The Celtic Christian

Friday, November 19, 2010

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

Good Friday afternoon, my friends.

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

Have a wonderful weekend.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Lord Jesus, I thank you for this day.
I pray you will help me to live this day with my eyes fixed on you.
Open my ears to hear your slightest whisper.
Open my eyes to see each opportunity to serve you.
Let my feet take me where you want me to go and my hands do what you would have me do.

And keep watch over my mouth, Lord.
Let nothing go into it or out from it that is inconsistent with your will.

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

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

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

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

Bruce MacPherson

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

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Thursday, November 18, 2010

Daily Prayer

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

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

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

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

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

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

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

Latriece Harper

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

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Are we "Full-Time" Christians?

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

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

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

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

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

Bruce

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

Some Christians are called to foreign lands.
Others are called to minister in the workplace or on the home front.

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

Please, God, help me to see my work and my daily activities as a means to worship to you.
Demonstrate your power through my life so that others might experience you through me today.

Thank you, my loving and all-powerful God.

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

From Prime Time with God, available at churchgrowth.org

Bruce MacPherson
macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821
You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material.

If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address.

Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Self-examination vs. God-examination

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

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

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

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Dear God,

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

Would You do me a favor? Show me how well I am doing in keeping my word and my commitments.
Examine the desires of my heart, the words of my mouth, and the actions I take (or don't take).

Do I follow through like I should?
Do I keep my commitments?

Please help me to be trustworthy and dependable.
Please forgive me where I have fallen short.
Help me to not over commit myself and to think and pray before I speak and make commitments.

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

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

In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

From Prime Time with God, available at churchgrowth.org

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

Monday, November 15, 2010

Family weddings!

Good Monday morning, my friends.

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

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

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

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

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

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

Joy...in the accomplishments of one another.

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

Friendship...based on mutual trust.

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

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

Foresight...to realize rainbows follow rainy days.

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

Mirth...from your sense of humor.

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

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

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

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Remembrance Day

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

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

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

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

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

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

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

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

Amen.

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

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

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Is there something you need to put down?

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

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

Author Roy Lessin wrote:

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

Is there something you need to put down?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

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

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

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Allow your soul to sing, dance, praise and love

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

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

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

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

Bruce

May today there be peace within.

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

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

May you use those gifts that you have received,
and pass on the love that has been given to you.

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

Let this presence settle into your bones,
and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

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

Monday, November 8, 2010

False identities

Good Monday morning, my friends.

I discovered something amazing about myself yesterday.

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

So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.

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

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

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
(Ephesians 2:10)

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

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

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

Grace and peace be yours in abundance!

Bruce

Heavenly Father,

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

Help me through this process of healing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

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

Friday, November 5, 2010

A tale of two parables

Good Friday morning, my friends.

I had the privilege this morning of attending the 1st Annual Ottawa Civic Prayer Breakfast. There was a great turnout - my estimate is about 400 people. The guest speaker this morning was the CEO of the Yonge Street Mission in Toronto, Rick Tobias. He spoke on two parables spoken by Jesus: The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats from Matthew 25:31-46 and The Parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10:25-37. The theme of the morning was "Who is my neighbour?" which is the question asked to Jesus in the latter of these parable and prompts Jesus to reply with the familiar story of the Good Samaritan. Dr. Tobias turned the question around, bringing in the first parable: To whom are we not being a neighbour? Or more to the point: How am I going to explain to Jesus how I chose whom to be a neighbour to when it comes time for the judgement? Remember the words of Jesus in The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats:

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

"He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

I found this a challenging, thought provoking message. And so I share it with you. Who do you choose to be a neighbour to and who do you choose not to? Who is that person at work that is too difficult to deal with? Who is that homeless person who is too dirty or too inebriated to be worthy of our time? Who is that family member that is too obnoxious for us to find time to spend with them?

If this is tweaking your conscience (as it is mine) then thank God - He is at work in you, bringing you more and more into the likeness of His Son.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Lord Jesus Christ, You gave your life out of love for all people, and You encouraged your followers to do good to others.
Over the years many Christians have found this difficult and I am no exception.
I try, but it is so hard to have a loving attitude toward all---and then I feel hypocritical in claiming to follow You.

Help me, dear Lord, to really believe that Christian love is the greatest energy in the world.
Let me see that this is not an emotion, but a central attitude of one's being---an attitude of service for others in Your Name.
It is the result of your grace, and prompts us to will only good things for others as images of God.
Grant that I may always strive to attain this attitude and so live up to the noble vocation to which I am called.

Amen.

(http://www.2heartsnetwork.org/love.htm)

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Meditation

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

This morning's message comes from Chuck Swindoll. My lovely wife, Rosemary, sent me this a short time ago and when I finished reading it I took just a few minutes to test the advice given. Wow - what a great way to start the day. May it bless your day as well.

Start Seeking God
by Charles R. Swindoll

Lamentations 3:25

"Lord, I'm back and I diligently seek you." How many times have we said this? This time stop talking and sit silently. Wait patiently, seek diligently, sit silently. That means you need to pour out your heart and then deliberately be quiet. Spend a full day in quietness.

Meditation is a lost art in this modern, hurry-up world. I suggest you revive it. Not by endlessly repeating some mantra to get into some other frame of mind. Not that. Simply and silently wait before your faithful God. Read a passage of Scripture, perhaps a psalm, and let it speak. Say nothing. Just sit silently. Let Him talk. Let Him reassure you that you are fully and completely forgiven and that your shame is gone. Feel His arms around you. Understand the cleansing that He's bringing. Feel again the freshness and relief of His presence.

God will give you a fresh start if you'll stop fighting. It works. I know. I've been there. Just submit to Him and accept His grace.

God will keep His promise to forgive and welcome you home.
His mercies are new every morning.

Grace and peace to you in abundance,

Bruce

God who blesses, thanks for knowing what I need more than I do.

Help me to seek your guidance in life as I face many decisions,
and help me remember that you are always with me, even when things don't go as planned.

Amen.

(http://www.d365.org/todaysdevotion/)

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Appreciation and thanks

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

This morning I pray this prayer specifically for each of you. I love and appreciate that each of you is part of my journey with Christ. Please accept this prayer offered on your behalf as a token of my thanks.

Grace and peace to you in abundance,

Bruce

When you're lonely I pray you feel God's love.

When you're down I pray God gives you joy.

When you're troubled I pray you know God's peace.

When things are complicated I pray you find simple beauty.

When things are chaotic I pray you are given inner silence.

When things look empty I pray you know hope in Jesus.

(http://www.2heartsnetwork.org/love.htm)

Bruce MacPherson

macpherson@celtic.ca

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Judge Not That Ye Be Not Judged

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

You may (or may not) have noticed that I did not send out a prayer yesterday. It was a bit of a hectic day at the office. When I got to my desk yesterday I found out that there was a serious problem with one of the software applications I am responsible for. The problem was affecting a number of other systems and a major database had to be brought down for the day. I spent the day trying to track down and solve the problem.

In the middle of all this I had someone come into my office to make fun of the situation, enjoying seeing the stress I was under. At least that's how I saw it. As I reflect now, I imagine they were just joking around but it didn't seem that way at the time. And I didn't react particularly well to it. Let's just say I invited them to leave my cubicle.

So last evening I spent some time steaming about that, having all kinds of confrontational conversations with this person (at least in my mind). I prepared what I would say and how I would say it and it wasn't particularly nice. But I was in the right! I needed to have my say!

And then God got involved. The message I got was "Bruce - perhaps you can model grace for this person." My initial reaction was - "Oh, thanks a lot God - you take away all my fun." But of course He was right. Don't you just hate that sometimes? To add salt to the wound (my wounded pride that is), my sister Beth sent me a poem last night entitled "Judge Not That Ye Be Not Judged". The verse that jumped out at me was ...

He will return all the mercy you'd shown.

It's time to come down from your self-righteous throne.

There's too many people, you've mercilessly tried.

God will cast judgement. You're not qualified. (The poem is by Steve Ackerman and can be found here.)

I am not qualified. Indeed. Well I gotta go - I owe someone a cup of coffee.

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

Bruce

Faultless Lord, enduring death for me,
You have consummated the debt of my sins:
Your sacrifice of forgiveness was absolute!

Grant me the strength to also forgive others,
To excuse their transgressions against me.

So I may truly reflect this spiritual fruit,
Obliterate any persistent feelings of malice.

Let each trespass end as a closing chapter,
My continuing on the road of righteousness.

Forgive my sins as I aspire to forgive others.

You are truly archetypical of forgiveness.

You are a most forgiving Lord!

(http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=731)

Bruce MacPherson

macpherson@celtic.ca

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Friday, November 19, 2010

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

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Daily Prayer

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Are we "Full-Time" Christians?

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Self-examination vs. God-examination

Monday, November 15, 2010

Family weddings!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Remembrance Day

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Is there something you need to put down?

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Allow your soul to sing, dance, praise and love

Monday, November 8, 2010

False identities

Friday, November 5, 2010

A tale of two parables

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Meditation

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Appreciation and thanks

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Judge Not That Ye Be Not Judged

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