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

Saint Francis

Lord, grant that I may seek rather

To comfort than to be comforted

To understand than to be understood

To love than to be loved;

For it is by giving that one receives,

It is by self-forgetting that one finds,

It is by forgiving that one is forgiven,

It is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.

(Francis of Assisi, in Flowers Along the Path by Esther Carls Dodgen, p. 306)

11 February 2016

Refresh and Strengthen

Be present with your servants, Lord;

we look to you with one accord;

refresh and strengthen us anew, 

and bless what in your name we do.

(Moravian Daily Texts - 2013, 10 February)

10 February 2016

All Creatures Great And Small

God gave us eyes to see them,

and lips that we might tell

how great is God Almighty,

who has made all things well.

All things bright and beautiful,

all creatures great and small,

all things wise and wonderful --

the Lord God made them all.

(Moravian Daily Texts - 2013, 6 February)

9 February 2016

God's Chart

The Bible is God's chart for you to steer by,

to keep you from the bottom of the sea,

and to show you where the harbor is,

and how to reach it without

running on the rocks and bars.

(Henry Ward Beecher, Flowers Along The Path, Esther Carls Dodgen , p 291)

8 February 2016

Negativity

There are times when I get caught up in negativity, Lord, 

Please don't let me forget Your big blessings 

in however small a package.

(Erika Bentsen, Daily Guideposts - 2014, 4 February)

7 February 2016

Blessings

Lord, thank You for every blessing, both big and small. Help me to be more aware of the ways in which You take care of me, so my gratitude can continue to grow. Amen.
(Prayers From The Heart, Day 47)
6 February 2016

Giving

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.
(Luke 6:38, God's Promised And Answers, p. 166)
5 February 2016

Burdens

Pray not for lighter burdens but for stronger backs.

(Theodore Roosevelt, Especially For You, 19 June)

4 February 2016

Burdens

Few burdens are heavy when everyone lifts.

Carry each other's burdens, 

and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

(Galatians 6:2 (NIV))

3 February 2016

Abide With Us, Our Savior

Abide with us, our Savior,

Nor let Your mercy cease;

From Satan's might defend us,

And grant our souls release.

(Amazing Grace, various authors, p. 216)

2 February 2016

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace!

How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

(Moravian Daily Texts - 2013, 19 January)

1 February 2016