For love were we created — let love
prevail among us, genuine,
sincere, and willing to learn —
in all things honest, earnest,
accepting — as you accepted us.
Welcoming house of God!
Let nations come to dwell here!
Acceptance
God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Give me deep acceptance of where I am at this stage in my life and of my struggles, trials, and challenges.
Thank you for them all.
Help me to see beyond self, to give up the importance placed on my own thoughts and plans, and to deny self for the experience of the cross.
Thank you for calling me out of self.
Save me from the temptations of Satan, from the pull of the world, from the desires of the flesh.
Thank you for power and will to resist.
Use me to put forward the Good News of our Savior, to make a clear case for faith, to urge others to action according to your revelation.
Thank you the calling of service.
To Hear Another’s Need
Father, let me set aside my thoughts
To hear — really hear — my neighbor’s heart;
Let mine be genuine love that promotes
Acceptance, understanding of joy and hurt.
With harsh and mean opinion, let judgment cease —
I’d look upon the other as fellow prey
Of Satan, fellow goal of grace, remiss
In holiness, where mercy and patience apply.
To hear another’s need, I must assume
My own — confess, in all humility,
That I as well require, in your good time,
O Lord, a kind, expansive maturity.
In me make love unselfish and complete,
As you bless both the righteous and unjust;
Let prejudice meet, at last, its full defeat,
And victory come to meekness, as it must.
Weakness you do not despise
Praise to you, O God, for welcoming your children into your presence at any hour of the day. Thank you for accepting your people before you. Continue reading “Weakness you do not despise”