Month: August 2017

There is Always Hope

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There was never a night or a problem that could defeat sunrise or hope.

Bernard Williams

hope

God made a covenant with the people of Israel. He promised them a future with descendants. He promised that he would never leave them. He sent his son to take on our sins. He did everything he could to let us know his love for us. Remember those promises. The sun will rise tomorrow and there is always hope. Hope can support us when things look bleak. God give us hope.

Gracious Lord, you did everything to show us your love. Remind us that you are with us always and in your presence is hope. AMEN

Do Something!

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helpIt is so easy to sit in our comfortable homes and do nothing. The people that need help can be so unappealing. They may be dirty and homeless. We may feel that if we give them money they will spend it on alcohol so we don’t help. but Jesus didn’t ask us to judge the situation. He said we should help no matter what. Even the unlovely. If you don’t want to give money carry snack crackers in your car or a toothbrush and toothpaste. We can always do something!

Forgiving God, take away our anxiousness about helping others. Let us be like the good Samaritan and willing to go the extra mile. AMEN

We are not Christians in Isolation

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Solitude vivifies; isolation kills.                                                                                                Joseph Roux

isolation

There is a difference between seeking solitude and seeking isolation. The first leads to thoughtfulness and dreaming. The second to disconnection from others. We are not Christians in isolation. Being a Christian is being part of a community. Other Christians hold us up when we are in need and we do the same for them. The stories of others enhances our own faith. Take time to be with other Christians. It enriches your faith.

Beloved God, you did not create us to be isolated but to be with others. Help us to take the time to be amongst other Christians. AMEN

Why Worry?

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Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.                                  Leo Buscaglia

God tells us not to worry. He reminds us to look at the lilies of the field.

Matthew 6:28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin,
what ifYet we still persist in worrying. We want to fix things. We want to be in charge. Sometimes I think we expect to handle things better than God. What are we thinking? Turn your worries over to God. Do it even if you have to keep doing it again and again. God never gets tired of handling it.
Gracious God, you have promised us to take care of us. Help us to remember that you are always there to take on our worries. AMEN

Choose Love

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choose loveEvery day we have choices to make. The choices determine our path. Today opportunities to choose hatred, violence, dissension, and other negative ideas is in our face every day. Our world is in crisis. Maybe it has always been but due to our methods of communication we see and hear it every day. We can’t fix everything. We can fix something…..especially ourselves. We must choose love. In every situation every day. We must do this. It is imperative. Choose love.

Most loving God, help us to see you in every face we see. Teach us to see beyond the surface and love the soul within. AMEN

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The person who can bring the spirit of laughter into a room is indeed blessed.   Bennett Cerf

Laughter is a gift from God. God planned for us to laugh. He gave us the ability to find things funny. God wants cheerful Christians. One of our concerns as Christians is the ability to laugh at ourselves. We can take ourselves so seriously that we can’t see the humor. We often think we know all about God. How arrogant. God’s thinking is so far from ours that I’m sure he is amazed at some of our ideas. When we overstep our bounds we have to have the ability to laugh with God at our naivety. Don’t forget to laugh….especially at yourself.

humor

 

Forgiving God, I am sure that you find us amusing. Help us to see the humor in ourselves and to laugh a lot. AMEN

Let me sow love

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Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Francis of Assisi

prayer of st francis

This is an excerpt from the Prayer of St Francis. This is one of my favorites. We are becoming so divided. People are choosing to hate anyone who is different from them. We don’t spend any time getting to know the person. If we did we would probably change our minds. This hatred is so destructive. If it continues it will tear us all apart. I am sure that God weeps. Each of us must take it upon ourselves to make a change. We only have control over ourselves. Change can come one person at a time. Hatred can turn to love.

Loving God, how you must look down in distress at our anger and hatred. Help us to to sow love. AMEN 

God in the Dark

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No matter how dark everything is around us God is there. Psalm 23 reminds us that even in the valley of the shadow of death there is nothing to fear. God is always with us. He is in the light and the dark. We are never ever alone. It is so hard to remember this when the dark things of life seem to overcome us. We may not see God’s light but it is there.

shadows

God of light, you are always there holding the light for us whether we can see it or not. Help us believe in your promises and rest in your care. AMEN

Forgiveness Heals

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anger

It is so easy to be angry with someone who has hurt us in some way. It is also easy to hold on to that anger and feed it every day. Anger causes physical changes in the body. Blood pressure rises, heart rate increases and adrenaline increases. All these things are bad for our health. God calls us to forgiveness. We may not be able to forgive all at once but each day we can work at putting anger away. Forgiveness is healing. We are the ones who are healed the most.

Forgiving God, help us to learn to follow your example. You forgive our waywardness always. Help us to learn to forgive others as you forgive us. AMEN 

Live With Joy

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Joy is prayer; joy is strength: joy is love; joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. Mother Teresa

God calls us to be joyful Christians. We are not to go around looking grim or sad. That certainly is not the kind of message that we need to give. We draw others to God by becoming someone that others want to be like. Loving is contagious. If we love we give it away constantly and others receive the blessing of it. Learn to be a joyful and loving Christian.

Joyful God, show us how to live in the joyful life that you have given us. Help us to show others love and joy. AMEN

be-joyful