Grant Me Peace

O Lord, my day's work is over, 

bless all that I have done aright, 

and forgive all that has been wrong,

and for the remaining hours of this day 

grant me the peace and rest that come from Thee alone.

(A Franciscan Prayer)

5 Apr 2016

Tread Lightly

Help me to tread lightly 

when it comes to words 

that can cause pain or disagreement.

(Patricia Lorenz in Daily Guideposts - 2014, 9 August)

2 April 2016

God's Word

Thank You, God, for Your Word.

It instructs me how to live.

It brings joy to my days and 

gives me strength when I am weak.

Amen.

(Prayers From The Heart, Day 81)

1 April 2016

This Day

Father, please give me the strength to
go through this [day] with a good attitude.

Help me to keep my joy.

Help me to keep my peace.

(Joel Osteen, Become a Better You, p. 265)

31 March 2016

Courage To Change

Dear God, give me the courage to change the things I can.

(The Christophers, Three Minutes A Day, 25 October)

30 March 2016

What Can I Do?

Ask the Lord, in your morning meditation, what you can do each day for yourself and others.
(after Daily Reflections, 12 November)
29 March 2016

School Prayer

O God, who hast made all things beautiful: give me a love of Thy countryside, its lanes and meadows, its woods and streams, and clean open spaces, and let me keep it fresh and unspoilt for those who shall come after me. Amen.
(English School Prayer Book)
28 March 2016

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

The impossible has happened: the tomb is empty; 

Christ lives among and within us!

May we see signs of resurrection in everything around us today.

May we celebrate hope and new life: 

Christ is risen indeed!

Hallelujah! 

Amen!

(Moravian Daily Texts - 2013, 31 March)

27 March 2016

Suffer In Silence

Photo by: Mr. Dickie - Emmitsburg, MD

The great duty of the religious soul is to suffer in silence. Too many men think they can become holy by talking about their trials. The awful fuss we sometimes make over the little unavoidable tribulations of life robs them of the fruitfulness. It turns them into occasions for self-pity or self-display, and consequently makes them useless.
(Thomas Merton, No Man Is An Island, p. 92)
26 March 2016

Good Friday

Lord, let my eyes see Your gracious hand in all Your works and let me rejoice in Your creations.
(Day By Day, 20 September)
25 March 2016

Splendor

Oh, Lord, thank You for letting me witness 

Your splendor in this spectacular world!

(Erika Bentsen in Daily Guideposts - 2013, 2 July)

24 March 2016

Grateful Response

Thank you, gracious God, for all you have done for us.

You have given us life, your love, and Jesus, your Son.

May everything that we do and say this day be a pleasing gift to You, in grateful response. 

Amen.

(Moravian Daily Texts - 2013, 20 March)

23 March 2016

Purpose of Prayer

The fundamental purpose of prayer, including the prayer of petition, is not to get something from God, or to change God, but to change ourselves. When we have changed, God can give us everything we want, because our will will be one with his, and we will want only what he wants.
(Father Thomas Keating, Heart of the World, p. 63)
22 March 2016

Do Not Forget Me

O Lord, Thou knowest how busy I must be this day.

If I forget Thee, do not forget me.

(Jacob Astley, England 1579-652)

21 March 2016

Standing in the Need of Prayer

Not my brother, not my sister

but it's me, O Lord,

Standing in the need of prayer,

Standing in the need of prayer.

Not my mother, not my father

but it's me, O Lord,

Standing in the need of prayer,

Standing in the need of prayer.

Not my neighbor, not a stranger

but it's me, O Lord,

Standing in the need of prayer,

Standing in the need of prayer.

(Traditional African American Spiritual)

20 March 2016

My Hope

Coneflowers in our yard - photo by Mr. Dickie

Lord, I know [that] not all my prayers are answered, 

but many are, 

so I continue to petition You, 

for You are my hope. Amen.

(Prayers From The Heart, Day 252)

19 March 2016

God's Will

Uncle Jimmie's Tree by Dick Henthorn

Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all our activities.
(Alcoholics Anonymous in Daily Reflections, 5 July)
18 March 2016

Resources

God, whatever resources I find in my hands today, 

please show me how to use them to bless someone else's life.

(Ashley Wiersma, Daily Guideposts - 2013, 20 June)

17 March 2016

Keep Us Grounded

Lord, grant that we may hear your voice when you call and not be distracted by the world around us. Keep us grounded in your word and help us to do all in Your name. Amen.
(Moravian Daily Texts - 2013, 14 March)
16 March 2016

Spring

Creator of all that is, we pray for this remarkable, fragile planet: your gift, your creation. 

Today may we plant seeds of gratitude and hope so that your world will flourish for generations to come. Amen.

(Moravian Daily Texts - 2013, 13 March)

15 March 2016

Spring

We thank you, our Creator,

for all things bright and good,

the seedtime and the harvest,

our life, our health, our food;

accept the gifts we offer

for all your love imparts,

and what you most would treasure─

Our humble, thankful hearts.

(Moravian Daily Texts - 2013, 13 March)

14 March 2016

Trust In The Lord

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will direct your paths.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

It will be health to your flesh,

And strength to your bones.

Honor the Lord with your possessions,

And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

So your barns will be filled with plenty,

And your vats will overflow with new wine.

(God’s Promises & Answers For Your Life, Proverbs 3:5-10, p.228)

13 March 2016

Garden

Holy Spirit, remind us that our ancestral home was a garden, and that nature is where we'll find healing, beauty and refreshment.
(The Christophers, Three Minutes A Day, Vol. 41, 26 August)
12 March 2016

Simple People

God walks with simple people and reveals himself to those who are humble.
(Thomas 'a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Book 4, Chapter 18, ¶ 3)
11 March 2016

Storms of Life

Dear God, help us to see the blessings in the storms of life.

(after Daily Guideposts - 2014, 2 June)

10 March 2016

Guidance and Protection

Lord, I thank You for Your guidance and protection day after day. Although I never know what the day will bring. You have a plan and I trust in You. Amen.
(Prayers From The Heart, Day 13)
9 March 2016

Spirit

When we listen and allow it to, Spirit guides us; when we fail to listen ─ or allow our ego to get in the way and run the show ─ we're going to be uninspired. It's that simple.
(Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Inspiration, p. 7)
8 March 2016

Eating To Excess

Eating to excess is not considered to be a sin my many, because it produces no noticeable harm. But there are sins which destroy human dignity, and eating to excess is one such sin.
(Leo Tolstoy, A Calendar of Wisdom, 4 March)
7 March 2016

Make Haste

O God, make speed to save us,

O Lord, make haste to help us.

(Book of Common Prayer)

6 March 2016

Showers of Blessing

We come to you, our Father,

with thoughts of thanks and praise,

for your abundant mercy,

and all your love and grace;

we praise You for Your goodness

and for your loving care,

for daily showers of blessing,

for answers to our prayers.

(Moravian Daily Texts - 2013, 5 March)

5 March 2016

'Tis The Gift To Be Simple

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free, 

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be, 

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd, 

To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd, 

To turn, turn will be our delight 

'Till by turning, turning we come round right.

(Elder Joseph Brackett Jr, 1797-1882)

4 March 2016

All Things Bright and Beautiful

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,

Each little bird that sings,

He made their glowing colors,

He made their tiny wings:

The purple - headed mountain,

The river running by,

The sunset and the morning,

That brightens up the sky,

The cold wind in the winter,

The pleasant summer sun,

The ripe fruits in the garden,

He made them every one.

(Cecil Frances Alexander, England 1818-1895)

3 March 2016

Approval Addiction

Living in the love of God, living in the gracious acceptance and approval of God, will liberate you from the “approval addiction” ─ living in bondage to what other people think about you. When you are addicted, no matter how much of your drug of choice you get, you never get enough. You've got to have more and more and more fixes, and like other junkies, you go crazy when this drug ─ the approval of others ─ is withheld. When you are an approval addict, you are always vulnerable to other people's opinions about you, and your life becomes an emotional rollercoaster.

(John Ortberg, Now What? p. 141)

2 March 2016

Spiritually Mature Human Being

The greatest sign of a spiritually mature human being is not a head crammed with knowledge ─ although that's not necessarily a bad thing ─ but the greatest sign of a spiritually mature human being is a heart that desperately loves people, desperately loves Jesus, and desperately wants to bring them together.
(John Ortberg, Now What? p. 140)
1 March 2016

Pure Prayer

White Hibiscus in our backyard

Photo by Mr. Dickie

Pure prayer only takes possession of our hearts for good when we no longer desire any special light or grace or consolation for ourselves, and pray without any thought of our own satisfaction.
(Thomas Merton, No Man Is An Island, p. 50)
28 February 2016

Pain of the World

Forgive us if this day we have done or said anything to increase the pain of the world.

Pardon 

• the judgmental attitude, 
• the unkind word, 
• the impatient gesture, 
• the hard and selfish deed, 
• the failure to show sympathy and kindly help  

where we had the opportunity, but missed it.

Amen.

(Frederick B. Meyer, in Flowers Along the Path, by Esther Carls Dodgen, p. 330)

27 February 2016

Quality of Prayer

The quality of prayer rather than its quantity is what matters. A single moment of divine union is more valuable than a long period of prayer during which you are constantly in and out of interior silence. It only take a moment for God to enrich you.
(Thomas Keating, Open Mind Open Heart, p. 57)
26 February 2016

Defects

Study to be patient in bearing the defects of others, because you also have many things which others must bear. We want others strictly corrected, and are not willing to be corrected ourselves. But God has so ordered it, that we may learn to bear one another's burdens, for there is no man without defect, no man sufficient for himself. We must support, comfort, help, instruct, and admonish one another. The amount of each man's virtue better appears on occasion of adversity: for the occasions do not make a man frail - they reveal what he is!

Oftentimes to we do not perceive our own inward blindness, how great it is. We often do evil, and excuse it worse. We are sometimes moved with passion and we think it to be zeal. We reprehend small things in others, and pass over great matters in ourselves. We quickly enough feel and weigh what we suffer at the hands of others; but we mind not what others suffer from us. He that well and rightly considerth his own works will find little cause to judge harshly of another.

(Thomas ‘a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ)

One Nation Under God

Dear God, I am so weary of the bickering in our nation.
It disturbs me to see people attempting to remove You from schools, courtrooms, and
anywhere else they think of.
They distort history and deny that this nation was founded with You as her leader.
Heal us, Lord.
Help us return to You!
(Rachel Quillin, Everyday Prayers, p. 137)
23 February 2016

Pray For People

Pray for people.
Talk to God about people.
And when you get a leading

to call somebody,
to write somebody a note,
to encourage somebody,
to wrap your arms around somebody,

don't blow it off.
This is your chance to love the people who mean so much to God.
Remember how short life is and what really matters.
It's all about love.
(John Ortberg, Now What?, p. 127)
22 February 2016

Wisdom

National Geographic

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
(James 1:5)
21 February 2016

Spiritual Force

The spiritual force that moves this world often slips from our attention. It is not found in books, newspapers, the law, or scholarly journals. Invisible, it is always free. It can be found in your thoughts, and is the force of your spirit.
(Leo Tolstoy)
20 February 2016

God Is Eternal

God is eternal, all-embracing, and exists across space and time, God is all there is. There is no other God than this God. All exists in Him. All life, when it appears, does not come from nothing, but rather, from God. And when death takes us, it does not take us to nothing, it takes us back to God.
(Leo Tolstoy)
19 February 2016

Words

The primary goal of human life is to be united with the spirit of God. Words are one of the tools that aid us in our goal. Be careful not to misuse words, and respect all kinds of words ─ your own, and others' judgments, written, printed, and spoken. Beware of the words that separate, and use those that unite.
(Leo Tolstoy)
18 February 2016

What Is Prayer?

What is prayer? It is appealing to the higher state of your spirit and trying to remind yourself that you are a spiritual being. When you talk to another person, it is a mystery, as if you are talking to God. I try to remember this every time I talk to people.
(Leo Tolstoy)
17 February 2016

Anxiety

Lord, calm my anxieties, and help me enjoy each moment of this life the Father has given me.
(The Christophers, Three Minutes A Day, Vol. 44, 11 September)
17 February 2016

President's Day

Lord, direct our president's heart toward You. Give our president spiritual wisdom and understanding to lead this nation according to Your precepts and into all truth. May the president be filled to overflowing with Your depth of insight into all situations. Surround the president with Godly advisors. Inscribe on their hearts the knowledge of Your will so that they may know You better. Thank You. Amen.

(Rebecca Ondov, Daily Guideposts - 2015, 11 February)

15 February 2016

Faithfulness

Father, give me faithfulness in all things large and small, 

so that I may be an example and blessing to others.

14 February 2016

Open My Eyes

Open my eyes that I may see.

13 February 2016

Harmony

Lord, give me the resolve to make things better, to ignore my pride, and to do whatever is needed to keep harmony in my family. Amen.

(Prayers From the Heart, Day 270)

12 February 2016