View Full Version : A Veterans Prayer - Retired 11/27/06
The Cornerstone of Peace
Almighty God, the Great Thumb
we cannot evade to tie any knot:
The Roaring Thunder that splits mighty trees;
the all-seeing Lord up on high who sees
even the footprints of an antelope on a rock mass here on earth.
You are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call.
You are the cornerstone of peace.
Take My Heart, Dear Lord
Take my heart, dear Lord, and hold it in the palm of your hand. May it beat with the pulse of you.
Shine your light into the very depth of my heart, and may your light shine through the windows of my soul so that I may be used as a beacon of light to lead others to you!
-swesthafer
Let us come to God's presence with confidence, because we will find mercy, and strength when we need it, alleluia. (Heb 4)
God our Father, we believe in your presence in our lives and we come before you seeking your guidance and help in the issues and challenges that face us today. May you give us the strength we need to live the events and experiences in our lives with trust, confidence and hope. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Breakfast Prayer
Father, we thank thee for the night,
And for the pleasant morning light.
For rest and food and loving care,
And all that makes the day so fair.
Help us to do the thing we should,
To be to others kind and good,
In all we do, in all we say,
To grow more loving every day.
- Rebecca J. Weston
I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord; he will guide you to all truth. (Jn 16)
Lord Jesus, we come before you in prayer this day mindful of the need for truth in our lives. We are living in some painful and difficult times in our lives and we are in need of your Spirit of truth to guide us in our journey. May we open our hearts and minds to receive your Spirit of truth into our lives and may we have the courage to name our truth in all that we do and say. We ask this in your name. Amen.
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. (Ps 33)
God our Father, by this Easter mystery you touch our lives with the healing power of your love. You have given us the freedom of the children of God. We pray that we will always know of your love for us as your children. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord; by the word of the Lord the heavens were made, alleluia. (Ps 32)
God our Father, though your people walk in the valley of darkness no evil should they fear; for they follow in faith the call of the shepherd whom you have sent for their hope and strength. May we follow the Good Shepherd and be attentive to His voice when he calls out to gather us together. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Let us shout out our joy and happiness, and give glory to God, the Lord of all, because he is our King, alleluia. (Rev 19)
Lord Jesus, we come before you this day with joyful hearts ready to shout with joy the news of your resurrection and gift to us of eternal life. Help us to share this great news with all those whom we encounter on our journey in life. We ask this in your name. Amen.
The Lord led his people out of slavery. He drowned their enemies in the Sea. (Ps 77)
God our Father, you gave us the Easter mystery as our covenant of reconciliation. May the new birth we celebrate show its effects in the way we live. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Your people praised your great victory, O Lord. Wisdom opened the mouth that was dumb, and made the tongues of babies speak. (Wis 10)
Father, you gather the nations to praise your name. May all who are reborn in baptism be one in faith and love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer for Fruitful Seasons
Almighty God, Lord of heaven and earth: We humbly pray that thy gracious providence may give and preserve to our use the harvests of the land and of the seas, and may prosper all who labor to gather them, that we, who constantly receive good things from thy hand, may always give thee thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord. (Ps 27)
God our creator, we come before you this day aware that we need to place our needs before you and to seek a place to dwell in your house. May we know of your welcome and may we enter with hearts full of hope and peace so that we may be a witness to your words and to your life. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. (Ps 66)
Merciful Lord, hear the prayers of your people. May we who have received your gift of faith share for ever in the new life of Christ. May we always be willing to share this life with others. We ask this in your name. Amen.
The Lamb who was slain is worthy to receive strength and divinity, wisdom and power and honor, alleluia. (Rev 5)
Father, by the love of your Spirit, may we who have experienced the grace of the Lord's resurrection rise to the newness of life in joy. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
http://www.pmimchat.com/forum/images/misc/US.5.gifhttp://www.pmimchat.com/forum/images/misc/army.5.gifhttp://www.pmimchat.com/forum/images/misc/usn.5.gifhttp://www.pmimchat.com/forum/images/misc/usmc.5.gifhttp://www.pmimchat.com/forum/images/misc/AF.5.gifhttp://www.pmimchat.com/forum/images/misc/gc.5.gifhttp://www.pmimchat.com/forum/images/misc/pow_mia.5.gif
A Memorial Day Prayer
Eternal God,
Creator of years, of centuries,
Lord of whatever is beyond time,
Maker of all species and master of all history --
How shall we speak to you
from our smallness and inconsequence?
Except that you have called us to worship you
in spirit and in truth;
You have dignified us with loves and loyalties;
You have lifted us up with your lovingkindnesses.
Therefore we are bold to come before you without groveling
[though we sometimes feel that low]
and without fear
[though we are often anxious].
We sing with spirit and pray with courage
because you have dignified us;
You have redeemed us from the aimlessness
of things' going meaninglessly well.
God, lift the hearts of those
for whom this holiday is not just diversion,
but painful memory and continued deprivation.
Bless those whose dear ones have died
needlessly, wastefully [as it seems]
in accident or misadventure.
We remember with compassion those who have died
serving their countries
in the futility of combat.
There is none of us but must come to bereavement and separation,
when all the answers we are offered
fail the question death asks of each of us.
We believe that you will provide for us
as others have been provided with the fulfillment of
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
By Rev. Dick Kozelka (ret)
First Congregational Church of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN.
Your Love and Your Grace
Take, O Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my will; all that I have and possess. You have given them to me; to you, O Lord, I restore them. All things are yours: Dispose of them according to your will. Give me your love and your grace; for this is enough for me.
- St. Ignatius of Loyola
I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord. I will come back to you, and your hearts will rejoice. (Jn 14)
Lord Jesus, in the scriptures we hear that you will not leave us orphans and that you will come back and our hearts will rejoice. By your gift of grace, may we feel the warmth of your Spirit in our lives, so that we can truly know that you will not leave us orphans. We ask this in your name. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.
Amen.
- St. Augustine
A Heart to Love Thee
O Lord, who hast mercy upon all, take away from me my sins,
and mercifully kindle in me the fire of thy Holy Spirit.
Take away from me the heart of stone,
and give me a heart of flesh,
a heart to love and adore thee,
a heart to delight in thee,
to follow and to enjoy thee,
for Christ's sake.
Ambrose of Milan (c. 339-97)
Lord, hear my voice when I call to you. You are my help; do not cast me off, do not desert me, my Savior God. (Ps 26)
Lord Jesus, we come before you confident that you hear our voices and will respond to our cry for help. We realize that without you we are in great danger of falling into unhealthy situations in our lives that will pull us away from you. We ask for the grace to grow in our trust, confidence and belief in your unconditional love for us in our lives. We ask this in your name. Amen.
Prayer for Peace
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one creator; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
God is the strength of his people. In him, we his chosen live in safety. Save us, Lord, who share in your life, and give us your blessing; be our shepherd for ever. (Ps 27)
God our Father, we ask that you guide and protect us as we strive to follow you in our lives. We ask that you grant us an unfailing respect for your name and keep us always in your love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The thoughts of his heart last through every generation, that he will rescue them from death and feed them in time of famine. (Ps 32)
Almighty Father, we are grateful for the many gifts of love that we have received from Jesus your Son. We are mindful of the pain that your Son's heart lived during his life time. We ask that you open our hearts to share in this life and to bless us with his love. We ask this through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Quiet Sermon
A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him.
It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastors visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.
The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.
Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The Pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday."
We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.
If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything!
This is an amazing picture! The "longer" you look at this picture, the "more" you see.
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, and to proclaim liberty to captives. (Lk 4:18)
Lord Jesus, we hear in the scriptures to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives. We strive to be so attentive to those around us in need of hearing your words and of being freed in order to live your examples in their lives. Help us to be attentive to their needs and to respond to them with openness and in love. We ask this in your name. Amen.
vBulletin® v3.8.6, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.