Daily Prayer - for Dave

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

Ten years ago today, my very good friend Dave passed away.  Dave lost his long battle with non-hodgkin's lymphoma.  I had the privilege of speaking at his funeral, and spoke of the various parts of Dave's personality I got to know over the years.  I first met Dave "the car guy"; then Dave "the deal guy"; followed by Dave "the family guy"; and finally Dave "my friend".

Dave "the deal guy" had a few people in the audience nodding their heads.  They remembered, as I did, Dave always knowing someone who could get us a deal on whatever we were looking for - be it tires, paint, lumber, or even flowers.  Unfailingly, Dave would say "Bruce, I know a guy and I think I can get you a deal" in his Midland English accent.  I cited several examples as I spoke.  I concluded Dave's eulogy with this:  "Dave, as you leave this world and search for the next ...  I know a guy and I think I can get you a deal."  That "guy" of course is Jesus Christ.  And we can offer our friends the deal of a lifetime.  Actually, the deal of eternity. Invite a friend or family member to church this weekend.  Easter is a fantastic time for someone to hear the Gospel.  Be in prayer for them before, during and after.

Thanks for the memories, Dave.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Lord, I give you (name) and thank you for them.

I thank you for everything that they are

And for all their gifts and talents.

I thank you for the many things that they have given to others 

And for all the kindness that they have shown me.

Lord, at the beginning of time You breathed Your life into creation 

May you breathe Your life into them now 

So that each step they take is filled with Your faith

Each thought they think is filled with Your hope

and each moment they live is filled with Your love.

May they fully know Your life

And fully live in Your love

This day and every day

Amen

(http://www.lords-prayer-words.com/prayers_before/prayers_for_friends.html)

Daily Prayer - Celebrating Easter

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

Do you "celebrate" Easter?  Do you "celebrate" the suffering and death of our Saviour?  If you have ever watched The Passion of the Christ, you will know that crucifixion is the most painful form of capital punishment ever devised by men.  It is difficult to watch, is it not?  God could have chosen to have His Son die in any number of ways, buy why this one?  God chose this method, I believe, to show us the seriousness of our sin.  We tend to gloss it over, seeing some as minor, some as major.  But God takes all sin seriously.  So seriously that His Son died the most cruel death imaginable so that your sin and my sin could be atoned for.

Are you celebrating Easter?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

God of such unwavering love, 

how do I "celebrate" 

the passion and death of Jesus? 

I often want to look the other way 

and not watch, 

not stay with Jesus in his suffering. 

Give me the strength 

to see his love with honesty and compassion 

and to feel deeply 

your own forgiveness and mercy for me. 

Help me to understand 

how to "celebrate" this week. 

I want be able to bring 

my weaknesses and imperfections with me 

as I journey with Jesus this week, 

so aware of his love.

(http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Lent/hw-1st-4days.html#tue)

Daily Prayer - Lifting the veil

Good Monday morning, my friends.

My journey to faith came by research and study.  I thought at the time I was just being thorough, examining all the evidence.  What I discovered after the fact, however, was that it was more spiritual warfare than diligence.  Satan continually whispered in my ear that it could not possibly be true, that I should continue to search.

Augustine of Hippo's penned "Therefore do not seek to understand in order to believe, but believe that thou mayest understand." Once I came to believe, things made so much more sense.  Faith precedes reason, but reason can expand upon faith.

Those among us who are unbelievers - family, friends, colleagues - have been blinded by the lies of the enemy.  Pray that the blindness will be healed, the veil lifted, as it was for me.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Father, though You do not walk visibly among us You do reveal Yourself through the minds, the hearts, and the actions of Your followers. 

May the light of Jesus shine forth from us so that the unbeliever can sift through the confusing ungodly messages of this world and the counterfeits of this age. 

May they see through our words and actions "the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." 

We especially lift up to You our friends and loved ones who have been blinded by the god of this age. 

We pray that You would dispel their doubts, fears, and unbelief, replacing these faith destroyers with confidence, courage and peace that comes through believing in and knowing You. 

In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/a-prayer-for-belief-among-those-blinded-by-satan/)

Daily Prayer - Perspective through adversity

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

Adversity usually comes without warning.  You may not be experiencing it right now, but you have.  You could be by the end of the day.  It is how we choose to deal with this adversity that reveals our character.  And god will use the adversity to shape our character.  When we are not in control of our own circumstances (and realize that we never truly are), then we tend to look for God's plan in our lives and trust in Him more.

If you are in the midst of adversity today, call out with this prayer.  If not, prepare your heart with it.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Father, You grow and stretch our maturity through circumstances that often are not of our own choosing. 

It helps us to gain needed perspective and experience in situations that overall benefit us, perhaps in areas we otherwise neglect. 

Help us to be patient as we search Your Scriptures and prayerfully seek to understand Your plan as it unfolds in our lives. 

Align our desires with Your own as we submit our will to Yours. 

May we not be overcome by adversity but we ask You, Father, to use adversity as a tool by which You carve Your image deep into our hearts. 

We may make our plans but we realize that, as Your child, You will have the final say. 

Amen.

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/a-prayer-for-overcoming-disappointments/)

Daily Prayer - The Greatness of Our God

Good Monday morning, my friends.

It isn't every Sunday that the worship songs we sing bring me to tears.  In fact, I am usually a little impatient for the singing to be over so that I can sit down and listen to the sermon.  But this Sunday, a couple of the songs really struck me.  One was "How Deep The Father's Love For Us":

How deep the Father's love for us,

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the chosen One,

Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,

My sin upon His shoulders

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that left Him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything

No gifts, no power, no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom

I could pick almost any part of this song and say it affected me, but the verse "Behold the Man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulders. Ashamed I hear my mocking voice, call out among the scoffers" went straight through my heart.  I know that before I became one of His followers I was one of those taunting Him.  And truth be told, there are still times when I do.  There are still times when I call out "if you really are God, why don't you do more to help me?" or something similar.  

How deep the Father's love for us.  Indeed.

The other song that brought me again to tears was "The Greatness of Our God".  The chorus is:

No sky contains, no doubt restrains

All You are, the greatness of our God

I spend my life to know and I'm far from close

To all You are, the greatness of our God

Every time I think I have gotten to know God a little better, he opens me up to a whole new level of His greatness.  This seems to happen about every three weeks!  And every time I am struck by how little I understand Him, but my love grows.

I will use the rest of this wonderful song as our prayer for the day.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Give me eyes to see more of who You are

May what I behold still my anxious heart

Take what I have known and break it all apart

For You my God are greater still

No sky contains, no doubt restrains

All You are, the greatness of our God

I spend my life to know and I'm far from close

To all You are, the greatness of our God

Give me grace to see beyond this moment here

To believe that there is nothing left to fear

And that You alone are high above it all

For You my God are greater still

There is nothing that can ever separate us

There is nothing that can ever separate

If from Your love, no life, no death of this I am convinced

For You my God are greater still

And no words could say or song convey

All You are, the greatest of our God

I spend my life to know and I'm far from close

To all You are, the greatness of our God

And no sky contains, no doubt restrains

All You are, the greatness of our God

I spend my life to know and I'm far from close

To all You are, the greatness of our God

All You are, the greatness of our God

Hillsong LIVE

Daily Prayer - Let no words pass my lips ...

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

 

My son, Elijah, was in youth group at our church last evening.  On the way home we asked him what the theme of the evening had been.  He said "Word with Friends".  However, it was not about the online Scrabble-like game that is very popular on smart phones but rather about how words can wound or heal.  This morning I (re-)discovered a document on my USB drive entitled "Let no words pass my lips that I would not speak in the presence of the Lord".  I put this together few years ago, and may have even sent it out, but I thought it was worth repeating. 

 

Let no words pass my lips that I would not speak in the presence of the Lord

Your sin prompts your mouth; you adopt the tongue of the crafty. Job 15:4-6

 

May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue Psalm 12:2-4

 

keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Psalm 34:12-14

 

They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows. Psalm 64:2-4

 

keeping you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife. Proverbs 6:23-25

 

Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. Proverbs 12:18-20

 

A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. Proverbs 26:27-28

 

"They make ready their tongue like a bow, to shoot lies; it is not by truth that they triumph in the land. They go from one sin to another; they do not acknowledge me," declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:2-4

 

Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks with deceit. With his mouth each speaks cordially to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him. Jeremiah 9:7-9

 

"Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips." Romans 3:12-14

 

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. James 1:25-27

 

Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. James 3:4-6

 

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:5-7

 

but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:7-9

 

For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 1 Peter 3:9-11

 

 

 

 

 

My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long. Psalm 35:27-28

 

The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just. Psalm 37:29-31

 

 

Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Psalm 51:13-15

 

 

I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. Psalm 66:16-18

 

May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous. Psalm 119:171-173

 

Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. Proverbs 17:27-28

 

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10-12

 

 

May our tongues be tools of righteousness today, and not weapons of destruction.

 

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

 

 

God I yield my lips over to serve you.

Help me to do no harm, encourage others and spread goodness.

 

(http://thepracticaldisciple.com/lent/tame_the_tongue.pdf)

 

 

Lord Christ, my tongue can be a problem.

In modern parlance, it's a lack of discretion, sensitivity or decorum; sometimes sarcasm; sometimes gossip.

 

Holy Spirit, I need an assist...to be mindful of my speech; to be more thoughtful about my audience; to engage my brain before opening my mouth; and to internalize this Proverb: Watch your words and hold your tongue; you'll save yourself a lot of grief. (Proverbs 21:23, The Message)

 

(adapted from http://www.prayerwerks.com/2010/08/taming-tongue.html)

Daily Prayer - What would you trade for your soul?

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

 

In Mark 8:37 Jesus asks this very challenging question: "For what can a man give in return for his soul?"

 

How many people at the end of their life, on death's doorstep, look back with huge regrets?  They have worked so hard to achieve "success" in this life.  They have gained the whole world but now are about to forfeit their soul.  At that point what do you think you would trade to get it back?  How about: everything. 

 

"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it" (Mark 8:35).  We are going to lose it all in the end anyway. 

 

What is it that you feel God is telling you that you need to lose?  Is it a job that is causing you to make ethically questionable decisions?  Is it a relationship that is bordering on inappropriate?  Is it a hobby that is stealing time and resources from your family?  The cost is high, but the rewards are greater.

 

While you ponder that heavy question, I thought I would leave you with something light.  I read this in a comment on a CBC story this morning and it made me smile.

 

Top 10 signs you might be an "evangelical"....

10. You've never gone skiing without rededicating your life to Christ at a bonfire after.

 

9. You never watched "Highway to Heaven" because it aired on Wednesday nights. (Wednesday nights are prayer meeting nights)

 

8. Your answer to the question "What Would Jesus Do?" is "He would wear a T-shirt that says, 'WWJD?'"

 

7. You've ever played the tambourine while wearing a suit and tie.

 

6. You own any clothing or accessories that you regard as "a witnessing tool".

 

5. You've ever been to a pot-luck dinner featuring more than three varieties of Jell-o salad with shaved carrots and mini-marshmallows.

 

4. Your idea of communion wine is made by Welch's.

 

3. You've told someone they deserve to suffer in Hell for eternity and said it without a trace of anger in your voice.

 

2. You chose your NHL fantasy team based on the personal testimony of the players.

 

and the #1 sign....
1. You think saying grace in a loud voice at Tim Horton's is a good way to witness.

 

Grace and peace and Timmy's coffee be yours in abundance,
Bruce

 

Lord, please show me Your will for my life.

 

And give me the wisdom and courage to follow it.

Daily Prayer - Truth and Grace

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

 

If we are to be followers of Jesus, we must be like Him: full of truth and grace.  We must have the courage to speak the truth in love, and to offer it with grace to all around us.  That is how Jesus treated the Samaritan woman at the well and Peter after Peter denied Him.

 

Let us treat others likewise.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce

 

May God in His Infinite mercy
give us the strength and courage to be an example to others,
loving and forgiving,
conscious of the fragility of the human spirit,
straight forward with each person crossing our path,
reaching for perfection even as we know no one can be perfect in this life,
being cognizant and tolerant of the weakness of others,
to imitate as best we can Our Lord in all things,
and to do His Will.

 

Amen!

 

(http://catholicvu.com/prayers.htm)

Daily Prayer - Time for laser eye surgery?

Good Friday morning, my friends.

...having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

 

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
(2 Peter 1:4b-9)

Do you feel ineffective or unproductive in your faith sometimes?  Do you feel overwhelmed by your past (or present) sins? 

 

Part of this passage is quite familiar to many of us: "add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love".  But it was the last part that stuck out for me when I read it - have I forgotten that I have been cleansed?  Is that why I become, at times, "ineffective and unproductive"?

 

We have "escaped the corruption in the world".  Let's not forget it.  Jesus died so that His righteousness might be passed on to us.  We have been cleansed.  Sin is no longer our master (Romans 6:14).  To forget this is to be "nearsighted and blind".  Its time for some laser eye surgery, or at least a better pair of glasses - looking at life through the lens of the Bible.

 

Grace and peace and good eyesight be yours,
Bruce

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Grant us clear sight to see the amazing work you have done for us.
Help us to remember the cleansing we have received as a result of the work Your Son did on the cross.
With clear sight, help us to add to our faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance , godliness, mutual affection, and love.

 

In Jesus holy name we pray. Amen.

Daily Prayer - Day and night

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

 

There is probably nothing more important or helpful in our walk of faith than time reading the Word of God. As the psalmist says:

Blessed is the man
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
    planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3

Meditate on it day and night.  Prayer is the partner of Bible reading - pray that God will help you to understand what you read, remember what you read, and put into practice what you read.  Pray that your appetite for God's Word grows.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce

 

Father, I ask for discernment that I may understand Your statutes.

 

I pray for understanding that I might know how to implement these truths into my life.

 

I also pray that I will grow to love and embrace Your laws so that it becomes a natural outflow of my commitment in following You.

 

Amen.

 

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/03/06/a-prayer-for-discernment-in-understanding-gods-word/)

Daily Prayer - Proclaim!

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

 

As I read this prayer it occurred to me that we need to make this proclamation on a regular basis.  In the tradition I grew up in, we recited the creed (usually the Apostles Creed seen here, sometimes the Nicene Creed) in every Sunday service:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, 
creator of heaven and earth.

 

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, 
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, 
born of the Virgin Mary, 
suffered under Pontius Pilate, 
was crucified, died, and was buried; 
he descended to the dead. 
On the third day he rose again; 
he ascended into heaven, 
he is seated at the right hand of the Father, 
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

 

I believe in the Holy Spirit, 
the holy catholic church, 
the communion of saints, 
the forgiveness of sins, 
the resurrection of the body, 
and the life everlasting.
AMEN.

 

Stating what we believe gives us a grounding, a perspective that the hear-and-now isn't the be-and-all.  That there is more to life than what we see; God has a plan of redemption for His creation.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce

 

Jesus, Name above all names, I confess with my lips and believe in my heart that You are the Lord and Savior of my life.

 

You died for my sins and rose to life making it possible for me to die to sin and rise to new life in You.

 

I thank You for the victory that is mine as I, in my heart, set Christ apart as Lord, not only in this world but in the world to come.

 

Amen.

 

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/03/05/a-prayer-to-jesus-the-lord/)

Daily Prayer - Shine!

Good Friday morning, my friends.

 

Jesus says to us (you and me, not just those who were standing before Him that day):

 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)

God "set" you on a hill - set you and I in our current locations to be a light to the world around us.  First we have to choose to let our light shine in our location.  Then, and here is the hard part for me, we have to do it so that others will give glory to my Father in heaven, rather than to us.

 

Here is what I have in mind for today.  In every conversation I have I want to remember that God is also a participant.  I want to listen to what He has to say, and allow Him to guide the conversation.  More specifically, there are two people I work with whom I want to invite to church this Sunday - I am going to watch for the opening God gives me.

 

I will let you know on Monday how it goes! (I would LOVE it if you joined me in this today.  Please let me know what you have planned how it turns out.)

 

Grace and peace be yours (and mine) in abundance,
Bruce

 

Lord Jesus let Your light shine through us to drive back the darkness in the world around us.

 

(http://loveandlead.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/his-vision-our-prayer-light-of-the-world/)