Thursday Thought

Prayer for Christmas Day on Sunday

God,

Your light has come into our world to shine brightly in our darkness.

We rejoice in your light, we are so glad because with the light you have set us free.

In fact we know and celebrate that even to this day the darkness has not overcome it.

It is through the birth of your son that your light entered into the world

and we too want to be children of light.

We are grateful for the birth of your son

who has become known as the wonderful counselor.

Our governments need him as their wise counselor

 because they have often become stalemated with each other.

Our churches need him as their ideal counselor,

because they are at a loss as how to deal with our culture

 that sees the church as irrelevant.

Our families need him as their counselor

because they struggle with how to be a healthy family in this day and age.

We as individuals need him as our sage counselor

 to help us in how to live as your children of the light.

And we are grateful for the birth of your son who  has become known as Mighty God.

We need a Mighty God to establish justice in this often unjust world.

We need a Mighty God to bring about righteousness in a world

that is often anything but righteous.

We need a great big God to believe in when it appears there is so little to believe in.

We need a strong God when we feel so small, so weak and so puny.

We are grateful for the birth of your son who has become known as Everlasting Father.

We need the everlasting father for those who are fatherless, for those who have been abandoned by their fathers, and for those who don’t have good fathers.

We need the everlasting father for his love and his mercies for all of us.

We need the everlasting father for guidance, leadership, firmness yet gentleness.

We need the father who lives forever that we get to live with forever.

We are grateful for the birth of your son who has become known as Prince of Peace.

We need a Prince of Peace in a world that is always at war with one another.

We need a Prince of Peace to help us navigate the conflicts of relationship

 we often meet in life.

We need a Prince of Peace to calm and sooth our hearts, our minds, and our souls.

We need a Price of Peace to establish his Kingdom of peace in our lives forever.

Lord what a wonderful gift you have given us in your son Jesus who is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 We thank you for this gift today and everyday.

Amen

Merry Christmas

cross posted at revgalblogpals

A Prayer on Dec. 23rd

Almighty God,

Now that the celebration of the birthday of Your Son

as part of humankind is drawing near,

we pray that Your eternal Word,
who took flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary,
and came to dwell among ordinary people,
will show many men and women and boys and girls,
the greatness of His love and mercy,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

We pray that we may be part of that revelation to this world in whatever way we are able.


Amen

Thursday Prayer

Winter God, in the darkest time of year
you brought in starlight, angel song, and baby cries.
Stay with me as I journey to new birth
and celebrate this year of saints, psalms, and prayer.
In the silence and stillness,
fashion my prayer into a carol of praise
and focus my life
so that I may act as a herald of Christ
the child of peace and the prophet of justice.
Amen.

Wednesday Prayer

Every day is a god, each day is a god,
and holiness holds forth in time.
I worship each god,
I praise each day splintered down,
and wrapped in time like a husk,
a husk of many colors spreading,
at dawn fast over the mountins split.

-Annie Dillard

peaceful, beautiful Winter Solstice to you!

Tuesday Prayer

Children will see it first--
Their sharp eyes and keen hearts
Fixed on a peaceful future.

Youngsters will recognize it unaided--
The earth flowing with milk and honey
Governments cooperating to make sure all are fed.

The little ones of every land--
Gather to grow into the vision.
We who chart the future can only dream.

Let it begin now and let it last long--
-Mary E. Hunt

Prayer for Advent 4B

God of Advent,

We are so close to Christmas Day, that

We can see your light shining in the dark

As we come closer and closer.

And as we draw nearer we find ourselves

tempted by all the busyness

Of the holidays to lose our focus on you.

Help us o Lord to keep our eyes on you.

God of Advent,

We have been waiting for what seems like a long time

For that special day to celebrate the birth of your son.

We have waited with hopeful hearts.

We have waited with longing for your peace.

We have waited with a desire for your joy.

And now we wait with a yearning for your love to be born in us again.

God of Advent,

When your steadfast love is birthed in us we will sing of you

And your love forever and ever.

When we are anointed by your love,

we will open our hearts and hands to the lonely, the needy,

the sorrowful, and those who are hurting.

We pray that we are able to share your love with all we meet.

God of Advent,

We pray that we are able to say yes to you when you call.

We pray that we are able to say “Here I am to you Lord.”

We pray that we can  be your servants.

We pray that we can say as Mary said so long ago,

“Let it be with me according to your word.”

May all that we are glorify you, and may we rejoice in you

For you are our God, You are the rock of our salvation.

Yes, all our praise and love is focused through Jesus

On you o God.

Amen

 cross posted on revgalblogpals

Saturday: turning

Welcome to Our World

Tried several times to post a prayer and blogger wasn't cooperating.  Maybe 'twasn't meant to be.  ;-)  I'll share one of my favorite newer Christmas songs instead.  Praying for each of you to be blessed this season.

Thursday Thought

"Our faith is a light, the kindly gift of that endless day which is our Father, God. By this light our Mother Christ, and our good Lord the Holy Spirit lead us in this fleeting life. (God says:) 'I shall love you, and you love me, and our love shall never be broken.'"

~~Julian of Norwich

An Ordinary Miracle: Wednesday Prayer

I need this song today.
I hope it sings to you, too.

Tuesday Prayer

Life-giver,

Where I am,

You are.

What I feel,

You feel.

What I think,

You think. 

So transparent is my unity with you

That my eye and your eye

Are one eye and one seeing

And one knowing and on loving.

In awe I confess:

That what I do,

You do.

Assist me this day to be worthy 

of You.

Amen

-John McQuiston II, A Prayer Book for the 21st Century

Prayer for Advent 3B

God   of Advent,

Pour your Holy Spirit on us as you did so long ago,

So that we may be bearers of your good news to those who are oppressed.

Anoint us with your spirit of hope so that we may heal the broken hearted.

Put your spirit of justice in our hearts so that we may declare liberty to the captives.

Bring forth your love so that we may pardon the prisoners.

God of Advent,

Make this be the day of the Lord when all who mourn are comforted.

Make this be the day when those who are grieving are strengthened.

Make this be the day when those who are in despair rise from their ashes.

Make this be the day where your glory is shown all around.

God of Advent,

Heal and restore our lands where there has been devastation.

Bring peace and reconciliation where there has been wars and fighting.

Reestablish those who have been jobless for too long.

Bring forth your salvation to all.

God of Advent,

May we be like Mary, Praising your name, singing your song from the depths of our souls.

May we spread your good news all around us for all to hear.

May we let people know how much we love you.

May we declare your good works in our lives forever.

Amen

Saturday: the promise of joy

"Love, I love You because You're full of joy! You're a Mother nourishing the kindness in us as if we are children at Your breast (and we are). You're rich beyond anything I can ever imagine. You're so rich that the soul clothed in You can never be poor. You share Your every gift with us and even give our souls Your beauty because You make us one with You. St. John tells us that God is love, and anyone who lives in love lives and God, and God in them."

~~Catherine of Siena, Letters~~

Winter Prayer

Dear Lord,
just help me keep my life,

As pure and white as snow,

That on a clear, cold winter day,

Brings beauty here below.

Dear Lord,
just let me seek the light,

Your Warmth, Your Love, Your Grace,

As here below we seek the warmth,
Of a winter fireplace.


Dear Lord,
just help me strive to do,
The things You need of me.
I Thank You Lord, for in this way,
My Soul, like flakes, is Free.


E.H. Coe

Thursday Thought on Waiting

“How do we wait for God? We wait with patience. But patience does not mean passivity. Waiting patiently is not like waiting for the bus to come, the rain to stop, or the sun to rise. It is an active waiting in which we live the present moment to the full in order to find there the signs of the One we are waiting for.

“The word patience comes from the Latin verb patior, which means to ‘suffer.’ Waiting patiently is suffering through the present moment, tasting it to the full, and letting the seeds that are sown in the ground on which we stand grow into strong plants. Waiting patiently always means paying attention to what is happening right before our eyes and seeing there the first rays of God’s glorious coming.”

~~Henri J. M. Nouwen

Good is the Lord to one who waits for him, to the soul that seeks him; it is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:25-26

a Wednesday prayer....

..today,
a little prayer exercise....

for every person, in the next hour, you encounter, whether it is online, reading a blog, facebooking, or in person,  stop...
and give them a blessing.

I will go first.
Bless YOU!

A Tuesday Prayer...

Take time to listen to the birds,
                                 the waves,
                                 the wind.

Take time to breathe in the air,
                                   the earth,
                                   the ocean,
          [or snow. ]

Take time to be still,
        to be silent,
        to allow God to fill you up
        with deep peace and love.

Maired Maguire
Recipient Nobel Peace Prize,
Community of the Peace People, Ireland

Prayer for Advent 2B

God of Advent

We come crying out for all, comfort your people.

Make a path for your people that they can find their way.

Speak tenderly to all whose hearts are wounded.

Bring calmness to all who fear.

Be our Shepherd Lord and carry us as one would carry a lamb.

Feed our hunger Lord.

God of Advent

Show us your mercy and favor.

Forgive us our ways when we turn away from you.

And put your peace into our hearts as we turn back to you

Pour your steadfast love over as like a gentle rain.

Breath your righteousness into our souls.

Make us faithful as we wait.

God of Advent

We do wait for your son to come

We wait for the new heavens and the new earth.

We wait in your peace, your patience and your salvation.

And so we pray come Lord Jesus, come. 

cross posted at revgalblogpals

Saturday: best friends

"The soul that has devoted itself to God journeys along a rarely traveled path that soars. The soul that loves God guides a person's senses just like someone with sight will guide a friend who's blind.

"On this path of love the soul experiences true freedom because it lives without inner suffering. How so? Because the soul wants nothing but whatever it is the Lord wants.

"The soul that has God as its best friend trusts God, because the soul knows that God always organizes everything for the best."

~~Mecthild of Magdeburg, The Flowing Light of the Godhead~~

Heading into December

Here we are, Lord, marching headlong into Advent and Christmas. It's a busy time for Rev Gals and Pals.  For some it is a sad time as well.  Some of us struggle with depression and loss and disappointment, even as we seek to help others through these things. Some of us have lost loved ones, or are unsure of our future places of service. Some are facing dangerous wind, storms on the way...and...well...God, you know.  We ask today for you.  Just YOU.  You in our thoughts, our conversation, our facial expressions, our hands and our feet and our spirits and our lives.  Be near, we pray, Spirit of God.  "Have our backs" as we often say to one another.  Be with us and in us and work through us as we prepare ways to share the Good News this season.  And help us to find our own moment of wonder in these coming days.  We do believe, and we do rejoice...sometimes in spite of things. 

Thursday Prayer

God of comfort, wrap me securely in your nurturing arms.

Let me be your voice, your heart,

your loving touch to someone who needs a word of grace, a voice of hope,

a loving hug during these sometimes difficult Advent days.

Amen.

~~Beth A. Richardson

The Uncluttered Heart