Post-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving

O My God,
Thou fairest, greatest,
first of all objects,
my heart admires,
adores,
loves thee,
for my little vessel
is as full as it can be,
and I would pour out
all that fullness before thee
in ceaseless flow.

When I think upon and converse with thee
ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
crowding into every moment of happiness.

I bless thee for the soul thou hast created,
for adorning it, for sanctifying it,
though it is fixed in barren soil;
for the body thou hast given me,
for preserving its strength and vigour,
for providing senses to enjoy delights,
for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;
for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,
for a full table and overflowing cup,
for appetite, taste, sweetness,
for social joys of relatives and friends,
for ability to serve others,
for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.

I love thee above the powers of language to express,
for what thou art to thy creatures.

Increase my love, O my God,
through time and eternity.

(from The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers, edited by Arthur Bennett)

Collect for Thanksgiving

Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Thanks for Calleigh

Abba, Father, Most Blessed, Most High,
you bestow your greatest blessing on us
when you call upon us
to take part in
the miracle of bringing new life
into the world.

You have blessed again;
you never left blessing.

You fill us with new wonder
at this awesome gift of life,
this precious child,
this beautiful granddaughter,
this wonderful Calleigh.

Thank you for preserving her
and her mother through pregnancy
and labor
and birth.

Thank you for her health,
wholeness,
charm,
beauty,
innocence,
and intricacy.

Thank you for entrusting her to our care.

Thank you for so ably equipping
her parents to welcome her,
receive her,
care for her,
raise her,
and teach her.

Gentle shepherd,
Giver of life,
we give you thanks for this gift,
and as we cherish her
we ask you to encircle us always with your fatherly love,
in Jesus' name, amen.

A Prayer for Thanksgiving on the Day Before Thanksgiving

For you, who fed the hungry,
May we so break our bread
In constant, costly giving
That others may be fed. Amen.

(by Lillian Cox)

Hear My Prayer, O Lord



A choral prayer of Henry Purcell, based on Psalm 102:1 ("Hear my prayer, O LORD; and let my cry for help come to you"), by the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge.

A Psalm of Thanksgiving for Leaders











Thank You for our leaders
for pastors
who feed us
serve us and our children
as Your ministers
Son of God
who came not to be served
but to serve
for theologians
who give us answers
questions
reasons for our hope
from Your Word
Father of Lights
for evangelists
who harvest the field
You have brought
to fruition
Holy Spirit
for teachers
who make us think
of You
ourselves and others
because You have taught them.
Thank You for our leaders
Your followers.

(From Psalms of My Life, by Joseph Bayly. p. 55)

A Psalm of Preaching

I'm on the bridge
Lord
the ship's bridge
steering shipload
of your people. There they are
on the deck looking up
trusting
scarcely knowing
of the icebergs
hidden reefs
wrecks of long gone ships
that I'm avoiding.
Keep me glued
to chart
that you've provided
to Holy Spirit's course
sensing dangers
most of all
the danger that I'll think
beyond the steering
I provide
power to make the ship move
on its appointed course.
Bring us all
to safe harbor
by twelve o'clock.

(From Psalms of My Life, by Joseph Bayly. p. 42)

A Prayer of Joseph Bayly

Thank you for children
brought into being
because we loved.
God of love
Keep us loving
so that they
may grow up whole
in love's overflow.

(From Psalms of My Life, by Joseph Bayly, p. 65)

Translate

Abba, thank you for the hundreds
of Bible translations that are available to me,
and for their forerunners throughout history,
who have made
your precious Word
understandable and accessible, often at great personal cost.

Thank you for of the 72 Jewish elders recruited by Ptolemy II
who translated the Old Testament from Hebrew into Greek.

Thank you for William Tyndale,
who gave his life to "Write down the revelation and make it plain" (Habakkuk 2:2).

Thank you for the 47 scholars who transformed the Textus Receptus
into the beauty and majesty of the King James Version.

Thank you for Moffatt and Phillips,
for Ken Taylor and Eugene Peterson,
for the 32 scholars who gave us the NASB,
and the more than 100 scholars who produced the NIV.

Thank you for the efforts of more than 90 scholars
that went into the New Living Translation,
and that of the scores of scholars and advisors
who produced the English Standard Version.

May my appreciation and obedience to your Word
honor their efforts,
and yours in inspiring them.

May my life translate Scripture
into a language those around me can read,
in Jesus' name, amen.

(inspired by a blog post of Mark Batterson)

Pity My Unsettled Soul

Jesus, Shepherd of the sheep,
Pity my unsettled soul;
Guide and nourish me and keep,
Till Thy love shall make me whole.
Give me perfect soundness, give;
Make me steadfastly believe.

I am never at one stay,
Changing every hour I am;
But Thou art, as yesterday,
Now and evermore the same.
Constancy to me impart,
Stablish with Thy Grace my heart.

Give me faith to hold me up,
Walking over life's rough sea;
Holy, purifying hope,
Still my soul's sure anchor be.
That I may be always Thine,
Perfect me in love divine.

(Charles Wesley)

May I Not Seek More

God,
may I not seek more
than you desire for me.

Save me
from longing for less.

May contentment complete me.
Let trust triumph.

Amen.

(A Twitturgies prayer)

You Have to Break My Heart Always









Lord, you know that I will forget to follow you and depend on you.
You know that I will not turn to you anymore as your child
if I feel I can make it on my own.
So you have to break my heart always,
you have to keep me poor and humble,
you have to keep me incapable of anything without you.

You have to make it clear to me
that I can do nothing without your grace,
and that will never be clear to me
if I think things are going well.
You have to break my heart.

(A prayer of Fr. Vincent Nagel, from the book Magnificat Year of the Priest Companion)

A Prayer of Appreciation for The Loft















What you have done, Lord God Adonai!
What you have done.
You led your people Cobblestone
to fifty acres
we never knew to ask for.
You guided us
through the thorns and brambles
of banks and funding
and plans and permits
and clearing and grading and building.
By your grace, we moved in
just one year ago.
We enter a building this morning
that is already furnished.
We sit on chairs
we don't have to put away
when worship is over.
We enjoy a commodious auditorium
and welcoming atrium
and accessible classrooms
and ample parking
and displays
and filtered water
and heating we control
and lighting we adjust
and a fine sound system
and so much more.
Oh, God, you have blessed your people
abundantly.
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much.
Thank you so very much.

Morning Prayer

Glory to you, King, God almighty, who through your divine and loving providence have consented that I, an unworthy sinner, should rise from sleep and obtain entrance into your holy house. Accept, Lord, the voice of my prayer as you accept those of your holy and spiritual powers. And that not through my defiled lips, but from a pure heart and humble spirit. Praise may be offered to you so that I also, with the bright lamp of my soul, may become a companion of the wise virgins and glorify you, God the Word, who is glorified in the Father and the Spirit. Amen.

A Thanksgiving on Rising

As I rise from sleep, I thank you, Holy Trinity, for because of your great goodness and patience, you were not angry with me, an idler and sinner, nor have you destroyed me in my sins, but have shown your usual love for me. And when I was prostrate in despair, you raised me to glorify with your power. Enlighten now my mind’s eye, open my mouth to study your words and understand your commandments, to do your will and sing to you in heartfelt adoration, and praise your most holy name, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

(An Orthodox prayer)

My Psalm 105

Thank you, LORD!
I am thrilled to call on your name,
and blessed to be called
to make known among the nations what you have done.

Hear my song,
extolling your wonderful deeds,
glorifying your name,
rejoicing in your presence!

I look to you, LORD,
and draw my strength from your strength.
Communion with you is my life blood.

I remember the wonders you have done,
the miracles I have seen,
the moments in my life when your wise judgment has been vindicated.

Thank you, God, for making me a descendant of Abraham your servant,
a son of Jacob, your chosen ones.
Thank you for grafting me in!

You are my LORD and God;
I see your work all around me.

As you did with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
you have done with me:
you have kept all your promises,
you have fulfilled your word.

When my mood is low,
I forget.
But thank you for reminding me,
and teaching me that your faithfulness
is never dependent on my moods!

I wander;
you draw me back.

I feel attacked or oppressed;
you defend me.

I wallow;
you lift me up.

I feel sold out like Joseph;
you use everything to bring about my good!

Everything you do--
allowing gossip,
sending persecution,
performing miraculous signs,
sending darkness,
turning water to blood
or turning water to wine,
sending swarms of frogs or flies,
plagues of hail and locusts,
even death--
is intended for the deliverance of your loved ones!
And I am included in that number.

As you delivered Israel,
you deliver me.
Part the seas in my life, Lord,
Send pillars of fire and cloud ahead of me.
Feed me with manna and quail,
and open rocks to bring forth water!
Do it ALL,
so that your people will rejoice,
your chosen ones will shout with joy.
Do for your church what you did for your people of old:
give us the lands of the nations,
and make us heir to what others have toiled for
that we might show how you treat those
who love you and follow you
and walk in your ways,
in Jesus' name,
Amen!

Then Now Then

Forgive, 0 Lord, what we have been,
Direct what we are,
And order what we shall be,
For your mercy's sake,
Amen.

All You Did Was Save My Life

(I was so blessed by this song, sung in this morning's worship celebration at Cobblestone. As Con Brio was singing it, it became a prayer for me)

You, looked at me as you walked in the room;
Like the red sea, you split me open.
Somehow I knew these wings were stolen,
All you did was save my life.

Tried to run but I couldn't move,
Well, I paid for these concrete shoes
Like a singer that sings the blues,
You saw hope in the hopeless.

I'm not dying;
All you did was save my life.
Pulled me out of that flatline,
Put the heartbeat back inside.
I'm not dying;
All you did was get me through,
I owe every breathe to you.
Heart and soul unparalyzed,
All you did was save my life.

I'm not for sale but I've been sold,
The more I hear the less I know,
The lies are swallowed whole,
In their insignificance.
The story's been told a million times
but it's different when it's your life.
I won the lottery tonight,
The lottery tonight.

I'm not dying;
All you did was save my life.
Pulled me out of that flat line,
Put the heartbeat back inside.

I'm not dying;
All you did was get me through,
I owe every breathe to you.
Heart and soul unparalyzed,
All you did was save my life.

I started to come around,
The dogs are backing down,
I'm not afraid to see.

The devil's gone underground,
This tightrope's been cut down,
And I can finally breathe.

You, looked at me as I walked in the room
Like the red sea you split me open
Somehow I knew these wings were stolen

I'm not dying;
All you did was save my life.
Pulled me out of that flat line,
Put the heartbeat back inside.

I'm not dying;
All you did was get me through,
I owe every breathe to you.
Heart and soul unparalyzed,
All you did was save my life.

All you did was save my life.
(Put the heart beat back inside)
All you did was save my life.
(Put the heart beat back inside)
All you did was save my life.

A Prayer for the Victims


Heavenly Father,

I come to you asking that you would comfort the family and friends of the victims of the Fort Hood shootings. Meet each of these people at the point of their need and speak the words they need to hear in order to be comforted at this moment. Let the families and friends bind together and be strengthened as they mourn the untimely passing of their loved ones. And for those who are injured, be in the hospital room with them right now. Be at their bedside and hold their hands. Impart healing energy into their room and do what you do best as Jehovah Rophe, the God who heals stitch by stitch. Be with their loved ones who are in hospital waiting rooms awaiting news. Be with the doctors who will treat them, giving those doctors knowledge, wisdom and discernment. Let everyone who will and can pray for the recovery of those who are wounded, the comfort of those who are mourning and even the remorse for the shooters. I pray all of these things in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus, Amen.

(from beliefnet.com)

Learn

Abba, help me to learn
what you want me to learn.
Amen.

Richer Than Solomon

Thank you, Lord,
that I am richer than David,
in the children and grandchildren
who love me
and bless me with their company.
Thank you
that I am richer than Solomon
in the commodious confines of my heated,
air-conditioned,
running-watered,
indoor-plumbinged,
wired-for-electricity,
coffee-brewing,
food-refrigerating home.
Thank you
that I am richer than Herod,
in my ability to see your wonderful world,
the Andes one week,
the Smokies the next,
and my home and hearth the next!
I not only walk with the King,
I live like a king!
Thank you, in Jesus' name, amen.

I Need Thee

I need Thee,
O I need Thee.
Every hour, I need Thee.
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

God, Submerge Me

God, submerge me
in the darkness of your love,
that the consciousness of my false, everyday self
falls away from [me]
like a soiled garment. . . .
May my 'deep self' fall into your presence . . . .
knowing you alone . . .
carried away into eternity
like a dead leaf in the November wind.

(Thomas Merton, The Ascent to Truth, p. 238)

Whatever May Come

Abba, whatever may come today,
I KNOW that you love me,
I KNOW that you saved me,
I KNOW that I belong to you,
I KNOW that your plans for me are good,
I KNOW that you have called me,
I KNOW that you will never leave or forsake me,
I KNOW that you accept me though others reject me,
I KNOW that you will uphold me and defend me,
whatever I may feel.
Thank you for the things I know.
Please supply also the things you want me to know,
and give me grace to embrace the mystery in all other things,
amen.

An All Saints Day Prayer


Father, All-Powerful and ever-living God,
you have knit together your elect
in one communion and fellowship
in the mystical body
of Your Son, Christ our Lord,
and kindled the flame of your love
in the hearts of the saints.
I praise you for the holy men and women
you have raised up
in every time and place.
Give me grace so to follow their example
in devotion and godliness
that I may come
to those ineffable joys
that you have prepared for those
who unfeignedly love you,
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,
who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns,
one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

(updated and modernized from the Catholic Liturgy of the Hours, the Gothic Missal, and The Book of Common Prayer, 1979)