Prosperity

Generous God who lives in our hearts, thank you for the elegance and grace of Your creation. Your extravagance is evident. The smallest flower knows the details of Your handiwork. The bountiful harvest we enjoy year round supplies us with fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries, beans and grains, health-filled riches all created for us. The souls of we, Your people, overflow with love, kindness and mercy. You are everywhere, and we are grateful. Help us to build on all that You have given us and to share it with everyone in return. Amen.

Letter Writing

Teacher God, please give us a new lesson in letter writing. What nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs and conjunctions are most pleasing to You as we begin to shape the text of our lives? To whom will these letters be directed and what will be their intent? What do we hope to achieve with this correspondence?What do we want people to know about us and about You as we compose them? Many people believe that a picture speaks a thousand words, but we have no pictures of Jesus except his words, and we have a pretty good idea of who He was and what He aimed to do with His life. Please help us choose the words of our life letters carefully, consciously and with loving intent to the purposes of Your grace and goodness. Amen.

In the Beginning

In the beginning was Your Word. Your Word travels with us through time, through our lives and beyond. In all our beginnings, God, Your Word is there, guiding us, enlightening us, establishing us as Your people. Your Word binds us to each other with grace, justice, mercy and truth. These are the ways people know us, by how we live Your Word, are Your Word. Please help us be true to Your Word in all that we say and do. Amen.

Comparable Worth

To whom that will we compare You, God, that You should be like someone else? Should You be like our parents whom, as children, we perceived as unfair, judgmental, mean-spirited or selfish? Should You be a sugar daddy, doling out all kinds of goodies just because we think You can and should? Should You be pliable to our every wish and whim, making life as easy as possible?

Regardless of how we would label You, You Are Who You Are. You are loving, kind, honest, reliable, and You are ours. When we have a need to make You into something or someone You are not, please help us see You as You are. When we have a need to limit You, either by old ideas or from fear of knowing more about You, please open our hearts and minds to Your wholeness. When we are ready to receive the fullness of who You are, thank You for being there with open arms. Amen.

Being Christian

Great Shepherd, while Jesus lived on earth He modeled Your hope for how we could care for one another while we live here on earth as well. We are to listen for Your voice, treating each other how we would like to be treated. We are to feed the hungry, heal the sick, comfort the broken hearted, clothe those who are without clothes and basically love everybody in concrete, tangible ways that evidence Your spirit in our hearts. Rather than waste time feeling guilty for what we have left undone in this regard, we pray that we can look again to Jesus' teachings and do our best to exemplify Your grace in action as we live each day. Amen.

Praising God

Praise God who gives us every good thing!
Let each of us adore God because God adored us first and always will!
God is good, God is great and God loves us now and forevermore!
It is time to dance, to sing, to make music and laughter in honor of God's Holy and Glorious Name.
It is time to rejoice!
It is time to make merry!
It is time join with all creation in praising God Who is Our God! Amen.

Graceful Remorse

When we know we have done something or someone wrong, please forgive God. When we are afraid to come to You with contrite hearts, please forgive us, God. When we have left undone what we know You would have us do, please forgive us, God. When we allow tiredness, irritability, impatience, hopelessness, anger, frustration or anything else to impose on our connection with You, please forgive us, God. When we blame other people for how we feel, view the world or experience life, please forgive us, God. When we don't know which way to turn, and fail to ask for Your help, please forgive us, God, and help us anyway. Amen.