Prayer: The Gate

The presidential election for the United States of America is a month and a week away. Everyone is hoping Moses is running this year.  Or they are trying to decide from among the candidates running who is most like Moses and can lead us to the promise land.

Moses isn’t running.  Even if he was, he probably wouldn’t win.  I have been most disappointed that we have been so divided after elections.  Not just America, but every country, every nation.  In order to make any forward progress, I believe we need a couple of things.

• Real leadership in the form of having a plan and a vision, sharing the vision, bringing out the best in people who are following the leader, and a leader who will remain humble as a leader.
• People need to stop complaining after the election.  We have to get on board with who ever is elected and catch the vision, and develop a sense of purpose and unity.

We have been a splintered nation for the past eight years.  We have attempted to build an economy by refinancing our homes at a different interest rate and taking out a second mortgage.  It has brought this nation to it’s knees.  We need to manufacture items to sell and create primary jobs in order to build a strong economy. 

I believe with every fiber of my being that we must pray for our leaders, pray for our government, and our country.   I would ask everyone to pray this week for our leaders and the leaders of all nations.

Father God, I would pray for our leaders in our government, our communities.  I pray for those who are involved with our economy, as well as those in charge of our military and foreign policies.  I ask that the wisdom of God is poured out on the leaders in every nation.  And that leaders act with the best interest of the peoples they are supposed to serve.  Let them understand what needs to be done.  Let them work with a servants heart.  Let them be filled with compassion and grace. Let them lead from wisdom and strength and not fear and greed. Be with them God and let each one hear your voice and today. And each day may we all seek your will and your face.  Amen

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I read a new study recently that said all the activities we plan for our children creates a lot of stress and many struggle in school because they are over-scheduled.

I believe it is true.  When I over-schedule my own day, I have less time to be creative, to pray, to live fully present in this moment.  I am focused on the future and not what I need to think about most which is right now. There is always a feeling it I should move on to the next task quickly.

Prayer for today:

Father God, let us realize there is more than enough time to live in this moment.  Let us be grateful for this day and the time we have in this life with our friends and family.  Let there be beauty, creativity, and grace sufficient for this day.  Amen

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God, I want to pray for us all.  Let there be good jobs for those who need them   Let there be a sense of purpose and direction for each of us as we understand we are here for a brief time and we each have something significant to contribute to this world.

I pray for healing and your restorative power to fill us and shine through us.  Heal those who have physical or emotional ailments and the faith to stand before the throne of God and know it is done.

I would like especially to pray this week for Janice and complete recovery from her burns.  I want to pray for Allen for a terrific job and sense of purpose for him.  Also, for Ky to find his authentic self and a direction for his life as well as a great job.

I pray for divine order in my day an my life, and for people everywhere.  I know you are infinite and transcendent God, and you hear our prayers.  Thank you for sending your son to save the world.

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Romans 8:16  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our own spirit that we are children of God.

I lead the singing at a funeral yesterday and we sang a song called “The Life Boat”.  I was not familiar with it. It was a very old southern gospel type song, and it was the deceased person’s favorite song.  Allegorically Jesus was the captain of a ship.  What I liked about it was, as followers we were referred to as “jewels”.  The life-boat was coming to gather the jewels home.  Also there was rejoicing and the chorus encouraged us to “Cheer my brother, cheer.”

Later in the day I talked with a friend who also liked the song and he said, “Thank goodness we didn’t have to be wretches.”  I feel the same way.  Once we are saved by grace and washed clean, we don’t have to keep revisiting the “I’m so worthless” mentality over and over.  Some songs continue to drive that message home.

Another old friend used to say (with great confidence), “I’m not a sheep, I’m a saint.”  She made you feel the same way about yourself somehow when she said it.

So this coming week, let us stand before God in our prayers as jewels, as his saint, and as children of God.  Feel it all the way through your breath and in your spirit.

Be blessed.  Newsong.

I want to ask for prayers for the family of Harold Varley who passed away also this past week.

“Father God, give them peace and comfort.  Hold them tenderly in your care, bless and keep them in the days ahead.”

Also prayers for Suzanne E., and for our nation as we stand at a time of change and elections.

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A really good man, Jim B. died last night.  We were having some friends over for dinner when we got the call.  I will miss him and my heart goes out to the entire Bloom family.

I don’t know what heaven is like.  I don’t want to guess or have someone else guess in a feeble attempt to comfort me.  I do know that matter and energy is neither created or destroyed.  So I believe there is an afterlife. I do believe there is a God and he is the supreme higher power.

I don’t know that it is “time to go” as some predestined arrangement. I definitely don’t believe that people are in heaven looking down at us. 

People don’t become angels. In fact, when someone says the reason for a death is God needed another angel in heaven, it makes me extremely angry.  Scripture clearly state angels have been around since creation and they are made differently than people.  Angels in fact are not girls, teddy bears, dogs, children or silly craft fair dust collecting trinkets.  They are big, powerful, scary spiritual warriors who are capable of bringing death and destruction without mercy.  I believe they carry the sword of God.

I guess I have this mixture in my beliefs, there is a deep sense of the spirit, yet there are scientific facts I choose not to ignore.  Spirit and science are not diametrically opposed; all or nothing; one or the other. Our cells divide 54 times in an attempt at repair and at the 54th it is “game over”, and we die.  (A very cool side note, is that when we fast, our cells do not divide and they are repaired. )

I don’t know about tomorrow.  Jesus said ”let the dead bury the dead”.  King David grieved for months.   We all handle death differently.  May we all find comfort, as no one goes through life without experiencing loss of someone we know and love.

I would ask for prayers this week for the Bloom family, especially Jim’s wife and children.

“Father God, I place Jim’s family tenderly in your care.  Give them comfort and peace.  Let their memories be all the good ones.  May they draw strength from your redeeming love.  Show them how to carry on. Grace and Peace be with them and all your love.  Amen”

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