Teach me to pray

Good Monday morning, my friends.

I have (yet another) confession to make:  Prayer is not my strong suit.  In fact, I struggle with it daily.  During the service we attended yesterday, one of the scriptures that was used was Romans 12:10-13

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Theses are beautiful words, and a wonderful description of how God wants His Church to be.  For me, the words that struck home were "faithful in prayer", knowing that as a part of His Church I need to grow in this area.  Now it may sound strange that I struggle with this, considering I send out a "Daily Email" prayer.  But as I consider it, perhaps it is not that strange at all.  My struggle with prayer causes me to seek out the prayers of those who are much better at it than I.  And I discovered a wealth of it; a virtual treasure trove.  It has become my privilege to share it with you.  

I still strive to achieve a higher level of intimacy with my Lord through prayer, thus the words below that implore "Lord, teach me to pray!"

Something else I want to mention about the service we attended yesterday.  During the service the sixteen year old son of very good friends of ours was baptized.  What a blessing to be there to hear his, and his parents, testimony and to witness this young man dedicating his life to Christ.  What an incredible example of courage and faith for others his age (and older!).

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Every day I see again that only you can teach me to pray,

only you can set my heart at rest.

Only you can let me dwell in your presence.

No book, no concept or theory will ever bring me close to you

unless you yourself are the one who lets them become the doors to you.

But Lord, let me at least remain open to your initiative.

Let me wait patiently and attentively for the hour when you will come

and break through the walls I have erected.

Create new doors.

Teach me, O Lord, to pray

Amen

Henri Nouwen

(http://praying.kansasbob.com/2009/12/teach-me-to-pray.html)

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address. Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

Give us, O Lord, a humble spirit

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

I found this prayer to be a great reminder to me.  It reminds me of where I have been, how imperfect I still am, the grace that has been (and is being) offered to me, and the hope I have for the future.  

I have indeed "been much forgiven".  

I have had some discussion this week with someone (not on this list!) who appears to me to have been "overtaken by temptation" as this prayer puts it.  To say the conversation has strained the relationship is putting it mildly.  But in the midst of the turmoil, the hurt feelings, and the urge to defend, I need to remember the times I have fallen and been forgiven.  Easier said than done, but these reminders help.  My prayer (as always) is that this will help you with something happening - or about to happen - in your life.

Amazing grace and eternal peace to you,

Bruce

Give us, O Lord, a humble spirit, 

that we may never presume upon your mercy, 

but live always as those who have been much forgiven. 

Make us tender and compassionate towards those who are overtaken by temptation, 

considering ourselves, 

how we have fallen in times past and may fall yet again. 

Make us watchful and sober-minded, 

looking ever unto you for grace to stand upright, 

and to persevere unto the end; 

through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

(http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-sublinks/CEF07A23D59025978025707E0049E151?openDocument)

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address. Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

God, what do you have me here for right now?

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

Yesterday I was reading an article by John Fischer where he described a trip to a local high tech store to have some software repairs made to his wife's iPhone.  It turned into a 6 hour ordeal (with his son - about 10 years old - along with him).

These are the words that struck me:

How did I do? Well I definitely could have done better. I could have seized the opportunity to find out what this experience was all about. Instead of fighting it I could have gone with it and looked for what meaning I could find in the futility, and gain through what appeared to be a random sequence of malfunctions. I could have asked, "God, what do you have me here for right now?" (There's nothing random with God.)

I'm writing about this so that those of you who might be going through a similar experience might think to ask God the question, "what do you have me here for right now?" Actually, we could all stand to ask ourselves this question many times a day.

A few weeks ago I had a minor car accident on my way to work.  I ran into the car in front of me when traffic stopped unexpectedly (at least unexpected by me!).  My immediate reaction was not pretty - I was really, really angry (at myself).  But that lasted only about 5 seconds as I sat in my car and tried to calm down.  As I pulled back from that, I turned to God and at least attempted to ask John's question.  I wondered how God was going to use that situation.  Was I to meet someone and be an influence in their life (or they in mine)?  Was it a test?  Was He orchestrating this to prevent some larger mishap down the road?  Or was He just telling me to pay more attention to my driving?  Actually, I have to admit it may not have actually even been about me!  There were all kids of other people who became part of that problem - the driver of the other car, her husband who came along afterwards, the police officer, the tow truck driver, the insurance adjuster, the body shop guy, and the clerk at the rental car office.  It could have been about any one of them.  But even if that is the case, it was also about me.  It was about my reactions, my patience, and essentially my character - how I handled that whole situation.  The point is to ask the question - "God, what do you have me here for right now?".  I never did get an answer, but that is no surprise - God doesn't need to let me know what He is doing - His ways are higher than mine.

Brandon Heath sings a song called "Give Me Your Eyes" and the prayer today comes from those lyrics.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Well, I want a second glance

So give me a second chance

To see the way You see the people all alone

Give me Your eyes for just one second

Give me Your eyes so I can see

Everything that I keep missing

Give me Your love for humanity

Give me Your arms for the broken hearted

The ones that are far beyond my reach

Give me Your heart for the one's forgotten

Give me Your eyes so I can see

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address. Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

Don't let us run away. Again.

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

When I read this prayer this morning, it blew me away.  The style is personal and so heartfelt, but my real connection with it is that I have lived it.  Have you?  Are you living it now?  Are you running away?  If you are, then stop and turn around.  

When Jesus tells the story of the Prodigal Son he says that "But while he (the son) was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him".  My experience with God was a little different.  I did not have to "travel" back to find Him.  He was there as soon as I turned around.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" 

Don't let us run away. Again.

Right now, someone is afraid to turn to you, Lord. They are ashamed.

They did something you did not want them to do. In a moment of weakness, they turned their back on you. And now, they are simply avoiding you.

They have been down this road before and have failed you once again. So they are embarrassed to come into your presence. Feeling unworthy to read your Word. Afraid to speak with you in prayer. If they stay away, maybe you will forget. Maybe they will forget. They just can't come seeking your forgiveness. Again.

At a time when they need you the most Lord, they are running in the other direction.

I know. I was there.

Don't let your children drift away, Lord Jesus. You have already paid the price for our sins. Make it easy for your children to know that you still love them. How much you love them. They need to know that how much you would still welcome them into their house.

At our worst, we feel unlovable. At our worst, we need you more than ever.

Chase us, Lord. When we should be chasing after you.

Don't let us run away. Again.

Amen

(http://praying.kansasbob.com/2010/05/chase-us-lord.html)

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address. Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

Bless my friends

Good Monday morning, my friends.

My sister, Beth, sent us this prayer last week and I wanted to share it with each of you.  If you have received a copy from her, or someone else, consider yourself doubly blessed!

And to kickstart your Christmas spirit, have a look at this great video (if you can "Handel" it!).

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Dear God,

 I don't know all of the Challenges my friend has,

 But You know everything.

 I hear their silence,

 You hear their pleas.

 I hear their laughter,

 You see their tears,

 I see when they give,

 You see what's been taken from them.

 I see their beautiful appearance,

 You know their doubts.

 My prayer for them God,

 Is that you give them everything they may need,

 And bless them abundantly.

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address. Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

Enable me to be an agent of your mercy to each person I meet today

Good Friday afternoon, my friends.

"Enable me to be an agent of your mercy to each person I meet today."  I love that.  Meditate on this prayer - read it a few times - lift it high.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Lord Jesus, I thank you for this day. 

I pray you will help me to live this day with my eyes fixed on you.

Open my ears to hear your slightest whisper. 

Open my eyes to see each opportunity to serve you. 

Let my feet take me where you want me to go and my hands do what you would have me do. 

And keep watch over my mouth, Lord. 

Let nothing go into it or out from it that is inconsistent with your will. 

I pray that all my thoughts, words, and actions will be a consolation to you. 

I give you praise and thanks for the many gifts you will send me today, including the gift of my small sharing in your Cross. 

I especially thank you for your mercy, and pray that you will enable me to be an agent of your mercy to each person I meet today. 

(http://praying.kansasbob.com/2010/11/prayer-to-start-day.html)

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address. Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

Daily Prayer

Good Thursday morning, my friends.



How many sermons have you heard in your lifetime? 100? 1000? 5000? How many do you remember? Yeah, me too.

Have you ever been distracted during a sermon by the speakers mannerisms or perhaps a foreign accent? Any number of intrusions can cause us to lose focus and thus the gist of the message. Sometimes just listening to a particularly gifted speaker causes us to concentrate more on him/her than on the topic being discussed. Last night I heard some excellent, practical advice on this: Listen to the preacher, but HEAR from God. Isaiah 55:11 says:

so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

To me that means that anytime the Word is being read or proclaimed, God has a message for the reader/hearer. Open your heart and mind to what God is saying to YOU during that time. There is a message in there just for you - you just have to be listening for it.



Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce



Open my eyes to see,
my ears to hear,
and my heart to receive
the truth of Your Word.


Latriece Harper


(http://allsaintsanglican.net/2009/05/26/prayer-to-hear-gods-voice-from-latriece-harper/)

Are we "Full-Time" Christians?

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

At some point we have to decide whether we are a Sunday morning Christian, or a "Full-Time" Christian.  Are you a Christian at home?  At work?  At the gym?  In the hockey dressing room? In traffic? (Ouch.)

God does not call us into a relationship with Him for only 1 or 2 hours a week.  He calls us to be with Him and in Him where ever we are and whatever we are doing.

Is it time to give up the "Part-Time" gig?

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

Bruce

God, I realize that because I am a Christian, I am in "Full-Time" Christian service. 

Some Christians are called to foreign lands. 

Others are called to minister in the workplace or on the home front. 

I am called to minister and to worship you where I am. 

Please, God, help me to see my work and my daily activities as a means to worship to you. 

Demonstrate your power through my life so that others might experience you through me today. 

Thank you, my loving and all-powerful God. 

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

From Prime Time with God, available at churchgrowth.org

Bruce MacPherson  macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address. Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

Self-examination vs. God-examination

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

Occasional self-examination in our lives is a good thing: reflecting on how we are doing in our relationship with God, our relationships with family and friends, our financial health, and any number of other areas.  Yes, self-examination is good; but God-examination is better.

If, as you read this prayer, you feel pangs of guilt - then give thanks that He is answering the prayer.  And don't skim over the first line (as I did the first time I read it) - it is important too.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Dear God, 

Thank You that I am still alive and able to enjoy this day You have given me. 

Would You do me a favor? Show me how well I am doing in keeping my word and my commitments. 

Examine the desires of my heart, the words of my mouth, and the actions I take (or don't take). 

Do I follow through like I should? 

Do I keep my commitments? 

Please help me to be trustworthy and dependable. 

Please forgive me where I have fallen short. 

Help me to not over commit myself and to think and pray before I speak and make commitments. 

May my thoughts, words, and actions bring glory to You and not disappointment or shame. 

I trust You and commit my thought life to You as well as my eyes, mouth, hands, and feet, that they may be about Your business. 

In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

From Prime Time with God, available at churchgrowth.org

(http://msg4svc.net/servlet/Pv?c=703d63676926733d3937353534266d3d3226743d4826723d542664613d30267469643d30)

Bruce MacPherson  macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address.  Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

Family weddings!

Good Monday morning, my friends.

This weekend there were weddings in both my family and Rosemary's family.  Rosemary's nephew, Matthew, married his love, Michelle.  And my beautiful sister, Linda, married a wonderful man, Barry.  We are so happy for both couples and wish them a growing, loving, faithful, life-long marriage.  

If I were to dare offer advice to married couples, newly-weds or not-so-newly-weds, it would be this: do not try to "fix" each other.  Sure, you may have heard a wife say "This time I've fixed him for good!", but that doesn't really count.

Marriage was created by God to, among other things, help grow our character.  If we approach marriage with the attitude "I will focus on my faults and my spouse's needs" rather than the other way around, then God will bless our relationship and enable us to work together in His service, growing in love with each other and with Him.  I wish and pray this with my whole heart for Matthew and Michelle, and for Linda and Barry.  Please join me in this prayer.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

In joining your lives may God grant you both...

Love... to afford each other a special quality of time together.

Joy...in the accomplishments of one another.

Understanding...that your interests and desires will not always be the same.

Friendship...based on mutual trust.

Courage...to speak of a misunderstanding and to work on a solution before the setting of the sun.

Compassion...to comfort each other in pain and sorrow.

Foresight...to realize rainbows follow rainy days.

Imagination...to keep with you part of the child you used to be.

Mirth...from your sense of humor.

Awareness...to live each day with the knowledge that there is no promise of tomorrow.

May God bless you and keep you in the Palm of His hand.

(http://www.documentsanddesigns.com/verse/marriage_prayers.htm)

Bruce MacPherson  macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address.  Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

Remembrance Day

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

On this Remembrance Day please offer this prayer for current and former soldiers of all wars.  

We are off to New Brunswick for a family wedding on Friday evening, so I will not be sending out a post tomorrow.  Have a wonderful weekend.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

O Lord our God, whose name only is excellent and thy praise above heaven and earth: 

We give thee high praise and hearty thanks for all those who counted not their lives dear unto themselves but laid them down for their friends; 

beseeching thee to give them a part and a lot in those good things which thou has prepared for all those whose names are written in the Book of Life; 

and grant to us, that having them always in remembrance, we may imitate their faithfulness and with them inherit the new name which thou has promised to them that overcome; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

The Very Rev Eric Milner-White (1884-1963), Dean of York

(http://christchurchwindsor.ca/2010/11/11/remembrance-day-prayer-2/)

Bruce MacPherson  macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address.  Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

Is there something you need to put down?

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

Is there something in your life that God is nudging you to give up?  Is it a habit (good, bad or neutral)?  Is it a hobby?  Is it a material possession?  Is it a borderline inappropriate relationship?  What was the first thing that came to your mind?

Author Roy Lessin wrote: 

God will never leave you empty. If something is taken away, He will replace it with something better. If he denies your request in a certain area, it is because He wishes to give you what is best.

If He asks you to put something down, it is so you can pick up something greater.

Is there something you need to put down?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Dear Lord, help me always to pray for your perfect will in my life and not settle for something lesser.

(http://praying.kansasbob.com/2010/10/god-will-never-leave-you-empty.html)

Bruce MacPherson  macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address.  Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

Allow your soul to sing, dance, praise and love

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

Yesterday's post seems to have struck a chord with a few of you.  If that message was meant for you, I suggest you save it and revisit it from time to time.  That false identity we discard tends to hang around and occasionally we find it and pick it up again.  We have to keep tossing it away until it is gone for good.

Today's prayer was written by St. Theresa several centuries ago, but is just as relevant and beautiful today. It speaks of trusting God and knowing deep inside that you are a child of God.   When we discard those false identities, these are the things that start to "settle in your bones".  And "allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love."

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Bruce

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received,

and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones,

and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

(http://www.ramshornstudio.com/st__thersesa_s_prayer.htm)

Bruce MacPherson  macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address.  Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

False identities

Good Monday morning, my friends.

I discovered something amazing about myself yesterday.  

During the church service I attended yesterday, the band sang "Mighty to Save" by Hillsong.  The lyrics were projected onto a screen for us to sing along, and we got to one particular verse that goes:

So take me as You find me,

All my fears and failures,

Fill my life again.

As I sang that verse, something deep inside me said "if you surrender your fears and failures there will be nothing left of you - your identity will be gone".  I stopped singing in mid-sentence (if you have ever heard me sing you might be thinking that those around me would have been happy about that!).  But I was shocked - what was THAT?  And I realized that this voice was revealing a truth I have been suppressing.  I identify myself by my fears and failures - those things that I have such a hard time forgiving myself for.  My past failures, but also my fear of future failures.  That IS my identity.  What a lie.  

So what is the truth?  Will I lose my identity by surrendering my "fears and failures"?  Well, the answer is YES!  At least I will lose the way I identify myself.  But that is NOT the way Christ identifies me.  It is NOT the way the people closest to me, those that know and love me, identify me.  This is only the way I identify myself and THAT is what I will lose.  If I (and YOU) can lose that false identity we have of ourselves, and look at ourselves the way that Christ does, then we will really find real freedom and real peace.  We will be used by God in ways we could not have hoped or imagined.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

(Ephesians 2:10)

I have sent you this before, but take another look that the "God's Chisel" video by Skit Guys.  This is a dramatization of how God "chisels" away the things in our life that hold us back.  If you don't have time to watch the whole thing, skip to 4:55 in the timeline (I really encourage you to do this) and watch that segment.  God does not make junk.

Are you holding on to your fears and failures, identifying yourself by them?  Are you unable to forgive yourself for past sins?  Are you believing things that were said about you years ago?  Are you trying to live up to some "standard" set by someone else?  Are you trying to prove something to someone else or yourself that you are NOT what was said about you?  How is the way you identify yourself different from the way God identifies you?  

He loved YOU and ME enough to suffer and die in our place because He sees us as His righteousness.  Ravi Zacharias was asked once "What is truth?"  He answered that "Truth is God's perception of reality".  If God perceives us as a masterpiece - then that IS what WE ARE.  Are you willing to toss away that fake ID?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance!

Bruce

Heavenly Father,

Alone with You in this moment of meditation and prayer, I release any unresolved feelings of resentment or regret.

Help me through this process of healing.

I release to you any unresolved feelings that I have toward myself. I understand that not forgiving myself is disobedience toward you.

Forgive me for any pain that I have caused in the lives of others. Forgive me for not letting go of the past and moving forward in love.

I experience now the relief of forgiveness to the depths of my being.

Heavenly Father, I acknowledge and give thanks for Your love that strengthens me, comforts and soothes me emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually.

In the complete fullness of Your Love, I can and do forgive myself.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for healing my heart and bringing Joy and Meaning back into my life.

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

(http://www.sistersofthefaith.com/christian-living/prayer/forgiveness-how-to-forgive-yourself/)

Bruce MacPherson  macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address.  Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.