Charles Wesley’s Christmas Prayer

by Richard Long,

Charles Wesley wrote thousands of songs in his day. A few of them have survived as classics, including some Christmas carols. The best known is Wesley’s “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”.

Lesser known, but truly a prayer is the Advent Hymn, “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”.

Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

 

We Would as Soon … a prayer by Walter Brueggemann

 A prayer by Walter Brueggemann

We would as soon you were stable and reliable.
We would as soon you were predictable
and always the same toward us.
We would like to take the hammer of doctrine
and take the nails of piety
and nail your feet to the floor
and have you stay in one place.

And then we find you moving,
always surprising us,
always coming at us from new directions.
Always planting us
and uprooting us
and tearing all things down
and making all things new.
You are not the God we would have chosen
had we done the choosing,
but we are your people
and you have chosen us in freedom.
We pray for the great gift of freedom
that we may be free toward you
as you are in your world. Amen

From the book, Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth: Prayers by Walter Brueggemann

Prayer Central

by Richard Long,

   In our various trips around the World Wide Web we run across a myriad of interesting resources.  The Holy Spirit is inspiring many people to harness the power of the internet for the purposes of the Kingdom.

Prayer Central is a website hosted in India, that serves a global community.  You can pray for all kinds of targets, including the Mission in Afghanistan, or missions work in different parts of Asia, or even the nation of Israel.  As well there are lots of prayer teaching, inspirational articles, and a daily devotional.

Check out Prayer Central for more information.

Lightposts for Living

by Terry Long

  One of my favorite artists is Thomas Kinkade who is also nicknamed “The Painter of Light”.  A few years back I was delighted to discover that in addition to being  an incredibly talented artist, he is also an author and has written a book called, “Lightposts for Living, The Art of Choosing a Joyful Life”.   I own this book and have been blessed reading it. 

     Mr. Kinkade openly shares his faith in the book and shares some insightful concepts all around light.   He shares that when he paints, the painting looks quite ordinary until he adds all the light at the end to light up the painting and if you have seen any of his paintings they almost seem to glow, yet it is all done with paint.  In the same way, he says that we glow inside with the inner light of the Lord and we should let our light shine with joy, balance, simplicity, thankfulness, creativity, serving, etc.    I really like his opening chapter called “The Colour of Joy”and how he relates that to light and living fully. 

  These words remind me of when Jesus said, “in the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:33).    In these days there sure is alot to get down about, but let’s pray for godly perspectives and for the joy that cannot be taken from us.  Let our lights so shine that men may see our good works and praise our Father in heaven. That is a sure lightpost for living in this world.

 

Prayer as Petition – C.S. Lewis (46 years later)

by Richard Long,

   Forty-six years ago on November 22nd, 1963, three very famous people died.  Aldous Huxley, a scientist  known for his atheism; John F. Kennedy, a president known for his vision, and C.S. Lewis a professor known for his children’s stories.

  Of course, as regular readers of this blog know, we are great C.S. Lewis fans, and enjoy of all his writings, most of which were not specifically for children.

  Clive Staples Lewis wrote a whole book about prayer, so it’s worth paying attention to his experience and ideas about this subject.

Here’s an amazing quote …

“Prayer in the sense of petition, asking for things, is a small part of it; confession and penitence are its threshold, adoration its sanctuary, the presence and vision and enjoyment of God its bread and wine.”

LIBERATION FROM MATERIALISM – Peter Marshall

A Prayer written by Peter Marshall (passed on from Jim and Marie Watt)

LIBERATION FROM MATERIALISM

Forbid it, Lord,

that our roots become too firmly attached to this earth,

that we should fall in love with things.

 

Help us to understand that the pilgrimage of this life

is but an introduction,

a preface, a training school for what is to come.

 

Then shall we see all of life in its true perspective.

Then shall we not fall in love with the things of time,

but come to love the things that endure.

Then shall we be saved from the tyranny of possessions

which we have no leisure to enjoy,

of property whose care becomes a burden.

Give us, we pray, the courage to simplify our lives.

 

So may we be mature in our faith,

childlike but never childish,

humble but never cringing,

understanding but never conceited.

 

So help us, O God, to live and not merely to exist,

that we may have joy in our work,

In Thy name, who alone can give us moderation and balance and zest for living,

we pray. Amen

 

Praying in the Streets of Halifax

by Richard Long,

Here’s a great report from a bunch of folks in Halifax who are taking prayer to the people.

From 24-7 Prayer Canada

Church amongst the People

  Jesus got downright venomous with religious leaders who put obstacles between people and God.  I believe that He would be cheering on loudest those who make a point of connecting people on the outside with Him. 

 “What are you doing out here?”

 Late Saturday nights in Halifax, Nova Scotia now sits a corporate type tent in the middle of the city’s public square with a few beach chairs, some lights and a sign that says “How can we pray for you?”  The time and place are strategic as the city is well known for abundant night life, with partiers starting at the bottom of the hill, on the harbour, working their way up the hill, from bar to bar, as the evening progresses.  Parade Square sits in the middle of the progression, within earshot of one of the most notorious of the bars.  It is nicknamed the Liquordome.  No kidding.

 My house shall be called a house of prayer

 There at the tent are a team of volunteers.  Not a big team, mind you,…  … but a handful of volunteers ready and willing to pray for matters trivial and weighty.  Each prayer made at the request of a passerby includes not only the matter at hand, but also a petition that God would reveal Himself to the person in their life and through the situation.  Their act of requesting prayer taken and offered as an invitation for God to work in their life.

 Read the rest of the report …

Innocent Prayers from Kids

by Richard Long,

  This YouTube comes courtesy of Alpha Canada resources.

 

 

Amazing Answer to Prayer for 40 Days for Life

by Richard Long

(Following on with yesterday’s theme, let’ s pray for the Queen Charlotte Islands and also the city of Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory today, that the Lord would bring a revelation of his son to them in this special season.)

Today I want to encourage your hearts with an amazing answer to prayer.  This story was publicized on The Drudge Report (possibly the most popular website on the whole internet) yesterday.  That’s getting the word out!

Most of you know that today is the last day of the Forty Days for Life campaign, so this is one of the best stories of answered prayer coming out of that effort.

Here’s the opening paragraphs from the Lifesite News website.

“By Kathleen Gilbert

BRYAN, Texas, November 2, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The director of the Texas Planned Parenthood abortion mill where the 40 Days for Life campaign began has resigned, saying she experienced a conversion after watching an ultrasound video of a child being killed by abortion.

“I just thought I can’t do this anymore, and it was just like a flash that hit me and I thought that’s it,” said Abby Johnson in an interview with local news network KBTX 3.”

Read the whole story here.

Celebrating All Saints Day with St. Benedict

  by Terry Long

              Who said that the ancient mystics didn’t know how to party?  One of their favorite feast and celebration days was All Saints Day on November 1st each year.  They acknowledged a joyful day where they joined with all the saints to celebrate the Lamb of God.   The Monastic Diurnal according to the  ancient Rule of St. Benedict celebrates All Saints Day every year (for the last 1400 years)  with these words at the Lauds hour of prayer in the morning:

         ”Be glad, O ye righteous, and rejoice in the Lord.  And be joyful all ye that are true of heart.  Let the saints be joyful with glory.  The     glorious company of the Apostles praise thee, the goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise thee, the white-robed army of Martyrs praise thee; with one heart and voice do all the elect acknowledge thee;  O blessed Trinity, one only God.

      O Almighty God, who has knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in  the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord;  Grant us grace to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which thou has prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee.  Let the righteous rejoice before God.  Let them also be merry and joyful.   Blessing, and glory, and wisdom and thanksgiving, and honour and power and might be unto our God for ever and ever. ”

Let the Feast begin!!