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