20.9.23: I want to pray

Arcaion: Pixabay.

When I was praying last Thursday, slowly repeating the name of Jesus, this prayer came to me. I had to end my contemplation so I could  immediately began to put it into words.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion (Ephesians 6:18; NLT).

Lord, my God,
I want to pray

In your dear Spirit
Every day

For all the world,
Through Jesus’ name:

Please bless us
With your sacred  flame.

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4; NLT). 

17.9.23: No matter what happens

hamlettrinh: Pixabay

Yesterday, at the end of a time of quiet prayer, today’s verses began to flow, gradually taking shape during the rest of the day.

The most important commandment is this: “Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength” (Mark 12:29-30; NLT).

No matter what happens
I’ll love you.
To all you ordain
I’ll say: “Yes.”
Whatever you take
I’ll rejoice, Lord.
Whatever you send
I will bless.

No matter what happens
I’ll worship,
And all you impose
I’ll embrace.
In troubles and tests
I’ll give thanks, Lord,
For here, in your hands,
I am safe.

I am in the hands of the Lord, the Most High is my safe resting-place (Psalm 91:9; BBE).


References

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).

The LORD your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul (Deuteronomy 13:3; NLT).

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).


A reading: Job receives disastrous, life-changing news

Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything (Job 1:20-22; CSB). 

22.7.23: Your Spirit

strikers: Pixabay.

This prayer came to me very early in the morning a few days ago. It sounds very simple, but was particularly difficult to put into words.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion (Ephesians 6:18; NLT).

Lord,

Please fill me with your Spirit
So that I can pray to You.

I don’t ask your healing for myself, Lord:
Please make others new.

May your Spirit sigh on my behalf
For all, Lord, one by one, 

Asking you to heal and bless them,
In the name of your dear Son. 

You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father (John 14:13; NLT).


The Rosary Hospital

I’ve had so many migraines recently that my production of rosaries has been almost non-existent. However, I still do my best, when I can:

9.7.23: I worship you

adonyig: Pixabay.

This prayer burst upon me last Wednesday morning. It was an absolute pleasure to write and reference it.

Worship the LORD in the splendour of his holiness
(1 Chronicles 16:29; CSB). 

1. I worship you in darkness,
And in light;
I bless you, Lord, in stillness,
And in dance.

2. I follow you in solitude,
And crowds;
I honour you in anguish,
And in peace.

3. I sing your praise in silence
And in sound;
I trust you, Lord, in sorrow,
And in joy.

4. I give you thanks
For everything you send:
Rejoicing that you love me
Without cease.

He loves us with unfailing love;
the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever.
Praise the LORD! (Psalm 117:2; NLT).


References 

Verse 1
– Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name (Psalm 103:1; KJV). 

Verse 2
– Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me” (Matthew 4:19; NLT).
– Honour the Lord for the glory of his name (Psalm 29:2; NLT).

Verse 3
– Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people; praise his holy name (Psalm 30:4; NIV).
– Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me (John 14:1; NLT).

Verse 4
– Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).
– I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45:7; NLT).
– Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice! (Philippians 4:4; NLT).

27.6.23: Praise

FrankySyggy: Pixabay.

I feel so concerned about the dreadful news from all around the world that today I have taken refuge in a personal song of praise for God:

I will praise the LORD,
and may everyone on earth bless his holy name
forever and ever.
(Psalm 145:21; NLT). 

I praise and bless your holy name,
And follow you, my Lord, who came
To set my hard, cold heart aflame
Through love.

Although I’m weary, sick and lame,
Your kingdom is my only aim:
Lord, please replace my sin and shame
With love.

Support my wretched, failing frame,
And neither judge me, Lord, nor blame,
But help my spirit to proclaim
Your love.

It is good to proclaim your unfailing love.
(Psalm 92:2; NLT). 

13.6.23: You are peace

Public Domain Pictures, Pixabay.

Seeing this prayer in my mind and heart brought a gentle end to a wonderful time of light, silence and peace last Sunday. Writing and referencing it was a labour of love.

The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT). 

1. You are peace, and you are love,
On earth, below, in heaven above.
You are fire, and bread, and wine,
Our narrow way, our living vine.

2. You are pity, Shepherd King,
You shield us all beneath your wing.
You are Spirit, truth and light,
The resurrection, and the life.

3. You are Christ, our staff and rod,
So kind, so good, our Lord and God.
Teacher, you forgive and bless,
For you are strength, and tenderness.

4. Yahweh, Holy Ghost, and Son,
The One in Three, the Three in One,
Our faith, our hope, our soul, our call:
You are God, our All in all.

God will be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28; TIB).


References

Verse 1
God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).
The Lord your God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).
I am the living bread that came down from from heaven (John 6:51; NLT).
Jesus told him, “I am the way” (John 14:6; NLT).
I am the vine (John 15:5; NLT).

Verse 2
Yahweh is …pity (Psalm 103:8; NJB).
I am the good shepherd (John 10:11; NLT).
You are my King and my God! (Psalm 44:4; NLT).
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings (Psalm 57:1; NLT).
The LORD God is our sun and our shield (Psalm 84:11; NLT). |
God is Spirit (John 4:24; NLT).
The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).
God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25; NLT).

Verse 3
Jesus is the Christ (1 John 5:1; NLT).
Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).
How kind the LORD is! How good he is! (Psalm 116:5; NLT).
“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed (John 20:28; NLT).
You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am (John 13:13; NLT).
He forgives all my sins (Psalm 103:3; NLT).
How he blesses them! (Psalm 107:38; NLT).
The Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength (Isaiah 26:4; KJV).
Yahweh is tenderness (Psalm 103:8; NJB).

Verse 4
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19; KJV).
The LORD our God, the LORD is one (Deuteronomy 6:4; NIV).
Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).
The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7; KJV).
We keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call (2 Thessalonians 1:11; NLT).
You are our God! (Hosea 2:23; NLT).

23.4.23: Seek and find

Guercino’s Cristo e la donna samaritana, Pixabay.

When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you (Jeremiah 29:13; NET).

Seek and find
Our blessed Lord.

Meet him, greet him:
Love outpoured.

Be forgiven
And restored.

Live in him:
Adore; adored.

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT).

He loves us with unfailing love (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

13.4.23: Acceptance

Today’s prayer was written last Tuesday morning, but this is the first time I’ve had an opportunity to post it.

Your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. And in that day you will ask Me nothing (John 16:22-3; NKJV). 

Nothing to ask for,
And nothing to hide:
Here, in your hands,
I find mercy.

Nothing to sigh for,
And nothing to tell;
Here, in your hands,
I find rest.

Nothing to weep for,
And nothing to fear:
Here, in your hands,
I find comfort.

Nothing to long for,
And nothing to seek:
Here, in your hands,
I am blessed.

As for me, I am in your hands – do with me as you think best (Jeremiah 26:14; NLT).

The Lord blesses them with peace (Psalm 29:11; NLT).


The Rosary Hospital

This is a Fiat rosary I started making yesterday. I’m hoping that someone will bond with it one day, when it joins a parish mission.

24.3.23: Bad times

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Yesterday was pretty bad because of ongoing migraine, so this prayer seemes particularly appropriate for today:

I send good times and bad times (Isaiah 45:7, NLT).

Don’t push away the bad times:
God sends them for our good,
To help us grow in faithfulness,
In patience, trust and love.

Each trouble holds a blessing
He has hidden deep within,
For God brings good from all things,
When we live beneath his wing.

Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 63:7; NLT).


References 

In all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28; NIV).

Trust in God, and trust also in me (John 14:1; NLT).

I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness – secret riches (Isaiah 45:3; NLT). 

2.3.23: The Spirit’s lead (#2)

This is the second part of all that came to me yesterday morning in a sudden rush of inspiration (see https://wp.me/p45bCr-dxx):

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-7; RSV). 

Prayer is not so difficult
When we give you the lead:

Words and silence alternate,
For you know every need.

You help all those we pray for, Lord,
And bless those we forget:

You make up for our failings,
And ensure all needs are met.

He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need (Acts 17:25; NLT).


References 

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30; NIV).

If you love me and obey the command I give you, I will ask the One who sent me to give you another Paraclete, another Helper to be with you always – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept since the world neither sees her nor recognises her; but you can recognise the Spirit because she remains with you and will be within you (John 14:15-17; TIV).