Prayer for the Journey

Lord, whenever a new part of this journey called life begins, I can step out full of faith and trusting that You will be walking beside me. My steps are energetic, my heart is light, my lips bring forth Your praises. But somewhere along that path, obstacles crop up, what was once a smooth path, becomes uneven and difficult to walk. Even at the beginning of this part, I can still proclaim my faith and truly mean what I say. I know that eventually, and it pains me to admit this, my faith falters. When the road continues to be obstacle strewn and difficult to traverse, I can grow so weary, Lord. At the start, I can hear clearly Your promise to always be right beside me, taking care of me, and providing me with exactly what I need. Somewhere along the way, my ears become stopped up and my hearing becomes less than clear. I start doubting if I really am on the path You have chosen for me. I wonder if I have missed a signpost along the way that would have sent me in a less difficult direction. Like Abraham and Sarah, I become tempted to take matters into my own hands instead of waiting for the fulfillment of the promise You have given. Fear begins to replace faith in my heart and my mind as the difficulties increase and my energy decreases. Forgive me please, Lord God Almighty, for those times. Strengthen me now that I might be less wearied and more connected with You every step of the way. Bless me please, that this time, I may continue to walk by faith and not by sight until the end of this part of the journey. When the way becomes difficult, help me to lean more on You and less on myself or what others are suggesting to me. Please, Jesus, help me to keep my eyes on You and You alone. Help me to make it through the storms that I know are coming not just as a survivor, but as an example to others about how to trust in You and how trusting You brings many blessings not the least of which is Your peace which surpasses all human understanding. Forgive my fear and equip me to conquer it. I confess all these things and ask all these things in the name and for the sake of the One who faced more that this and faced it for me, Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Prayer for 9/11

Creator of us all. Nine years ago tonight, those of us who were alive at the time went to bed without any inkling of what the coming day held for any of us. We slept as we always did, got up the next morning and followed our morning routine which for many of us included listening to news on the radio or watching it on the news. When I first heard about a plane hitting the twin towers, the reporter said that small planes regularly hit tall buildings and that odds were, this was a small plane accident. It was but a short time later that I learned it was not a small plane and we all learned that we were under attack. Tears still fall, Lord, for those innocent people on the planes who knew in the last moments of their lives that they would indeed be the last moments of their lives. We know that You were there with each and every one of them every second. We know that Yours were the tears that fell the hardest that day because not only were those who are part of Your greatest creation harmed, but those who did the harming were part of that greatest creation as well. We are told in the Bible that it is Your desire that not one human ever spend eternity without You and I know that You mourn whenever any of us chooses in this life to spend eternity separated from You. How much You must have mourned that day and every day since.
Have we learned what we needed to learn since then, Father. I don't know. Many turned to You at that time. Many have turned away again since then. Help us all, dearest Father in Heaven who also is as close as breathing to us here on Earth. Help us to keep our focus on You and Your will. Help us to always, always remember that no matter how out of control and crazy the world may seem to be, You are still the one in control, not al Queda, not Obama, not Ahmadinejad, not Hamas, not the Tea Parties, not Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh and certainly not anyone reading this prayer. Help us to turn our mourning into action, our tears into blessings poured out on others as we even more boldly proclaim Your gospel to all the world, making disciples of all nations. May any tears we shed clear our vision so that we may see what it is You want us to do. May the knowledge of Your steadfast love and constant presence in our lives encourage and empower us to share that with others who are hungering to know You. Make us instruments of peace and love and truth throughout the world, arming ourselves and others with Your armor as we fight against the powers and principalities that would enslave and oppress us all. We ask all these things in the name and for the sake of the One who gave His life for us all, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Nancy

A prayer for special people

This is something that God has put on my heart and will not leave me alone.

Lord, when we married so many years ago, we had just hopes and dreams. We saw ourselves becoming parents, raising our children together, then spending our golden years pursuing activities that struck our fancy. But that is not how it has turn out, Lord, and it has left me angry and confused. Yes there have been plentous blessings throughout the years, but now illness has robbed me of the spouse I married all those years ago. No longer does she, no longer does he have the same spark in his/her eyes that once was there. There was a time when we talked about all kinds of things, sharing our ideas, energized by the exchanges. But now she/he can only get out a few words and they do not always make sense. WHY LORD? I do not understand this confusing new normal in my life. Why has this person that I once knew so well become a stranger to me? Why does he/she do the things that she/he does, things that he/she cannot explain? I am angry, God, because this was NOT HOW IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE! We were supposed to be enjoying this time together with children grown and grandchildren almost so. But she/he doesn't remember the grandchildren and barely remembers the children who are unable to visit regularly. Our days were supposed to be pleasant not filled with fights about what needs to be done. I thought that once our last child was out of diapers, that would be the end of changing those except if I chose to do so on grand or great-grandchildren. I look in the eyes of the one I love and I see confusion and it leaves me frustrated that I cannot alleviate that confusion for him/her. My brain can understand all the literature about what is happening, but my heart is breaking every day as I watch her/him slowly but surely slip away, knowing that there is nothing I can do to stop it but wanting with all my might that I could. I know our children try to do what they can, but they are the children, not the spouse. I struggle everyday, Lord. I find that I am leaning on You more than ever, yet my heart goes on breaking. I struggle as well, Lord, as my own health is not always the best and there are times when I resent having to deal with her/him. There are times when I just want everything to be less stressful. Yes there are day cares, in home care, family care, etc., but late at night, it is just me an him/her. Bless me please, dearest Father in Heaven. Bless me with patience with the situation in which I now find myself. Bless me with more than enough support and wise counsel to help me. Bless me with open ears, an open mind, and an open heart that I heed the counsel You send me. Bless me with the humility to ask for help when I need it, to accept help that is offered, and to understand that I do not NEED to do it all alone, that I SHOULD NOT do it all alone. Bless me with someone who understands to whom I can speak when things are bad and when things are good so that they may support and celebrate with me. Be with my spouse as well, Lord. In the midst of all the confusion, in the midst of all the forgetting, bless her/him that they will never forget You. Help him/her to always know that You are right there with them at all times. While You are at it, Lord, please bless me with the same. Enfold us both in Your loving arms, calming the storms inside, and filling us to overflowing with Your love and peace which surpasses all human understanding. Thank You God. Thank You for all the years together You have given us. Thank You for loving us no matter what has happened in our lives. Thank You for being there for us each and every day including right now. Thank You for listening. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

Nancy

Prayer for Independence Day

Dearest Father in Heaven, who 234 years ago blessed the world with the United States of America, we lift up to You our hearts and souls and minds in worship. Bless us with Your holy presence in our country, we pray. Keep our hearts and minds stayed on the things that will bring forth even greater blessings than we have seen so far. Bless us that we might be found to be faithful not only to the Gospel call to make disciples of all nations, but faithful as well in preserving the freedom that we have so that others may enjoy its blessings as well. Bless us with the strength to fight against all the enemies, foreign domestic, and spiritual, that threaten our country and our God given freedoms and rights. Bless us with wisdom and discernment, Lord, that we might always be able to know Your will. Bless us with being able to tap into You, the unlimited source of energy and love. Hear the collected prayers of all Your children who are earnestly, fervently praying for this greatest of all nations, this nation that You brought forth, working through our Founding Fathers and Mothers to enshrine in our Founding Documents--the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution--the freedoms that Your Son, our Savior, Christ Jesus assured to us all by His sacrifice on the Cross. Bless us that as we read Your Holy Word, we learn the lessons that are presented especially in the Old Testament where the Israelites would wander from You only to find themselves conquered and taken into exile before they turned back to You. Bring us back to You, Lord, by an outpouring of Your Holy Spirit on all Your faithful children. Bless us with unshakeable confidence in the proclamation of the Gospel, spreading it to those who may have never heard it or have only heard a distortion of it. Bless us that we may truly be Christ to all with whom we come in contact, loosening our tongues to boldly proclaim Your love, mercy, and grace to all. Bless us that we do not proclaim and then behave as if we do not believe that proclamation. Thank You, Lord, for all You do for us each and every day as individuals, as communities, and as a nation. Thank You for all who came before us who sacrificed their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honors to follow Your leading in creating a free country. Thank You for those living today who still make those same sacrifices. Thank You for 234 years of freedom and the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that You have given to us and please help us to assist You in many, many more years of the same. In the name of the one whose name we bear as Your children, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray. Amen.

Prayer for our country today 3.20.10

Most Gracious, Heavenly Father, through Whom we live and move and have our being, Who gave us the greatest country the world has ever known because it was truly created by You, please forgive the people of that country for going astray. Just like the Israelites did in ancient days, we have pursued little 'g' gods instead of staying true to You. Now we are seeing the biggest of those little 'g' gods being erected and just like Nebuchadnezzar tried during Daniel's time, we are being 'required' to bow down to this erected little 'g' god. Strengthen us that, like Shadrach, Meshach and Abendnego, we resist and trust in You and You alone. Protect us from the fire being created by Obama/Pelosi/Reid and their cohorts. Strengthen the men and women in Congress that they will understand what an unholy and immoral act it is to force this on the American people. Send Your Holy Spirit rushing through the halls of Congress like a mighty wind, shining the light on the truth of what is actually happening and what Your will in this matter is. I will not believe that You are for this Lord. You Who created us with free will. You Who has never violated that free will ever. You Who brought forth this country to enshrine in its government that same free will. Please, Lord, defeat this abomination. Obliterate it so that it may not be resurrected in any way, shape, or form in the future. Let loose Your Holy Spirit with all His Power to show the American people and especially those in Congress who may still be wavering or who have just not really seen and understood what illegal actions are being taken, what the true consequences to themselves and the people of this country are.

Standing on Your promise that whenever two or more are agreed here on Earth about anything in prayer, it will be done, we give You our thanks for Your might intervention on our behalf. Knowing that we can come boldly before Your throne with whatever requests we have, we will stay before Your throne with our petitions, our thanks, our repentance, our praise, and our love for You. Bless this country with a NO vote on this bill. Bless this country that the NO vote will happen tomorrow so that this is resolved once and for all. Bless this country, please Lord, despite the unrepentant attitudes and actions of so many people. Bless this country in the strength of those of us who are gathered together in prayer across the nation, repenting on behalf of those who will not, can not, or just don't know that they need to do so. Bless this country through the prayers of Your faithful children who are bombarding You as we have been bombarding DC and Congressional offices everywhere with phone calls, e-mails, faxes, and protests.

Be with those who are protesting today. Bless their efforts with peace and calm. Bless their efforts that they, and we, will finally be heard by those who need to hear us. Bless us all with NO votes enough to defeat and destroy forever the idea that somehow it is moral to force people by law to buy anything, that it is somehow moral to force people to pay now for services that they may not live 4 years to utilize, that it is somehow moral to bankrupt this country as a sacrifice to one's on ego and pride. Bless us. Bless us. Bless us.

In the glorious name of the One Who gives life eternally and abundantly to us all, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

We Must!

In 1976, I graduated high school. Because that year was our nation’s bicentennial year, NBC ran an essay contest for graduating seniors. The title of the essay was “What Is An American?” I entered that contest and actually became one of the finalists.
I have been thinking about that essay lately and of how things have changed in this country in the 30 some years since I graduated high school. The America that I see today is nothing like the America I saw then. The America that I saw then was an America whose government was actually by the people and for the people. Today our government is voted for by the people, but it does not represent the people. It represents a select few special interests and the egos of those who are supposed to have the good of the people first and foremost in their hearts and minds, not what kind of deal they can make for themselves. Back room, locked door deals are NOT the way that governing is to happen here in America. Corruption running rampantly and blatantly, for the whole world to see, is NOT how things should be.
Well, they will say, you are just being naive. You just don’t understand how politics work, they will say. OK. Maybe I am naive and don’t understand how THEIR politics work. But I do know much about being honest, about following the law, about listening to others even when what they have to say may not be pleasing to my ears, about leading a group of people and having to put my own ego and wants on the back burner in deference to what those whom I am leading say they want. I am a pastor. As such I do have to walk a very fine line where my words and my actions are concerned. So too should our elected officials.
Most of the American people do not want the present form of health care take over that is being crafted to be foisted upon them whether they want it or not. They do not want it because they can see the disaster that awaits them and future generations if it becomes law. They can see the increased costs and the decreased access to care. They can see that their ability to choose will be taken from them.
The present president was elected without anyone finding out very much about who he was or what he really believed. He himself told us that we were to judge him based on those with whom he kept company. He keeps company with socialists, communists, people who blow up government buildings and wish they could blow up more government buildings. He follows the writings of a man, Saul Alinsky, who was once mentored by Al Capone’s enforcer, Frank Nitti, whom Alinsky called the Professor and of whom Alinsky became a student. We are told that Mr. Obama is brilliant and yet we are not given access to his school transcripts. I hear over and over again about what a great speaker he is. I don’t see it. When he does not have a teleprompter in front of him, he hems and haws. His speaking is full of ums and uhs. To me that is NOT a even a good speaker. A good speaker is one who can speak without all those little annoying non-words, whose words flow freely and who actually shows that he or she has a good grasp of the facts. Mr. Obama has shown time and again that he does not even have that (57 states and two more to go).
I believe that if the America that was birthed in 1776, that hundreds upon hundreds of people have fought and died to defend, of which millions have sacrificed to become a part, the country to which Ronald Regan referred as the “shining city on a hill” is to survive, if America is to remain a bastion of freedom, then We the People are going to have to continue to fight back with everything that we have. We are once again a people under tyranny, only, sadly, this time it is a tyranny of our own making. We have allowed these corrupt officials to take over with barely a whimper on our part. I am as guilty as anyone else in thinking that there was not much I could do to stop what was happening. But there is plenty that we can all do. We just have to ‘not grow weary in doing good’ as the Bible urges us. Whether you believe in the Bible nor not, if you believe in this country, on the principles on which it was founded, in the Constitution as it was written–not as some would like to rewrite it, you must not grow weary in this fight. It is a fight and it is one we must win. We must defeat those who believe that sharing the wealth is the way of the future for everyone except themselves. (Note that the Obamas, Pelosi, Reid, and company have yet to share any of their wealth with us.) We must defeat those who think that freedom is an outdated concept that doesn’t work. We must defeat those who think that some government bureaucrat knows how we should live our lives better than we do. We must defeat those who will change America from the land of the free and the home of the brave to the land of the cowed and the home of the oppressed. WE MUST!

Choice?

This Sunday, February 7, is Super Bowl Sunday (it is also my father's 79th birthday, but that is another topic). As a part of the Super Bowl telecast there is to be a commercial that was produced by Focus on the Family featuring Tim Tebow and his mother. Tim is a college football player and 2007 Heisman trophy winner. What the ad has to say is that when Tim's mom was pregnant with him, she was advised to abort him due to a bout with ameobic dysentery. She decided to leave things in God's hands and gave birth to a healthy baby boy who went on to become a great football player, but more than that, he also grew into a man after God's own heart.

The fact that this ad is to be played on national (international?) television has many, many groups up in arms right now. My denomination, the United Church of Christ is feeling slighted due to the fact that an ad that was created for it a few years ago was rejected by CBS. Women's groups such as NOW who uphold abortion as being a woman's 'right', are also objecting to the commercial. Never mind that no one, absolutely no one has seen the commercial yet. All anyone knows about it is its subject matter.

So that leads me to the following question: What is so terrible about a commercial that celebrates life? What is so objectionable or, to use a word that the women's groups have been batting around, divisive about a mother speaking of loving her son so much that she chose to give him life? Don't all those women's groups, after all, call themselves pro-CHOICE?

When I was just beginning my teen years, the women's liberation movement had just really taken off. I resonated with the rhetoric about how women should be able to choose what sort of career that they pursued as an adult, that there should not be any restraints put on them solely because of their gender. If a woman wanted to be a brick layer, she should be able to pursue that. If she wanted to be a lawyer or a doctor or a lumberjack, she should be allowed to pursue those career paths as well. If a woman choose to stay at home, raising children and not working outside of her home, more power to her. And it was with this last statement of mine that I found that what most in the 'liberation movement' meant was not a total freedom to choose, but a freedom to choose a career that previously had been dominated by males. For them a woman who actually chose to stay at home, having and raising babies was a waste, a throw back, a betrayal of the entire female gender. And that is when I stopped being a feminist and a women's liberator because it was obvious to me that what the women who claimed those titles were really all about was having things their way, not about freeing women up to have choices.

And so it is with abortion. It is not really, truly about a woman's 'right' to choose. It is about doing it their way, because if it was really all about choice, they would also be celebrating that the choice that Mrs. Tebow made for herself and her son has turned out so wonderfully. They would be celebrating the positive, uplifting message of hope that I am told will be presented. Since I am quite familiar with Focus on the Family and its quality programs, I have no reason to doubt that the commercial will be anything but a quality uplifting, positive message about love and life. To those who are complaining about the ad, what is wrong with that??

Kristen Perry, plaintiff in the current Prop 8 case in California, has this to say about why she is part of the lawsuit: "The state isn't letting me feel happy."

I find this comment to be ridiculous. Since when is anyone's happiness dependent on 'the state'? The last time I checked, we are in charge of our own happiness. Happiness is a choice that we make for ourselves that is not dependent upon our circumstances nor on where we live. If Ms. Perry is not happy living in California, it is hardly the fault of the state that she does not feel happy. She should try looking into the nearest mirror to find out who is keeping her from feeling happy. She and she alone is the only one who is doing that. While the government, local/state/federal, is in charge of (too) many things in our lives, our feelings are not one of them.

But this is the tactic that many use to manipulate others into either doing what they want or to support their side of an issue. They insist that you are in charge of their feelings, that somehow you have 'made' them feel a particular thing (usually something negative). No one can 'make' us feel anything. People can say or do things that elicit certain emotional responses from us, but whether or not we actually 'feel' those responses and act upon them are up to us. It is our choice.

True, there are some chemical imbalances in the brain, like depression or bipolar, that can screw with our thinking, even making it impossible for us to make rational choices, but with treatment, our thinking can be straightened out. I doubt that Ms. Perry is struggling with either of those.

Too many people these days rely on tugging on heart strings to try to get people to agree with their points of view. 'How could you support ________ when it will cause heartache for ______?' 'Don't you care about the ________?' If you do not support the point of view presented then you are accused of being heartless or labeled as whatever the negative name of the day is (racist, homophobe, sexist, anti-children, anti-animal, anti-planet, whatever).

But because so many people, especially in courts, fall into the 'feelings' trap, we are faced with political correctness that prevents logic and rational thought from even being expressed. Even when voters, who in our Republic are supposed to have the final say, speak that something should be, the 'feelings' crowd will find a way to make a stink and too many times they get their way. So instead of the majority rules, the minority whines its way to getting what it wants. That is so very wrong.

I wish that more people would stand up to people who try to use "The state isn't letting me feel happy" and tell them they need to grow up. I wish that parents would teach their children that to try such a tactic is not acceptable and should never be used.

If you have a real objection to anything in this world, use logic and rational thought to make a case for it. State facts, not emotions. Telling 'how does that make you feel?' is definitely appropriate in a therapy situation. It is not an appropriate reason for the will of the voters to be overturned.