4/1 Our Father in heaven, we pray again for your guidance and help – help us to recognize and accept our differences with others. Guide us through these days of uncertainty and confusion. Give us the courage of our convictions and teach us when and how to speak those convictions. Amen
Joys of Living
3/29/05 Our Father in Heaven, we pray again for Your blessing on this gathering – help us look forward to the opportunities and joys of living this day. Remind us to reach out to those needing encouragement – to touch the lonely – to be more receptive to change and more forgiving of others. Amen
It is a grey, rainy day, and some bird could care less. Singing away.
Mom and Dad knew how to be joyful for each day and with each other. They looked out for those around them who were lonely, also. They walked this out.
Who see beyond our shortcomings
3/23/04 Our Father in Heaven, we thank you for the beauty of this day – for the opportunity of our fellowship here this hour – for family and friends that see beyond our shortcomings. Encourage those who need support – comfort those who are in pain, and continue to guide those who pursue Peace. Amen
The people in our lives who see us beyond our shortcomings are not the same ones who see us walking with them in lock-step. Those that see beyond, are looking down the road at the future me, at what they see in me, looking at something, perhaps not even present.
They see and speak life and hope unto our being.
The others who see us paired as Siamese twins with our shortcomings, do us no favors. They have no sight beyond today, this second.
They have no hope or vision beyond today.
Help me to see what is beyond the road. Remind me who to listen to.
Faith in Your Intervention
3/1/05 Our Heavenly Father, we come again chilled by yet another storm – by headlines depicting death and violence – by the anxieties of what might happen. Help us to free ourselves of stress – to pursue purposeful and responsible actions and to have Faith in your intervention. Amen
Today’s March 1 sounds like this weather report of Dad’s. That hasn’t changed. Nor have we escaped death and violence in the headlines. In fact now it is worse, as we don’t just read it at our kitchen table in the morning paper with our coffee, we carry it around with us and are caught up on the latest thanks to the internet.
The anxieties of what may happen indeed are nurtured in fertile soil. But here’s the thing, we can be free of this stress, but I am not sure I agree with Dad’s belief we can free ourselves.
Does God intervene? Many despair and say, “No.” Not all interventions look like Superman stopping a train (yes, I recall watching black and white reruns at Beverly? YMCA eating pizza while Dad worked some event). Some intervention, love that is singular, ongoing…is in the form of people in our lives that help mitigate our pain and stress.
Help me to have faith in Your Intervention and consequently, have faith in you, put here in my life for a reason.
Thanks!