Good Morning, God,
The actions are happening; the speech has been made; the "coalition team" is meeting; decisions are being made, both publicly and privately. Our President takes the position that our stance and action has been necessary to prevent, quote, "a bloodbath against the civilians of Libya, and that we are helping out especially because we have been asked to by other ally countries." Plus, Lord, the control of the operation will be in the hands of NATO, it is said.
Heavenly Father, indeed it is an honorable thing - and you call us to do it - to stand and protect the least of people. Your Word takes the side of the widow, orphan, and fatherless. Your Word takes the side of the oppressed. Your Word does say that we are to "pray for those in authority over us, that we may live peaceful lives," but there are times when we must also seek to change those in authority, when the answer to our prayers may be to rise up for the sake of our lives.
Thus, we ask, give us all wisdom "for the facing of these days."
In Jesus' name, Amen.
20110328
Prayers for the Headlines, Monday, March 28, 2011
Good Morning, God
It's springtime and things in nature are turning green and other vibrant colors that are popular this time of year. Your palette is full of many different hues, all made from a combination of light and carbon dioxide. Thank you, Lord, for the limitless variety of beauty you give us!
Lord, we do ask you for something to help us maintain your natural beauty and our enjoyment of it. We are trying to turn the environmental impact of all we do as we live, work, play and enjoy to a "greener" impact. While what you do, God, comes naturally, what we are trying to do comes at a cost of time, money and effort.
We are trying to "green" our need for fossil fuel by harvesting renewable energy from the sun and the wind, from methane gas and hydrogen fuel. We are trying to use the much cleaner nuclear fuel, but once again, the dangers of such have reared their ugly heads. We are trying to replace light bulbs with more energy-efficient ones. We are trying to replace appliances to use less water and less electricity. We ought to try to drive energy-efficient autos and try to adjust downward the miles we drive them. Whatever we do though, Lord, may we carefully study the possible ramifications of the changes so that we aren't just going from one problem to another.
In Jesus name, Amen
It's springtime and things in nature are turning green and other vibrant colors that are popular this time of year. Your palette is full of many different hues, all made from a combination of light and carbon dioxide. Thank you, Lord, for the limitless variety of beauty you give us!
Lord, we do ask you for something to help us maintain your natural beauty and our enjoyment of it. We are trying to turn the environmental impact of all we do as we live, work, play and enjoy to a "greener" impact. While what you do, God, comes naturally, what we are trying to do comes at a cost of time, money and effort.
We are trying to "green" our need for fossil fuel by harvesting renewable energy from the sun and the wind, from methane gas and hydrogen fuel. We are trying to use the much cleaner nuclear fuel, but once again, the dangers of such have reared their ugly heads. We are trying to replace light bulbs with more energy-efficient ones. We are trying to replace appliances to use less water and less electricity. We ought to try to drive energy-efficient autos and try to adjust downward the miles we drive them. Whatever we do though, Lord, may we carefully study the possible ramifications of the changes so that we aren't just going from one problem to another.
In Jesus name, Amen
20110325
Prayers for the Headlines, Friday, March 25, 2011
Good Morning, God
It's Friday again and visions of relaxing tomorrow and Sunday dance in our heads and cause us to want this day to quickly pass! But what if we decided to take the next days as an opportunity to be creative?
What if we decided to make even one room of our house or apartment prettier, perhaps just by cleaning it up? What if we decided to make the outside of our house or even our apartment or our office building a prettier place by picking up the trash or the junk and trimming and sweeping? What if we decided to make the street we live on or another street in the town where we live or even one of the county roads we drive on neater and cleaner by picking up the trash, putting it in bags and disposing of it properly? What if we men get around to our "honey do lists" this weekend? What if we women got around to straightening out the closets and culling the things that can't be worn any more and taking such things to a second-hand store to donate? What if we parents decided to play with our children and have a picnic or take a walk on the River Walk? What if we went to visit someone in a retirement home or care center or hospital?
What if we would feel far more satisfied with the weekend if we were creative rather than "couch potatoes" this weekend? What if?
In Jesus name, Amen
It's Friday again and visions of relaxing tomorrow and Sunday dance in our heads and cause us to want this day to quickly pass! But what if we decided to take the next days as an opportunity to be creative?
What if we decided to make even one room of our house or apartment prettier, perhaps just by cleaning it up? What if we decided to make the outside of our house or even our apartment or our office building a prettier place by picking up the trash or the junk and trimming and sweeping? What if we decided to make the street we live on or another street in the town where we live or even one of the county roads we drive on neater and cleaner by picking up the trash, putting it in bags and disposing of it properly? What if we men get around to our "honey do lists" this weekend? What if we women got around to straightening out the closets and culling the things that can't be worn any more and taking such things to a second-hand store to donate? What if we parents decided to play with our children and have a picnic or take a walk on the River Walk? What if we went to visit someone in a retirement home or care center or hospital?
What if we would feel far more satisfied with the weekend if we were creative rather than "couch potatoes" this weekend? What if?
In Jesus name, Amen
20110323
A Prayer for the Headlines for Wednesday, March 23
Good Morning, God,
There is a lot of talk these past couple of days about what our President's strategy is for our engagement with the battle for Libya. Seemingly, it is to join with allies with the authorization of the U.N. Security Council to establish a no-fly zone over Libya so government forces can't bomb their own citizens who are being rebel forces. But we are concerned, Lord, that now that we have gotten involved, it will be difficult to disengage, even to the point of us "putting boots on the ground." What is our strategy? Do we have one?
All of us have or should have strategies for our own life, shouldn't we Lord? We have to want and plan to do more than just "eat, sleep, and be merry." We have within us the desire to be productive, and we need to have and take the opportunities to do so. We have within us the capacity to love deeply, and we need to take the opportunities to experience the giving and receiving of a long-lasting and abiding loving relationship. We have within us the capacity to give, to give without expecting anything in return. May we be willing to give of ourselves sacrificially, not counting the cost, even until we have given our all.
Let the desires of being productive, loving deeply and giving generously be our strategy for life.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
There is a lot of talk these past couple of days about what our President's strategy is for our engagement with the battle for Libya. Seemingly, it is to join with allies with the authorization of the U.N. Security Council to establish a no-fly zone over Libya so government forces can't bomb their own citizens who are being rebel forces. But we are concerned, Lord, that now that we have gotten involved, it will be difficult to disengage, even to the point of us "putting boots on the ground." What is our strategy? Do we have one?
All of us have or should have strategies for our own life, shouldn't we Lord? We have to want and plan to do more than just "eat, sleep, and be merry." We have within us the desire to be productive, and we need to have and take the opportunities to do so. We have within us the capacity to love deeply, and we need to take the opportunities to experience the giving and receiving of a long-lasting and abiding loving relationship. We have within us the capacity to give, to give without expecting anything in return. May we be willing to give of ourselves sacrificially, not counting the cost, even until we have given our all.
Let the desires of being productive, loving deeply and giving generously be our strategy for life.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
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