Daily Prayer - Pray for your heart to burn

Good Friday morning, my friends.

Does your heart burn for those who have not heard the Gospel?  My answer to that would be: No.  It is more luke-warm than hot.  But the heat is growing.

When we look around us we see friends, neighbours, colleagues and strangers who have not been challenged by the Gospel.  Many may know parts of the Story, but have never been confronted in such a way that they have to make a decision.  And unless they are presented with the full Gospel, and given a chance to choose Christ, we will be separated from them for eternity.  How will they know if no one tells them?  This is a huge challenge for me and for you. If we want to overcome our fear in this area, we must begin in prayer.  Pray for God to strenghten us and others.  Pray for your heart to burn.

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace be yours,
Bruce

Father, give Your people hearts that burn with Your longing for the Good News to be preached throughout the world, and begin the work in my heart. May we desire what you so deeply desire to do – to bring people into Your family and mold them into the image of Christ. May we faithfully invest our prayers, our time, and our money in what is in Your heart.

Bring a revival of urgent prayer among all Your people. May more churches, everywhere in the world, become missions-minded. May they send out people who are close to You, empowered by You, and equipped to serve and pray effectively.

Lord, You are in charge of the harvest. Cause countless people to turn from darkness to light and from the power of satan to You. Do this in every tribe, every language, and every religion – even in the most hard-to-reach places and the most resistant religions.

Amen!
(Warren & Ruth Myers, 31 Days of Prayer - Day 25)

Daily Prayer - Reliance or resentment?

Good Thursday morning, my friends.
 
As we read of David's life in the Bible we see that through the trials and failures he endured - and they were many - he continually recognized his need for God.
 
And so it is for us.  If we did not have any struggles, we would never see our need for God. 
 
Can we, as David did, use these times to increase our reliance on our Creator rather than resent the circumstances?
 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 
 
 
Father, You know how often I ask You for blessings and yet I can't know the extent of Your limitless grace if I don't experience the lack from my human provisions.
 
I can't personally know Your divine strength unless I endure human weakness.
 
In the midst of multiple heartaches and distress You multiply Your peace and provision for my life.
 
Help me not to resent affliction, hardship or weakness since it is in those experiences that I more clearly recognize Your immeasurable grace for all that concerns me.
 
It is in the name of Jesus that I come to You in prayer thanking You for Your unlimited provision and immeasurable grace.
 
Amen.
 
(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/06/26/a-prayer-of-thanks-for-grace-4/)

Daily Prayer - Whom shall I send?

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.
 
As I read this John Fischer article yesterday, I was reminded of the floods happening in and around Calgary, and indeed throughout the Southern Prairies.  Then I was reminded of the 1998 ice storm (and aftermath) in Eastern Ontario/Western Quebec that many of us endured.  And I am reminded of many other calamities, some much worse, around the world.  Perhaps this is a differnt way to answer the question "Why does God let these things happen?"
 

Send me       

 

by John Fischer 

 

 

When bad things happen send me.

 

I received a nice note from Pam about my Catch last week on theological conundrums. She mentioned that her pastor often talks about how the world is "subject to gravity and meteorological activity and people's bad choices and polluted air ... you get my drift. Not that God doesn't intervene in miraculous ways but calamity is just part of existing on this planet. What God does do for us when we are in need is send people."

 

Now I love that, and I believe it is true. Not that this is reason for bad things to happen, but bad things do give God an opportunity to send people, and just who would that be if it isn't you and me?

 

This could be any number of a million things like offering assistance, or offering counsel, or just offering a warm body to sit with someone and kick at the darkness. The important thing is to get yourself there, and the important thing before that is to ask yourself, "Is this my chance? Is God sending me?"

 

 On September 11, 2001, my daughter was attending college north of Boston, and when she heard of the terrorist attack on the twin towers in New York, she wanted to go there. She was a trained EMT, for heaven's sake. She could help. She could do something. Now in this case it wasn't practical for her to go, but I never forgot that attitude. I think that's what God is looking for - someone to say, instead of questioning, "Send me."

 

Next time you hear about something bad happening to someone, instead of wondering what God is up to, I want you to imagine God pulling you aside and whispering in your ear, "I want you to go in there and help. I want you to represent me. Don't worry about what you're going to say when you get there; I'll give you the words - that's what my Holy Spirit is for - just get yourself there. I'll handle the rest."

 

When bad things happen, it's really not up to us to try to figure out God; it's up to us to try to figure out if God is asking us to do something about it. 

 

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

 

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;

    the whole earth is full of his glory."

 

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

 

"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty."

 

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."

 

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"

 

And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" (Isaiah 6:1-8)

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 

My people hunger for living signs of my love for them. Whom shall I send?
    Here am I, send me!
 
My people are weary, and long for encouragement as they labour at tasks with few
stopping to thank them. Whom shall I send?
    Here am I, send me!
 
My people yearn to have their giftedness called forth in the service of love. Whom shall I send?
    Here am I, send me!
 
My people live in an age which prizes individualism, and starves their need to contribute to something bigger than themselves. Whom shall I send?
    Here am I, send me!
 
My people thirst for leaders who reveal me as a God of hope who accompanies them in their struggle and pain. Whom shall I send?
    Here am I, send me!
 
My people long for leaders who have tasted their brokenness, and have learned to serve with humility and joy. Whom shall I send?
    Here am I, send me!
 
(Based on a prayer by Les Miller, YCDSB)

Daily Prayer - Trust

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.
 
When I pray during difficult times I sometimes wonder if God is hearing me. But of course He is hearing me.  The question is: am I hearing Him? 
 
Often my prayer can more resemble a letter to Santa than a respectful conversation between Father and son.  But when I pause at the beginning to glorify and thank Him for all He has done for me in the past, and realize just how generous He has been with me, I come away with a much different feeling: trust.  I know that our time together has been a conversation (and not a monologue) when my prayer ends with an incredible sense of trust that God will fulfil His promises to me.
 
Have a conversation with your Father today.
 

Grace and peace and trust be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 
 
 
Father, it's been said that "courage is fear that said its prayers".
 
And it's true that You can change our hearts and outlook even when the circumstances have not changed.
 
But it requires our dependency on You through persevering in prayer which results in absolute trust.
 
We can be assured of Your eternal encouragement and good hope as it encourages our hearts and strengthens us in every good deed and word.
 
It is through Christ Jesus our Lord that we pray in faith believing that You turn tragedy into triumph, as You work out all things together for our good.
 
Amen.
 
(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/06/21/a-prayer-for-you/)

Daily Prayer - Come and see!

Good Friday morning, my friends.

 

When Jesus asked a man named Philip to follow Him, Phil wanted to bring along his friend, Nathaniel: 

Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

 

"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.

 

"Come and see," said Philip. (John 1:45-46)

We all have friends like Nate - people who, if we invite them to church, will say "Church - all they want is my money", or "Sunday morning?  I'd rather go golfing", or "Church is fine for people who need a crutch, but I am doing just fine" or, well, you fill in the blank.  How do you answer that?  How do you counteract their objections?  Why not try Phillip's response: "Come and see".  Tell them you understand their concern, that yeah, it's hard to believe anything good can come from Nazereth, but hey, just come and see.
 
Who is on your mind right now to invite?  What could be easier than this approach?

 
Grace and peace be yours in abundacance,
Bruce

 
Father, we pray that our churches would be a place that people who do not know you could "come and see" your love and mercy
 
We pray that they would know that we are followers of Your Son from the way we love one another
 
We pray that you would, even now, be softening their hearts so that our invitation would be received with gratitude and acceptance
 
May our communities be transformed by the spread of Your Gospel, and may You be glorified.
 
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Daily Prayer - Do you not yet understand?

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

 

How quickly our trust in God can subside.  As I look back over the decades of my life I see so many instances where God provided for my needs.  He has done it over and over and over again.  And yet, everytime there seems to be a bump in the road my anxiety level seems to spike.  I forget that God is still "large and in charge"

It gives me some comfort to know that even Jesus' disciples suffered from this (I know, getting comfort from someone else's suffering is disturbing, but what can you do?).  Shortly after Jesus had miraculously fed 5000 people with a few loaves and fishes, there was another large crowd being preached to - about 4000 this time.  Jesus tells his disciples that He wants to feed them, and their reaction isn't "Oh boy - He is going to do it again!" it is "How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?" (Mark 8:4).  And even after Jesus feeds that crown, as they are leaving on the boat and realize they did not bring enough food and began to worry, Jesus chastized them by saying:

"Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?"

They said to Him, "Twelve."

"Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?"

And they said, "Seven."

So He said to them, "How is it you do not understand?"  (Mark 8:17-21)

Are you feeling your anxiety level spike today?  Look back at the times in your past that God has been at work providing for your needs, and trust that He is at work even now.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

 

 

I trust You at all times, you are my refuge (Psalm 62:8).

You are my rock, my fortress, my deliver and my strength; in You, alone, do I trust (Psalm 18:2).

God's way is perfect. His word is proven; He is a shield to me because I trust in Him (2 Samuel 22:31).

I trust in You, Lord, with all my heart and lean not to my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

I put my trust in You, Lord and I do not fear what man can do to me (Psalm 56:11).

Lord, You are my refuge from the storm; my shade from the heat and in you is everlasting strength; I trust in You (Isaiah 25:4; 26:3-4).

You are the savior of all men, I trust in you (1 Tim 4:10).

I trust in You, Lord and not in uncertain riches. You give me richly all things to enjoy. (1 Tim 6:17).

I do not trust in myself but in God who raises the dead (2 Corinthians 1:9).

I draw near to You, Lord; I put my trust in You and declare all your works (Psalm 73:28).

I am not afraid of bad news; my heart is steadfast, trusting in You, Lord (Psalm 112:7).

I trust in You, Lord, not in my own strength or my own wisdom. I praise your name for you have saved me from my enemies and have put those who hate me to shame (Psalm 44: 6-8).

I trust in You, Lord, and I am as Mount Zion which cannot be removed but abides forever (Psalm 125:1).

Daily Prayer - Make someone's day

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

Here is an article by John Fischer that I read yesterday:

Make someone's day       

by John Fischer  

Here are some questions to mull over and then hopefully do something about. 

How are we as Christians making the world a better place for people who aren't Christians to live in? Are we improving the lives of those around us? Are we adding to someone's day or taking away from it? Can you honestly say that the world around you is a better place because you are in it? 

Are you making a contribution in the neighborhood? Are you bringing people together? Did you smile for someone today? Did you notice someone?

Did you ask someone to tell you about their hopes and dreams? Did you ask them about their kids, and did you listen when they told you? Did you try to find out about someone just to find out, not to get somewhere or do anything with the information?

Summer is here. It's going to get warmer. How about organizing a block party with all the neighbors? Or just invite someone over.

Is the P.T.A. asking for help? Does your summer school teacher need volunteers to drive on that field trip? Will the soccer team need a parent manager next fall?

And what about the Chamber of Commerce? Are you a member? Or the library? Or the soup kitchen (no, not the one the church is sponsoring but the one the community set up)?

Got an extra ticket to the ball game? How about taking the guy across the street instead of your best Christian buddy? 

What are you doing right now? Can you make someone's day?

Do you know Jesus? Do you want others to know Him too? A good place to begin would be to make someone happy that they know you.

Is someone going to be happier today because they know you or me?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Lord, Jesus Christ, 

Truly you are the Good Samaritan, 

The Divine Neighbor, 

Who has stopped by the side of the road, 

To soothe the wounds of our suffering, our weakness, our sin. 

You call us to be neighbors to one another, 

Especially to those most in need of our love and care. 

And may we find, in the persons we serve, the eyes of Christ returning our gaze. 

Teach us, O Lord, each day, 

To search life's roadsides and ditches, 

For the fallen, the weary, the wounded, the lonely, the poor. 

May we not "pass by on the other side", but, like the Good Samaritan, stoop 

to help, to heal, to carry the person to an inn of hope. 

Amen 

(Adapted from http://www.cclse.org/pdfs/Good%20Samaritan%20newsletters/Web%20Prayer%20Reflection%209-09.pdf)

Daily Prayer - Fathers

Good Monday morning, my friends.
 
Happy belated Father's Day to all you dads out there!

The longer I am a father the more I see that God has created the parenting role to give us a sense of how He sees us, His children.  Oh how easily, however, we take for granted that we can call Him Abba, Daddy, like our kids called us when they were toddlers.  But that is exactly how He invites, even insists, that we see him.
 

As a father, I want my kids to see that all of my strength, provision, and authority come from God.  I want the instruction they receive from me to be based on His word.  I want not to be seen by them as a hypocrite - saying one thing, but acting another.  I want to assume the role of  spiritual leader in my house by credibility, not by domination.

I want to be Abba, Daddy, to my children.

Please pray with me today for all fathers.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Father, may words of encouragement, comfort, instruction, and exhortation flow from our lips so that we may spur others on in the faith, most especially our own children.

We pray that You would help Christian fathers everywhere to verbalize their faith and live in a way that honors You and shows others where their source of strength lies.

Help them to be the spiritual leaders of their homes so that a harvest of righteousness and peace will be upon their households. 

We pray this in Jesus' name. 

Amen.

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/06/14/a-prayer-for-godly-fathers-2/)

Daily Prayer - Fearfully and wonderfully made

Good Friday morning, my friends.

This week a friend of mine gave me a book by J. Philip Newell entitled "Celtic Benediction".  (Thanks, Brian!)  It is a beautiful collection of Celtic prayers.  

The prayer below is a celebration of God's great love when He chose us to be born in His image.  He still deeply loves you and me.

For you created my inmost being;

    you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

    your works are wonderful,

    I know that full well. - (Psalm 139:13-14)

Grace and peace and His love be yours in abundance,

Bruce

That wisdom was born with me in the womb

thanks be to you. O God.

That your ways have been written into 

that human body and soul

there to be read and reverenced

thanks be to you.

Let me be attentive 

to the truths of these living texts.

Let me learn

of the law etched into the whole of creation

that gave birth to the mystery of life

and feeds and renews it day by day.

Let me discern the law of love in my own heart

and in knowing it 

obey it.

Let me be set free by love. O God.

Let me be set free to love.

(J Philip Newell - Celtic Benediction)

Daily Prayer - Think about ...

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

(Philippians 4:6-8)

Anxiety robs us of our peace.  We dwell on the terrible things that might be, as the enemy whispers in our ears over and over that disaster is coming.  We need to turn our attention away from that and back to what is true, noble, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy:  our God and His Word.  

Listen to Him whisper about His love, compassion, mercy and grace.  Think about such things.

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace be yours,

Bruce

Father, we need our minds stirred up by those things which are true, honorable, right and pure. 

Stimulate our minds to wholesome thinking as we consider Your Word which not only purifies us within, but also guides us as we develop godly character. 

Help us to maintain a teachable heart that is open to a new perspective on ancient truth but is also blessed when we receive the reminders of truths well established in our life. 

Remind us often that our words and actions give us opportunity to bring You glory as we reflect Your image. 

In Jesus' name, Amen.

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/06/12/a-prayer-for-a-stirring-of-our-minds/)

Daily Prayer - Go deeper

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

 Andrew Murray wrote, "The nearer we come to God Himself and the deeper we enter into His will, the more power we have in prayer.  In the stillness, you will receive power to pray."  How do we draw closer to God?  It starts by being still and contemplating Who He is, and who we are. 

The closer I get to Him, the more desperate I get for an even deeper relationship.  That's why I love this prayer.  No matter what your relationship is with God today, it can go deeper - just be still and ask.

"Truly my soul silently waits for God." Psalm 62:1

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Dear Father, how I long to know You better. 

Reveal Yourself to me in new ways as I wait quietly before You. 

Make Yourself more real to me than anyone or anything on earth. 

Open my eyes to see You in the Scriptures, quiet my mind and emotions to be still and know that you are God. 

Calm my heart, taking away my strain and stress. 

Make me conscious of Your presence as I wait before You with holy reverence.

(31 Days of Prayer, Warren and Ruth Myers, Day 20 - As You Have Time)

Daily Prayer - Recommended reading

Good Monday morning, my friends.

I hate anxiety.  But it doesn't hate me.  It likes to visit.  Often.  

The more I recognize this, the more I realize why Jesus' most frequently spoken commandment was "Fear not!".  I grow ever more grateful for those words and for so many other anxiety reducing passages of scripture, from Psalms to the Gospels to Revelation ("He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." - Revelation 21:4).  

I am also grateful for those around me who model the message of the Gospel in their everyday lives, particularly those who are suffering physically, emotionally, or spiritually and yet have a hope that can only be explained by a deep trust in God.

How is your anxiety level today?  If you want to lower it, I can recommend a Good Book.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Father, I am so grateful for the many passages in Scripture that provide strength and reassurance in our moments of weakness and doubt. 

I'm doubly grateful for brothers and sisters in our present day and those in the historic record who took hold of these truths and modeled for us what it is to live a victorious life in the midst of the daily uncertainties of this world. 

Our inner person is renewed with each passing day as we loosen our grip in that which passes away and take hold of that which never passes away till we reach the blessed, promised land. 

Amen.

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/06/07/a-prayer-for-personal-renewal-3/)

Daily Prayer - Heroes

Good Friday morning, my friends.
 
Yesterday was June 6, the anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normany, France during World War II.  You may or may not know personally anyone who fought in that war. Both my father and father-in-law fought through Europe in those dark days.  There were many heroes, many who gave their lives.  D-Day was a turning point in the war.  It wasn't the end of the war - that took about another year - but it signalled the end of the war, the inevitable victory for the Allied Forces.

The death of Jesus on the cross was D-Day for all of mankind.  It did not end the battle with our enemy, but the final outcome has been decided.   We are living in the days between the invasion and the final victory.  There are still battles to be waged and skirmishes to be fought, but the enemy is on the run.  And our Hero deserves all the glory.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 
 
Father, we thank You for those who paid the ultimate price in laying down their lives to defend our freedoms.

Many of us don't know even one of these faithful warriors by name and yet their sacrifice has freed us from the takeover of our enemies.

There are also those who do not know the Person of Jesus who laid down His life to free us from the takeover of our archenemy, the devil.

The vast majority give little to no thought of the immense burden Jesus bore as He took our sins upon Himself that we might receive forgiveness.

We thank You, Father, for Jesus who is the Hero of heroes in that He gave His all that we might receive Your all; forgiveness for our sins and eternal life in Heaven.

We thank You for Your undeserved love and mercy.

Amen.
 
(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/05/27/a-prayer-for-real-heroes/)

Daily Prayer - Extra grace required ...

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

Jesus said to us: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35).  Why did He call this a "new" command?  Surely if there is anything the Bible teaches us it is that God wants us to love Him and love our neighbours.  So what made this requirement "new"?  Well it is the words "As I have loved you".  Jesus had set a new example, had raised the bar to new heights.  

If we want to draw others to the amazing love of Christ that we have known, they must first know that we are His followers.  And we do that by loving each other.   Often that is easy to do, but there is always that one person in our family, in our church, at work, wherever, that is just so difficult to love.  A number of years ago in a Bible study we learned to call them EGRs - Extra Grace Required.  And it is good to remember that sometimes we are the EGR.

Amazing and Extra Grace and Eternal Peace be yours,

Bruce

Dear Father, the Source of every mercy, how I thank You that each of Your children is dear to You - as dear as Your beloved Son!

You love us, even though we differ in some of our doctrines and spiritual practices.  You still love us even when we sin!  Lord, how unworthy I am of such love!  How unworthy we all are!  And how much we need to grow in loving others as You love us!

Enable each of us - in my church and in all churches everywhere - to experience Your love more fully, and to let it flow out to others.  May Your Spirit fill us day by day, bringing forth the fresh, abundant fruit of love in our lives.   Love that keeps growing richer in knowledge and wise insight, in patience and kindness, in humility that honors the other person.  Love that overcomes jealousy and arrogance and self-seeking.  Love that is not touchy or resentful or judgemental.  Love that covers a multitude of sins and refuses to gossip.  Love that chooses to look out for the other person's interests, as well as our own - whether we feel like it or not.  Work in me this kind of love for all believers - and especially for those I find hard to love and those who tend to rub me the wrong way.

May we constantly show the fragrant love of Christ to one another, as we look forward to being together for all eternity.  May the world see Your love in our lives, and may this draw many to You.

(31 Days of Prayer, Warren and Ruth Meyers, Day 18)

Daily Prayer - I want a promotion!

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

With so much going on around us every day, it is so difficult to keep an eternal perspective.  The "tyranny of the urgent" keeps us from what is important.

One day recently, as I was looking forward to the glories of heaven with Christ, I mentioned to Rosemary that I did not want to ever be kept alive artificially - by a machine.  She should pull the plug.  With a twinkle in her eye she asked, "There's a plug?"  Apparently I had been annoying her that day :-)

Keep your eyes on the prize.  Keep faithful until that glorious promotion day.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Father, You are great and greatly to be praised.  

You are the Builder of everything we see and so much that we've not yet laid eyes upon, both on the earth and the heavens above.  

We are looking forward to the future city with eternal foundations where You are the architect and builder.  

Our everlasting home in heaven is not built with human hands, but by Your divine design. 

Keep us faithful till that glorious promotion day!  

Amen.

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/a-prayer-to-the-master-builder/)