For Mia
especially today on her 13th birthday.
Bless and guide her wherever she is,
Bless and guide her wherever she is,
everywhere she goes,
keeping her as lovely and kind as she is today
even as you increase her in wisdom, learning, and skill.
Continue to make her strong in faith and conduct.
Comfort her when she's sad or discouraged.
Lift her when she stumbles.
Surround her with friends and family
who respect, value, and love her.
And may the peace that passes understanding
and joy unspeakable
fill her heart and her days,
both now and ever more,
in Jesus' name, amen.
keeping her as lovely and kind as she is today
even as you increase her in wisdom, learning, and skill.
Continue to make her strong in faith and conduct.
Comfort her when she's sad or discouraged.
Lift her when she stumbles.
Surround her with friends and family
who respect, value, and love her.
And may the peace that passes understanding
and joy unspeakable
fill her heart and her days,
both now and ever more,
in Jesus' name, amen.
On This Day When I Speak
Father, let my speaking today
be like apples of gold
in settings of silver,
in Jesus' name,
amen.
(based on Proverbs 25:11)
(based on Proverbs 25:11)
As We Travel
Father God,please grant me and the lovely Robin
safe and successful travel today.
Make smooth paths
(and flight schedules) for our feet.
Grant safe and timely travel to the airport.
Help us to make our flights
and safely reach our destination.
Protect us from infections.
Guide our steps,
guard our thoughts,
and give us sweet communion with you
and pleasant interactions with others.
Make us alert to any opportunity to be the means of blessing
to our fellow travelers,
or those who serve them,
in Jesus' name, amen.
Who Delights in the Welfare of His Servants
my temperament,
my ministry,
cause people to say,
"Great is the Lord,
who delights in the welfare
of his servants" (Psalm 35:27),
in Jesus' name, amen.
(image by Falco via pixabay.com)
Valentine
floating from a sun-filled sky,
draping airy-white on flowered fields,
Your love astonished me.
No frilly show,
no assorted-chocolate pledge,
no candy hearts or silver kisses
disclosed your care for me;
But unsparing,
cross-bearing,
thorn-wearing love
that opened hands and feet and side
to spill your heart for me,
To recreate,
inundate my longing soul
with giving, holding, accepting,
enfolding love for me.
(photo by stux via pixabay.com)
For Nina
the mother you gave to my grandchildren Miles and Mia,
the daughter-in-law you gave to me and Robin,
the blessing you gave this world in bringing Nina into it.
Grant that she may rest in the knowledge that she is loved,
she is yours,
she is enough,
she is blessed and a blessing.
Shower on her every blessing today on her birthday
and every day that is to come,
in Jesus' name, amen.
Your School
I see your school is not an easy one, O Christ, but I would learn from You. Train me, teach me. Do You reply to me as to James and John, "You do not know what you are asking? (Matthew 20:22)? Still, O Lord, train me, discipline me, teach me, that I may know you.
(a prayer of Samuel Logan Brengle, from today's reading in Take Time to Be Holy; photo by macdeedle via pixabay.com)
Laughter and Joy
O Lord Jesus, fill our mouths with laughter and our tongues with shouts of joy (Ps. 126:2).
A Prayer of Simon Peter, Revised
DO NOT depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord
(based on Luke 5:8 KJV; woodcut by Niccolo Vicentino from Library of Congress archives).
My Treasure
nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance,
now and always:
Thou and Thou only,
first in my heart,
High King of heaven,
my Treasure Thou art.
(author unknown, 8th Century; translated from ancient Irish to English by Mary E. Byrne, in “Eriú,” Journal of the School of Irish Learning, 1905; photo by timcgundert via pixabay.com)
Your Fingers Can Hold Me There
I wish to commit myself to you once and for all,
so there shall be no taking back.
I cannot commit myself into your hands, O God,
I cannot do it;
but yet I can commit myself into your hands;
for though I cannot keep myself there,
your fingers can hold me there,
your strong, gentle fingers
always giving way and never letting go;
your wise subtle fingers,
wrestling so gently against my puny rebellions,
that I tire myself trying to climb out of your hands,
and come to rest at last in those wounded palms.
(a prayer of Austin Farrar; photo by HeteroSapiens via pixabay.com)
Mighty
Your love--it never wavers.
You will be mine forever,
And yours alone I'll be.
(from a hymn by George S. Smith, slightly revised; photo by RitaE via pixabay.com)
