MorningPrayer

Dear God,       These long days of winter are good days to clean house, to discard old stuff we don't use and to straighten up our shelves.  Our heads are like our house; we can use this time to work on our mind and revamp our thoughts, priorities and ideals.  May the Holy Spirit of renewing breath and divine presence enter into us with mindfulness and a sweeping wind and bring us to new heights of understanding and wisdom. May we like Jesus be. AMEN

Dear God,      Like snow, gently falling in the twilight of the day, may we quietly and calmly flow through our day with grace and simplicity. In the silent beauty of snow against the darkened trees and the morning blue sky, might we be unifying agents of goodness and grace.  Help us to stand against chaos and conflict and instead, be people who unite by love and harmony.  May we not be naive but certainly idealistic in our vision, hopes and expectations for humanity.  With you, God, in your vision, we pray. AMEN

Dear God,      May we have a hesed  love, the steadfast love that is infinite, enduring, merciful and goes beyond the expected and anticipated.  In God's vision of mercy and justice, may we live and breathe as followers of Jesus.  May we reach out a hand and offer the water and food of kindness, compassion and need just as Jesus greeted and shared with gentiles, the sick and the unwanted. May our lives be centered in the golden rule and the words of loving our neighbor as ourselves and loving the Lord God with all our heart, mind and strength. AMEN

Dear God,      A simple thank you for this day that dawns with sunlight blazing across the sky and the trees alive in the morning glow.  A thank you for the people of our heart that share the light of our blood and the code of our souls.  In their very being we take joy and share hope for the future. A thank you for the friends of our spirit , alive in  the beauty and vibrations of our existence and the harmony of possibilities. A thank you for you, our God and Jesus, the Christ who shows us the way of grace. AMEN

Dear God,     May we be so bold as to stand and speak for justice, righteousness and equality.  Where there is injustice may we bravely proclaim the beauty of justice.  Where there is inequality may we in beauty lift up our brothers and sisters to their proper and God given level of equality.  Where there is fear and despair, may we speak in language that is strong in righteousness and  compassion.  And where there is hatred may we be vessels of love that are vehicles of your grace. AMEN

Dear God,       Let us rejoice in the bountiful feast that is set before us; the skies stretching beyond our capacity to see or comprehend, the smallest particles of energy diminished beyond our capacity to fathom. The beauty and immensity of life is never ending and infinite and we glory in all we have been given. May it enrich our souls and lift our spirits in soaring praise as we sing," Glory, Hallelujah, Glory." May we be transformed in wonder, alive in mystery and consumed by love. AMEN

Dear God,       We are humanity and we stand in need of grace.  We are hard-wired to relearn the same lessons every generation.  Our teaching and our learning are temporary and determined by the variables of previous understanding, personality and needs. We are in the need of grace, forgiveness and your vision for us.  We pray for the mystery of the Holy Spirit to infuse us with new knowledge and wisdom and teach us how to better be human.  In Jesus we pray, AMEN

Dear God,      Every day is a new day.  We see nature unleashed in the midst of human endeavor and our prayers are with those who are severely affected.      Every day is a new day.  We experience thoughts and feelings that are transitional and we pray for support and guidance.     Every day is a new day. Some issues in our lives are ongoing and seemingly unchanging and we pray for transformation and positive movement of love.      Every day is a new day but your grace, O God is unchanging and with us throughout eternity and individually.   AMEN

Dear God,      When the Israelite prophets proclaimed with booming voices a series of "Woes," and warnings to other nations, the Leaders cheered.  When they proclaimed the same warning of, "Woe to you, O Israel," the Leaders booed, they did not want the truth.  But we now hear the prophetic voices proclaiming against our leaders, "Woe to you."  For we are a nation self-described as caring and compassionate for those who need assistance,  where justice and equality are the hallmarks of our democracy. A nation of the arts, beauty, science and creative endeavor. And now, the voices of our people are prophetic, rising up to proclaim that we are who God wants us to be. We will be what God proclaims to all faith as right and just.      When the prophet Ezekiel said that the leaders were no longer loving shepherds but those that fed themselves and did not tend the sheep, the leaders trembled.  And now our people are speaking ou...

Dear God,     Our ears and minds are besieged with clamor and confusion.  We seek that inner space, that place of centering where we find serenity and your quiet whisper. We listen like Elijah on the mountain top, like Jacob at the Jabbok, like Jonah at Nineveh, like Jesus in the Garden.  We listen for your whisper and the mystery of your prayer for us. Let us breathe in your assurance of love.  May we be still in the promise of your grace. May we know the peace that passeth all understanding.AMEN

Lord,     I am finding it difficult to be positive, uplifting or even spiritual today.  From my perspective, the new president, the people he is picking for cabinet, his policies both human and environmental and then the minister he chose to preach at the private church service is a travesty of democracy, justice, integrity, equality and an assault on religious sensibilities of all faiths.       Jesus, I don't often speak for you, but I believe you would condemn every one of these decisions and be willing to die for your beliefs, words and actions.      I don't see how it is possible to have read the prophets, read even a small portion of the Gospels and read some of the New Testament writers and  not understand that these actions that have been chosen are arrogant, greedy, fear-based,  smack of white male supremacist ideology, are  power driven and are not in the best interest of humanity now or seven ge...

Dear God,      In times of change we ask that the change be transformative, lifting us to a higher level of spirit and love.   We ask for truth in our heart and mind that will bring us to greater depths of being and beauty.  We desire a transformation that will bring us into harmony and peace with the universe.  In Jesus name we pray, AMEN

Dear God,    Nestled in between inaction and action is desire and purpose.  Embedded within desire is patience and discipline.  Help us to be intentional in our action and deliberate in our patience to proceed. Be with us, Lord, as we continue our journey towards the Jerusalem of our lives,  May our walk be in harmony and may we bring grace to all we meet In Jesus name and walk we pray, AMEN

Dear God,     The morning silence lies quietly on our shoulders like the white misty sky and the fingered trees floating gently upwards, only to disappear without sound.  Our deep breath utters your name and our heart beats in the rhythm of your love. Surround us, O God, and bring us comfort.   In your presence might we find purpose and direction for the day of our being.  In thanks and praise, we pray. AMEN

Lord, There are times when the words don't flow like a mountain stream or like a gentle wind.  There are times of drought in our lives when we are dry and broken like parched earth. In these times of distress and loss, we cast ourselves into your presence, we throw ourselves on your mercy without words and without a plan. We know that in your compassion and love we are not ignored or forgotten and the Holy Spirit will pray for us. In your infinite mercy and eternal grace we find our hope  and peace AMEN