Daily Prayer - Turn on the light

Good Friday morning, my friends.
 

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:21)
 
How often do we get like this?  We certainly know God.  But do we go through periods where we do not honour Him, nor give thanks to Him.  We simply take for granted the salvation He died to give to us.  And then we wonder why we are in a "dry spot" in our journey of faith.  We are no longer "feeling" it.
 
Let us put off the futility and let the message of the Gospel bring light and warmth back to our darkened hearts.
 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 
ps - The annual Promise Keepers conference in Ottawa is at Cedarview Alliance Church this weekend - hope to see some of you men there.
 

Father, Romans 1:21 indicates that those who knew You neither glorified nor gave thanks to You which led to their futile and foolish thinking. 
 
It eventually caused the light of Your Word to be veiled and ineffective in their lives as darkness crept in and covered the radiant light of Your truth. 
 
They sought honor for themselves and lived for self-glory. 
 
Anything good in us is but a reflection of the Spirit of Christ who resides within, so we will glory only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ though mocked and ridiculed by the world. 
 
We are unashamedly children of God whose depth of wisdom comes not from the understanding of the world but the understanding of Your Word.
 
May its truth always be our source of light in the darkened age in which we live. 
 
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
 
(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2014/02/26/a-prayer-for-knowing-god-3/)

Daily Prayer - Then and Now

Good Thursday morning, my friends. 

Jesus said "Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”

 

So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”

 

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:56-58)

Like the Jews of Jesus time we often think of God in the past tense: what He has done, what He has said, prayers He has answered.  It is easy to forget that God works in the present.  What is He doing right now in your life?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce 
 
 
Almighty God, thank you
that you not only loved me,
but you love me right now.
 
Thank you that you saved me
and are saving me.
 
Thank you that you spoke,
and that you speak.
 
Thank you that you gave yourself for me
and that you give yourself to me.
 
Thank you that you thought of me eons ago
and think of me still,
that you made a way for me
and make a way for me still,
that you answered my prayers
and answer them still.
 
Thank you, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
that you are the God of the living THEN
and of my life NOW,
 
in Jesus' name, amen.
 
(http://bobhostetler.blogspot.ca/2014/02/now-and-then.html)

Daily Prayer - Happy Birthday!

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.
 
What an amazing week it has been.
 
My 50th birthday was Monday.  The celebrations started on Sunday morning with the Gold Medal men's hockey game in Sochi - the first of many gifts!  Then there was a surprise get together at my house that evening.  It was a wonderful time with friends I have known for many years, great neighbours, and almost all of my new church!  The house was packed and I have rarely, if ever, felt so blessed.  I have the best wife and family in the whole world.
 
The fun continued on Monday, my actual birthday, with a family dinner at a local restaurant (thanks to Ann for joining us!). At dinner I finally got to read through the many cards and messages that were sent - an embarrassment of riches. 
 
And then, last evening at the dinner table I got to open yet more gifts, these ones from my family.  I can't wait to see what today brings!!  I highly recommend that we change BirthDay to BirthWeek!
 
The love I have felt in the past few days has been almost overwhelming.  And yet, it pales in comparison to the love God has for me.  I truly appreciate and treasure the gifts and well wishes I have received, but the greatest gift I ever received was my Jesus giving up His life for me so that I could spend all of eternity with Him.  How incredible is that?
 
This prayer is for all of you celebrating a birthday this year ... (which would be all of you) ...
 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce 
 
 
Thank you, God, for giving me another year of life.
Thank you for all the people who remembered me today
by sending cards, and letters, gifts and good wishes.
 
Thank you for all the experience of this past year;
for times of success which will always be happy memories,
for times of failure which reminded me of my own weakness and of my need for you,
for times of joy when the sun was shining,
for times of sadness which drove me to you.
 
Forgive me
for the hours I wasted,
for the chances I failed to take,
for the opportunities I missed this past year.
 
Help me in the days ahead to make this the best year yet,
and through it to bring good credit to myself,
happiness and pride to my loved ones,
and joy to you.
 
Amen.
 
(http://www.beliefnet.com/Prayers/Other/Birthday-Prayer.aspx)

Daily Prayer - What need I fear

Good Thursday morning, my friends.
 
A friend of mine sent this to me recently.  (Thanks, David.)
 
Lorica Prayer - Praying for God's Protection:
 
The Lorica prayer was not just a good idea for ancient people, we too need God's protection. Modern medical and technological advances tend to push God to the periphery of life, diluting our understanding that we are completely dependent on God. It is proper and right to seek God's protection. He purifies, heals and gives us a future. And with the health He gives, we rise to take care of the business of God. When our lives are centered on Christ, we beg His protection that we may complete our dream, live until our worship is complete, and bear a saving word to all of those outside of God's grace. So that, along with the ancient Celts, we look to God and pray ....
 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 

Alone with none but thee, my God,
I journey on my way,
What need I fear, when thou art near,
O King of night and day?
More safe am I within thy hand,
Than if a host did round me stand.
 
-- from The Path of Celtic Prayer by Calvin Miller.

Daily Prayer - Check your Pharisee monitor

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

  

The gospel is often seen as offensive by those who reject it.  But as John Fischer explains, "What makes the gospel offensive isn't who it leaves out, but who it lets in."  The only people we should be surprised to see in heaven is ... ourselves. 

'O my God, it found out me!'

by John Fischer  

And can it be that I should gain 

An interest in the Savior's blood?

Died He for me, who caused His pain-

For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! How can it be,

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

This hymn by Charles Wesley has long been one of my favorites, and to understand its meaning you need to hear it a certain way. To hear it one way is to hear that last line without any real inflection. That Christ should die for me along with everyone else is a grand enough thought. But to make it even grander you need to add an embellishment on that last "me." That Thou, my God, shouldst die "for ME?"... and the question mark is appropriate.

"ME?" meaning the least likely for anyone to love. "ME?" meaning the worst of sinners. "ME?" as in: "I can maybe see Him dying for somebody else, but not me." Or as Paul says it in Romans: "Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:7-8).

While we were still messed-up, lost, unlovely, unlovable, selfish, conniving jerks, Christ died for us! It's preposterous! The idea is not only that you are messed up, but that you see yourself as more messed up than anybody else.

When you think about it, it makes sense. We should all think of ourselves as the worst sinner we know because ... well ... we don't know anybody else well enough to make any comparison. I'm the worst sinner because I know my sin intimately. I don't know your sin that well. I can't even judge it. That's not up to me, but I do know myself and I am amazed that "Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?"

I ran across a great statement yesterday on someone's Twitter account and I apologize for stealing it, but I had to share it with you. "What makes the gospel offensive isn't who it leaves out, but who it lets in." And at the bottom of the list of who it lets in would be you (to you) and me (to me).

If there's anybody you'd rather not have in heaven, then you need to check your Pharisee monitor, because that kind of thinking registers high on the Pharisee chart. If I think there is anybody out there worse than me, I'm engaging in wrong thinking.

Besides if there's someone you don't want in heaven because of something you don't like about them, or something they've done to hurt you, just remember: whatever they've done, in heaven, will be gone.

We need to hold onto this perspective and never let it go. The person I should be most amazed about finding in heaven should always be me.

He left His Father's throne above

So free, so infinite His grace-

Emptied Himself of all but love,

And bled for Adam's helpless race:

'Tis mercy all, immense and free,

For O my God, it found out me!

Amazing love! How can it be, 

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

John Fischer                

Fischtank.com

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

  

Father, You’ve appointed us to live in a decadent age where the hearts of men are turned away from the true living God and live instead by the world’s principles.

  

But we who have the indwelling Holy Spirit must continue to build our lives on the foundation of our holy faith as we spread the gospel message, “Jesus is the first and final answer to all of life’s problems.”

  

We seek to be directed by Your Spirit and live in such a way that we honor You even as scoffers ridicule us.

  

May we show mercy to those whose faith is wavering and rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment.

  

In the process of daily living, as we reach out to the lost and dying, help us not to stumble so that on Your appointed day we will be brought into Your glorious presence innocent of sin.

  

Prompted by Jude 22,23

  

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/a-prayer-for-faithfulness-to-christ/)

Daily Prayer - Legacy

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.
 
This past week our pastor went through the pain of the death of his father.  Pastor Darren spoke of the incredible relationship they have had and of the things his father taught him to love - God, family, dogs, and RVs.  This father left a legacy that glorifies God.  Which begs the question: what kind of legacy are we creating?
 
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 
 
 
Father, we know that everyone who lives leaves a legacy.
 
An obituary is a bird’s eye accounting of what they valued in life and often reveals what their children value as a result.
 
We want to leave a legacy of love, the purest and highest kind of love, that can only be found in the Person of Jesus Christ, who laid down His life that we might be forgiven and enjoy eternal life.
 
We want to remain steadfast in our Christian convictions so that we pass on that which makes a hopeful, positive, and eternal difference in one’s journey here below and up above.
 
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
 
(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/a-prayer-for-a-legacy-of-love/)

Daily Prayer - Confession is good for the soul

Good Monday morning, my friends.
 
They say that "confession is good for the soul".  What an understatement.
 
Sin is what separated Jesus, in His final moments on the cross, from the Father.  My sin.  Your sin.  Sin is what causes our own separation from God.  And confession is the first step to reconciliation.
 
David said "I gave an account of my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees." (Psalm 119:26)
 
Is there something today for which you need to account?
 

Grace and peace and forgiveness be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 

Father, as we confess our sins we thank You that You are faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
 
Help us to confess our sin, welcome Your cleansing, and invite the Holy Spirit to help us courageously deal with personal consequences from our sinful defiance.
 
You are a gracious Father who does not cast us down in our failures, but You uphold us with Your gracious and loving hand.
 
When pride and fear consume our hearts it holds us back from taking the proper steps to right a wrong.
 
Replace our fear with courage and our pride with humility so that we will take the proper steps to correct a wrong we’ve committed.
 
Help us to find peace in knowing that we have obeyed You.
 
(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2014/02/13/a-prayer-of-confession-6/)

Daily Prayer - A Valentine's love note

Good Friday morning, my friends.

 

A number of years ago I flipped open my Bible and landed on 1 Corinthians 13: 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

 

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8,13) 

Now most likely you will recognize that as "the Love Chapter", or, as I did, as "the Wedding Chapter" - I have heard it read a almost every wedding I have ever been to (including my own).

 

But on that day as I began to read through it I felt the Holy Spirit speak to my heart, telling me that these words were not about marriage, or at least not only about marriage - this was about every single relationship - spouse, friends, relatives, co-workers, strangers - that I would ever have.  That changed my whole perspective on the words of this beautiful passage.  Later, as I was reading it, I also realized that it is the model by which God loves us - Love never fails.

 

Talk about a love note for Valentine's Day!

 

Grace and peace and love be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 

Like summer snow
floating from a sun-filled sky,
draping airy-white on flowered fields,
Your love astonished me.
 
No frilly show,
no assorted-chocolate pledge,
no candy hearts or silver kisses
disclosed your care for me;
 
But unsparing,
thorn-wearing
cross-bearing love,
that opened hands and feet and side
to spill your heart for me,
 
To recreate,
inundate my longing soul
with giving, holding, accepting,
enfolding love for me.
 
(http://bobhostetler.blogspot.ca/2014/02/valentine.html)

Daily Prayer - The rest of the story ...

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.
 
As a kid I grew up listening to Paul Harvey on the radio.  He would take a person or event from the news and take us behind the scenes to hear "the rest of the story".  He provided a glimpse of the details and background that led up to the headlines, or else looked back on an event and described what happened afterwards that was not reported.  It was always heart-warming and entertaining.
 
Our encounters with people take place in the moment, in the present.  We usually have no idea of what has brought them to where they are, or what will happen as a result of our interaction.  When we get to heaven we will know "the rest of the story".
 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 

Father, as we faithfully serve You it is not for our own fulfillment but for the fulfillment of the Great Commission that the Gospel message be delivered at home and abroad to the outermost parts of the earth.
 
No matter our Christian service, whether great or small, when it is offered in Your name it brings reward, often visible here and now but at times unseen by the human eye.
 
Help us to go forth in confidence and walk in obedience, no matter the fruit we see or don’t see, as we seek to glorify Your name.
 
We can take heart within our spirit knowing that we will hear “the rest of the story” on the other side.
 
Amen.
 
(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2014/02/11/a-prayer-for-perspective-regarding-spiritual-fruit/)

Daily Prayer - Family

Good Monday morning, my friends.
 
Author Ethel Watts Mumford once said "God gives us our relatives, thank God we can choose our friends." 
 
We all know that living in a family can be trying, stressful, messy and painful.  But it can also bring immense joy, love and community.  Your family, no matter how functional or dysfunctional, needs prayer today.
 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce 
 
 
You have gathered the solitary into families, O Lord.
 
We thank You for the gift of earthly families and for the joys You have given us in and through our family.
 
We thank You also for Your presence in the midst of the troubles that sometimes plague and disrupt the peace of family life.
 
Grant us the ability to love family members both because of and in spite of what we do for and with each other.
 
Give us insight to know how best to show them Your love and care to share with them the peace and joy You give.
 
Keep us all ever in Your sight and hold us safely in Your hand, that we may belong to You and be joined in everlasting life through the merits of Jesus Christ.
 
Amen.
 
(http://cathedralofsaintmatthew.com/LifeResources/Prayers/PrayersForDaysAndSpecialDays.htm)

Daily Prayer - Thanks for the Word

Good Friday morning, my friends.
 
We take many things for granted in this world.  Food, shelter, family, transportation, and the list goes on and on.  One thing that I, and probably you, have taken for granted: access to the Word of God.  How often have we stopped think of what a gift it is, and what has gone into its preservation?   This prayer is a prayer of thanksgiving for one of our most precious possessions.
 
Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace be yours,
Bruce
 

Lord God, I praise you for your Word and its words.
I praise you for every syllable and every stroke in its pages.
 
I praise you for the sanctified thoughts of every biblical author,
and the painstaking care of every scribe;
for its miraculous preservation and propagation over millennia;
for the translators who studied and worked
to make the message plain.
 
I praise you for its availability in my lifetime.
 
I praise you for the times—few though they are—I have heard and heeded it.
 
I praise you for its immeasurable influence on my life,
my home,
my family,
my culture,
my country,
my world,
my age,
 
in Jesus’ name, amen.
 
(http://bobhostetler.blogspot.ca/2014/02/for-your-word.html)

Daily Prayer - What is your greatest desire?

Good Thursday morning, my friends.
 
When I read this prayer my first thought was "Oh, this is definitely not who I am - this isn't me."  The  second was "but this is who I want to be."  My prayer is to become this person.  How about you?
 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 
 
My God, I pretend to nothing upon this earth,
except to be so firmly united to you by prayer
that to be separated from you may be impossible;
let others desire riches and glory;
for my part, I desire but one thing,
and that is to be inseparably united to you,
and to place in you alone
all my hopes of happiness
and repose.
 
(a prayer of St. John Scholasticus by way of http://bobhostetler.blogspot.ca/2014/02/i-pretend-to-nothing.html)

Daily Prayer - Real blessing

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

 

The meaning of the word "blessing" has been watered down and twisted by a carnal and materialistic society.

 

When Scripture uses the word blessing, it means the assurance of God’s acceptance and, even more, the awareness that God delights in us.  He made us to relate to him in love.  And as we do we see how God is the very life within our life.  He gives us breath.  He provides for our daily needs.  He forgives our sins.  When we live aware of God’s acceptance, we experience day by day the satisfaction of our deep longing for connection to him.  And through each season [of life] God undergirds us with the hope of everlasting life.

 

God created us to live in the favour of his love.  So we have to rescue the word blessing from shallow definitions that involve getting more stuff, experiencing fewer problems, or simply having things turn out our way.  The heart of blessing in Scripture involves a vibrant relationship with the triune God who loves us utterly.  Running like a golden thread through its pages is his repeated promise, “I will walk among you, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people.”  This kind of blessing, then, does not depend on how well things are going for us.  God’s blessing can energize us even when the circumstances of life are draining. 

 

—  Gerrit Dawson in The Blessing Life

 

Grace and peace a blessings be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 

Father, far too often our minds can be consumed with things that only money can buy which can also bring discontent for that which we already have.
 
Help us to focus our hearts on that which has lasting value, that brings eternal dividends.
 
As we lift our voice to You this day and turn our hearts toward Your unfailing love we find joy and satisfaction that will not be determined by the events or non-events of this day.
 
When human love is fleeting or disappoints help us to look to Your unfailing love which satisfies.
 
We want to listen carefully to You, eat what is good, and delight ourselves in Your abundance.
 
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
 
(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2014/01/30/a-prayer-for-genuine-satisfaction/)

Daily Prayer - Children of all ages ...

Good Monday morning, my friends.
 
Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them by placing his hands on them. (Mark 10:16)
 
This is a beautiful prayer for our children by Thomas Aquinas.  Pray this for your kids, regardless of their age.  If you are not a parent, then pray for nieces, nephews, kids in your church, for my kids!  Let your words be lifted to the throne room of God.
 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 

Grant to my children your grace, most merciful Jesus, that it may be with them and in them now and to the end of their lives.
 
Grant that they may always desire and will those things that are most acceptable and most dear to you.
 
Let your will be theirs, and let their will ever follow yours and agree perfectly with it.
 
Let their willing and not-willing be in complete unison with your will, and let them not be able to will anything but what you will, nor will not what you will not, in Jesus’ name, amen.
 
(Based on a prayer by Thomas Aquinas by way of http://bobhostetler.blogspot.ca/2014/01/an-aquinas-prayer-for-my-children.html)