A Prayer For Sunday

O God, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the fraility of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(from The Scottish Book of Common Prayer).

Sincere Prayer

"Sincere prayer is in itself obedience to God. To stick at prayer and accept readily the time it takes and the demands it makes shows a determination to obey God. A man who learns every day to pray more sincerely is one who sincerely obeys God.'
(By Matthew the Poor).
Prayer requires discipline, obedience,and most importantly, Love.

A Prayer For the Muslims

Almighty God,our heavenly Father, who in thy goodness hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine in the world: Enlighten the Muslims with the knowledge of thy truth; and grant that all who worship thee the one God may come to know thy Son,Jesus Christ our Lord; who with thee,in the unity of the Holy Spirit,liveth and reigneth God,world without end. Amen.
(an Anglican Prayer).
He is the only Way to true peace and eternal life, Jesus Christ.

Voices From The Past

"To this Book(Bible) we are indebted for the progress made in our civilization and to this Book we must look as our guide in the future." Ulysses S. Grant.
"The Bible is the source of Liberty." Thomas Jefferson.
"Nowhere in history is God's hand more evident than in the establishment of America."
John Quincy Adams.
"The Bible is the secret to Great Britain's greatness." Queen Victoria.
"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."
George Washington.
"It is the duty of nations, as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history,that those nations are only blessed whose God is the Lord"
Abraham Lincoln.
In this day and age when politicians and leaders make vague references to God,how nice it is to read the above.

Go To Him First

In your business, in companionship for leisure hours, and in alliance for life, let all the associations you form be entered upon with earnest,humble prayer. You will thus show you honor God, and God will honor you. Pray when you are fainthearted. When you are desponding, close the lips firmly to men; do not shadow the path of others; but tell everything to Jesus. Reach up your hands for help. In your weakness lay hold of infinite strength. Ask for humility,wisdom,courage,increase of faith,that you may see light in God's light and rejoice in His Love.
(from The Ministry of Healing).
Despite what "the world" may recommend, Christians must seek Jesus first in confronting every concern,problem and crisis that may arise.

Thus Says God

Thus says God: "Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord ,He also has forsaken you."
(2 Chronicles 24:20).
"The Lord is with you while you are with Him,if you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you?"
(2 Chronicles 15:2).
Take a look at every aspect of this country and ask yourself,have we forsaken God? If so, we may soon may reap the bitter harvest of doing so.

For Conversion of the Unbelievers

O God,who hast made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth,and didst send thy blessed son to preach peace to them that are afar off and to them that are nigh: Grant that the people who sit in darkness and the shadow of death may feel after thee and find thee;and hasten,O Lord, the fulfilment of thy promise to pour out thy spirit upon all flesh;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(from The Scottish Book of Common Prayer).
Have we forgotten to pray for the lost?

Trusting Him

In sorrows, Lord, I'll try to see Thy loving hand, With wisdom guiding me unto a better land. Through the veiled future, Lord, be this My prayer, my plea, That it may bring me nearer still, Dear Lord, to Thee. Amen.
(anonymous).
May I draw closer to Him in the midst of trials and tragedies.
Trust in the Lord with all of your heart,lean not on your own understanding.

Our Needs

Our needs are few and simple----we who seek Life's sweetest joy----in homely things; the little pleasures that can never cloy. These are our needs---a cosy room---a chair beside the fire; a well-loved book--- a quiet hour. What more could we desire? A window that reveals a bit of green---some grass---a tree; plain food---eggs,fruit,a crusty loaf,fresh milk---a cup of tea; warm clothes; stout shoes for rainy days---clean linen in the store; a bed for rest when work is done. No man can ask for more. Lord, grant the day is coming when the poorest man and wife possess the secret riches of the happiness of Life. This is the hidden treasure sought by peasants and by kings---the power to find contentment in the joy of simple things.
(author unknown,excerpted from the magazine, Thy Kingdom Come).
In maintaining closeness to Him, a life of simplicity must be maintained.

For All Our Needs

O God who givest light to every man, illumine us anew with increase of faith and understanding. Cast out of our minds all unbecoming thoughts, all false and crooked reasonings. Banish from our hearts all pride and hardness and all perverse desires. Bestow on us such protective grace that no harm may happen to our souls, that every ill may be turned to good, and our hearts be full of dutiful and holy love. Enable us to take up our cross daily and follow in the footsteps of our loving
Saviour, in fellowship with all Thy saints, whose prayers we beg,whose intercession we implore, through the same Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
(from The Prayer Book,edited by Rev.John P. O'Connell,1959).
A needed prayer for the beginning of a new day.

Look to Your Parents

"If you are blessed with God fearing parents, seek counsel of them. Open to them your hopes and plans, learn the lessons which their life experiences have taught, and you will be saved many a heartache. Above all, make Christ your counselor. Study His word with prayer."
(from The Ministry of Healing).
If only this country still revered the elderly as others countries and cultures do.

A Prayer For Hospitals and Infirmaries

Almighty God, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ went about doing good, and healing all manner of sickness and disease among the people: Continue, we beseech thee, his gracious work among us in all hospitals and infirmaries; console and heal the sufferers; grant to the physicians,surgeons and nurses, wisdom and skill,sympathy and patience; prosper their work, O Lord with thy continual blessing; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(from The Scottish Book of Common Prayer).
If you have spent any time in or around a hospital recently,you realize how needed the last half of this prayer is.

A Daily Prayer

Almighty God, we most humbly thank Thee for all thy blessings to us and to all men and especially for Thy loving care and protection through all the dangers and perils of this mortal life. Grant us, we beseech Thee, Thy grace to withstand the deceits of the world,the flesh and the Devil, so that keeping Thy holy will and commandments we may come to everlasting life,through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Peace Be To Those

Peace to those who possess the love and grace of God. Peace to those who fight manfully against their predominant passion and gain the mastery over their evil inclinations. Peace to those who forgive their enemies, who love their fellow-men and are kind to them in thought,word and deed. (from My Prayer-Book. Rev.F.X. Lasance).
"The souls of the just are in the hands of God."
(The Book of Wisdom,Chapter 3,verse 1).

A Prayer For Sunday

Almighty and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth; Mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and grant us thy peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(from The Scottish Book of Common Prayer).

Words to Heed

"It was not expected in this age, that nations so honorably distinguished by their advances in science and civilization, would suddenly cast away the esteem they had merited from the world and, revolting from the empire of morality, assume a character in history which all the tears of their posterity will never wash from its pages." --Thomas Jefferson: Reply to Philadelphia Democratic Republicans, 1808. ME 16:303
We are witnessing in this present day and age our country rejecting morality and the characteristics that brought it to greatness.

Peace of Mind----Sincerity

Be sincere, truthful honest, and fair to all; be the master of your passions and emotions; be intent on doing God's will; preserve a clear conscience; then you will have peace with God and man.
(author unknown).
Words to live by.

Teach Me

"Teach me, teach me, dearest Jesus, In Thine own sweet loving way, All the lessons of perfection I must practice day by day. Teach me Meekness,dearest Jesus, Of thine own the counterpart; Not in words and actions only, But the meekness of the heart. Teach Humility,sweet Jesus, To this poor,proud heart of mine, Which yet wishes, O my Jesus, To be modeled after Thine. Teach me Fervor, dearest Jesus, To comply with every grace,So as never to look backward, Never slacken in the race. Teach me Poverty, sweet Jesus, That my heart may never cling, To whate'er its love might sever, From my Saviour,Spouse, and King. Teach me Chastity, sweet Jesus, That my every day may see, Something added to the likeness That my soul should bear to Thee. Teach Obedience, dearest Jesus, Such as was Thy daily food In Thy toilsome earthly journey from the cradle to the rood. Teach Thy Heart, to me, dear Jesus, Is my fervent, final prayer; For all beauties and perfections Are in full perfection there."
(from The Little Treasury of Leaflets).

The True Focus in a Christian's Life

"Everywhere there is a tendency to substitute the work of organizations for individual effort. Human wisdom tends to consolidation, to centralization, to the building up of great churches and institutions. Christ commits to His followers an individual work---a work that cannot be done by proxy. Ministry to the sick and the poor,the giving of the gospel to the lost, is not to be left to committees or organized charities. Individual responsibility,individual effort,personal sacrifice, is the requirement of the gospel."
(from The Ministry of Healing).
The Church and its "activities" should not be the focal point of a Christian's life,following Jesus and obeying His teachings are what truly matters.

Direct Us O Lord

Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(from The Book of Common Prayer,1928 Edition).

A Psalm of Praise From the Wisdom of Sirach

I will give thanks to You, O Lord and King. And I will praise You as my God and Saviour. I give thanks to Your name. For You have been my protector and helper, And You have redeemed my body from destruction And from the snare of a slanderous tongue, From the lips of those who work falsehood. And before all those who stood by, You were a helper, And You redeemed me.
(from The Orthodox Study Bible, The Wisdom of Sirach,Chapter 51:1&2).

A Benediction From the Wisdom of Sirach

And now bless the God of all, Who does great things in every way, Who exalts our days from birth and deals with us according to His mercy. May He give us gladness of heart, And may there be peace in our days, In Israel as in the days of old. May He entrust with us His mercy, And let Him redeem us in our days.
( by Jesus ben Sirach, from the Wisdom of Sirach, Chapter 50:22-24).

Health is a Treasure

Health is a treasure. Of all temporal possessions it is the most precious. Wealth,learning,and honor are dearly purchased at the loss of the vigor of health. None of these can secure happiness, if health is lacking. It is a terrible sin to abuse the health that God has given us; such abuses enfeeble us for life, and make us losers, even if we gain by such means any amount of education.
(by E.G.White, 1890).
"For ye are bought with a price: therefore honor God in your body."
(1 Cor: 6)

His,Not Ours

A great lesson is learned when we understand our relation to God, and His relation to us. The words, "Ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price," should be hung in memory's hall, that we may ever recognize God's rights to our talents,our property,our influence,our individual selves. We are to learn how to treat this gift of God, in mind, in soul,in body, that as Christ's purchased possession, we may do Him healthful,savory service.
(by E.G.White,1908).
May we not forget that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit( 1 Cor.6).

Act of Supplication

I Beseech Thee most earnestly to bless me, that I may serve thee faithfully this day by a perfect devotedness to all my duties and a steadfast adherence to all my promises and good resolutions.
(from My Prayer=Book by Rev. F.X. Lasance).
Not My Will be done Lord but Yours.

A Simple Prayer

May Thy Blessing, O Lord, descend upon us all,that we may love thee and love one another for Thy sake.In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
(from My Prayer-book)

All Through the Day

Please Lord, be with me all the day, To guide and guard my every way. Keep my footsteps on the road, To cleanliness in deed and word. To share my bounty, shunning greed, With godly kindness to those in need. Give me smiles and cheers to spread, With love and peace, and daily bread. Let sin for me hold no allure, Like Jesus, keep me true and pure. Forgive my sins, Lord, when I stray, Hear me, Father, when I pray.
(by Christine Grierson).

His Gifts

"Be not satisfied with reaching a low standard. We are not what we might be, or what it is God's will that we should be. God has given us reasoning powers, not to remain inactive, or to be perverted to earthly and sordid pursuits, but that they may be developed to the utmost,refined,sanctified,ennobled, and used in advancing the interests of His kingdom."
(from The Ministry of Healing).
Do not underestimate the gifts and abilities Our Lord has given you, not using or squandering them is an offense to God.

A Prayer for the Second Sunday After Christmas

O God, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ became man that we might become the sons of God: Grant, we beseech thee, that, being made partakers of the divine nature of thy Son,we may be conformed to his likeness; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.
(from The Scottish Book of Common Prayer).
May we strive each day to be more like Jesus.

Scripture

"I believe that it is impossible for me to know God outside the Holy Bible. Reading and apprehension of Biblical text have led to my belief that it is through the Scripture that revelation is at all possible particularly in relation to the Godly essence and God's view of man."
(a quote by Matthew the Poor).
He speaks to us, and reveals Himself, through His Word.

My Prayer

O my Jesus! grant that Thou mayest be the object of my thoughts and affections, the subject of my conversations, the end of my actions, the companion of my life,the companion of my death, and my reward eternally in Thy heavenly kingdom. Amen.
(by Rev. Aloysius Sturzo).