Good Morning, God,
Lord, there was a headline the other day that said, "A Rabbi, a Mormon, and a Mayor Walked into a Room." The story was about how these three men met 20 years ago, connected, became friends and changed each other's lives in very positive ways. And, just to make it more interesting, the mayor is an African-American.
So, why does this story carry weight, Lord? Why, in 2012, do we look at three men, use their labels of "Rabbi," "Mormon," and "Black" and think that their friendship is so unusual, so difficult to imagine?
Aren't all three human beings, created by you with certain unalienable rights like life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Aren't all three of these men good, upstanding American citizens who work for the common good - and their pay check - and support and defend the Constitution of the United States? Don't they take care of their families? Don't they have their religious beliefs and try to live accordingly? Why, Lord, is their friendship so noteworthy?
What's that, Lord? You want us to examine whmo we consider to be our friends, as well as those we might not want to be in the same room with?
Lord, may we accept the challenges of diversity in friendships this day.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
20120627
A Prayer for the Headlines for Wednesday, June 27th
Good Morning, God,
Lord, the headlines have been about an individual who is in "perpetual motion," a person who is a Triathlete. He bikes, swims, and runs competively and consecutively, without stopping in-between to rest. Is he crazy or is he just driven?
Lord, we think about the things we are driven to do. Oh, yes, Lord, there are things that each of us would drop everything to do - and keep on doing - if necessary. Having and growing in relationships is one of these activities. We can tirelessly run the race of marriage and friendships if we desire to enough. We can keep up with our efforts and stamina when raising and growing in our relationships with our children. We will always be parents, Lord, and our children are worth the efforts.
Then there is our relationship with you, Living Lord. You desire our tireless effort to see you more clearly, love you more dearly and follow you more nearly day by day, because this is what you faithfully do for us. Cause us to tirelessly seek your face each and every day.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Lord, the headlines have been about an individual who is in "perpetual motion," a person who is a Triathlete. He bikes, swims, and runs competively and consecutively, without stopping in-between to rest. Is he crazy or is he just driven?
Lord, we think about the things we are driven to do. Oh, yes, Lord, there are things that each of us would drop everything to do - and keep on doing - if necessary. Having and growing in relationships is one of these activities. We can tirelessly run the race of marriage and friendships if we desire to enough. We can keep up with our efforts and stamina when raising and growing in our relationships with our children. We will always be parents, Lord, and our children are worth the efforts.
Then there is our relationship with you, Living Lord. You desire our tireless effort to see you more clearly, love you more dearly and follow you more nearly day by day, because this is what you faithfully do for us. Cause us to tirelessly seek your face each and every day.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
20120625
A Prayer for the Headlines for Monday, June 25th
Good Morning, God,
Well, Lord, Controller for all weather, we ask that today you turn on the overhead sprinklers! We are dry down here and getting dryer. All that wonderful rain we had earlier in the spring has soaked in and disappeared. We aren't in the Plains States where scorching, dry days are the norm; we are in beautiful southern Indiana where we usually get a nice mixture of rain and sunshine. We need a little more rain, Lord, and we'd give up a little of our sunshine to get it.
Seriously, Lord God of the Universe, who causes your rain to fall on both the "Just and the Unjust," - everybody - we pray this day that you will be generous with your beautiful, bountiful rain. Our crops really need it. Our lakes and reservoirs need to be refilled. Our yards and lawns need a drink, as we seek to keep your world and our little corner of it nice. And, we need the cooling, soothing effect of both the loud, crashing thunderstorms and the gentle, falling rain.
So, Creator God, we ask for the blessing of your rain this day.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Well, Lord, Controller for all weather, we ask that today you turn on the overhead sprinklers! We are dry down here and getting dryer. All that wonderful rain we had earlier in the spring has soaked in and disappeared. We aren't in the Plains States where scorching, dry days are the norm; we are in beautiful southern Indiana where we usually get a nice mixture of rain and sunshine. We need a little more rain, Lord, and we'd give up a little of our sunshine to get it.
Seriously, Lord God of the Universe, who causes your rain to fall on both the "Just and the Unjust," - everybody - we pray this day that you will be generous with your beautiful, bountiful rain. Our crops really need it. Our lakes and reservoirs need to be refilled. Our yards and lawns need a drink, as we seek to keep your world and our little corner of it nice. And, we need the cooling, soothing effect of both the loud, crashing thunderstorms and the gentle, falling rain.
So, Creator God, we ask for the blessing of your rain this day.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
20120620
A Prayer for the Headlines for Wednesday, June 20th
Good morning, God
Lord, there have been some headlines lately abut a High School graduation speech that a teacher gave. Basically, the teacher/speaker told the graduates that they “were not special anymore”. That they had been pampered all their lives by parents, teachers and others, but now they needed to slip up and make mistakes and face them themselves as they try to make it as adults.
Well, Lord, this idea certainly flies in the face of what our Mr. Roger’s generation has been led to believe! We remember Mr. Rogers on PBS who reminded us and our children everyday that we are all special. And, if we are honest, we got to believing this and it helped us grow.
We also remember your word to us, Lord. One of your Psalms says that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” and that there isn’t any part of us that you don’t know and that you have known us even before we were formed in our mother’s womb. So, may we always remember that we are special because you made us, but we have the obligation to live according to your will and work in your way.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
20120618
A Prayer for the Headlines for Monday, June 18th
Good morning, God
Lord, last week we prayed for our children to have a wonderful summer and for our fathers to be great dads. Today, we want to pray that our churches have great success showing your love through all of the Vacation Bible Schools around the area.
We pray for the impact that the fun, colorful curriculums can have. We pray that through all of the metaphors used in the curriculums that the kids make the connections with you. We ask that special measures of strength, wisdom, patience and kindness be given to all of the leaders. We will rejoice with the noisy, raucous, extra dirty use around our buildings to have a great time. We thank you for the way Vacation Bible School energies even our older adults to help prepare the snacks and suppers, to help set up the crafts and even to be some of the story tellers and comforters especially to the smaller children.
Lord, we’re trying to get your word out with Vacation Bible School
In Jesus’ name, Amen
20120615
A Prayer for the Headlines for Friday, June 15th
Good morning, God
Lord, we pray hopefully today that these will be the headlines on Monday: “League Stadium was Packed with Dads Watching ‘Courageous’ Saturday Night.” These headlines will be because you, Lord God, are moving in the hearts of men today and tomorrow to get them to League Stadium to see the movie. What a joy and privilege it would be for men in general and dads specifically to even take their children – the ones who made them a dad – and to see this wonderful film together!
The brainchild of local folks who have seen the movie and experienced first hand how living courageously, the way the movie portrays, has made a huge, positive impact in their families. This showing tomorrow night has taken on a life of its own, with the YMCA and the Teen Outback and many businesses all getting into making this a great experience for Fathers on this Fathers’ Day weekend.
Lord, please bless and guide all fathers and bless the showing of Courageous with a full stadium tomorrow night.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
20120613
A Prayer for the Headlines for Wednesday, June 13th
Good Morning, God,
Lord, many of us are way past the summer vacation days from school! It may be summer, but we still have to go to work every day. We may get vacations, but it isn't like when we were young and had the entire summer off from homework and getting up in the morning and sitting all day in classes.
But we can do something during the summer because we have been there and done that. As we drive around our area and see boys and girls riding bikes or notice a bunch of bikes parked on a driveway or see kids in a park or on a playground, we can raise up a prayer for them.
We remember the times we were playing and riding and walking and imagining, and how we were sometimes safe and sometimes not so safe. We can ask you to bless our children with good friends, plenty of positive activities, and a hedge of protection around them for safety.
Lord, bless us with fond memories and bless our children with a fun, safe summer that will make memorable moments for them.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Lord, many of us are way past the summer vacation days from school! It may be summer, but we still have to go to work every day. We may get vacations, but it isn't like when we were young and had the entire summer off from homework and getting up in the morning and sitting all day in classes.
But we can do something during the summer because we have been there and done that. As we drive around our area and see boys and girls riding bikes or notice a bunch of bikes parked on a driveway or see kids in a park or on a playground, we can raise up a prayer for them.
We remember the times we were playing and riding and walking and imagining, and how we were sometimes safe and sometimes not so safe. We can ask you to bless our children with good friends, plenty of positive activities, and a hedge of protection around them for safety.
Lord, bless us with fond memories and bless our children with a fun, safe summer that will make memorable moments for them.
In Jesus' name, amen.
20120611
A Prayer for the Headlines for Monday, June 11th
Good morning, God
Could it happen here, Lord? The headlines out of New York City
Well, Lord, we usually want our Mayors to be concerned about overgrown yards, dilapidated cars and falling down houses. We like our Mayors to get traffic lights timed and speed zones controlled. We like our Mayors to make sure our fire, police and medical needs covered. But to be concerned about our weight and how much soda we drink? Lord, perhaps we ought to take care of ourselves with the weight thing, if we want to, and then support our Mayors as they provide for our common lives together.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
20120608
A Prayer for the Headlines for Friday, June 8th
Good morning, God
The International headlines are speaking of an agreement among several countries to allow the troops who are coming home from Afghanistan Soviet Union . It would probably have been unheard of for this passage to have happened, much less been safe, during what many of us remember as The Cold War.
Lord, perhaps these countries are just more than happy that the troops are leaving. Perhaps you are making the way, the way you made the way for the Israelites to get to the Promised Land. Perhaps you have influenced the political nature of everyone concerned to compromise to get the job done.
Whatever the cause of this passageway home, Lord, we ask for your protection for the journey; thanksgiving for the “going home” and especially good, home grown growth for the people whose country and countries we are leaving.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
20120606
A Prayer for the Headlines for Wednesday, June 6th
Good Morning, God,
Lord, someone said that those who forget history are destined to repeat it. Sometimes, we need to be reminded by the headlines of something that has happened so that we can get it in our minds so we won't miss it next time and "repeat history."
Such were the headlines about the" Relay for Life Walk for the Cure" this past weekend. Some of us, perhaps many of us, weren't aware that this was happening. Perhaps we went by the Middle School, saw the lights on all night, and wondered what was going on.
What was happening was that victims, survivors, and supporters were walking the laps to raise money for cancer research. (We could still give our monetary support, if we were so led to do so.)
However, Lord, we can also "Pray for the Cure." So, we pray in concert this morning for you to heal those who have cancer, prevent cancer from returning to those in remission, stop cancer from infecting anyone else, and stop cancer, PERIOD!
Thank you Lord, for doing all of this.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Lord, someone said that those who forget history are destined to repeat it. Sometimes, we need to be reminded by the headlines of something that has happened so that we can get it in our minds so we won't miss it next time and "repeat history."
Such were the headlines about the" Relay for Life Walk for the Cure" this past weekend. Some of us, perhaps many of us, weren't aware that this was happening. Perhaps we went by the Middle School, saw the lights on all night, and wondered what was going on.
What was happening was that victims, survivors, and supporters were walking the laps to raise money for cancer research. (We could still give our monetary support, if we were so led to do so.)
However, Lord, we can also "Pray for the Cure." So, we pray in concert this morning for you to heal those who have cancer, prevent cancer from returning to those in remission, stop cancer from infecting anyone else, and stop cancer, PERIOD!
Thank you Lord, for doing all of this.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
20120604
A Prayer for the Headlines for Monday, June 4th
Good Morning, God
Lord, we all know that we are “aging”. However, we don’t have to get “old” while we’re at it! A few years ago, we had a movie that advocated having a “bucket list”, a list of things we wanted to do before we quit aging and died. Many of us have prepared such a list and are living better and longer because of it.
One such person was the eighty year old woman who went skydiving. She had a bigger thrill than she bargained for, however. The harness attaching her to the instructor failed and she awkwardly came to earth. At least she was okay.
Lord, all of us may not want to skydive when we are eighty! But there are goals worthy of pursuing that will give our lives meaning until we take our last breath. Some of these are for sheer fun and dare-devilment. Some of these things are serious, though, like righting a wrong, forgiving a hurt, and as the Prophet Micah said: doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with you, God, day by day. Worthy Goals
In Jesus' name, Amen
Lord, we all know that we are “aging”. However, we don’t have to get “old” while we’re at it! A few years ago, we had a movie that advocated having a “bucket list”, a list of things we wanted to do before we quit aging and died. Many of us have prepared such a list and are living better and longer because of it.
One such person was the eighty year old woman who went skydiving. She had a bigger thrill than she bargained for, however. The harness attaching her to the instructor failed and she awkwardly came to earth. At least she was okay.
Lord, all of us may not want to skydive when we are eighty! But there are goals worthy of pursuing that will give our lives meaning until we take our last breath. Some of these are for sheer fun and dare-devilment. Some of these things are serious, though, like righting a wrong, forgiving a hurt, and as the Prophet Micah said: doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with you, God, day by day. Worthy Goals
In Jesus' name, Amen
20120601
A Prayer for the Headlines for Friday, June 1st
Good Morning, God
Lord, why are we letting the headlines happen that are happening in Syria and Lebanon? Why is it that all we’re doing is kicking the diplomats from these countries out of our countries? Lord, why are you letting the horrific murders happen? And, Lord, what can we do to help stop the massacres?
The first thing you invite us to do is to pray. The second thing we can do is contact our U.S. Congress people. The third thing we can do is inundate our President with our requests that somehow we intervene to help the innocent. The massacres are leaving widows and orphans, and your word tells us we are to care for them.
So, today at this hour, we raise up a concert of prayer for the people of Syria and Lebanon and ask for your divine intervention. Perhaps your intervention will seem like a miracle. Perhaps it will be through stronger United Nations efforts. Perhaps it will be through our government somehow. However you intervene, please intervene soon!
In Jesus name, Amen
Lord, why are we letting the headlines happen that are happening in Syria and Lebanon? Why is it that all we’re doing is kicking the diplomats from these countries out of our countries? Lord, why are you letting the horrific murders happen? And, Lord, what can we do to help stop the massacres?
The first thing you invite us to do is to pray. The second thing we can do is contact our U.S. Congress people. The third thing we can do is inundate our President with our requests that somehow we intervene to help the innocent. The massacres are leaving widows and orphans, and your word tells us we are to care for them.
So, today at this hour, we raise up a concert of prayer for the people of Syria and Lebanon and ask for your divine intervention. Perhaps your intervention will seem like a miracle. Perhaps it will be through stronger United Nations efforts. Perhaps it will be through our government somehow. However you intervene, please intervene soon!
In Jesus name, Amen
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