Good Monday morning, my friends.

 

This morning on my way to work I was listening to the Gospel of John on my audio Bible.  The words of Jesus in Chapter 15 stood out to me:

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 

Let's be honest - pruning hurts.  No one enjoys being disiplined.  But in order to bear fruit, we must be open to God's correction.  Spiritual growth comes with a cost, but it is a price that is well worth paying.

 

Let's open our hearts today to being pruned.

 

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce 

 

Father, You are the Master Pruner who is growing me into the likeness of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

 

As I remain in the Vine You assure me that I will bear much fruit lasting far beyond one season.

 

When I consider the fruit You want to grow in me I recognize that it is all based on character traits seen in the Son.

 

Help me to respond in accordance to the pruning knife of the Word of God as it penetrates my soul, judging the thoughts and attitudes of my heart.

 

Cut out that which hinders my growth and submerge me in that which will make me flourish making me fruitful for the Kingdom of God. 

 

Amen.

 

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2012/04/26/a-prayer-during-times-of-pruning/)

 

 

 

Bruce MacPherson

macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821

 

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Daily Prayer - My daily prayer

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

 

The prayer below has become my own personal "daily prayer".  It brings me to my knees before the Throne, restores me, lifts me, refreshes me.  Maybe this is the prayer you need to pray today.

 

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

 

My dear Lord Jesus I come to you now to be restored in you, to be renewed in you, to receive your love and your life, and all the

grace and mercy I so desperately need this day.

 

I honor you as my Sovereign, and I surrender every aspect of my life totally and completely to you.

 

I give you my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind, and will.

 

I cover myself with your blood—my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind and will.

 

I ask your Holy Spirit to restore me in you, renew me in you, and to lead me in this time of prayer.

 

In all that I now pray, I stand in total agreement with your Spirit, and with my intercessors and allies, by your Spirit alone.

 

(http://www.ransomedheart.com/node/10)

 

 

Bruce MacPherson

macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821

 

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Daily Prayer - Eyes on the prize

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

 

I heard this story in a sermon I listened to: 

There were 4 boys in the schoolyard who were somewhat unruly.  The teacher wanted to distract them so he gave them a challenge.  He took them to one end of the football field and pointed to the uprights at the other end.  He said he wanted them to race to those uprights, but the winner would not be the one who got there first, but the one who had the straightest path (there was a couple of inches of fresh snow on the ground).  So off they set.  The first boy went the length of the field looking back at his footprints to make sure his line was straight.  The second did it looking down at his own feet to make sure he was placing one in front of the other.  The third kept watching the first two all the way down.  And the forth set his sight on the goal posts and headed straight for them. 

Who do you think had the straightest line?

 

How many of us in this life are too focused on where we have been rather than where we are going?  Or perhaps we feel trapped where we are right now.  Or maybe we can't help comparing ourselves to others.  Which one do you identify with?  I am guilty of all three at times.  These things divert us from the path God as set for us.  We must have their eyes on the prize that God has in store for us and be running towards it.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Bruce

 

 

Almighty and most merciful Father,

Creator and Preserver of Mankind,

look down with pity upon my troubles

and maladies.  Heal my body,

strengthen my mind,

compose my distraction,

calm my inquietude,

and relieve my terrors.

 

And if it please Thee I may run the race

that is set before me with peace, patience,

constancy and confidence.  Grant this O Lord,

and take not from me Thy Holy Spirit,

but pardon and bless me

for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

ALLELUYAH

 

Samuel Johnson

 

(http://www.clickandpray.com/prayer-archives36.html) 

 

 

Bruce MacPherson

macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821

 

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Daily Prayer - A prayer for everyday

Good Monday morning, my friends.

 

The prayer below does not need any preamble. I pray it speaks to you as it did to me.

 

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace be yours,

Bruce  

 

Bless me with spiritual discernment and use me to help others.

Give me the confidence to speak your Word boldly today.

 

Use me to do your work and allow me to praise your Name once more.

Restore my soul, extend my boundaries and bless my ministry.

 

Magnify the work of my hands to bring glory to your Name.

Make the desires of my heart the absolute same as Yours, Father.

 

Help me to stand when I want to quit.

Turn my mistakes into learning experiences.

 

Make a way where I can't see one now.

Give me strength and means to continue serving.

 

May depression not find an open door in my house.

Sharpen the tools of ministry in my possession.

 

Don't let me give up running the race out of futility.

Use me today to do what You desire.

 

Use me to do something extraordinary today.

Open the door where previous failures have seemingly closed them.

 

Give me passion for your Word.

Use me anyway you will.

 

Give my blessing to those I serve.

This day for extending Your love to someone who doesn't know it.

 

Remind me often today why I serve You.

Feed my thirst with streams of Living Water.

 

Use me to do great things of which I know not.

Help me be more effective helping others.

 

Use me to accomplish what You desire.

Honor to serve Your cause.

 

-->Your way, not mine.

 

(http://prayertower.org/Cal/Primer.htm)

 

 

 

Bruce MacPherson

macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821

 

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Daily Prayer - A grieving family

Good Friday morning, my friends.

 

Yesterday I received an email from one of the regular readers of my posts.  Geoff told me his mother was gravely ill and asked me to share his prayer request for her healing.  I intended to do that today in this message, but sadly she passed away later in the day when her family made the decision to discontinue life support.  The strength of Geoff's faith shows clearly in this note he sent me: 

God was faithful as all day today I was receiving support from all my friends, passages, comments on strength and discernment so that when it came time to make a decision, I was guided and given the strength to do what had to be done, along with my brother and father. We will obviously need His hand for strength for what is about to happen but i felt Him today and know I  and we, will be fine. His will be done, He showed it and blessed us with it.  

Please join me today in prayer for this family.  And if their is grief in your own heart today, we pray this for you as well.

 

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Bruce

 

Heavenly Father please comfort this precious suffering family.

 

Reach out to them and comfort their weary hearts.

 

Help them to know that you are in control and that while they may not understand exactly what is going on, that you will steadfastly provide for them, even beyond what they are capable of understanding.

 

Give them peace and reassurance of your infinite grace and mercy and return them to your eternal service.

 

In Jesus' name,

Amen

 

Revelation 21:4

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

 

(http://www.annointed.net/Community/general-prayer-when-you-just-want-prayer/17883-prayer-grieving-friend.html#post69018)

 

 

 

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.

 

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Daily Prayer - Courage, Patience, Stamina, Strength

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

 

I often get caught up in my own lack of courage and patience when it comes to following Christ.  That is why the first 5 lines of the prayer below really resonate with me.  But if I turn these fears and burdens over to God, as in the last 4 lines, I feel the weight lift and my spirit refreshed.  It's as if God says to me "Relax!  Let's just enjoy some time together!"  Do you need to relax?

 

Grace and peace and GO SENS GO!

Bruce

 

Loving God, I want to trust you, but I'm scared of getting hurt.

I want to follow you, but my weakness makes me stumble.

I want to soar high, but my doubts keep me firmly on the ground.

I want to run far and fast but I lose strength at the first hurdle.

I want to walk with you, but I grow tired so quickly.

 

Give me the courage to face my fears.

Give me the patience to follow where you lead me.

Give me the stamina to keep going when things are tough.

Give me a new strength.

 

Amen.

 

(based on Isaiah 40:31)

  

(http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.potd)

 

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 - Help us change

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

 

Have you ever been in prayer, or listening to someone else pray, and found God gently (or not so gently) pointing to something in your life that needs to change? 

 

We say "Yes, Lord" and "Amen!", but can sometimes harden our hearts a little if that something is not something we want to change. 

 

We need to listen to the "small, still voice" as He speaks to us.  And we need to ask Him to give us the courage and strength to become more like His Son.

 

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace be yours,

Bruce 

Lord, so often when we're in prayer or praying with others in the Body of Christ we give verbal expression with the affirmation of "Amen" or we simply nod our heads in agreement. 

 

Our outward body language is in agreement but deep within, our hearts look another direction. 

 

When You are dealing with us about destructive habits, sinful attitudes, or unhealthy relationships in our lives help us to not just give a nod of agreement but give us the resolve to change from the inside out. 

 

As Your presence abides in our hearts Your will becomes our own, Your desires become our desires, and Your character becomes our character, for we are made in the image of God.

 

(http://www.prayerfortoday.net/)

 

 

 

 

Bruce MacPherson

macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821

 

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Daily Prayer - Are we of noble character?

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

 

Have you ever heard anyone say something like "Jesus was a great mand and a great teacher, but still just a man"?  In searching for inspiration this morning I came across an interesting website.  Here is an excerpt of what I read: 

'I'm flabbergasted by people trying to pass Jesus off as just a good man!' said Jake.

'Eh?' asked Amber, mystified.

'Good men don't go around emphasizing humility, attacking hypocrisy and then making the stupendous claims that he made, such as, "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58). As if it weren't enough that Abraham lived hundreds of years before him, Jesus didn't even say, 'I was' but 'I am,' implying he was eternal and beyond time. Good men don't claim to be wiser than Solomon, who had been pronounced the wisest man ever to live (Luke 11:31). Good men don't say, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to God except by me (John 14:6) or anyone who has seen me has seen God (John 14:9). No good man would be so conceited as to claim that the greatest prophets before him were mere servants of God and that he, in contrast, was the beloved only Son (Mark 12:1-12). Good men don't go on making claims of this magnitude day after day until finally sentenced to death for the blasphemy of claiming to be God.'

'Jake's right!' exclaimed Jasmin. 'In contrast, the Apostle Paul – perhaps the greatest Christian ever to live – made claims like, "I am the chief of sinners." The closer people get to God, the more humble and more aware of their moral shortcomings they become. Jesus was totally different to any other "good man." He was continually making assertions that would brand him as the most arrogant, hypocritical man ever to live – unless he truly was God.'

'And more than that,' added Jake, 'good men die and stay dead. The firm, historical evidence that Jesus bodily rose from the dead is enormous. And good men don't keep working miracles 2,000 years after they are dead; transforming the lives of multiplied millions of people of all different races and cultures and religious backgrounds!

'Here's a great quote I've found.' Jake fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and began to read. 'Christianity "is either the greatest certainty or the greatest delusion . . ." ' (Source)

The greatest certainty or the greatest delusion - which is it?  I came to faith through study and research, so I really love apologetics web sites such as this one.  Paul commended the Bereans for the way they verified what he was teaching them: "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." (Acts 17:11).  How often do we confirm the teachings we receive with our own research?  Are we prepared to answer those who would deny the existence of God and the Deity of Christ? If not, we should be.

 

I love this quote from C.S. Lewis: 

A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell. 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

 

Father, the words that Jesus spoke to the chief priests upon His arrest, "This is your hour… when darkness reigns" would days later turn into the finest hour on the Christian calendar.

Torture and death did not have the final say, for darkness dissipated and light broke through as Jesus rose from the tomb.

We are joyful and victorious as we walk in the newness of life provided through the death and resurrection of our Savior.

We are also reminded that evil and death have no permanent hold over us, for the former things have lost their power because Jesus defeated our greatest enemy.

We give thanks to You, God, for Your indescribable gift of salvation through Jesus. Amen.

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2010/04/02/a-prayer-for-gods-finest-hour/)

 

 

 

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.

 

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Daily Prayer - Overflow

Good Monday morning, my friends.

 

Are you overflowing with hope, joy and peace?  I have heard it said that one of the greatest sins of Christ followers is not living with great joy.  Paul prays in Romans 13:15 "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".  If you, like me,  want to "have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10) then join me today in this prayer. 

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

 

Dear Father in Heaven,

 

I know You are the God of hope.

Yet so often I do not feel filled with the joy and peace You offer to me.

So often hope is distant in my heart.

Today I acknowledge that I need You.

I need Your hope in my heart and I need Your filling.

Please help me to do my part and trust You.

Help me to trust You to give me the hope and the joy and the peace that Your Holy Spirit brings.

Increase my faith so I can trust You fully with all the question marks in my life.

Fill me by the power of Your Holy Spirit now.

I don't want to just survive or just get by… I want to overflow!

Your Holy Spirit is the only one who has the power to pour the peace and joy You offer into my weary soul.

I trust you today with all the circumstances of my life.

Thank you that I can come to you, my God of Hope!!

 

In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

 

(http://www.gailrodgers.ca/index.php/site/prayerItem/223/)

 

 

 

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.

 

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Daily Prayer - Be still

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

 

Psalm 27:13-15:

I remain confident of this:

   I will see the goodness of the LORD

   in the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD;

   be strong and take heart

   and wait for the LORD.

 

Psalm 46:10:

He says, "Be still, and know that I am God;

   I will be exalted among the nations,

   I will be exalted in the earth."

 

How are you doing at being still?  Maybe this prayer/poem will help you as it did me.

 

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

 

I sit

and stop running towards the sounds and visions

that I think will fulfill me.

 

I allow my feet to stop walking aimlessly

and to root deeply into my life,

here and now.

 

I let my hands rest in my lap,

and stop grasping for those things

I think will satisfy me.

 

I drop the heavy weight I carry

on my back and shoulders to the ground,

and feel instantly lighter for this action.

 

I let go of all thoughts that do not serve Stillness,

and I feel my mind becoming more open and receptive.

 

I allow my breathing to quiet,

and to match my intention for Stillness.

 

I tell my Heart seeking Love

to be Still,

and to receive that which is freely and unconditionally given.

 

I connect to my Soul searching for fulfillment

in the Stillness,

and I allow my inner wisdom to speak to me of revelations.

 

I dissipate doubt

with the awareness of the Stillness and wisdom

within me.

 

I face down fear

with the strength of the Stillness

at my innermost core.

 

I trust,

surrendering to the best of my life,

to my personal fulfillment,

and to the knowledge that I am Divinely Loved

no matter where I go in my life's journey.

 

I am Still,

and I feel blessed…now.

 

I close my eyes

in the Stillness

and stop searching outside of me

for clues to who I am.

 

I Am…within all of this…Still.

 

(http://www.spiritual-healthcare.net/SH-PrayerForStillness.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.

 

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Daily Prayer - Happy Easter

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

"Awaken the faded flowers of faith lying dormant in our hearts."  Amen.  What a beautiful Easter prayer.

We are heading to the East coast today to celebrate Easter with family, so you will likely not be hearing from be before next week.  Have a wonderful Resurrection Weekend and may you encounter God in a new and meaningful way.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

God, give us eyes to see

the beauty of the Spring,

And to behold Your majesty

in every living thing -

And may we see in lacy leaves

and every budding flower

The Hand that rules the universe

with gentleness and power -

And may this Easter grandeur

that Spring lavishly imparts

Awaken faded flowers of faith

lying dormant in our hearts,

And give us ears to hear, dear God,

the Springtime song of birds

With messages more meaningful

than man's often empty words

Telling harried human beings

who are lost in dark despair -

'Be like us and do not worry

for God has you in His care.

Helen Steiner Rice

(http://www.faithandworship.com/prayers_Easter.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.