(A hymn by Charles Wesley, slightly revised)
God of all power and truth and grace,
Which shall from age to age endure,
Whose word, when Heaven and earth shall pass,
Remains and stands forever sure,
That I your mercy may proclaim,
That all humanity truth may see,
Hallow your great and glorious name,
And perfect holiness in me.
Purge from me every sinful blot;
My idols all be cast aside;
Cleanse me from every sinful thought,
From all the filth of self and pride.
Give me a new, a perfect heart,
From doubt and fear and sorrow free;
The mind that is in Christ impart
And let my thoughts unblemished be.
O that I now, from sin released,
Your word may to the utmost prove,
Enter into your promised rest,
The Canaan of your perfect love. Amen.
May Your Blessing Rest on Your People
May your blessing rest on your people (Psalm 3:8, GW).
May your blessing comfort your people.
May your blessing stir up your people.
May your blessing gladden your people.
May your blessing convict your people.
May your blessing energize your people.
May your blessing revive your people.
May your blessing refine your people.
May your blessing excite your people.
May your blessing blow away your people.
Amen.
May your blessing comfort your people.
May your blessing stir up your people.
May your blessing gladden your people.
May your blessing convict your people.
May your blessing energize your people.
May your blessing revive your people.
May your blessing refine your people.
May your blessing excite your people.
May your blessing blow away your people.
Amen.
I Renew My Covenant
(A prayer by Salvationist hymnwriter Will Brand)
By the love that never ceased to hold me,
By the blood which Thou didst shed for me,
Whilst Thy presence and Thy power enfold me,
I renew my covenant with Thee.
Amen.
By the love that never ceased to hold me,
By the blood which Thou didst shed for me,
Whilst Thy presence and Thy power enfold me,
I renew my covenant with Thee.
Amen.
Praise Belongs to You
Praise belongs to you, Lord,
Mighty God,
Transcendent,
Righteous,
Merciful,
and Just.
I praise you for being a mighty fortress,
a kind, forgiving Father,
a gentle, nursing mother,
a friend,
a king,
a warrior,
a shepherd,
a rose of Sharon,
a morning star,
a sun, and shield, a shelter,
all that I need, and all I aspire to be.
Amen.
Mighty God,
Transcendent,
Righteous,
Merciful,
and Just.
I praise you for being a mighty fortress,
a kind, forgiving Father,
a gentle, nursing mother,
a friend,
a king,
a warrior,
a shepherd,
a rose of Sharon,
a morning star,
a sun, and shield, a shelter,
all that I need, and all I aspire to be.
Amen.
Such a Family
Abba, how I thank you
that you have given me
such a wife,
such a daughter,
such a son,
that they are the people--
of all the people in the world--
I most desperately and constantly
want to spend time with.
that you have given me
such a wife,
such a daughter,
such a son,
that they are the people--
of all the people in the world--
I most desperately and constantly
want to spend time with.
I Give Thee Thanks
(A prayer of John Baillie)
For the power Thou hast given me to lay hold of things unseen:
For the strong sense I have that this is not my home:
For my restless heart which nothing finite can satisfy:
I give Thee thanks, O God.
For the invasion of my soul by Thy Holy Spirit:
For all human love and goodness that speak to me of Thee:
For the fullness of Thy glory outpoured in Jesus Christ:
I give Thee thanks, O God.
For the power Thou hast given me to lay hold of things unseen:For the strong sense I have that this is not my home:
For my restless heart which nothing finite can satisfy:
I give Thee thanks, O God.
For the invasion of my soul by Thy Holy Spirit:
For all human love and goodness that speak to me of Thee:
For the fullness of Thy glory outpoured in Jesus Christ:
I give Thee thanks, O God.
Holy Saturday Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for meeting me today,
where I needed you,
how I needed you,
as desperately as I needed you,
amen.
where I needed you,
how I needed you,
as desperately as I needed you,
amen.
Good Friday Prayer
(attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux)O sacred Head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory,
what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call Thee mine.
What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.
Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!
My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!
What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.
My Psalm 65
Praise is waiting here for you, O God;
I will fulfill my vows to you, Most Worthy King,
hearer of my prayers,
drawer of all men.
When I was overwhelmed by sins,
you willingly and readily and completely
forgave all my transgressions.
How blessed you have made me,
to call me to your service
and allow me to live in your courts!
I am filled with the bounty of your house,
the beauty of your holy temple.
You answer my prayers with works of awe-inspiring righteousness,
O God mySavior,
the hope of all people
from all tribes and tongues and nations,
who formed the Himalayas by your power,
and display your strength
in the roar of the Atlantic,
the vastness of the Pacific,
and the icecaps of the Poles.
From east to west, north to south,
you are to be honored,
and your wonders praised;
from morning's dawns to evening's dusk
you deserve full-throated songs of worship.
You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly.
You cause snows to fall
and streams to fill;
you water the fields
and provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it.
You drench the furrows of the field
and level its ridges;
you soften it with showers
and remind us, whether we are farmers
or builders
or painters
or travelers
or pastors,
that you still call the shots...
we are always, constantly in need of your favor.
You bring forth a harvest every year,
and in your sovereign love and wisdom
you supply our needs
and drape our landscape
with an ever-changing garment of provision,
and cause the meadows and valleys
to shout for joy and sing. Amen.
I will fulfill my vows to you, Most Worthy King,
hearer of my prayers,
drawer of all men.
When I was overwhelmed by sins,
you willingly and readily and completely
forgave all my transgressions.
How blessed you have made me,
to call me to your service
and allow me to live in your courts!
I am filled with the bounty of your house,
the beauty of your holy temple.
You answer my prayers with works of awe-inspiring righteousness,
O God mySavior,
the hope of all people
from all tribes and tongues and nations,
who formed the Himalayas by your power,
and display your strength
in the roar of the Atlantic,
the vastness of the Pacific,
and the icecaps of the Poles.
From east to west, north to south,
you are to be honored,
and your wonders praised;
from morning's dawns to evening's dusk
you deserve full-throated songs of worship.
You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly.
You cause snows to fall
and streams to fill;
you water the fields
and provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it.
You drench the furrows of the field
and level its ridges;
you soften it with showers
and remind us, whether we are farmers
or builders
or painters
or travelers
or pastors,
that you still call the shots...
we are always, constantly in need of your favor.
You bring forth a harvest every year,
and in your sovereign love and wisdom
you supply our needs
and drape our landscape
with an ever-changing garment of provision,
and cause the meadows and valleys
to shout for joy and sing. Amen.
Vindicate
Lord, vindicate those whose trust is in you,
who are relying on you,
who do not put their trust in their own cleverness
or strength
or effort,
but in you.
As you have done in the past,
as you have done recently,
vindicate those with childlike
risk-taking
utter
trust in you,
in Jesus' name, amen.
who are relying on you,
who do not put their trust in their own cleverness
or strength
or effort,
but in you.
As you have done in the past,
as you have done recently,
vindicate those with childlike
risk-taking
utter
trust in you,
in Jesus' name, amen.
St. Patrick's Breastplate
I arise today
Through a mighty strength,
the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.
I arise today
Through the strength
of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength
of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength
of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength
of his descent for the judgment of Doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.
I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches
and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ to shield me today
Against poison,
against burning,
Against drowning,
against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.
Establish Our Place
(A prayer for Cobblestone Community Church, from a hymn by General Albert Orsborn, slightly revised)
Let not Thy people boast;
Empty are we,
Blessed and growing host
Though we may be.
Nought of our own we claim,
Forth from Thy heart we came;
Thou art our Altar-flame.
We live by Thee!
Where secret rivers rise,
Lead us to grace;
Even through clouded skies,
Show us Thy face!
Own us Thy people still,
Seal us within Thy will,
And in Thy holy hill
'Stablish our place.
Amen.
Let not Thy people boast;
Empty are we,
Blessed and growing host
Though we may be.
Nought of our own we claim,
Forth from Thy heart we came;
Thou art our Altar-flame.
We live by Thee!
Where secret rivers rise,
Lead us to grace;
Even through clouded skies,
Show us Thy face!
Own us Thy people still,
Seal us within Thy will,
And in Thy holy hill
'Stablish our place.
Amen.
Tantrum
Abba, I'm so tired of being the grown-up.
I'm so tired of being the leader,
the person who has to rise to the challenge,
the person who has to humble himself,
look at himself,
apologize,
be an example,
figure things out,
look at the big picture,
come up with a solution,
make everybody happy,
blabla blabla bla.
Right now I want to be the one who gets to
throw the tantrum,
and generally act like a child.
I want to be the one who gets to
put all the burden on someone else, you know?
I want to be the one who gets to quit.
I know, I'm called to put away childish things.
I'm called to a holy standard.
I'm called to lead.
I just don't want to.
So I guess I'll pray, please supply the want-to,
because right now I'm running only on the have-to.
I'm so tired of being the leader,
the person who has to rise to the challenge,
the person who has to humble himself,
look at himself,
apologize,
be an example,
figure things out,
look at the big picture,
come up with a solution,
make everybody happy,
blabla blabla bla.
Right now I want to be the one who gets to
throw the tantrum,
and generally act like a child.
I want to be the one who gets to
put all the burden on someone else, you know?
I want to be the one who gets to quit.
I know, I'm called to put away childish things.
I'm called to a holy standard.
I'm called to lead.
I just don't want to.
So I guess I'll pray, please supply the want-to,
because right now I'm running only on the have-to.
From a Hill I Know
(A hymn of General Albert Orsborn)
When shall I come unto the healing waters?
Lifting my heart, I cry to Thee my prayer.
Spirit of peace, my Comforter and Healer,
In whom my springs are found, let my soul meet Thee there.
From a hill I know,
Healing waters flow;
O rise, Emmanuel's tide,
And my soul overflow.
Wash from my hands the dust of earthly striving,
Take from my mind the stress of secret fear;
Cleanse Thou the wounds from all but Thee far hidden,
And when the waters flow let my healing appear.
Light, life and love are in that healing fountain;
All I require to cleanse me and restore;
FLOW THROUGH MY SOUL, REDEEM ITS DESERT PLACES,
AND MAKE A GARDEN THERE FOR THE LORD I ADORE.
When shall I come unto the healing waters?
Lifting my heart, I cry to Thee my prayer.
Spirit of peace, my Comforter and Healer,
In whom my springs are found, let my soul meet Thee there.
From a hill I know,
Healing waters flow;
O rise, Emmanuel's tide,
And my soul overflow.
Wash from my hands the dust of earthly striving,
Take from my mind the stress of secret fear;
Cleanse Thou the wounds from all but Thee far hidden,
And when the waters flow let my healing appear.
Light, life and love are in that healing fountain;
All I require to cleanse me and restore;
FLOW THROUGH MY SOUL, REDEEM ITS DESERT PLACES,
AND MAKE A GARDEN THERE FOR THE LORD I ADORE.
Spirit of Prayer and of Grace
(The words of Martin Luther, slightly revised)
Our dear Lord,
who has given to us
and taught us to pray
the Psalter and the Lord's Prayer,
grant to us also the spirit of prayer
and of grace
so that we may pray with enthusiasm and earnest faith,
properly and without ceasing.
We need this,
and you have asked for it,
and therefore it is your will to have it from us. Amen.
Our dear Lord,who has given to us
and taught us to pray
the Psalter and the Lord's Prayer,
grant to us also the spirit of prayer
and of grace
so that we may pray with enthusiasm and earnest faith,
properly and without ceasing.
We need this,
and you have asked for it,
and therefore it is your will to have it from us. Amen.
For Cobblestone
Lord God, I pray for the finances of your church,
for the 2008 budget of Cobblestone,
for your provision throughout this year.
I ask your blessing on our upcoming prayer event.
I ask for good weather for the construction crew.
I pray for you to foster maximum participation in the Prayer Path
and good weather and joyous celebration for the Loft-site prayer event.
I pray your richest blessing and miraculous supply for our volunteers and attenders.
I pray that you will be pleased with our worship and answer our petitions.
In Jesus' name, amen.
for the 2008 budget of Cobblestone,
for your provision throughout this year.
I ask your blessing on our upcoming prayer event.
I ask for good weather for the construction crew.
I pray for you to foster maximum participation in the Prayer Path
and good weather and joyous celebration for the Loft-site prayer event.
I pray your richest blessing and miraculous supply for our volunteers and attenders.
I pray that you will be pleased with our worship and answer our petitions.
In Jesus' name, amen.
My Psalm 64
Hear me, O God, as I pour out my lament;
protect me from the Enemy's attacks.
Shelter me from gossips
and negative people,
from anyone with sharp tongues
and deadly mouths.
Help me to walk with eyes wide open,
not fearing ambush,
but not ignorant of the snares in my path, either.
Save me from people's intrigues,
deliver me from unkind assumptions
and those who whisper in secret
instead of just approaching a man
and speaking with honesty and integrity.
Lord, pierce the unforgiveness that's out there,
and strike down the walls of bitterness
and separation
that I know grieve your heart more than mine.
Twist cunning tongues into knots;
ruin the plans of my Enemy.
Let everyone revere you, Lord God;
let everyone proclaim your works
and ponder what you have done.
Let me rejoice in you, LORD,
and take refuge in you;
let all the upright in heart praise you!
Amen.
protect me from the Enemy's attacks.
Shelter me from gossips
and negative people,
from anyone with sharp tongues
and deadly mouths.
Help me to walk with eyes wide open,
not fearing ambush,
but not ignorant of the snares in my path, either.
Save me from people's intrigues,
deliver me from unkind assumptions
and those who whisper in secret
instead of just approaching a man
and speaking with honesty and integrity.
Lord, pierce the unforgiveness that's out there,
and strike down the walls of bitterness
and separation
that I know grieve your heart more than mine.
Twist cunning tongues into knots;
ruin the plans of my Enemy.
Let everyone revere you, Lord God;
let everyone proclaim your works
and ponder what you have done.
Let me rejoice in you, LORD,
and take refuge in you;
let all the upright in heart praise you!
Amen.
Before the Ending of the Day
(A hymn of St. Ambrose)
Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
that with Thy wonted favor, Thou
would'st be our Guard and Keeper now.
From all ill dreams defend our eyes,
from nightly fears and fantasies;
tread under foot our ghostly foe,
that no pollution we may know.
O Father, that we ask be done,
through Jesus Christ, Thine only Son;
Who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee,
shall live and reign eternally.
Amen.
Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
that with Thy wonted favor, Thou
would'st be our Guard and Keeper now.
From all ill dreams defend our eyes,
from nightly fears and fantasies;
tread under foot our ghostly foe,
that no pollution we may know.
O Father, that we ask be done,
through Jesus Christ, Thine only Son;
Who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee,
shall live and reign eternally.
Amen.
Grandfather Praise
Lord, as if you weren't good enough
in giving me children who bring joy to my heart,
who bless me
and impress me
(and in giving them loves that bless me, too),
you have given me SUCH a grandson!
Oh, God, what health,
what beauty,
what charm,
determination,
intelligence,
acuity,
personality,
strength,
and promise
you have brought into my life.
I give you all the praise
I can summon
from this grateful grandfather's heart.
Amen.
in giving me children who bring joy to my heart,
who bless me
and impress me
(and in giving them loves that bless me, too),
you have given me SUCH a grandson!
Oh, God, what health,
what beauty,
what charm,
determination,
intelligence,
acuity,
personality,
strength,
and promise
you have brought into my life.
I give you all the praise
I can summon
from this grateful grandfather's heart.
Amen.
You Know
Lord,
you know what I need.
You know what your church needs.
You know what my family needs.
I trust you to supply those needs,
according to my riches,
our riches,
in Christ Jesus,
in whose name I pray,
amen.
you know what I need.
You know what your church needs.
You know what my family needs.
I trust you to supply those needs,
according to my riches,
our riches,
in Christ Jesus,
in whose name I pray,
amen.
One Blazing Fire
O make my life one blazing fire
Of pure and fervent heart desire
The lost to find, the low to raise,
And give them cause Thy name to praise.
Amen.
(from a hymn by T. C. Marshall)
Of pure and fervent heart desire
The lost to find, the low to raise,
And give them cause Thy name to praise.
Amen.
(from a hymn by T. C. Marshall)
Prayer for My Bride
Abba, please be with my bride today
and help her accomplish her objective.
Grant her calm,
confidence,
courage,
clarity,
and recall,
and give her success,
in Jesus' name, amen.
and help her accomplish her objective.
Grant her calm,
confidence,
courage,
clarity,
and recall,
and give her success,
in Jesus' name, amen.
Saved from Myself
Oh, to be saved from myself, dear Lord!
Oh, to be lost in Thee!
Oh, that it might be no more I, but
Christ that lives in me.
Oh, to be lost in Thee!
Oh, that it might be no more I, but
Christ that lives in me.
All The Things You Are
(based on lyrics by the great Jerome Kern)
Time and again I’ve longed for adventure,
Something to make my heart beat the faster.
What did I long for? I never really knew.
Finding you, Lord, I’ve found my adventure,
Walking with you, my heart beats the faster,
All that I want in all of this world is you.
You are the promised kiss of springtime
That makes the lonely winter seem long.
You are the breathless hush of evening
That trembles on the brink of a lovely song.
You are the fiery glow that lights a star,
The dearest things I know are what you are.
Some day my happy eyes will see you,
And some day I’ll know that moment divine,
When all the things you are, are mine!
Time and again I’ve longed for adventure,
Something to make my heart beat the faster.
What did I long for? I never really knew.
Finding you, Lord, I’ve found my adventure,
Walking with you, my heart beats the faster,
All that I want in all of this world is you.
You are the promised kiss of springtime
That makes the lonely winter seem long.
You are the breathless hush of evening
That trembles on the brink of a lovely song.
You are the fiery glow that lights a star,
The dearest things I know are what you are.
Some day my happy eyes will see you,
And some day I’ll know that moment divine,
When all the things you are, are mine!