Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Thanksgiving Greeting from Praise Gathering

by Randy Vader and Rose Aspinall on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 - Category: Devotions

Dear Father in heaven ~

Thank You for the promise that in You I shall not want.
When I am overwhelmed, You calm my restless heart.
In trials that overpower me as mighty torrents in a raging river,
You call me to rest beside still waters.
In a world that only knows what it means to take,
You bring the peace that restores to me even those things I did not know I had lost.
So many voices call to me, beckoning me to walk another road,
But You—You invite me to walk in paths of Your righteousness in the name of Your Son.
In the inevitability of the shadow of death, I thank you Father that I need not fear the Unknown. I need only look to You for comfort and protection.
Even in the midst of those things that bring fear— that make me feel alone, You prepare a banquet and Your sure love overwhelms my enemies. The things that burden me are washed away in Your presence and I am overcome with Your grace.
Abba, I could never ask for that which You offer to me as gift. My heart overflows. Your goodness and mercy are always with me and I rejoice in the invitation to dwell in Your house forever.
Praise You Loving Father.
Praise You Son of God.
Praise You Holy Spirit.
May my life be a never ending psalm of Thanksgiving.

Monday, November 5, 2012

A prayer for our election ….

Let Us Pray
Prayer for Leadership
Give us, O God,
leaders whose hearts are large enough
to match the breadth of our own souls
and give us souls strong enough
to follow leaders of vision and wisdom.

In seeking a leader, let us seek
more than development for ourselves—
though development we hope for—
more than security for our own land—
though security we need—
more than satisfaction for our wants—
though many things we desire.

Give us the hearts to choose the leader
who will work with other leaders
to bring safety
to the whole world.

Give us leaders
who lead this nation to virtue
without seeking to impose our kind of virtue
on the virtue of others.

Give us a government
that provides for the advancement
of this country
without taking resources from others
to achieve it.

Give us insight enough ourselves
to choose as leaders those who can tell
strength from power,
growth from greed,
leadership from dominance,
and real greatness from the trappings of grandiosity.

We trust you, Great God,
to open our hearts to learn from those
to whom you speak in different tongues
and to respect the life and words
of those to whom you entrusted
the good of other parts of this globe.

We beg you, Great God,
give us the vision as a people
to know where global leadership truly lies,
to pursue it diligently,
to require it to protect human rights
for everyone everywhere.

We ask these things, Great God,
with minds open to your word
and hearts that trust in your eternal care.
Amen.

–Joan Chittister