Good Morning, God,
The headlines were about how the murder case of a 7-year-old girl 'way back in 1957 has finally been solved with the arrest of the alleged perpetrator. It seems that his alibi that he was on a train at the time collapsed because the ticket was found unused. Then all of the alibis fell like a house of cards.
Lord, unless a person is completely amoral, never knowing right from wrong, the revealing of our crimes and sins relieves tremendous pressure on our conscience, that part of us that has your breath within us. When you made us, you gave us the freedom to choose right or wrong, but hoping that we would always choose the right. But when we don't, you gave our conscience the ability to feel niggles, nudges and out-and-out convictions that what we have done is very wrong. Then you gave us the incredible gift to "clear our conscience" through confession, forgiveness, possible punishment and restitution.
Lord, may we always have a clear conscience in your sight and in the sight of others.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
20110708
A Prayer for the Headlines for Wednesday, July 6
Good Morning, God,
The headlines read on the Fourth of July, "Why the United Sates is not a Christian Nation." The story laid out the principles by which our Constitution and Bill of Rights were formulated, Lord.
We wonder what you thought, then, when we promulgated that, "Congress shall make no laws respecting the establishment of religion"? Did you appreciate this, Lord, since basically the church and state were one in "Jolly ol' England." Or, did you think, "how sad," because you designed us to be persons under your grace and love and do everything we do, including our governance under your principles before we rely on human-made governing principles.
Lord, we Christians do pray that we all would become one in faith and action in the way we live - including in the way we are governed. However, you have given each person the opportunity to choose each day whom he or she will serve - or not serve. We pray we will all choose to serve you through Christ, then let Christ's ways guide our governance.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
The headlines read on the Fourth of July, "Why the United Sates is not a Christian Nation." The story laid out the principles by which our Constitution and Bill of Rights were formulated, Lord.
We wonder what you thought, then, when we promulgated that, "Congress shall make no laws respecting the establishment of religion"? Did you appreciate this, Lord, since basically the church and state were one in "Jolly ol' England." Or, did you think, "how sad," because you designed us to be persons under your grace and love and do everything we do, including our governance under your principles before we rely on human-made governing principles.
Lord, we Christians do pray that we all would become one in faith and action in the way we live - including in the way we are governed. However, you have given each person the opportunity to choose each day whom he or she will serve - or not serve. We pray we will all choose to serve you through Christ, then let Christ's ways guide our governance.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
20110704
A Prayer for the Headlines for Monday, July 4th
Good Morning, God
O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountains majesties, Above the fruited plains! America, America! God shed your grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood, From sea to shining sea. O beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern impassioned stress, A thoroughfare of freedom beat, Across the wilderness! America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law! O beautiful for heroes proved, In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine, Till all success be nobleness, And every gain divine! O beautiful for patriot dream, That sees beyond the years, Thine alabaster cities gleam, Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood, From sea to shining sea!
Lord, God, may we know oneness in America because we are yet pilgrims, heroes and patriots, under you, our God.
In Jesus name, Amen
O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountains majesties, Above the fruited plains! America, America! God shed your grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood, From sea to shining sea. O beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern impassioned stress, A thoroughfare of freedom beat, Across the wilderness! America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law! O beautiful for heroes proved, In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine, Till all success be nobleness, And every gain divine! O beautiful for patriot dream, That sees beyond the years, Thine alabaster cities gleam, Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood, From sea to shining sea!
Lord, God, may we know oneness in America because we are yet pilgrims, heroes and patriots, under you, our God.
In Jesus name, Amen
20110701
A Prayer for the Headlines for July 1st
Good Morning, God
Even politics get political! On the eve of celebrating the freedom we very much enjoy in this great country, the political candidates are sparring, not about how they would govern our city, but about how they will and will not debate. One candidate issues the challenge to have monthly debates beginning right now! (Why not, Lord? We are celebrating the privilege this weekend of being able to do so.) Another candidate says "No, it isn't time yet. The political season doesn't begin until after our street festival." Yet another candidate says "Bring it on, any time, anywhere."
Lord, especially this weekend, we give you thanks for the opportunities to have these debates and the little tete-a-tetes about when, where and how often. Bless these efforts, Lord, as we even prayerfully consider not only the best person for the job, but the ones who you would put into power. May our debates be civil, our issues be addressed, our safety be assured and our faithfulness be genuine.
In Jesus name, Amen
Even politics get political! On the eve of celebrating the freedom we very much enjoy in this great country, the political candidates are sparring, not about how they would govern our city, but about how they will and will not debate. One candidate issues the challenge to have monthly debates beginning right now! (Why not, Lord? We are celebrating the privilege this weekend of being able to do so.) Another candidate says "No, it isn't time yet. The political season doesn't begin until after our street festival." Yet another candidate says "Bring it on, any time, anywhere."
Lord, especially this weekend, we give you thanks for the opportunities to have these debates and the little tete-a-tetes about when, where and how often. Bless these efforts, Lord, as we even prayerfully consider not only the best person for the job, but the ones who you would put into power. May our debates be civil, our issues be addressed, our safety be assured and our faithfulness be genuine.
In Jesus name, Amen
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