Prayer (Thoughts & Ideas)

Christmas Prayer - Max Lucado

2011-12-15T07:54:00.001-05:00

MaxLucado

A Christmas prayer:

"Jesus, Tell us again how you came..and then tell us how you will come again."

Conversations with God (Following The Star)

2011-12-01T13:14:00.001-05:00

Lord, shake me from my apathy and steer me away from the trivial.

Wake me up to your presence.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Amen.

Link to Following The Star

Following The Star - An Advent Online Devotional

2011-11-28T07:48:00.000-05:00

Check out this daily online Advent Devotional as we move closer to Christmas.

Following The Star Link

Advent Devotional - Following The Star

2011-11-28T07:45:00.000-05:00

Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, come again into all the corners of my life. In the darkness, give me your wise counsel and a peace that passes all understanding. Guide me as I seek to find deep meaning and joy that is real. Amen.

Following The Star Link

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Morning Prayer)

2011-10-28T06:40:00.001-04:00

MORNING PRAYER

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you:
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness,
But with you there is light;
I am lonely, but you do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;
I am restless, but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;
I do not understand your ways,
But you know the way for me…
Restore me to liberty,
And enable me to live now
That I may answer before you and before me.
Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised.

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Building Up One Another

2011-09-16T07:25:00.000-04:00

BUILDING UP ONE ANOTHER: Romans 15: 1-7
Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. Romans 15:2

There are times when it is difficult for some Christians to be loving and tolerant towards those who do not behave according to their expectations. They tend to feel irritated by immature comments, which are often the result of opinions representing part of their own pasts, to be reminded of which is annoying and bothersome to them. So they try to build up the weakest believers to a higher level of conscience and spiritual coherence, forgetting that it took them years to develop those qualities. And so the new believer is overwhelmed by these many unrealistic demands. The mature believer may end up being more of an obstacle than a source of strength. If you are strong in the Lord, you have a great responsibility towards your weaker brothers and sisters in Christ. Accept them and strengthen them so that they respond to God with gratitude. But avoid helping them in any way which would overwhelm them. Support them, do not overwhelm them!

Prayer: Lord, help us to be good friends to our younger brothers in Christ, and give us the wisdom and the patience to walk side by side with them as we grow in faith in you. Amen.

"War Zone" by Building 429

2011-06-22T10:50:00.000-04:00

War Zone Lyrics by Building 429

We are in combat for our lives

We fight and we fear that we won't survive

And our only hope now is laying our weapons down

And falling into Your arms

My faith is worn and my hands are tired

My heart is torn between the truth and the lyin'

So I run cause I'm done and I need You

You're the one that will come to my rescue

My flesh and bones are caught in a war zone

And this is the struggle this is the curse

We're caught in the middle of heaven and earth

And our only hope now is laying our pride down

And falling into Your arms

My faith is worn and my hands are tired

My heart is torn between the truth and the lyin'

So I run cause I'm done and I need You

You're the one that will come to my rescue

My flesh and bones are caught in a war zone

Oh oh ooh, caught in a war zone

My faith is worn and my hands are tired

My heart is torn between the truth and the lyin'

So I run cause I'm done and I need You

You're the one that will come to my rescue

My flesh and bones...

My faith is worn and my hands are tired

My heart is torn between the truth and the lyin'

So I run cause I'm done and I need You

You're the one that will come to my rescue

My flesh and bones are caught in a war zone

Oh oh ooh, are caught in a war zone

The Valley Song - Jars of Clay

2011-06-12T08:05:00.000-04:00

"I Pray"

2011-05-27T08:47:00.000-04:00

"I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time- waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God- it changes me."
— C.S. Lewis

The Life of Prayer

2011-05-19T07:42:00.000-04:00

The Life of Prayer—great and sacred theme! It leads us into the Holy of Holies and the secret place of the Most High. It is the very life of the Christian, and it touches the life of God Himself.

We enter the sacred chamber on our knees. We still our thoughts and words, and say, "Lord, teach us to pray. Give us Thy holy desires, and let our prayer be the very echo of Thy will. Give us Thy Spirit as our Advocate within. Open our eyes to see our Great High Priest and Advocate above, and help us so to abide in Him, and to have His Word so abiding in us, that we shall ask what we will, and it shall be done unto us." And as in ignorance and weakness we venture to speak and think upon this vital theme, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." And may every true word and thought of this little volume be a living experience to him who speaks and to all who hear, and so minister to the life of prayer in all our lives, that it shall bring, in some humble measure, an answer to the greatest of all prayers, and the prayer with which this opening chapter begins and to which this book is dedicated, "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."

--A. B. Simpson

Hold My Heart Music Video-Tenth Avenue North

2011-05-04T13:07:00.000-04:00

2011-04-28T13:49:00.001-04:00

Myspace LED Scroller

Haven Quartet - what a friend we have in Jesus (with lyrics)

2011-04-20T07:48:00.000-04:00

Casting Crowns - Prayer For A Friend

2011-04-18T07:18:00.000-04:00

Holy Week Services

2011-04-14T07:38:00.000-04:00

A list of Holy Week Services is listed on the website

of First Presbyterian Church of East Hampton.

First Presbyterian Church

from "His Voice" (A Cuban Devotional Guide)

2011-04-12T07:38:00.001-04:00

MORNING PSALM

My God and my Savior, I praise you in the morning.

As soon as the light awakes me

I know that you have granted me another day

And I give you thanks.

I awake from my dreams

And I find myself within the realities which you gave me

With my work and my loved ones

With my skills and surrounded by free air

And I wonder what I have done to merit so much.

You’ve given so much that I am afraid I will lose it.

I am overcome with distress at the thought that I cannot constantly care for Those whom I love.

I am at peace knowing that your hands are not my own,

And that even if I cannot take care of them, I can leave them in your care.

Pray for Operation Christmas Child

2011-03-31T08:17:00.002-04:00

Prayer Requests – Operation Christmas Child

From the Field: South and East Africa Ethiopia and South Africa Prayer Request 03/28/2011 Please pray that approval will be granted for the tax-free importation of shoe box gifts in South Africa and Ethiopia. Operation Christmas Child ministry partners in these countries are working through the customs clearing process for the first time, and are facing many challenges as they work under tight deadlines. Please join in prayer that the government officials will grant final approvals quickly so that the OCC ministry may be established and many children and families will hear the message of hope and life in Jesus Christ.

From the Field: The Americas Prayer Requests UPDATE: Haiti prayer request 03/29/2011 UPDATE: We continue to trust God for the quick release of containers of shoe box gifts through Haitian customs. We praise God that the needed paperwork has been approved and that 14 containers of gifts are scheduled to clear customs by this Friday (April 1). Please continue to pray that the release of the containers would remain on schedule.

The Prayer of St Francis

2011-03-24T07:26:00.002-04:00

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

A Call For Prayer

2011-03-12T07:22:00.002-05:00

Presbyterian leaders call for prayer on Japan earthquake and tsunami

“As a hart longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for thee, O God” (Ps. 42:1).

The Psalmist’s words of lament resonate deeply during this season of Lent, but especially this day as we witness the destruction from the devastating earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan.

The magnitude of this kind of tragedy is difficult to grasp. Yet, our faith leads us to affirm that in even greater measure is the presence of God in the midst of the devastation.

Please join us in praying for those affected by these events – the victims and their families, those who wait for word from loved ones, those offering aid and comfort now and in the days and weeks to come, civic and national leaders, and faith communities in Japan that offer hope in a seemingly hopeless time.

The Psalmist’s final words are, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise God, my help and my God” (Ps. 42:11).

May it be so.

For more on PDA Relief

Journey to the Cross

2011-03-10T07:47:00.004-05:00

Take a few minutes each day to look at "Journey to the Cross" a lenten devotional guide.

Journey to the Cross

The 5 steps in the daily journey are:

Presence of God / Word of God / Devotion

Conversation with God / Benediction

Casting Crowns - What If His People Prayed (Live)

2011-02-27T11:52:00.000-05:00

2011-02-12T12:20:00.000-05:00

Dear God, sometimes I don’t know what path to take or how to use the gifts you’ve given me. Please guide me with your Spirit and show me what you desire me to do. Amen.

Presence of God

2010-12-08T07:38:00.003-05:00

Amazing God, challenge me to speak the truth, make peaceful decisions, and avoid thinking evil thoughts about my friends and family. May I work for peace in my relationships as I continue to live my life for you. Amen.

Taken from "Following The Star" online devotional.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

2010-10-25T12:23:00.001-04:00

New International Version (©1984)
pray continually;
New Living Translation (©2007)
Never stop praying.
English Standard Version (©2001)
pray without ceasing,
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
pray without ceasing;
International Standard Version (©2008)
Continually be prayerful.
GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Never stop praying.
King James Bible
Pray without ceasing.
American King James Version
Pray without ceasing.
American Standard Version
pray without ceasing;
Bible in Basic English
Keep on with your prayers.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Pray without ceasing.
Darby Bible Translation
pray unceasingly;
English Revised Version
pray without ceasing;
Webster's Bible Translation
Pray without ceasing.
Weymouth New Testament
Be unceasing in prayer.
World English Bible
Pray without ceasing.
Young's Literal Translation
continually pray ye;

A Call To Prayer (Max Lucado)

2010-10-02T08:15:00.000-04:00

A Call to Prayer (Max Lucado in Brazil) from UpWords Ministries on Vimeo.

Cloud of Witnesses

2010-07-27T07:45:00.004-04:00

Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
— Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

Thoughts...
With all the great heroes of the Bible, both big and small, we can do God's work with confidence. But to boldly go where he wants us to go, we must first be willing to let go of the sin that entangles our lives, distorts our vision, enlarges our doubts, and robs us of our spiritual vitality and stamina.

My Prayer...
Holy Father, forgive me for my sin. Not just my blatant sins, but my willingness to dabble in things that are not holy, to flirt with things that are spiritually dangerous, and to expose myself to things that leave a residue of Satan's world. Give me strength to say no to the things that distract me from you and to embrace with passion those things that make me more like you. In the name of Jesus my Lord I pray. Amen.

from http://www.verseoftheday.com/

Lets Do It

2010-02-16T08:37:00.000-05:00

Jesus modeled it… Luke 5:16 “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

Paul Practiced it… Phillipians 1:4 “…I always pray with joy.”

The Bible teaches it… 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

Let’s do it…PRAY

Perspective - Base Camp Blog

2010-02-09T07:47:00.002-05:00

Perspective (Carl VonStein)
Good Morning Lord
Here is another day and I am not ready for it.
As soon as I awake, I am aware of situations that cause me concern.
Sleep is a blessing but not a solution.
Some problems are like wounds inflicted in an explosion. There are little bits of matter imbedded in my flesh. Some are deep, some are shallow....... all need to come out.
Morning, for me, is an assesment.
I sense the challenges of the day, the unresolved conflicts, the looming threats, the expectations of others, and honestly, they intimidate me.
That is what drives me to this quiet place. You help me put all of these things in perspective and that perspective is gained by considering You.
In Your presence, some shards are removed and some receive fresh dressing.
You bind up the ankle and I put on the boots and trudge off for another day.
I don't have to succeed, I just have to serve.
I don't have to succeed, I just have to serve.
I don't have to succeed, I just have to serve.
One foot in front of the other.
Maranatha.
Thank you Lord
http://cvonstein.blogspot.com/

We Pray for Haiti

2010-01-14T16:47:00.003-05:00

God of compassion
please watch over the people of Haiti,
and weave out of these terrible happenings
wonders of goodness and grace.
Surround those who have been affected by tragedy
with a sense of your present love,
and hold them in faith.
Though they are lost in grief,
may they find you and be comforted.
Guide us as a church
to find ways of providing assistance
that heal wounds and provide hope.
Help us to remember that when one of your children suffers
we all suffer;
through Jesus Christ who was dead, but lives
and rules this world with you. Amen.

From Christian Surfers.com Monday morning DEVO

2010-01-04T10:03:00.003-05:00

Luke 5:16 (NIV) But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

What can we gather from this verse and what’s that got to do with your life in 2010?

It’s Jesus we’re talking – Son of God, come to earth to model real

life to us and rescue us.

Often – this is a habit. Something that is natural in the rhythm of His life.

Withdrew – Paintings of Jesus walking ever so calmly among his followers only further our thinking that He can’t relate to our busy lives. But this isn’t accurate. Other places we see the crowds, not gingerly listening but violently pressing in on Him. At least one occasion, along the waters edge, they crowd him off land and into the water. At other points we see him unable to stop and eat or even enter towns because of the crowds. So, He intentionally separates from the hectic life to sit with His Father.

Lonely Places – It’s hard to listen closely and have conversation in a crowd. So, He purposely isolated Himself in order to have uninterrupted conversation with the Father.

And Prayed – It is hyper critical that we not miss the point of it all. It wasn’t for rest that He got away (though there were times that He did this), it wasn’t to get important work done

(though we see Him slip away for this as well) – It was because He was so aware of His need for our Father and so in love with our Father that it drove Him to get alone (very much like I find

time for date nights with my wife).

In 2010 what role will Prayer play in your life? CSUS is excited about seeking to facilitate more prayer in and for this ministry. In fact, we are calling everyone to commit to daily prayer during the month of February. Please consider taking the challenge.

Prayer for the New Year

2009-12-31T11:09:00.001-05:00

O God of new beginnings and wonderful surprises, thank you for the gift of a new year.
May it be a time of grace for me, a time to grow in faith and love, a time to renew my commitment to following Your Son, Jesus.
May it be a year of blessing for me, a time to cherish my family and friends, a time to renew my efforts at work, a time to embrace my faith more fully.
Walk with me, please, in every day and every hour of this new year, that the light of Christ might shine through me, in spite of my weaknesses and failings.
Above all, may I remember this year that I am a pilgrim on the sacred path to You.

Amen

Fourth Week of Advent

2009-12-21T09:58:00.001-05:00

This year the Fourth Week of Advent is five days long. Thursday evening is Christmas Eve and Friday, Christmas.

Perhaps we can use these days to try to heighten our awareness of whatever is going on in our lives these days, and how that can bring us to Christmas. Some examples might help.

So many of us experience the ironic reality that Christmas can be the most lonely time of our lives. Some of these "mixed feelings" or "sad feelings" are difficult to recognize or name.

For some of us, the Christmas we will celebrate this year pales in comparison to wonderful Christmases of our past - perhaps because we were younger or more "innocent" then, perhaps because some of our loved ones who were central to our Christmas are no longer living or not where I am, perhaps because the burdens and struggles of my life or the changes in our world and the war have robbed this Christmas of something that was there before.

For some of us, Christmas will be just another day. Unable to get out to go to church to be with a faith community, and without family or friends to be with, Christmas will be a day we are tempted to ignore.

For some of us, Christmas inevitably means family conflicts. Facing the days ahead, whether it be the last few remaining parties, or conflicting demands of family and friends, or the friend or relative who drinks too much, or the experience I'm having that I drink too much and this season is an easy excuse.

For some of us, Christmas challenges us with terrible financial burdens. Children today become victims of the gross commercial exploitation of the day. For those of us struggling to make ends meet on a day to day basis, feeling the cultural pressure of buying for our children things which we can't afford, can lead us to put more debt on the credit card in ways that simply push us further and further behind.

Some of us, might be really looking forward to Christmas, and not be aware of these struggles with Christmas, yet feel that, in spite of our best efforts to make Advent different this year, there is still something missing, and we still feel un-ready for Christmas.

For all of us, the story behind these days can draw us in, and invite us to bring our lives to the mystery of how Jesus came into this world and why. Our best preparation for the Holy Night ahead and the Joyful Morning to follow is for us to reflect upon how he came. He came in the midst of scandal and conflict. He came in poverty. He was rejected before he was born. He was born in a feed trough. He was hunted down. And he grew up in obscurity.

He did not shun our world and its poverty and conflict. He embraced it. And he desires to embrace us today, in this day. Right where we are. Right where we are feeling most distant. Right were we are feeling least "religious" or "ready." If we let him come into our hearts to be our Savior these challenging days, we will find ourselves entering the sacred night and morning of Christmas "joyful and triumphant" as never before.

Come, Lord Jesus. Come and visit your people.
We await your coming. Come, O Lord.

The Lord Is Near

2009-12-14T09:05:00.004-05:00

Preparing our Hearts and asking for Grace
We prepare this week by feeling the joy. We move through this week feeling a part of the waiting world that rejoices because our longing has prepared us to believe the reign of God is close at hand. And so we consciously ask: Prepare our hearts and remove the sadness that hinders us from feeling the joy and hope which his presence will bestow.
Each morning this week, in that brief moment we are becoming accustomed to, we want to light a third inner candle. Three candles, going from expectation, to longing, to joy. They represent our inner preparation, or inner perspective. In this world of "conflict and division," "greed and lust for power," we begin each day this week with a sense of liberating joy. Perhaps we can pause, breathe deeply and say,
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior."

Preparing our Hearts and asking for Grace

2009-12-07T07:49:00.002-05:00

2nd Week of Advent

We prepare this week by stepping up the longing. We move through this week by naming deeper and more specific desires.

Each morning this week, if even for that brief moment at the side of our beds, we want to light a second inner candle. We want to let it represent "a bit more hope." Perhaps we can pause, breathe deeply and say,

"Lord, I place my trust in you."

Each day this week, as we encounter times that are rushed, even crazy, we can take that deep breath, and make that profound prayer. Each time we face some darkness, some experience of "parched land" or desert, some place where we feel "defeated" or "trapped," we hear the words, "Our God will come to save us!"

The grace we desire for this week is to be able to hear the promise and to invite our God to come into those real places of our lives that dearly need God's coming. We want to be able to say:

"Lord, I place my trust in your promise. Please, Lord, rouse your power and come into this place in my life, this relationship, into this deep self-defeating pattern. Please come here and save me."

Praying Advent

2009-12-03T10:25:00.001-05:00

As we begin Advent, we light one candle in the midst of all the darkness in our lives and in the world. It symbolizes our longing, our desire, our hope. Three "advents" or "comings" shape our desire. We want to be renewed in a sense that Jesus came to save us from our sin and death. We want to experience his coming to us now, in our everyday lives, to help us live our lives with meaning and purpose. And we want to prepare for his coming to meet us at the end of our lives on this earth.

So, we begin with our longing, our desire and our hope.

When we wake up, each day this week, we could light that candle, just by taking a few moments to focus. We could pause for a minute at the side of our bed, or while putting on our slippers or our robe, and light an inner candle. Who among us doesn't have time to pause for a moment? We could each find our own way to pray something like this:

"Lord, the light I choose to let into my life today is based on my trust in you. It is a weak flame, but I so much desire that it dispel a bit more darkness today. Today, I just want to taste the longing I have for you as I go to the meeting this morning, carry out the responsibilities of my work, face the frustration of some difficult relationships. Let this candle be my reminder today of my hope in your coming."

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

2009-11-19T12:49:00.003-05:00

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

A Prayer for Christians in the Middle East

2009-11-05T12:05:00.001-05:00

God of the ages, we give thanks for the Christians of the Middle East. From the day of Pentecost to the present, the followers of Jesus have been present worshipping and witnessing faithfully, often in times of challenge and of peril. May they find strength and courage in you for the living of these days. Remind our sisters and brothers of the hope of the resurrection. May that hope help our brothers and sisters hold fast in your call in Christ to be peacemakers. Grant a spirit and practice of cooperation and tolerance among people of all faiths. Guide them in the slow, often difficult, process of building trust between individuals and institutions. Lead all Middle Eastern people in their search for justice and lasting peace. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Presbyterian Peacemaking Program

The Four Acts Of Prayer

2009-10-04T09:19:00.001-04:00

Although prayer cannot be reduced to a formula, certain basic elements should be included in our communication with God: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication (ACTS).

A-Adoration

To adore God is to worship and praise Him, to honor and exalt Him in our heart and mind and with our lips.

C-Confession

When our discipline of prayer begins with adoration, the Holy Spirit has opportunity to reveal any sin in our life that needs to be confessed.

T-Thanksgiving

An attitude of thanksgiving to God, for who He is and for the benefits we enjoy because we belong to Him, enables us to recognize that He controls all things - not just the blessings, but the problems and adversities as well. As we approach God with a thankful heart, He becomes strong on our behalf.

S-Supplication

Supplication includes petition for our own needs and intercession for others. Pray that your inner person may be renewed, always sensitive to and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Pray for others - your spouse, your children, your parents, neighbors, and friends; our nation and those in authority over us. Pray for the salvation of souls, for a daily opportunity to introduce others to Christ and to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

Prayer for Firefighters and Rescue Workers

2009-09-12T08:05:00.003-04:00

Prayer for Firefighters and Rescue Workers at Community 9/11 Memorial Service
Rev Joe Hinds (Faith And Life From The Heartland)

Almighty God, we look to you – Creator of the universe for comfort. Even after eight years our hearts are heavy as remember Firefighters and Rescue Workers who lost their lives too soon as they died tragically and heroically on September 11, 2001. Even though our hearts were pierced on what was a dark day of our soul, help us remember that violence, destruction, and death are not the last words.

And when we risk falling into the dark grip of revenge and anger, remind us of the powerful witness of compassion, mercy, and grace; and how these can serve as a proper remembrance of the ones who died on September 11. As one of your great pastors prayed in years past, let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

God of love, may your spirit of grace rest gently on the families and friends of those who died tragically and heroically on September 11, 2001. Let your loving presence be known for them in every moment in their grief and loss.

Lord God, as we remember Firefighters and Rescue Workers who were killed on September 11; we also stop to thank you for the ones who are still called to protect the lives and property of their community and fellow human beings. And now we are praying for firefighters and rescue workers in our very community. The ones who completely give themselves when the alarm sounds, the bell rings, the pager or phone goes off.

We offer prayers of thanksgiving to you, O God, for the Firefighters who risk their own lives when they rush in to deadly fires, explosions and other disasters so they may save the lives and property of others. These brave men and women rush in so others may retreat in safety.

We are grateful, dear Lord, for your spirit of mercy and compassion that fills Rescue Workers who hurry to the scene of emergencies to offer aid and comfort, doing all they can to preserve and save the lives of other people. These women and men arrive on the scene, ready to offer everything they have to save and preserve precious human life.

God of power, whenever a fire truck, ambulance … any fire and rescue vehicle or craft … Lord, every time one of these vehicles leaves the station, ride with them. Give these women and men the skills, wisdom, and care they need to carry out their selfless missions of mercy and compassion. Lord, give them strength, and sustain them as they continue their heroic work that provides us with security and serves as a worthy tribute to their fallen brothers and sisters.

We pray that our memorial today is a proper reminder of the gifts of their lives, and a witness to the hope in the new life you offer in the spirit of mercy, compassion, and peace. Amen

The Lord said to Samuel

2009-09-08T07:50:00.001-04:00

1 Samuel 16:7 NIV)
...the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

____________________Prayer:_____________________

Loving Father, what great joy I have in just knowing You. As so many people struggle to find their way in a dark world, I have overwhelming peace through Your amazing grace. I thank You for Jesus, who has covered my sin, and I thank You for seeing me as worthy to follow Him.

What great love You show, that You do not see my sin, but You see the blood of Jesus that covers it all. I thank You Lord that You do not see me as I am, but that You see me as I can be—a vessel for Your purposes.

I know that I can never be perfect, but I can follow my perfect Christ and He will lead me in the way I need to go. When I stumble and fall, I know that He will be there to pick me up and get me back on track. I thank You for my dearest friend, My Savior, My Jesus.

In His name I pray, Amen.

from EzraWeb.com

C S Lewis on Prayer

2009-09-02T14:39:00.001-04:00

"Prayer is either a sheer illusion or a personal contact between embryonic, incomplete persons (ourselves) and the utterly concrete Person. Prayer in the sense of petition, asking for things, is a small part of it; confession and penitence are its threshold, adoration its sanctuary, the presence and vision and enjoyment of God its bread and wine. In it God shows Himself to us. That He answers prayers is a corollary—not necessarily the most important one—from that revelation. What He does is learned from what He is."

Morning Prayer

2009-08-18T07:47:00.001-04:00

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you:
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness,
But with you there is light;
I am lonely, but you do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;
I am restless, but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;
I do not understand your ways,
But you know the way for me…
Restore me to liberty,
And enable me to live now
That I may answer before you and before me.
Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised.

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Ezraweb / Prayer for July 29th

2009-07-29T10:46:00.001-04:00

John 8:12
Key Verse: (NIV)
When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

_____________________________________________________

Lord God, it is Your Light that brings me peace and joy in abundance. As I travel in a dark world, as darkness surrounds me, I can clearly see the path You lay before me. When I do not know what to do, I keep my eyes upon You.

I know that through all the valleys I must travel, You are always with me; You never let go. It is Your promises that assure me that You will show me the way in which I am to walk and that You will keep Your eye upon me.

What great joy I have in knowing that as I follow after Jesus, I will never walk in darkness. I find strength in knowing that You have promised never to leave me nor forsake me. I know that no matter where I am, You are with me—You are my Protector, My Shield, My awesome God!

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Psalms The Prayer Book of the Bible

2009-07-22T09:50:00.004-04:00

Bonhoeffer writes "The richness of the Word of God ought to determine our prayer, not the poverty of our heart."

Pray this Psalm, taking time to reflect on God and His love for us.

Psalm 121 (A song of ascents)
I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Amen

A. W. Tozer Prayer

2009-07-16T14:21:00.001-04:00

Lord, teach me to listen. The times are noisy and my ears are weary with the thousand raucous sounds which continuously assault them. Give me the spirit of the boy Samuel when he said to Thee, "Speak, for Thy servant heareth." Let me hear Thee speaking in my heart. Let me get used to the sound of Thy voice, that its tones may be familiar when the sounds of earth die away and the only sound will be the music of Thy speaking. Amen.

A. W. Tozer
The Works of A. W. Tozer

A Prayer from Rev Joe Hinds

2009-07-14T07:48:00.003-04:00

A Prayer From the Epistle for 17th Ordinary Sunday

Almighty and everlasting God, we pray as the Apostle Paul; that, according to the riches of your glory, you will grant us strength through the power of your Spirit. May Christ dwell in our hearts through faith, so that we may be rooted and grounded in love. We pray for the power to comprehend, the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ. And that, filled with the fullness of God, by your power at work within us, we will be able to accomplish far more than we can ask or imagine. All this we pray and do in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and for his sake. Amen.

Rev. Joe Hinds
Faith And Life From The Heartland
First Presbyterian Church
Sidney, OH 45365

Confession

2009-07-06T08:34:00.002-04:00

1 John 1:9 (NIV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Confession :
Father I have sinned. I have fallen short of what you want in my life. I am sorry. I turn to you again, and am reassured by your forgiveness. Please help me to uphold your will for my life, day by day. Amen.

God will.
He is faithful and just. He will forgive us our sins. He will purify (cleanse) us.

Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)
"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.

Thank God for the promises of scripture both old and new testament.

Preparation for Prayer

2009-07-02T10:16:00.001-04:00

I weave a silence on to my lips,
I weave a silence into my mind
I weave a silence within my heart
I close my ears to distractions
I close my eyes to attractions
I close my heart to temptations

Calm me, O Lord as you stilled the storm.
Still me, O Lord, keep me from harm
Let all the tumult within me cease

Enfold me, Lord, in your peace.

A Prayer for July 4th

2009-07-02T09:22:00.001-04:00

Proverbs 14:34
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

Lord Father, it has been quite disheartening lately to live in a country where You are suppressed and worldly ways are becoming more and more prevalent. I pray for this nation Lord, that You would guide the lawmakers and government officials to act on the best interest of all, not to give in to appeasing the few who are outspoken, or be influenced by those with earthly riches.

I pray for a revival in this nation, that the large percentage of citizens who claim to believe in You would start making a stand for You, that the loud and misguided voice of the minority will be drowned out by those willing to take a stand for righteousness.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Prayer of St Francis

2009-06-09T13:12:00.001-04:00

Matthew 11:28

2009-05-27T07:59:00.002-04:00

Jesus said: "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

____________________________________

Lord God, we come to You, tired and weary. Our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak and we need You. The storms of life rage and we are desperate for peace. Lead us beside still waters; help us to lie down in green pastures. We come to You, seeking Your presence, Your love, mercy and grace.

Father, we worship You with all that we are and we surrender our lives completely into Your hands. We come, exchanging our will for Yours, knowing that our flesh will not go down without a fight. Strengthen our spirits through Your Word; fill us with Your love, which we cannot deny.

Lord, we are so thankful that as we walk through valleys, You are there beside us, always. All day long Lord we put our hope in You.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen

[from ezraweb.com verse of the day]

PRAYING THROUGH YOUR PROBLEMS

2009-05-19T12:31:00.002-04:00

Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

Moses prayed and God spared Israel from judgment.
Joshua prayed and God caused the sun to stand still.
Hannah prayed and God gave her a baby boy.
Solomon prayed and God gave him wisdom.
Elijah prayed and God sent fire down from Heaven.
Jonah prayed and God brought him out of the belly of the whale.
Peter prayed and God raised Dorcas from the dead.
The thief on the cross prayed and God gave him eternal life.
These Christians prayed and God set Peter free from prison.

The idea of praying through has started to resonate in my mind. So many times we are asked to pray for someone and we are faithful to pray. After a day or so we go on to other things. Praying through involves us, through prayer, in peoples lives until the problem or situation is finished.

After my mother in law died we found her prayer journals. Betty prayed each day for many people. She kept a written journal of each days prayers along with thoughts and bible verses. Betty was accustomed to praying thorough. What a wonderful example of Gods love for us. May the legacy of praying through continue with me and many others.

National Day of Prayer 2009

2009-05-06T07:57:00.002-04:00

The 58th Annual National Day of Prayer will take place Thursday, May 7, 2009. Millions will unite in prayer as thousands of events will take place from coast to coast. The theme for this year is "Prayer... America's Hope" and is based on the verse from Psalm 33:22 which states: "May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you."

For more information check out the National Day of Prayer website

Why are you sleeping?

2009-04-08T08:08:00.003-04:00

Luke 22:39-46

[39] Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. [40] On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." [41] He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, [42] "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." [43] An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. [44] And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

[45] When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. [46] "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

As I read the scripture this morning God asked me the same question. "Why are you sleeping?" There is much work to be done. God is calling us, His people, to work in the field. To be aware of His presence in our lives.

Jesus, forgive me for not being on the alert, for not praying when prompted and for not being aware of Your continuous presence in my life.

Lord, teach me to pray

2009-03-10T07:53:00.003-04:00

Last week we received a phone message that an old friend from the Alliance Church had passed away. Eunice Harris, an older member of the church, had retired to Florida more than a number of years ago.

Eunice was truly a woman of prayer. As a married man in my mid 20's, I can remember one night sitting next to Eunice at a Thursday evening prayer meeting. The tradition was to pray going around the circle. Eunice prayed before me in the most wonderful King James language and as she prayer I realised that I would be next. What to pray, how to pray. I thought that my prayer would be totally inadequate. I don't remember what I said but I do remember that after we finished Eunice came over to me and expressed how my prayer had touched her heart. I learned that night that praying what God lays on my heart is more important that the words or the form of the prayer.

The last time I saw Eunice she was at my mother in laws home. Eunice had come to visit her friends on Long Island and had stopped over to see Betty. I was sitting in the back room with Eunice and Carl VonStein, our former pastor. We chatted for awhile and shared what was happening with our families. Carl asked Eunice if she would pray for us. As Eunice prayed, with the familiar King James words, my mind went back to that prayer meeting so many years ago. I gave thanks to God for allowing me to know Eunice and others who taught me about prayer.

I give thanks to God today for the saints that I have known who have become the great cloud of witnesses that surrounds us. (Heb 12:1,2)

5 Practical Suggestions for Prayer

2009-02-17T13:09:00.004-05:00

Here are 5 suggestions on how to pray specifically for your spouse: By Elizabeth Bahe

1. Pray for your spouse's spouse.

That means you.

"[Your heart] must be clean before God in order for you to see good results," wrote Stormie Omartian in The Power of a Praying Wife.

"If you have resentment, anger, unforgiveness, or an ungodly attitude, even if there's good reason for it, you'll have a difficult time seeing answers to your prayers. But if you can [confess and repent of] those feelings to God in total honesty, and then move into prayer, there is nothing that can change a marriage more dramatically."

2. Pray for your spouse's relationship with God.

Pray that your spouse would know God, trust God and remain in Him. Jesus says in John 15:5, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing."

Nothing means that without Jesus, your spouse can't be patient, unconditionally love you, nor be the man/woman you need.

Rather than nagging about a growing "honey-do" list or an area of weakness in your spouse, "pray before you say." Openly communicate with each other, but pray that your spouse would spend time listening to God. Trust the Holy Spirit to provide ultimate correction.

3. Pray for their God-given role.

Wives, pray for your husband's leadership in your marriage. Ask God to give him strength to carry out his responsibilities and help him prioritize time with his family. The Lord has entrusted many things to you both -- money, time, a home -- so pray for your husband to be a wise manager of God's gifts.

Husbands, as you provide direction for your family, pray for your wife's role as your partner -- the person who can come alongside to help you. Ask God to remind her to pray about her worries so she'll experience Christ's peace. Pray that her day will go smoothly and she would accomplish much.

4. Pray for strong relationships with godly members of the same sex.

Same-sex friendships are vital. If a person looks to their spouse to meet all their friendship needs, chances are their spouse will eventually crumple under the pressure.

But remember, those whom your spouse spends extra time with will shape them as a person. Pray that he/she would be surrounded with followers of Jesus Christ.

5. Pray practically.

Good intentions don't naturally lead to good results. You have to have a plan.

Pick Scripture by which to pray for your spouse, then put it on your dashboard and pray while on your morning commute. As you fold your spouse's laundry, pray for them or use your lunch hour once a week to pray.

Resist the temptation to turn this into an obligatory checklist. Instead, this guide highlights areas where spouses need prayer. Your spouse is God's gift to you; take time to speak with Him about that gift.

I wish I could say I prayed for Aaron for hours each day, but that's not the case. Some days, as I drift off to sleep, I just ask God to bless his work tomorrow and keep him safe.

Recently, a Tuesday deadline approached too quickly and I was in knots by Monday night. To my delight, I finished writing the magazine article the next day with time to spare. It felt like my hours had multiplied -- a specific answer to Aaron's prayer for my workday.

Other than the Lord, no one knows me better than my husband. When the 2 of them get together on my behalf, I'm blessed.

How to pray in the midst of financial catastrophe

2009-02-05T11:36:00.003-05:00

Philip Yancey in his column for Christianity Today wrote A Surefire Investment in the Januray 2009 edition

Click on the link to read about how to pray in the midst of financial catastrophe.

Prayerful Dependence

2009-01-22T12:57:00.000-05:00

Do you need God? Jesus said in John 5:19 that He could do NOTHING without the Father. In John 15 Jesus says He is a vine and we are branches and that without Him we can do NOTHING. Those statements should change our perspective on how much we need God. We don’t just need Him for Heaven but for everyday life.

One of the key ways that our need for God is expressed is through prayer. Simply put, people that believe they need God call out to Him. Prayer was a top priority in Jesus’ life. In fact, in Luke 5:16 it says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Billy Graham once said, “True prayer is a way of life, not just for use in cases of emergency. Make it a habit, and when the need arises you will be in practice.”

As an expression of your love for God why not make Prayerful Dependence a priority in 2009.

Billy Graham's Prayer For Our Nation

2009-01-15T10:18:00.002-05:00

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance.
We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done.
We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!'

5 Ways to Pray the Pslams

2009-01-13T12:36:00.004-05:00

Five Ways to Pray the Psalms

1. Say Them Out Loud. Just read the Psalms slowly and thoughtfully, assenting to what they say with as much understanding as you have, intellectually and emotionally. Don't just read them, pray them; say them from the heart. The Psalms contain both the Word God has to say to us about prayer and the words he wants us to say to him in prayer. "This is pure grace," exclaimed Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "that God tells us how we can speak with him and have fellowship with him."

2. Festoon Them. Think of a psalm as a Christmas tree. Read it and then festoon it with your own prayers, as you would decorate a tree. Your prayers are answers to what God says to you in the psalm. One way to understand a psalm's intent is to read it through the lens of the "three Rs": Rejoice: What do I find here that gives me cause to rejoice, to give praise and thanks? Repent: What do I read here that brings to light sin in my life? Request: What in this psalm can inform the way I pray for others and myself?

3. Paraphrase Them. Meditate on and study a psalm until you understand it well enough to put it into your own words. Then paraphrase the psalm as you have come to understand it, and pray your paraphrase. No one need read or hear what you have written but you and the Lord, who delights in the prayers of his people.

4. Learn Them by Heart. Memorize the Psalms—but not by rote. Rather, learn them by heart; make their words your words. Come to understand them so well you can recite them—by inflection and tone—as though you had written them yourself. This is by far the best way I know to learn to pray the Psalms. I can think of no more powerful way to allow the Word of God to change who you are and how you think. Over the years, the prayers of the Psalms have offered incomparable comfort and clarity in desperate, murky, and confusing situations, when I didn't have a worthwhile word of my own to say—when I quite literally didn't have a prayer.

5. Marinate in Them. Some people use the Bible like they use spice to liven up the taste of food—a little Tabasco here, some salt and pepper and oregano there; a particular psalm to read when you are (check one) sad or glad or afraid or lonely or struggling with doubt. But it's better to use the Psalms as you would a marinade. A spice touches only the surface of the food; a marinade changes its character. The soul should marinate in Scripture by repeated, thoughtful, slow, comprehensive, and Spirit-enlightened reading.

— Abridged from God's Prayer Book by Ben Patterson. (Christianity Today Magazine)

Thy Will Be Done

2008-11-05T12:18:00.000-05:00

"Therefore faith prays in such a manner that it commits everything to the gracious will of God; it lets [God] determine whether it is conducive to his honor and to our benefit." Martin Luther, in a sermon on Matthew 8:1-13.

The Blessing of Morning Prayer

2008-11-01T07:57:00.000-04:00

The entire day receives order and discipline when it acquires unity. This unity must be sought and found in morning prayer. It is confirmed in work. The morning prayer determines the day.
Squandered time of which we are ashamed, temptations to which we succumb, weakness and lack of courage in work, disorganization and lack of discipline in our thoughts and in our conversation with other men, all have their own origin most often in the neglect of morning prayer.

Order and distribution of our time become more firm where they originate in prayer. Temptations which accompany the working day will be conquered on the basis of the morning breakthrough to God. Decisions, demanded by work, become easier and simpler where they are made not in the fear of men but only in the sight of God. “Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men” (Colossians 3:23). Even mechanical work is done in a more patient way if it arises from the recognition of God and his command. The powers to work take hold, therefore, at the place where we have prayed to God. He wants to give us today the power which we need for our work.

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible, pp 64-65

Prayer for week of September 28th

2008-09-29T10:47:00.000-04:00

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy;

Prayer of St. Francis

Prayer (Thoughts & Ideas)

Christmas Prayer - Max Lucado

Conversations with God (Following The Star)

Following The Star - An Advent Online Devotional

Advent Devotional - Following The Star

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Morning Prayer)

Building Up One Another

"War Zone" by Building 429

The Valley Song - Jars of Clay

"I Pray"

The Life of Prayer

Hold My Heart Music Video-Tenth Avenue North

Haven Quartet - what a friend we have in Jesus (with lyrics)

Casting Crowns - Prayer For A Friend

Holy Week Services

from "His Voice" (A Cuban Devotional Guide)

Pray for Operation Christmas Child

The Prayer of St Francis

A Call For Prayer

Journey to the Cross

Casting Crowns - What If His People Prayed (Live)

Presence of God

1 Thessalonians 5:17

A Call To Prayer (Max Lucado)

Cloud of Witnesses

Lets Do It

Perspective - Base Camp Blog

We Pray for Haiti

From Christian Surfers.com Monday morning DEVO

Prayer for the New Year

Fourth Week of Advent

The Lord Is Near

Preparing our Hearts and asking for Grace

Praying Advent

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

A Prayer for Christians in the Middle East

The Four Acts Of Prayer

Prayer for Firefighters and Rescue Workers

Prayer for Firefighters and Rescue Workers at Community 9/11 Memorial ServiceRev Joe Hinds (Faith And Life From The Heartland)

The Lord said to Samuel

C S Lewis on Prayer

Morning Prayer

Ezraweb / Prayer for July 29th

Psalms The Prayer Book of the Bible

A. W. Tozer Prayer

A Prayer from Rev Joe Hinds

Confession

Preparation for Prayer

A Prayer for July 4th

Prayer of St Francis

Matthew 11:28

PRAYING THROUGH YOUR PROBLEMS

National Day of Prayer 2009

Why are you sleeping?

Lord, teach me to pray

5 Practical Suggestions for Prayer

How to pray in the midst of financial catastrophe

Prayerful Dependence

Billy Graham's Prayer For Our Nation

5 Ways to Pray the Pslams

Thy Will Be Done

The Blessing of Morning Prayer

Prayer for week of September 28th

Prayer for Firefighters and Rescue Workers at Community 9/11 Memorial Service
Rev Joe Hinds (Faith And Life From The Heartland)