MorningPrayer

Dear Lord God,    The music of our day is sometimes a pushing, pulsing, rhythm accented by a beating drum and sometimes it is a solemn note of the cello and lilting flute. We wander in the meadow of our mind where grasses grow and butterfly's flit or we race the cresting river in a canoe of birch bark and pitch.  We shout out in delight or fear or awe at the swooping hawk, thundering storm and dancing sunlight. Finally, we pause and each in our own way gaze deeply into your face and find the grace of the universe mirrored in our deepest mind. Let us dwell here forever in your peace, O God. AMEN  (a prayer for meditation)

Dear God,    May we make a difference in someone's life today. Perhaps, we can offer a kind word, a smile or a helping hand. May the sunlight we share fall on fertile ground. We might never know what warmth we have shared but we pray for life and love to grace the earth and bring forth new life  in loving abundance. May we also bask in the fragrance of your living spirit. AMEN

Dear God,    Is it just me, God, or is life getting increasing complicated? We remember the days when a TV had maybe three stations and the phone had a cord. Mail came in an envelope and text was connected with textbook. Perhaps, it is the vibrations of the world, anxiety, stress and frenzy. We strive for greater wholeness and health and ask that you help us. May we reside quietly in the serene spirit of your grace, reflective and contemplative of real values of love, mercy, kindness and simplicity. Might we join in the slow walk of Jesus throughout the Kingdom. AMEN

Dear God,      Time seems to have us in the grasp of its hand. We have tried over time to do your will, to strive for purity, to reach for the highest and best in relationships. We have striven to do your commandments of love and to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.  But sometimes, time moves us in unforeseen directions. Help us to pause, be still and seek out the quiet place of your love where time stops and we are renewed and refreshed. Hold us in timeless grace and peace. AMEN

Dear God,    Sometimes the patterns of life are complex, and we get caught, wandering in the maze of choices, lost and bewildered.  We need the ray of sun, the hope springing through the clouds to light our way, keep the dreams alive and show us the pathway home. We ask you, O God, to be our ray of sun, to be our pathway, to be our hope and dream. In you, we will find our way to safety and security. New life.  AMEN

Dear Lord God,    No wonder the psalmist sings glorious verses of praise to you and the musician lifts music in raising passion and orchestration; our words fail to express the ecstasy of the morning. We long to sing the birds lilting, melody and be golden like the sun-risen sky. We long to be crisp like night-tinged air and  solemn and alone like the pine on a mountain top. So, we humbly and simply give you thanks and praise, our God. AMEN

Dear God,    Still cool light raises the veil of night, releasing our night dreams and bringing day dreams. Muted voices in the house, the furnace humming, the dog rustling, the coffee brewing announce the arrival of the day. God, even though we have plans, may we be open to the unexpected. Now that we are awake, keep us aware and alert to the days offerings.  And may we begin by offering you thanks and praise for your presence in our lives. AMEN

Dear God,   We pray for a pure heart.  May we not even have a tinge of deceit, ill will or dark thoughts in us. May you anoint us with the oils of human kindness and compassion.  May we flow with empathy and the slow rhythm of caring and respect for one another.  May the Christ be in us as pure light, shining as a beacon of joy and celebration of life. May we reach out with hands, electrified in your love, living out the principles of Jesus. AMEN

Dear God,    May we stretch our hands in triumph, the ecstasy of the morning light and a new day of possibilities.  May our hearts be lifted, pulled skywards by the rising sun as our potential is awakened and you bring us fully into life, the glory of praise and gratitude.  Yes, God, we offer ourselves in thanksgiving for the blessings we have been given and pray that the light of your presence might shine through us. AMEN

Dear God,    Hold your hands of caring underneath us to catch us if we fall.  Hold the tear cup of compassion against our cheek to catch our tears.  Hold our souls in the light of your love so we might shine in creation's brilliance.  Place your vision in our spirits so we might live with soulful delight and determination in this gift of life. May the very treasure trove of existence be revealed to us, this day. AMEN

Dear God,    Sometimes we feel like a warrior with only a shield to defend, watching hundreds of arrows flying toward us. We can't defend against them all and are about to be overcome. We know we can't escape. The only thing we can do is to bow our head and bend our knee and ask you, our God to be our shield and defender.  We are not giving up, we are giving ourselves over to you.  Hear our prayer, help us, God. AMEN

Dear Lord God,    Thank you for memories fair and sweet that offer us beauty and thoughts of truth and hope.  May we linger there, smelling the sweet aroma of joy with the taste of wonder and delight filling us full.  Carry us forward into the future, building upon the old and creating new memories of meaning and significance so our very being might be saturated in the fragrance of a life lived fully and wholly. AMEN

Dear God,    The morning light has awakened our thoughts and pricks us with the pin of doing. As we jump forward in a spurt of energy, might it be directed in efficient ways. Might it be caring and thoughtful. Might it be a spirit-filled, sunlight-illuminated, grace saturated energy that is released from your love into our loving. May the smile of the Cosmic Christ light our way. AMEN

Dear God,     Our world has been coated with white snow the frosting of winter creating luscious forms of hazard and play.  In the beauty we smile and in the danger we pray. Be with your people O God in whatever needs we might have right now.  Keep us warm and safe even as some play in the winter wonderland and take pleasure in the opportunities of our own olympic park.  In all ways we give you thanks and praise. AMEN                                                            

Dear God,    In the storms that assail us, leaving us cold and scared,  cover us with the warmth of your divine cloak and comfort us. Take away our fears.  Let us in the deep inner spaces of our spirit find the place of truth and faith where we might dwell in the bosom of your love. May the sacred fire of you, our Creator, burn within us, keeping us in the wisdom of eternal grace. AMEN

Dear God,    Hear our prayer, O God. We come to you with empty hands and a needy heart.  We need the gifts of life and love that you offer.  We need the blessings of forgiveness and attitudes of optimism that you give.  We need the dreams and hopes and visions of the Kingdom of God that you share. Hear our prayer, O   God.  Fill us full to overflowing so we might live in the treasure chest of your grace and share the steadfast love of your presence. AMEN                                  

Dear God,     Sometimes we run down the life trail and stumble and fall.  Sometimes we run into sticky cobwebs stretched across the path, the threads gluing themselves to our face. Sometimes we swiftly run, leaping over tree roots and boulders, never faltering or slowing. Sometimes we  wander and stop, intrigued by a flower or leaf, slowed by the moment of grace.  Our prayer is this; on the trails and pathways of our life, be with us, and let us recognize and know of your presence. AMEN

Dear Lord of Heaven and Earth,     Fly us like an eagle so we may see the majesty of our earth from the bosom of the sky.  Soar us on golden wings so we might know the uplifting power of the Spirit floating us on constant faith. May our eagle vision be specific and merciful and expansive and harmonious as we observe the quilt of humanity. And then, might we nest in the palm of your hand and surrender to your safe keeping. AMEN

Dear God,     Help us to be mindful of each moment.  Help us to be peacefully mindful of our actions within those moments, no matter how small. May we find pleasure within the chores of daily living that help to sustain our life and our style.  May you touch our attitude of life with the salt of optimism and the curry of wonder so we might savor each moment in its possibilities.  AMEN

Dear Lord,   The Spirit songs of the wilderness flow through our veins like silver threads of dancing light. The lonesome melody echoes in our hollow bones and slips past obstacles of broken memories and jagged thoughts. We are soothed and healed in the song of creation, the murmuring of your beating heart and the breath of your love.  The harmony mends our soul and floats us into the silent spaces of hope and new birth. Silently and serenely we pray. AMEN

Dear God,     Somedays we sit quietly waiting for a prayer and no prayer comes. Is that OK? The cat is playing, the fire is burning, the coffee is good, the children are laughing, the breeze is gentle, the sky white... we are grateful for what we have and feel blessed in so many ways. We know you strive with us, laughing and weeping for and with us and cheering us on to higher heights, and so we are grateful. But, this morning, we guess we will just pass on a prayer and just say, Howdy. AMEN

Dear Lord God,    In the beauty of the earth and sky, we lift our eyes in silent praise.  We are stunned by the beauty and wonder and speechless in deep inner joy.  You have anointed us with the oils of your grace and we overflow in love.  All creation pauses, breathless... "Be still, and know that I am God."  We are hushed and we are humbled. AMEN

Dear God,    Help us to organize the pantry of our minds.  May we discard those old jars from years ago that we will never use, they are getting in the way, using up shelf space, and a constant bother. Help us to organize the clutter and put the beans here, the sauces there, the soups here and the pasta there.  Help us to clean out the emotions, the thoughts, the failures, the sins and the ego from our pantry.  We need some fresh fruit and maybe some horseradish and dill pickles. AMEN

Dear God,    What can we learn today?  We are sure there is something knew to know.  We need to be opened and perceptive and aware of our surrounding and events so that we might be receptive.  Open us, O God. Teach us something new that contributes to our knowledge base or wisdom. May we learn that which helps us to live more fully.  May the fullness of our living contribute to the joy and peace of others. AMEN

Dear God,    The sky awakened us this morning with shafts of pink flung with abandon from a molten blue haze.  Songbirds, pricked by the light sang enchanting melodies while  the crows provided a percussive staccato.  In this new day of possibility we pray for the opportunity for our potential to expand like the sun and sing like the morning bird.  Lift us up on the breath of the morning and create in us new melodies of the rainbow that dance and sing. AMEN

Dear God,    Sometimes we are surrounded by problems, stressors and conflicts, and we feel overwhelmed.  Help us when our emotions blur our sight and when we loose our breath.  Help us to be calm, patient and clear-headed in the face of difficulties.  We pray that you will be with us and guide and guard us and lead us into a calm space of kindness and grace. May we touch the cloak of Jesus and receive the healing strength of his presence. AMEN