While sleeping men have yet to rise,
And the bird is quiet in its nest,
While stars still shine in velvet skies,
And the circling sun still lies at rest, Continue reading “Prayer: The bird is quiet in its nest”
Prayer: We trust you to lead us well
Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God to whom we send you that it may be well with us whan we obey the voice of the Lord our God. Jer 42:6 NKJV
But this is what I commanded them, saying, obey my voice and I will be your God, and You shall be my people. Jer 7:23 NKJV
Dear God, sometimes it is hard to obey, but we trust You to lead us well. Thank You that all of Your commands are good, and thank You for loving us and for drawing us near to You. Continue reading “Prayer: We trust you to lead us well”
The God of minors and majors
Thank you, Lord, for not despising our concern with daily bread, even while wars rage and the earth groans and nations are overturned.
In the details and minutiae of our day, turn us toward your glory.
We give you thanks for holding us up in the small moments, as well in in the the great hinges of life.
You are present in the smallest activities: shaving, bathing, sleeping, lounging, shopping, eating, commuting, brushing our teeth. Continue reading “The God of minors and majors”
Around the heavy bier
Our God in heaven, whose name
Is life and love and peace,
Who is eternally same,
Our comfort in death’s release,
Give hope, the surer sign
Of brighter, heavenly things,
Where you gloriously shine,
And the throng of angels sings, Continue reading “Around the heavy bier”
Thank you for every new beginning
What a beautiful moment, the beginning of each day, Lord, singular opportunities to renew our service, zeal, and joy in the Holy Spirit!
What tenderness and celebration the joining of a man and woman in marriage, the start of a new life together, an intimacy equaled only by the gift of life in Christ! Continue reading “Thank you for every new beginning”
Prayer: For a year of life
For a year of life, on this last day
Of Two-Thirteen, we give you thanks,
For Sol’s bright light, for evening’s gray,
To be alive with blessed saints. Continue reading “Prayer: For a year of life”
Prayer: At home with your people
With your people, Father in heaven, we are at home. We await only our reunion with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let your love prevail among us. May forgiveness be ever in our hearts and healing on our tongues. Continue reading “Prayer: At home with your people”
Permit that we may know your majesty
You, O sovereign God, rule over all, over every people and nation, over every man and woman, over all the universe which depends upon your sustenance in every moment in time.
Let us see your greatness, permit that we may know your majesty, though we ask not for any miraculous sign or stupendous wonder. We would know, O Lord, the Name that is beyond our grasp to perceive. Continue reading “Permit that we may know your majesty”
Prayer: Our Lord is light, eternal life
Our Lord is light, eternal life,
To you we lift our eyes in longing
To live. Give wisdom by your word,
We bid you abide in us, to bear
Our load of sin, our weight of self. Continue reading “Prayer: Our Lord is light, eternal life”
With trembling hearts of love; a better sense of our noble purpose
Dear God of all glory, our heavenly Father: we approach your divine righteous and good nature with trembling hearts of love and admiration for your prevailing mercy and kindness toward us—those made in your image.
Give us a better sense of our noble purpose here on this earth as we contemplate the perfect life of Jesus our Lord and Christ.
Help us to live every day with positive expectancy as we allow your loving nature to radiate outward toward our spiritual family, friends and neighbors.
We fervently pray in the precious name of Jesus, Amen.
—David Binkley, Sr., Cedar Key, FL