ... (Daily Reflections, 4 July)

I pray that I may rely on God as I go through this new day. (Alan L. Roeck, Look To This Day, 11 July)

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Miracles


We will never get miracles by neglecting the gifts and the wisdom God has given us. It is when man's skill combines with God's grace that wonder happens. (William Barclay, The Gospel of Luke, p. 59)

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

The Blessings of Life

Photo: Mr. Dickie (Melva's white peony)


My times in prayer with God prepare me for all the blessings of life. (Colleen Zuck, et al., Daily Word For Healing, p. 154)

Monday, July 27, 2009

Walking With God


Walking with God means practicing the presence of God in your daily affairs. It means asking Him for strength to face each new day. It means turning to Him often during the day in meditation, for yourself and for others. Nothing can seriously upset you if you remember Him. He is beside you in spirit, to help and guide you.

I pray that I may try to walk with God. I pray that I may turn to Him often as to a close friend. (Alan L. Roeck, Look To This Day, 27 July)

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Toxic Emotions


Dear God: I now forgive myself for all beliefs, judgments, decisions, choices and agreements that have caused me to be attached to pain, hurt, shame, anger, guilt, disappointment and other toxic emotions. I ask that you transform what I am feeling, experiencing and believing into an expression of love so that I may be healed. Thank you, God.(Iyanla Vanzant, Until Today! 26 July)

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Conscious Contact


Photo: Aztech New Media

I seek through prayer and meditation to improve my conscious contact with God as I understand Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for me and the power to carry that out. (One Day at a Time in Al-Anon, 25 June)

Friday, July 24, 2009

Founded Upon the Rock

Photo: Aztech New Media (Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, Washington, DC)


When we build a life upon obedience to God and doing His will as we recognize or perceive it, you and I will become steadfast in trials, tribulations, and hardships.

I pray that my life may be founded upon the rock of faith. I pray that I may be obedient to the heavenly vision. (Alan L. Roeck, Look to This Day, 12 June)

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Miracles


I pray that I may expect miracles in the lives of others. I pray that I may be useful in helping others to change. (Alan L. Roeck, Look To This Day, 19 July)

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

All My Lessons


Photo: Aztech New Media


God, help me be grateful for all my lessons ... (Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go, 15 June)

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Guide My Steps


Photo: Aztech New Media (Yosemite, CA)


... [I'm building] a strong foundation for my life -- a spiritual foundation that supports me with the strength to make it through any challenge. My relationship with God is the foundation I create, one prayer at a time.

Prayer keeps me in touch with the spirit of God within -- the spirit of life and love that nutures and sustains me. This sacred relationship is the firm foundation of my relationships with others.(Colleen Zuck, et al., Daily Word for Healing, p. 177)

Guide my steps, I pray, on the narrow path of ... [living a balanced life]. (Food For Thought, 17 July)

Monday, July 20, 2009

The Need to Change


I pray that I will not be paralyzed by doubt. I pray that I may meet life affirmatively on the venture of faith. (Alan L. Roeck, Look To This Day, 9 July)

Show me how I need to change my attitudes, my habits, and my priorities. (Kay Arthur, Search My Heart O God, 5 July)

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Steady Progress

Photo: Aztech New Media


I pray that I may progress steadily through the rest of my life with faith and confidence. (Alan L. Roeck, Look To This Day, 15 July)

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Frustrations and Worries

Photo: Aztech New Media


Today, Father, I take all my frustrations and worries and drop them at Your feet. Breathe Your peace into my heart so that I can respond in love to those around me rather than letting circumstances rule my life. (Kay Arthur, Search My Heart, O God, 10 July)

Friday, July 17, 2009

Prayer for Loved Ones


Photo: Mr. Dickie (Alma Lutheran Church, Mead, NE)

I pray for my loved ones and for harmonious relationships with them. (Colleen Zuck, et al., Daily Word For Healing, p. 157)

I pray that I may pass on my blessings. I pray that they may flow into the lives of others. (Alan L. Roeck, Look To This Day, 27 June)

Thursday, July 16, 2009

My Compulsions

Photo: Aztech New Media


Lord, remove me from ... my compulsions and help me live as Your child today. (Ric Engram, Pace Yourself, 27 June)

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

The Mess We Create

Photo: Aztech New Media


God cannot fix the mess we create. What God can do, will do, and does all the time is give us the courage and presence of mind to do whatever needs to be done to rectify our errors. What we must do is ask for guidance and trust it will be okay. (Iyanla Vanzant, Faith in the Valley, p. 189)

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Projects


Photo: Aztech New Media


Lord, help us to finish the projects we have started. (Upper Room Disciplines - 2006, 2 July)

I thank God for ... healing me throughout my life. (Colleen Zuck, et al., Daily Word for Healing, p. 156)

Monday, July 13, 2009

Courage to Change


I pray that I may have the courage to change the things in my life that I can change. I pray that I will be guided by God's wisdom in doing so. (Alan L. Roeck, Look To This Day, 15 June)

Sunday, July 12, 2009

In Harmony With God


The spirit of God directs my life and keeps me on the right track. (Colleen Zuck, et al., Daily Word For Healing, p. 159)

In what ways are the words and actions of the most powerful of today's [leaders] ... in harmony with God ...? (The Upper Room Disciplines - 2006, 17 June)

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Open My Heart

Photo: Alfonso D. (Panama)



I pray that I may keep growing spiritually. I pray that I may make this my real life work, which I strive to give to others as well. (Alan L. Roeck, Look To This Day, about 19 June)

Make me willing, Lord, to accept the discipline of an ordered life. (Food For Thought, 21 June)

Fill my heart with Your love and my life with Your words. (Kay Arthur, Search My Heart, O God, 31 May)

Open my heart to those I prefer to shut out. (The Upper Room Disciplines - 2006, 16 May)

Friday, July 10, 2009

Peace


Photo: Aztech New Media


Lord, give me the self-confidence to be able to confront those situations I need to in my life. (Ric Engram, Pace Yourself, 1 July)

I pray that today I may have inner peace. I pray that today I may be at peace with the world. (Alan L. Roeck, Look To This Day, 11 June)

Thursday, July 9, 2009

A Straight Course

Photo: Aztech New Media
I pray that I may try to steer a straight course. I pray that I may accept God's direction in my life's journey. (Courage to Change, 5 July)

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Prayer


Photo: Aztech New Media


Pray we must; but prayer must never be an escape from reality. Prayer cannot preserve a man from the insistent cry of human need. It must prepare him for it; and sometimes he will need to rise from his knees too soon and get to work - even when he does not want to. (William Barclay, The Gospel of Luke, p., 53-54)

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Another Heart Surgery


Photo: Aztech New Media

Lord, I ask your blessings on the surgeons and health care professionals who will be performing heart surgery on my Army friend, Noel, today in Atlanta. Give them clear heads and steady hands. Give courage to Noel and his family today and in the weeks ahead as they experience this difficult time in their lives. We ask in the name of the great healer, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Keep Me From Stumbling

Photo: Aztech New Media

Lord, when my way is dark, keep me from stumbling. And when the world's noise and glitter threaten to distract me, help me to listen for Your guiding voice. (Shari Smyth in Daily Guideposts - 2006, 29 June)

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Spiritual Growth


Photo: Mr. Dickie (Part of our backyard - Spring 2009)

... after a while, it becomes clear that spiritual growth is less under our control than we had imagined. We have to let go of the desire to get somewhere, because the truth is that we no longer know where we want to go. (Elaine Prevallet in Nourishing the Soul, p. 248)

Saturday, July 4, 2009

God Bless This Nation


God has blessed me with life, and am always aware of the importance of this gift and my appreciation of it. (Colleen Zuck, et al., Daily Word For Healing, p. 158)

God bless this nation, our leaders, and all of our people. We give thanks for the blessing of living in this great country.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Better Things


I pray that I may prepare myself for better things that God has in store for me. I pray that I may trust Him for the governance of the future. (Alan L. Roeck, Look to This Day, 29 June)

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Sinning


Photo: Aztech New Media

Sinning is as dangerous as irritating a wild beast. In most cases in this world, evil returns to the evildoer in the worst and rudest form. (Leo Tolstoy, A Calendar of Wisdom, 6 June)

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Keeping Your Soul Alive

Photo: Aztech New Media

To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer is to have kept your soul alive. (Robert Louis Stevenson in The Art of the Possible by Alexandra Stoddard, p. 234)