Prayer: The Gate

Be strong and courageous.  In the New American Standard bible translation; this exact combination of words occurs 13 times between Deuteronomy. Joshua, 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles.

I have visited so many of my favorite blogs this week and I can’t tell you how many people are feeling sorry for themselves.  I know it is dark in the northern hemisphere and it is January.  But it is time for the pity parties to stop. So right now, do these 6 things and then go out into the world and shine a light into dark places.

1. Get some direct sunlight
2. Take a walk 
3. Write something in your gratitude journal 
4. Think about the needs of someone else 
5. Decide to be strong and courageous 
6. Read the book of Joshua -

Set your purse down, and Spartan up! That includes both men and women. 

You are a radiant child of God.  You are not some hopeless, powerless, despicable worm in the dirt.  You are a saint.  You are made in the image of the most high God, and the very breath of God fills your spirit.

You were given the authority to heal the sick, and to alleviate human suffering.  You were given free will.  You may choose to live a life of significance!  You may leave this world a better place than it was before you got here! You be strong and courageous! Find your purpose and your joy.

The Old Testament is filled with stories.  Things never turn out well for the whiners and bed wetters.  We are told over and over about the people who were strong in the LORD.  The people who stand on the promises of God.  They stand on their faith and move mountains, and free the oppressed. Dwell upon what is possible.  Make it a great day!

Flickr photo

God, we lift up the people of Haiti, placing them tenderly in your care.  We ask that an end is brought to the suffering.  We ask for strength, wisdom and a spirit of cooperation for them and the relief workers.

Let there be divine order and complete restoration for their lives there.  We ask for miracles of their behalf.

Guide them, keep them, comfort them, prosper them and build up their nation.  Let there be more than enough aid, medical care and supplies to sustain them.  Let the clean up and rebuilding get moving quickly.  Move the hearts of their neighbors to assist in the best possible way. Be with them, and all those who volunteer, donate, and pray for the people of Haiti.  Amen

Yes you can!

Photo by Chrissy Oldham

Many of us begin the new year with the hope of changing something in our lives.  I want my life to improve in 2010.   My personal goal is to slim down and eat less.  We all have something, smoking, drinking, gossiping, overeating, wasting too much time on video games and Internet surfing, and countless other things.  Let he who is without sin toss the first rock.

The important thing to know is you can overcome.  You are more powerful than you realize.  What ever you want to do, do it today.  Just today.  Don’t even think about or worry about tomorrow.  Time is a finite resource.  How will we use it best today?

Holy God, our rock and our strength.  Help us to overcome the weakness of the flesh.  Give us courage to act, and fill our spirits with your breath and resolve. You have said that through Christ all things are possible.  You have given us authority to do many things.  You have said that both life and death are in the power of the tongue.  Let us choose life.  Let us find our stride and our courage.  Today we call on you and you hear our prayer and answer us.  Amen

Romans 5:5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Photo by Chrissy Oldham

 

There is a spirit within us that is never poor, yet I think sometimes we go hungry because we are afraid to ask for what we want. We fear we may be inadequate.  We fear there may be some powerful world-changing gift we have, and therefore we are responsible to utilize it.  Is there a huge audacious idea you caught a glimpse of that could make a positive impact on humanity? What holds us back?  What keeps us from acting on the large, or small important things?  Our fears.  What if we are wrong?  What if we fail?  We can’t see too far ahead. Usually that is a good thing.

 

Father God, guide our steps.  Help us live in faith.  Help us each to know we are capable of sharing the great and wonderful gifts you have given us.  We invite the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and connect us to you.  Let us each be a force for good.  Let us encourage each other and bring out the very best in all that surrounds us.  Amen

It feels like a fresh, wholesome, exciting opportunity.  What does?  This New Year.

Holy and amazing God, thank you for this New Year and the blessing it brings to each of us.  Let us recognize opportunities to grow spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually.  Let us recognize and act on the chance to be generous to all we know and see. 

I pray for each of you to have a fantastic 2010.  May God shower you with his rich blessings and may he speak to you and hold you in his love.  Thank you for reading this blog.  I appreciate your comments and thoughts more than you know.

I have launched another blog called Fast300Meals.  I am beginning a journey to fast 300 meals in 365 days. It is a spiritual and physical journey.