Almighty God,my King,
let me feel
the warmth of your smile
on all I do today;
let your favor refresh my heart
like a gentle rain.
Amen.
Gentle Rain
Almighty God,my King,
let me feel
the warmth of your smile
on all I do today;
let your favor refresh my heart
like a gentle rain.
Amen.
For Small, Homely Things
Sunlight through a jar of beach-plum jelly...
A rainbow in soapsuds in dishwater...
An eggyolk in a blue bowl...
White ruffled curtains sifting moonlight...
The color of cranberry glass...
A little cottage with blue shutters...
Crimson roses in an old stone crock...
The smell of newly baked bread...
Candlelight on old brass...
The soft brown of a cocker spaniel's eyes...
Thank you, in Jesus' name, amen.
(based on lines from Peter Marshall; photo via pixabay.com)
Saturday Psalm #65
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 my Savior,
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 writers,
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.
Run
(photo via pixabay.com)
Completely
I desire that I may feel no sense of possessing anything outside of Thee.
I want constantly to be aware of Thy overshadowing Presence and to hear Thy speaking Voice.
I long to live in restful sincerity of heart.
I want to live so fully in the Spirit that all my thought may be as sweet incense ascending to Thee and every act of my life may be an act of worship.
Therefore I pray in the words of Thy great servant of old, “I beseech Thee so for to cleanse the intent of mine heart with the unspeakable gift of Thy grace, that I may perfectly love Thee and worthily praise Thee.”
And all this I confidently believe Thou wilt grant me through the merits of Jesus Christ Thy Son. Amen.
(a prayer by A.W Tozer in The Pursuit of God; photo via pixabay.com)
My Faith Looks Up
My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior Divine;
Now hear me while I pray;
Take all my guilt away;
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine.
May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire;
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire.
While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my Guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.
All thru life’s transient dream,
Until death’s sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll,
Blest Savior, with Thy love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Make me Thy grace to prove
Transform my soul.
(hymn by Ray Palmer, photo via pixabay.com)
Saturday Psalm #64
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 person
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.
(photo via pixabay.com)
All to All
Hope of the homeless,
The Strength of those tossed with tempests,
The Haven of those who sail:
Be all to all.
Be within us, to strengthen us;
without us, to keep us;
above us, to inspire us;
beneath us, to uphold us;
before us, to direct us;
behind us , to propel us;
around us, to sustain us.
Be all to all in present need.
(a prayer of Lancelot Andrewes, from Lancelot Andrewes and His Private Devotions; photo via pixabay.com)
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