Prayer: The Gate

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.

Photo by Chrissy Oldham

The flower reminds me of how I must look to the casual observer; a little wind blown, not symmetrical, slightly disorganized and undisciplined.  Never the less, I show up in full bloom with the grace, passion and form that God gave me.

I enjoy the new trends in the personal development blog sites.  Many writers encourage excellence, simplicity, passion in our work and  generosity.  People are sharing lessons learned, helpful hints, and encouragement daily.  That is part of the Kingdom of God.  It is about what we do for each other.  It is often about what we are willing to give of ourselves.

There is an order to the universe.  It may not match our perception of order and achievement, but the events are not all random, and there is a  divine order.  Each experience is a step toward our future and if we choose, can build our strength.  Each lesson learned, however painful, prepares the way for how we deal with future experiences and how we might learn to love to the fullest.

Father God, thank you for the beauty of the day and of the season.  Let us discover the nature of you God, as we lend a helping hand or kind word to others.  Allow us to cross over the barriers of race, religion, occupation, and social status to find our higher purpose and compassion  in serving each other.  Bring your divine order and simplicity to our lives.  Let grace and loving kindness shine from each of us. Let us bring out the best in each other.  Let us be a blessing today. Amen

I overheard several conversations yesterday while at the grocery store.  A couple of young men (one with a wife and new baby) were talking about needing jobs as they had been out of work for a while.  I also have 4 friends trying to sell houses and properties. 

I would like for us all to pray for people to find great jobs with wonderful pay.  Also let’s pray for property to sell at the asking price. 

Father God, we ask for your rich and wonderful blessings for people everywhere.  Let those who need work, find it.  Let property be released and sold at asking price.  We thank you for answered prayer.  We thank you for hearing us, caring for all of us, and for guiding and directing us.  Amen

 

There is always a moment connection when you sneeze in public and a complete stranger says “Bless You”.  I like it, so much in fact, I think we should send blessings to each other all the time.

Lots of thought and debate are given to Karma.  If I am angry with someone and express it, does hot coffee get spilled in my lap later?  I don’t know about Karma. 

I believe what goes around, comes back around.  I also know for sure that giving a blessing to someone is a wonderful gift. I do believe there is much suffering in the world.  Cursing and hatred have never mended or made anything better so far.

Forgiving each other, praying for each other, blessing each other.  Now that removes the power of misery and suffering. It may still exist, but you can get a reprieve from it.  Walk in love and be generous with blessings today.

1 Corinthians 16:5 – 16:7 

⁵After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. ⁶Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. ⁷I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.

Paul was on a journey.  He didn’t dig in and stay one place during his ministry.  He moved around, I think as the spirit moved him.  He was a letter writer and his works became some of what we read in the new testament of our Bibles.  Each work is a different chapter.  Each chapter is a different place. (more…)

Father God, walk with me this day and let me be a blessing.  Let me bring comfort to someone who needs a kind word.  Let me pray on behalf of someone who cannot pray for themselves.  Let the joy of the Lord be my strength.  Let me be graceful and creative.  Let me be a blessing.  Amen