Saturday Morning Prayer

My Father God, as I reflect on my week and all the many projects and tasks I’m working on…..I cannot forget what your closeness to me and your saving Grace does for my soul. I am humbled to even be living, breathing ,working, sharing and connecting with you on this beautiful spring morning. Please guide me in my projects today and remind me to always be centered in your saving Grace. Thank you for your many wonderful blessings on me, and those that I deeply love. All I wish for today is to bring honor and adoration to you.

My all loving God, I ask that you bless my coming and going today. Be before me, behind me, and beside me – protect me and move me toward that which will bring you and me always closer and in communion together. I adore thee my Lord and Savior God. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN

Jesus…..just as I am

…..O lamb of God, I come, I come.

I come to you this morning. You have bidst me to come to thee. May we share quiet prayer time today as we go together to my gardening assignment. My real truth wants to enter this lovely little “garden house” and be alone with you. My vision is to be there all day with you. Thank you for being with me no matter where I am. I am grateful for all our times together, no matter where we are. I am so grateful and thank you for the work to which you have called me. I give you all the honor and glory for allowing me to create beautiful spaces in your world.

Oh Lamb of God, I come, I come.

• AMEN•

The Second SUNDAY of Easter

 

LISTEN TO YOUR HEART

It’s there (deep in my heart) that Jesus speaks to me. When I listen quietly, He speaks intimately with me. His voice is a gentle whisper. His voice is gentle LOVE. My special time of prayer…..I share with no other. I listen often because Jesus’ voice can be drowned by the activity and noise of my world.

John 7:37-39

On the day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shal flow rivers of living water.’ “

Prayer

My glorious God…..I am always thirsty for you, my God. The many vast water bodies of your world remind me of the goodness of your love and your grace. As I listen for You my God, and listen to my own thoughts, my unkind or angry thoughts can challenge me to overcome, so that I can keep my mind focused on your voice and your Love for me. I pray that you will help me with my practice of “attentive listening.”

…….thank you God

Yesterday I turned the soil in “the Generals” garden.  Weeding it and bringing new rich black soil to the surface. As I turned to begin packing up my car, I heard lovely chirps.  When I turned back to look, two Robins were forcing their beaks into the soil and pulling up nourishment…the spring worms, their favorite. I even talked to them a little. Inquiring if they had come to visit me or the worms. They stayed. Regardless…..it was a “moment.”

…..and soon I was happily on my way.  God is so Good.

• AMEN •

Easter Sunday – April 17, 2022

 

HE IS RISEN

Easter morning. I am celebrating with a quiet and personal Communion…..in the presence of my Lord and Savior God.

Prayer

….my God of all light, the light of the sky and your light in my soul. In You I have no darkness. Please grant me everlasting hope through your light, that I might serve You with love and mercy. Your wounds remain with You in your Resurrection. I ask that my wounds remain with me, that I might be a source of hope to others though Your presence in my life.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.  

• AMEN •

Our Cross

April 16

John 19:30

“Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”

▶︎ LISTEN TO THE DEVOTIONAL

Because He died, we can live. Because He obeyed, we can be forgiven. Because He was condemned, we can be saved. Following Jesus is not about better, faster, stronger, higher. It is about recognizing our helplessness, admitting our guilt, and receiving His sacrifice on our behalf. Everything depends on the crucifixion and resurrection. Everything. That means nothing is left to depend on us. Grace is something we receive, not something we earn. We do not come to the cross as worthy people, promising to do better. We come as desperate beggars, acknowledging our need and seeking God’s empowering grace. Herein lies the tremendous hope: since nothing depends on us, since everything depends on God, victory is certain! We have an ironclad guarantee of forgiveness, grace, and eternal life, if only we will receive Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf. If you have never taken that step received Jesus as your Lord and Savior you can right now by saying this simple prayer. – Prayer for salvation. For those who are already believers, we want to give you the opportunity to “nail to the cross” the sins that weigh you down. Do this as a reminder that Jesus has paid the cost for those sins, so you don’t have to. Jesus has borne their burden, so your conscience need no longer be weighed down. Jesus will carry us to heaven, so we need not try to “earn” our way there. Identify those sins that seem to stick to you like glue. Also think about those memories that just don’t seem to go away, that come back mentally to condemn you. Then nail it to the cross, and hear Jesus say, “It is finished.” Prayer Jesus, You are my only hope. Realizing all that You have done for me on the cross brings great joy and peace to my life. I can count on You. My access to the Father, assurance of forgiveness of my sins, entry into eternal life – all depend on You. I trust You, I give You my life anew, I worship You for what You have done.

“HIS” Cross

April 12

John 19:17

“They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.”

▶︎ LISTEN TO THE DEVOTIONAL

Wood is one of the most common elements on earth. So abundantly found, it is burned for warmth, sliced to make paper, joined to build houses. Yet two very common pieces of wood, once drenched with rain, and perhaps even gnawed at by insects or animals, would soon absorb the sweat and blood of our Lord as He was crucified. Meditate on the pieces of wood that composed Christ’s cross. Imagine such a rough surface jammed against your back. His cross was not padded. It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t custom-fitted for His body. It was just a normal piece of wood, plucked out of a forest, suddenly made holy through the touch of the Messiah. Think long and hard about what it meant for Jesus to accept these pieces of wood. As He began carrying the cross, every step took Him closer to the horrors of Golgotha. He knew where this journey ended; He was not ignorant of the physical, spiritual and emotional suffering that lay ahead. At any moment, He could turn around and walk away. He could command the angels to slay the soldiers who “guarded” Him. He could ascend to heaven and take His rightful throne. He could avoid every drop of blood, calm every screaming nerve, reject every sin that was about to be laid on His shoulders. But Jesus kept walking, carrying the common wood on which He would be crucified, to accomplish His mission. He did it so that you wouldn’t have to. Prayer Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times when my life doesn’t turn out exactly how I had hoped and I begin to question Your love accordingly. Visualizing the wood of Your cross, remembering how You knew it would be the tool of Your crucifixion, I have no right to question Your commitment or care for me ever again. Thank You for giving me a glimpse of how great a price was paid for my salvation. • AMEN •

Profound Servanthood

 

The Last Supper April 9

Mark 14: 12-13

“On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?”  And He sent two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him…And he himself will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; prepare for us there.”

▶︎ LISTEN TO THE DEVOTIONAL

In Old Testament times, priests who had already been consecrated for service were still required to wash their hands in the courtyard of the Tabernacle before they dared to approach that holy place. In New Testament times, those of us who are born again in Christ are completely washed and consecrated to God by Jesus’ death and resurrection. Though we are “washed” in Christ, the Bible still encourages us to participate in moments of deep repentance and reflection for our sins. Jesus knew the Passover dinner would be the last time he met with all His disciples gathered together. The dinner typically involved Seder bread, which was unleavened to commemorate the Israelites’ hasty departure from Egypt; a lamb bone, signifying the Passover lamb that was slain and whose blood marked the threshold of Jewish homes; and bitter herbs, used to prepare the meal and to remind the Israelites of the bitterness of slavery from which God had rescued them. Contemplate the Seder bread that reminds you of how God provides for your needs, even in times of crisis. Imagine the lamb bone and how you had to hold the head of that lamb still while a priest sacrificed that animal to atone for your sins and those of your family. Think about how the bitterness of the herbs can remind you of your slavery to sin. More than a mere meal, Jesus turned this Passover into a memorable moment. He used it as an occasion to show His followers the “full extent of His love.” After everyone had eaten, Jesus got up from the table and gathered the tools of a lowly servant. He wrapped a towel around His waist, and with water held in a servant’s bowl, began washing the feet of His disciples. In doing this, Jesus marked Himself as their servant. Ponder the bowl and the towel. For the disciples, watching Jesus grab these elements would have been like watching the President of the United States mopping the floors of a McDonald’s restaurant, or sitting behind a sewing machine in a sweatshop factory. They must have been thinking, “What in the world is He doing?” Through the celebration of the Passover, Jesus reminded His disciples of God’s past provision – during Israel’s time of slavery, God made a way of deliverance and protection. By instituting the Lord’s Supper at that same feast, Jesus pointed toward God’s future provision. Jesus was about to become our “Passover Lamb.” He, and He alone, would provide for all our needs – physical and spiritual. Prayer Father, thank You so much for so abundantly taking care of all of my needs. You have provided bread for my journey; a Sacrificial Lamb for my forgiveness; and release from the bitterness of my sins. Thank You most of all for providing a Passover Lamb in Your Son, Jesus, the greatest servant of all.

 

Prayer of Gratitude

Prayer of Gratitude for Positive Results

God you are my Healer, I waited today for results of a Scan from early this morning. In your Holy Name, “Jesus,” I received a positive report. You know that I have been leaning on You. I have been standing on Your Word during the last 90 days. My eyes look to You in gratitude and love tonight as I thank you for rescuing me and setting me free.  I am about to slumber. It was a longer and harder day. but you are always by my side  Thank you for staying close to me all day and for your love and saving Grace. I feel your deliverance. I am grateful and humbled my Lord……and my God.

• Amen •

Lenten Reflection – Fifth Week – Evening

BE COMPASSIONATE, NOT COMPETITIVE

Let us not allow competitiveness to enter into our togetherness with others, because in the center of this, we end up loosing our compassion for others  Being compassionate can be frightening to our ability to cross over dividing lines and giving up our differences. We become afraid. Afraid we might loose ourselves in this process and loose our identity…..who we are.

Mark 10: 41-44

When the ten heard this, they began to become angry with James and John. So Jesus called to them and said to them….Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to he first amount you must be lovers of all.

Prayer

God my protector, my own competitiveness can sometimes keep me separate from others. I can become a lone soul rather than a companion and a human being in complete unity with others, especially those I love. Help me to live my life where I can set differences by the side, and help me to become a compassionate lover of all….rather than a lover of myself.