Doing Our Part

In order for a society or organization to function properly, each of us has to do our part.  Every one of us is gifted in some way and when these gifts are combined in a cooperative relationship, "every part does its share: (Eph. 4:16) and the separate parts make up the whole (Romans 12:5)  We need each other!  Pray this coming year that God will continue to guide us all:

We give you most heart thanks, O Living God, for the gifts you have given each one of us.  Give us also the spiritual insight to recognize the gifts as coming from you, and also the resolve to use them for the benefit of the whole.  Some of us might feel we are not gifted; reveal the truth that even the most gifted persons in the world cannot perform their part in the whole scheme of things, without the support and help from hundreds - even thousands - of us whose gifts seem less important and yet are vital for life to be rich and full.  Help us to recognize that in your sight, every gift you bestow is equally important.  In Jesus Name, we pray.  Amen.

New Beginnings

Eternal God, for whom there is no past, no future - only the eternal NOW, we come before you in prayer as we approach another new year with all its opportunities and challenges.  May our prayers in the year ahead keep us in the awareness that you know us inside and out and yet you love us!  Because of that love, we have faith that no matter what, you are always with us supporting and sustaining us.  Thank you, O God for always being there for us.  In Jesus name, we pray.  Amen

Defeating Darkness

As we look at the dazzling bright light of the sun on this beautiful day, O Lord, we are reminded of the many times you have promised to bring light into the darkened lives of your children.  Thank you for fulfilling that promise through the birth of the Christ Child.  Keep us ever mindful, loving God, of your presence with us every step of our lives, so that when life crashes in about us, we can reach out and clasp you saving hand.  We are thankful that you have guided and sustained us through all the difficult challenges of this past year.  We look toward an uncertain future in the year ahead of us with fear and trembling.  Strengthen us with your Holy Spirit so that we can face the challenges of the future, and never lose sight of your guiding light.  In Jesus' Name we pray.  Amen.

Praise!

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we praise your Name now and foprever!  We glorify You and give thanks for all your wonders which you have given us purely out of Divine goodness and mercy.  We know we don't deserve such blessngs, so in humble gratitude we thank you - especially for your supreme  Gift to the world - our Lord Jesus Christ, who took on himself human flesh and lived among us to reveal to us your Truth and Grace!  Its in his name we pray.  Amen.

The Likeness of Your Son

O Almighty God, who by the birth of your Holy Child Jesus has given us a great Light to dawn upon our darkness; Grant that in His Light we may see light to the end of our days.  Giver of all good and gracious gifts, bestow uupon us, we pray, the most wondrous gift of your love. that the likeness of your Son may be formed in us.Thus may we have the everbrightening hope of everlasting life.  In Jesus Name, we pray.  Amen.

Christmas Blessings

Centuries ago, most precious Lord, you blessed our earth with a vision of your love in the form of a little Child.  We pray that you will again gladden our hearts with the light that shone round about the hills of Bethelehem so many years ago. Graciously grant us a true Christmas blessing as we prepare ourselves to enter into a new year.  Fill our hearts with gratitude.  Lead us into the Christmas Peace which passes all understanding - the Peace of your Son and our Lord, in whose name we pray.  Amen.

The Happiness of Others

Giving God, support all those at this season who think and plan to give happiness to others, and give them the deepest joy in their tasks.  Sustain all those who must bear added burdens to provide cheer for others.  Help us all to be mindful and considerate of them.  Abundantly bless those in whose hearts there is little room for joy because sorrow has come to them.  Grant that in the knowledge of Christ's comfort they may find peace in their hearts through help they receive from you through concerned followers of your way.  In the name of the Christ Child, we do pray.  Amen.

The Gift of Joy

Lord, you sent joy down to us at Christmas in the promise which that little Christ Child held for all of humanity.  What gratitude we feel for that gift of joy!  Forgive us if we have let the pressures of life suck the joy out of our living.  Help us to concentrate on the relatiopnship of love that you have offered us, so we keep close to you in continual prayer. Being in you care and presence is the greatest blessing we have, and we rejoice and give you thanks!  Amen.

Bless Our World

O God, the whole world hungers for your Spirit even if they don't know it - open our eyes and hearts so that we might recognize your self-revelation in the Christ Child.  Bless us with peace and righteousness the world over as the season of good will comes upon us.  Let your Spirit rule among all nations, that we might learn to live together and to serve one another.  Give us the mind of Christ, that sees others as our sisters/brothers - all children of the most high God - regardless of race or creed or nationality.  Thus may the true joy of this season come upon us.  In Jesus name we pray.  Amen.

Christ Within Us

Gracious and loving God, who has prepared the minds and hearts of women /men of old for the coming of your Son, and whose Spirit works continually to illumine our darkened lives with the light of His Gospel:  Prepare now our minds and hearts, we pray, that Christ may dwell within us, and ever reign in our thoughts and affections as the King of Love and the Prince of Peace.  Grant this, we pray, for the sake of Jesus the Christ, in whose name we pray.  Amen.

God Is With Us

Amazing God, greater than the universe itself and yet as close to us as our every breath, we offer up our adoration today at the wonder of your love shown in the Christ Child!!  By our own efforts, we could never approach you; but you have come to us, taken on our human flesh, and drawn us into an eternal relationship with you.  How can we ever be worthy of such love?  Yet you have called us your children, and have overcome our weakness and our shortcomings.  Help us to live as your children; help us to be loving like you; help us to be forgiving like you; help us to to reach out to others as you do.   Bathe us, O God, in the love, joy and peace of Christmas which gives us hope for the present and for the future.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

The Amazing Love of God

Savior God, the closer we get to celebrating Christmas, the more we are struck at the spectacle of your love displayed in the Christmas Story.  Like the Psalmist of old, we consider the works of your hands in creation, and we cry out, "What is man that you are maindful of him??"  The answeer comes to us out of the past - we are your beloeve children..  How wonderful that you have revealed that divine truth to us through the birth of the Christ Child.  We bow down before you in adoration and praise, O Father, yet at the same time we yearn tojump into your loving arms like little children, and to feel your strength and the comfort of being in your embrace.  May we knock down all our walls of resistance to your love and open our hearts once again making room for the birth of the Christ Child.  Amen.

The Greatest Gift

Dear God, giver of all good and gracious gifts, in this season of giving, help us to remember the greatest gift of all - your love wrapped n the precious package of the Christ Child.  Thak you, thank you!  Through the life of Jesus you have taught us that this gift of love becomes more and more precious as we share it with those around us.  As we share your love, we  become more and more like you, our divine parent.  As we share your love, the world becomes a better place in which to live.  As we share your love our joy is heightened day by day.  Help us to truly receive your love and to give you the glory.  Amen.

The Great Physician

I have just returned from a one week stay in the hospital for a blood clot in my leg.  It's gonig to take four to six months for that to dissolve.  This is a time of apprehension about thinning my blood too much, or even part of the clot breaking off and gong to my heart or lungs.  Some of you reading this meditation might also be in medical treatment and uncertainty of your health in the future, or maybe some other loss in your life, so I share this prayer with you to a loving and healing God:

Loving and healing God, thank you for being with us in our times of sickness or loss.  You have promised that even in the face of death, you would not desert us, but would give us healing and your comforting presence, as King David prayed so long ago; "Even though  I walk through the valley of the shadow of death we need not fear, for you are with us."  We face an uncertain future with confidence because we know you will be with us every step of the way.  Thank you, gracious and loving God for giving us this assurance in your holy Word and in the life of Jesus, your Son and our Lord.   May we never cease to praise your Name and to walk in fellowship with You.  Amen.

A Christmas Meditation

Like the harried innkeeper, may we find ways to help others.
Like the lumbering beasts, may we be silent witnesses to the unfathomable glory of life.
Like the shepherds on the hill, may we know that we need never be afraid.
Like the journeying wise, may we always have the courage to follow our stars.
Like the angels, may we cry peace to a troubled world.
Holy one, to these prayers for our own transformation we add our prayers for all of those who suffer and grieve this evening. May they find comfort. And we add our prayers for all those involved in war; may they be safe…

Keep Christ in Christmas

The number one way to keep Jesus Christ in your Christmas celebrations is to have him present in your daily life. If you're not sure what it means to become a believer in Christ, check out this article on "How to Become a Christian." If you've already accepted Jesus as your Savior and made him the center of your life, keeping Christ in Christmas is more about the way you live your life than the things you say—such as "Merry Christmas" versus "Happy Holidays."

Keeping Christ in Christmas means daily revealing the character, love and spirit of Christ that dwells in you, by allowing these traits to shine through your actions.

Take My Life

Use me, O Lord!  This life and everything I have is a gift from you, so in this season of giving, I offer my life to glorifying your most wondrous name.  Let me never forget that my very existence depends on accepting your offer to be in an eternal relationship with you - starting NOW.  You have offered every one of us this awesome Christmas Gift in the birth of the Christ Child.  Yet only a very few have actully opened up their hearts and surrendered them to him.  Christ is the WAY to truth and love and a full life.  Give me the wisdom to enter into this covenant.   "Take my life and let it be, consecrated, Lord, to Thee!"  Amen.

Cast Out Those Demons!!

Even the best of us have "downdays"!  That is true of more people during the holidays than at any other time of the year.  Some time ago I ran across a transliteration of Psalm 83 by Leslie Brandt, which has helped me many times.  I feel that if even great spiritual giants of faith, like King David  - who most likely wrote this Psalm - can become depressed, then it is OK for others of us to be so also.  I share it with you if you need help today overcoming the demons of depression.

I am so depressed tonight, O God,
I feel as if I am the sole target of an enemy barrage - that all the demons of hell are bent upon damnming my soul for eternity.

I remember Your precious promises, but I do not witness their fulfillment.
I talk to people about Your love, and they drown  my zeal with scorn.
I step forth to carry out Your will, but I feel no sense of accomplishment.
I mouth words, wave my arms, and beat the air with fruitlerss endeavor.
Then I fall like a wounded warrior, bone-weary, defeated, and lonely.
And I wonder if you are truly my God, and if I am really Your child.

Consume, O God, these domons that depress, these enemies that plague my soul.
May the whirlwind of Your Spirit sweep them out of my life forever.
May I awaken in the morning with a heart full of joy, and with the strength and the courage to walk stright and secure in the dangerous and difficult paths before me.  Amen.

Fit For Service

Lord of all, draw us ever nearer to you so that you may turn us into worthy servants in your Kingdom.  Pour your spirit into our hearts so our lives might be devoted to sharing your love with all whom we meet in life.  Thus may our lives become one continuous chain of thanksgiving for all the blessings you have given to us.  Guide us toward paths of useefulness and lead us in your Way of truth.  Lift our thoughts toward all whch is true, lovely and righteous in your sight.  Thus may we  be beacons of light and lead others to your Kingdom through our example of faith and obedience.  Amen.

Receive Christ Into Your Heart

There ared a lot of Advent Hymns whch are beautiful, but one that is very meaningful to me I have often made as my personal prayer to ask God to help me receive the Christ Child into my heaert anew.  I would like to offer those words to my readers as their Advent prayer:

O how shall I rceive Thee, How meet Thee on Thy way,
     Blest hope of every nation, my soul's delight and stay?
O Jesus, Jesus, give me Now by Thine own pure light
     To know what e'er is pleasing And welcome in Thy sight.

Love caused Thy incarnation, Love brought Thee down to me;
     Thy thirst for my salvation Procured my liberty.
O love beyond all telling, That led Thee to embrace,
     In love all love excelling, Our lost and fallen race!

He who alone can cheer you Is standing at the door;
     He brings His pity near you, And bids you weep no more.
He comes, who contrite sinners Will with the children place,
     The children of His Father, the heirs of life and grace.

Amen.

The Gloom of Doubt

Lord, we awoke to a cloudy and gloomy day and that caused us to remember your promise that you would chase away the gloom of our doubts.  We are so grateful for the birth of the Christ Child which has done exactly that for the whole world - if we only acccept him as our Savior.  All around us there are events happening that cause us to doubt that you really care for us - wars, murders, rape, child abuse - almost without limit.  Help the songs of the angels of so long ago awaken in our hearts again the flame of faith that can cast out all fear; all doubt; all uncertainty.  May we bask in the warmth of Christmas, and feel joy and love and hope returning to our hearts once more.  Be with us Lord Jesus, we ask you to stay close by us forever and day by day.  Amen.

Christmas Lights

Gracious and loving God, we herald the birth of your Son into our world on that first christmas, by hanging ligjhts all over our homes, towns and businesses.  Their joyous brightness illumines our hearts as well, and at least for this season we let his light shine through us into our lives and world.  How we adore the Christ Child!  How grateful we are for your gift of love in his birth!  Our world hopes  that this little child will bring peace into our lives and our world.  Lord of light, help us to realize that you have put that light of hope in us so that WE might become living Christmas Lights, illiminating our world where ever we go.  Thank you God for the privilege of being co-workers with you in bringing redemption to the world.  Help us to be faithful to that calling.  Amen.

Peace On Earth?!

The angel in the picture below reminds us of those words long ago with which the angels announced the birth of the Christ Child, "Peace on Earth, Good Will to all people!"  But our world has continued to be ravaged by war after war, and relationships between us and our neighbors (or loved ones) are broken because of anger and hatred.  More than ever, we need to be prayng that God bring peace on earth - and that it begin with you and me!  Let this be your prayer today:

Prince of peace, you have shown us the way to living at peace with one another, but too many have ignored your teachings and continue to live violent lives.  In desperation we cry out to you as did the prophets of the past that you would rend the heavens and once again come down to earth to establish your reign.   Yet we continue to follow our own devices in bringing peace to earth - forgive us for not turning to you for the solution.  We may not be able to do much as individuals to bring about world peace, but we can at least open our hearts to you, the Prince of Peace, and live our lives at peace with those with whom we live and work.  Be with us Christ, today.  Amen.

Redeeming Love

O Lord of love, as we rapidly approach Christmas, the frenzy of life increases until it almost inundates us!  Like Peter, sinking into the angry waves of the Sea of Gallilee, we cry out to you, "Lord save me."  There is nothing in this life which can save us from our own self-destruction - only your abiding, redeeming love!   So as we reach out to you in faith, Lord grasp our hand and save us from the false and destructive teachings of our world today.  Let the true meaning of Christmas triumph in our hearts, over the secularism which indulges our every whim .  Help us to open our lives to your love, so your presence might so fill our hearts that your love will  rediate through our lives to the lives of others lost in this mad confussion.  Lord save us!  Amen.

The Warmth of God's Love

Gracious God, on a cold morning like this, we are reminded of how cold and dismal life would be if you hadn't come to us in the little Christ Child.  Thank you for your love incarnate!!  May we use this Advent season to concentrate on the real meaning of the Christmas Season, so that we will again welcome the Christ Child into our hearts and lives.  We know how difficult it is to not be distracted from your message to us in the birth of Jesus, so we humbly ask that you help us to keep focused on your love which is revealed in a specil way during Christmas.  Amen.

Thanksgiving For God's Presence

"O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend on us we pray; cast out ur sin and enter in, be born in us today."

Thank you God, for taking on the flesh of your creation by coming to us in the Christ Child!  Through his life and teachings you have revealed the depth of your love for us, and have shown us the way that leads to your reign on Earth.  We would be part of that Kinigdom which overcomes our sins and failures and offers us eternal life where all sin and suffering ceases to exist and only love and peace will be ours to enjoy in your presence for ever.  Amen.

Prayer of Devotion

O Holy, Loving God, how long before we remember that the plan you have for the life of each one of us is designed to bring us the greatest Good??  We know better, but we still go through life struggling to do things our own way without taking into account your divine plan.  Open our hearts and minds so that we become devoted to following the way you have given for our lives.  Then we will really have good reason to live every day as a day of Thanksgiving and praise.  We would feel your hand in ours - may we reach out and feel the grasp of your power.  Amen.

The Holiday Spirit

Remember the Reason for the Season.

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Prayer In Times of Despair

The holidays are usually a time of great joy and celebration, but for many in our nation it is a time of deep despair.  That is especially true because of the uncertainty of our economy now.  We can empathize with the Psalmist who wrote:  "Why are you in despair, O my soul?  And why have you become disturbed within me?  Hope in God, for I shall again prise Him for the help of His presence."  [Psalm 42:5]
So our prayer for today is one reaching out to God for someone steadfast on whom to cling.

Lord God you are our rock and our sure foundation.  Help us to cling on to your presence ever more tightly because we feel the shifting sands of life swallowing us up.  Lift up our spirits from the depths of despair to gaze on the wonder of your Love which can help us overcome any challenges which life might place before us.  We would feel the strength of your love; we would experience the warmth of your presence enveloping us and protecting us from harm.  Help us to relax in your arms and to trust you explicitly.  Hold us and take away all our anxiety and all our fears.  Thank you, gracious God.

Amen.

Thanksgiving Day

Almighty God, whose gifts to us cannot even be measured and whose goodness to us leaves us amazed, we offer to you today our most heartfelt gratitude and thanksgiving.  We recognize you as the source of all creation and the ground of being.  Without you there is nothing: in you there is everything!  The world is filled with the wonder of your beauty and love.  We stand in awe before your creative genius.  Words fail us when we try to express how much we need you and how thankful we are that you love us so deeply that you have provided for our every need.  Thank you for our families; thank you for our nation of freedom; thank you especially for revealing yourself to us when we were lost and hopeless!  Praise be to you forever and forever.  Amen.

God Is Calling

God of the universe, you have chosen to call us to be co-creators with you - thank you for that priviledge!  In these changing and challenging times, help us to be faithful to that calling.  Show us the life style we should live so that the world might come to know the Love of God through us.  Make our commitment and loyalty to reflective of our love for you and for the mission you have set before us.  Continue to enrich and inspire us that as your children we may walk in love and peace.  Amen.

Thanksgiving For Our Nation

Most high and mighty Ruler of the universe: we thank you for your servants who established upon these shores a nation conceived in liberty and preserved in union.  We pray that we citizens may so honor the memory of our fore parents that our nation may stand in all the coming years for righteousness and peace.  Let your blessing rest uupon our leaders who have lost their way in the leadership of this great country, and enable them to once again discharge the duties of their stations with wisdom and integrity and with the welfare of the people they serve always in mind.  Amen.

Thankful Hearts

During this week of national thanksgiving, we can find dozens of thanksgiving prayers from the Judeo/Christian scriptures that we can offer to God with grateful hearts.  Psalm 118 is one such Psalm and I encourage you to re-visit this blog each day this week and pray this prayer: 

O give thanks to the Lord,
     for God is good; God's steadfast love endures for ever!
Open to me the gates of righteousness,
     that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord;
     the rithteous shall enter through it.
I thank thee that thou hast answered me
     and hast become my salvation.
This is the Lord's doing;
     it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day which the Lord has made;
     let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Thou art my God, and I will give thanks to thee;
     thou art my God, I will extol thee.
O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good;
     for God's steadfast love endures forever!

Amen.
 

Making Time to be With God

Waiting and patient God we are so thankful that even in our busy-ness You are always with us, waiting for us to tune into your presence through prayer so we can feel your closeness and experience your power in our lives!  We are so overwhelmed with things which we feel are very important for us to do, that we forget to make time fot that which is most important of all - opening our minds and hearts to your Guding hand throughout the day.  Help us to realize that we can do every thing in life better when we are in relationship with you daily.  Thanks again for being there for us.

Amen. 

Prayer for health

Thank you loving God for another beautiful day in which to enjoy life!  Yet there are many of us praying today who are sick in either body or mind or perhaps even facing death which makes it hard to be thankful.  For those who are sick in body, we pray that it be your will to touch them with your healing spirit.  For those who are depressed or besought with anxiety we pray that your spirit will make your love known to them and give them peace of mind.  For those who are facing either their death or that of a loved one, we ask that your comforting presence might be made known to them so they know that they are never alone.  For those of us who are in good health, may we use that gift from you to beings blessings to those with whom we live and work thus giving glory to your most glorious name.  Amen.

Prayer for Assurance

As we look out of our windows today, gracious Lord, the warm, cheerful, life-giving rays of the sun are blocked from our view by clouds.  So also in our lives sometimes the clouds of despair or fear or anxiety block from our view, the lifegiving power of your Spirit, and we feel lost and alone.  Reach out to us, O good and gracious Shepherd, and take our hand thus assuring us of your presence in the midst of our darkness.  Embrace us with the warmth of your Love; enhance us with the power of your indwelling spirit; enlighten us with  your wisdom so we can see beyond our clouds and again bask in the awareness of your abiding presence.  Guide us through this day, and throughout our future, lead us.  Amen.

Prayer for Strength

Your Holy Word tells us, O God, that you are "our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."  All around us the uncertainties of life are almost overwhelming, so we turn to you gracious God asking that your Spirit might be with us today to guide us and to encourage us so we don't despair.  Let us feel your presence and reassurance that you walk with us every step of the way.  Thank you, gracious God.    Amen.

O God, all good things come from you, and from you nothing is hidden. Give us the grace to act faithfully both in our wealth and in our lack of it.

God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble.

Let him guide you in troubled times.

Today's Devotional

When you keep your eyes on Christ,
everything will come into focus.

Welcome to the new Blog for Christ United Church of Christ in Belleville, IL

Welcome to the blog.