Prayers for the Journey

Many of my prayers this week have focused on my mother and her fight with cancer. I have already posted several of these prayers, but did not want to detract from the other beautiful prayers and sayings posted on the Light for the Journey Facebook page this week.

‘Life is a walk to remember. Our tomorrows are determined by the steps we take each day. Every sunset gives us one day less to live but every sunrise gives us one day more to hope. So savor every step and live it well.’

Posted by Micha Jazz 

Seven Deadly Sins.

Wealth without work
Pleasure without conscience
Science without humanity
Knowledge without character
Politics without principle
Commerce without morality
Worship without sacrifice

Mahatma Gandhi

As I sit beside my mother in her last illness I often read Celtic prayers like this one to be a great comfort.

Death comes silently –
slowly for some
with sudden swiftness for others,
yet unavoidable – certain.
However long or short
our span of life,
the last great enemy,
yet conquered by your Resurrection.
Lord, teach us to number our days
and so apply our hearts to wisdom.

———————————-

We have a promise,
a God-given promise
that will not fail,
a new heaven
and a new earth,
where love
and righteousness
reside.
May our lives reflect
that promise
and be found
spotless
on that glorious day.
God of love
and mercy,
pour your living water
into these hearts,
cleanse and refresh them,
that they might
overflow in praise.(www.faithandworship.com)

This world is yours, planned in eternity
created in a moment of sheer exuberance
permeated with love
well madeThis place is yours, in its simplicity,
blue sky and countryside, pure creativity,
painted with care
well made

This day is yours, pure generosity,
given for moments of gentle reflection,
in the bustle of a day
well made

This moment is yours in its entirety,
a drop of time in an ocean of history,
gifted with joy
well made

(http://www.facebook.com/faithandworship)

We are often poor servants
in your kingdom, Lord,
forgive our reluctance
to share your load.
May our hearts always be ready
to be troubled by injustice.
May our hands always be ready
to share the burden of a stranger.
May our feet always be ready
if asked to go that extra mile.
May our pride always be ready
to be humbled before we fall.
May our love always be ready
to be shared with those in need.
May our lives always be ready
to be a lamp in this dark world.
We are often poor servants
in your kingdom, Lord,
forgive our reluctance,
inspire us, we pray.(www.faithandworship.com)

Today’s prayer is from Esther De Waal’s wonderful book
The Celtic Way of PrayerGod with me lying down,
God with me rising up,
God with me in each ray of light,
Nor I a ray of joy without Him
Nor One ray without Him.

Christ with me sleeping,
Christ with me waking,
Christ with me watching,
Every day and night,
Every day and night.

God with me protecting,
The Lord with me directing,
The Spirit with me strengthening,For ever and for evermore,
Ever and evermore,
Amen

As I headed out to Australia to see my Mum I came across this prayer by David Adams which gives great comfort as I travel and wait

Where does the journey end?
Beyond where you can see
Where do the years end?
That’s unknown to you or me
Where does life end?
In love and eternity.

David Adams

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Prayers for the Journey

This week’s collection of prayers on the Light for the Journey Facebook page.

God my heart has heard you say:
Come and talk with me.
And my heart responds: Lord I am coming.
Be my light for the journey,
Lead me along the right path,
Show me your love,
Teach how to live.

(inspired by Psalm 27).
Christine Sine https://godspace.wordpress.com/

Breathe in all that is of God,
Love, joy peace, compassion.
Breathe out all that is not of God,
Fear, anxiety, worry, greed.
Breathe in all that is of God,
Mercy, justice, righteousness,humility,
Breathe out all that is not of God,
Selfishness, injustice, indifference, acquisitiveness.
Sit quietly before your God and breathe in life.

Christine Sine https://godspace.wordpress.com/

May I love what you love O Lord,
And wrap my heart around your purposes.
May I turn my work towards justice,
And practice mercy in all I do.
May I set free those I have bound,
And seek to heal those who are broken.
May my spirit ache with compassion,
And soul desire your righteousness.
May your glory shine through all I am and do,
That others may see and respond to the God who is love.

Christine Sine https://godspace.wordpress.com/

The blesséd in your eyes
are not those who have everything
but those who consider
without you
they have nothing.
Not the rich in earning,
but the rich in spending
who give their lives for you.
Your ordinary saints,
being your hands
and words
in their ordinary lives,
doing extraordinary things
with all that you have given them.
The blesséd in your eyes
are not those who desire honour,
but those who seek to serve.
Thank you for the servants in your kingdom.

(www.faithandworship.com)

 

 

Prayers for the Journey

This week’s Facebook prayers have all revolved, at least for me around the stress of getting ready for an international trip while going through huge transitions in Mustard Seed Associates (More of that next week)

Celtic Cross

Lord Jesus Christ
To you I lift my hands,
To you I sing my song,
To you I give my heart.
May your life be evident in me.
May your love shine where darkness once reigned,
May your promises bring hope and joy and peace.

Christine Sine https://godspace.wordpress.com/

Who is there like you,
God of mercy and grace
who loves us as you do?

Who knows and understands
our actions as you do?
Who hears the thoughts and words
of our heart as you do?
Who knows our joys and sorrows
and shares them as you do?
Who feels the pain we endure
and comforts us as you do?
Who hears as we confess our sins
and forgives as you do?
Who takes a broken heart
and makes it whole as you do?
Who finds a life that’s lost
and welcomes it home as you do?

Who is there like you,
God of mercy and grace
who loves us as you do?

(http://www.facebook.com/faithandworship?ref=hl)

May our hearts be a Christ like fragrance
rising up to God.
May we spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere
like a sweet perfume.
Let it lavish the hungry with abundance,
And touch the grieving with compassion.
Let it bless the oppressed with justice,
And release the bondage of the prisoners.
Let it anoint the sick with healing,
And bring joy to those who doubt.
So that the fragrance of Christ wafts throughout the world,
Bringing refreshment, renewal and new life.

Christine Sine https://godspace.wordpress.com/

O Christ, the Master Carpenter
who, at the last, through wood and nails
purchased our whole salvation:
Wield well your tools
in the workshop of your world,
so that we,
who come rough-hewn to your bench,
may here be fashioned
to a truer beauty of your hand.
Amen.

Arthur Gray Butler ( 1831-1909)

Forgive us, Lord
our need to be in control,
the pattern for each day
written by human hands,
each moment mapped out,
presented to you
for approval.

Grant us, Lord
the confidence to let go,
hand our days over to you,
follow where you might lead,
each moment lived out
in humble service
and gratitude.

(Faithandworship.com)

God in you all life is born,
In your promises all hope is found,
In your love all creation finds its purpose.
We sit in awe,
We drink in your mercy,
We are filled with your faithfulness.

Christine Sine https://godspace.wordpress.com/

Love comes to us
fragile
as a tiny seed
which can
germinate and grow
into the tallest of trees,
or wither
and die
if left carelessly around.

Love comes to us
fragile
as a tiny child
who is
salvation and grace
for sinners wanting release,
or judgement
for hearts
that offer just stony ground.

(http://www.facebook.com/faithandworship?ref=hl)

The Lord is my light and my salvation,
Why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my strength and shield,
I trust him with all my heart.
The Lord leads me with faithfulness and love,
He helps me through storms and dangers,
And my heart is filled with joy.

Christine Sine https://godspace.wordpress.com/
(inspired by reading of Psalm 26-28)

God Give Us Light for the Journey

We are just starting an important MSA team meeting for the day. This prayer has been revolving in my mind. Appreciate your prayers too.

Prayers for the Journey

I just realized that it is two weeks since I last posted prayers from Light for the Journey and thought it was time to remedy that. Because there have been so many posted I will break this into two posts. The second should go up on Friday.

O God, by the leading of a star
you manifested your only Son to the Peoples of the earth:
Lead us, who know you now by faith,
to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen. (Contemplative network)

——————————————–

God pierce our hearts with your love,
Break them open into greater capacity,
Break them open ,
That we might hold more of the world’s suffering and joy,
That we might share more of the world’s despair and hope.
Lord break our hearts,
As we stand in the gap between what is and what could be,
Break our hearts open
To a largeness that holds the possibility of a better future for all the world’s people.

(Christine Sine)

———————————-

by faithandworship.com

Dear Jesus, as You led the Magi to You by the light of a star,

please draw us ever closer to You by the light of Faith.

Help us to desire You as ardently as they did.

Give us the grace to overcome all the obstacles that keep us far from You.

May we, like them, have something to give You when we appear before You.

Amen.  (The Contemplative Network)

—————————————-

Another beautiful Celtic prayer
GOD WITH ME LYING DOWN
God with me lying down,
God with me rising up,
God with me in each ray of light,
Nor I a ray of joy without him,
Nor one ray without him.

Christ with me sleeping,
Christ with me waking,
Christ with me watching,
Every day and night,
Each day and night.

God with me protecting,
The Lord with me directing,
The Spirit with me strengthening,
Forever and forevermore,
Ever and evermore, Amen.
Chief of chiefs, Amen.

—————————————————

Yesterday evening, I (Micha Jazz) sat chatting with a dear friend facing challenging times, and they spoke of the encouragement of maintaining hope. I found this prayer for Hope which I offer to us all today, regardless of circumstance, aware that without hope we lose all sense of direction and purpose.

A Prayer for Hope

Heavenly father, I am your humble servant,
I come before you today in need of hope.
There are times when I fell helpless,
There are times when I feel weak.
I pray for hope.
I need hope for a better future.
I need hope for a better life.
I need hope for love and kindness.

Some say that the sky is at it’s
darkest just before the light.
I pray that this is true, for all seems dark.
I need your light, Lord, in every way.

I pray to be filled with your light from
head to toe. To bask in your glory.
To know that all is right in the world,
as you have planned, and as you want
it to be.

Help me to walk in your light, and live
my life in faith and glory.

In your name I pray, Amen.

Read more:

Prayers and Thoughts for the New Year – 2013

A few days ago I posted this prayer for New Year’s Day 2013. In the last few days however, there have been several beautiful prayers posted on the Light for the Journey Facebook page for the new year which I thought you might enjoy. I normally post all the prayers at once at the end of the week but thought that these needed to stand alone.

Lord Jesus Christ, pierce my soul with your love so that I may always long for you alone, who are the bread of angels and the fulfillment of the soul’s deepest desires.
May my heart always hunger and feed on you, so that my soul may be filled with sweetness in your presence.
May my soul thirst for you, who are the source of life, wisdom, knowledge, light and all the riches of God our Father.
May I always seek and find you, think about you, speak to you and do everything for the honour and glory of your name.
Be always my hope, my pece, my refuge and help in whom my heart is rooted so that I may never separate from you.
(Bonaventure – 13th Century)

————————————————-

“This is the new year the new you. You can pass through another year, coasting on cruise control. Or you can step out of your comfort zone, trying things you have never done before, & make 2013 as the year that you elevate from where you are & soar high. Make it happen!”
― Pablo (posted by Micha Jazz of Contemplative Network)

—————————————————————————-

Every moment is a new beginning, every handshake a promise. I know that every quest implicates the other, just as every word can become prayer. If life is not a celebration, why remember it? If life — mine or that of my fellow man — is not an offering to the other, what are we doing on this earth?
— Elie Wiesel from “Open Heart”
Thanks to My Soul in Silence Waits.

——————————————————————————–

The God who breathed this world alive
and sustains it day by day,
whose hands flung stars into space
and controls our destiny
says, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”
The God who filled the ocean depths
and set tides on their way,
who caused mountains to be raised up
and rainbows to display
Says, “I have called you by name, you are mine.”
The God who made the fertile earth
and seed within to sow,
whose artistry creates butterflies
and the early morning dew
says, “You are precious in my sight.”

www.faithandworship.com

————————————————–

God the eternal rock is with us,
From year’s beginning to its end,
In hard times and in good,
God is with us from year’s beginning to its end.
God almighty is faithful,
Present in each day and every moment,
Drawing close in every act and deed,
God is faithful through all eternity.
God is trustworthy,
Yesterday, today and forever,
Sustaining, enlivening, making all things new,
God the eternal rock is with us this day and evermore.

Prayers for the Journey

This week’s summing up of Facebook prayers is written from Sydney Australia where I am currently visiting my Mum. I have found myself sitting quietly each morning enjoying the bird sound and reflecting on the prayers that others have written and reflecting on Mary De Jong’s post on Ordinary Blessings. I  hope that you enjoy them too.

Labyrinth Bonnie Harr – In His Footsteps

New Dawn

O Lord,
At each new dawn
You draw back the veil of the heavens
writing messages to all, and some see.

What do you require?

To do justice ~
To love mercy ~
To walk humbly ~
To walk with You. . .

Teach us that fairness is not justice;
mercy is not kindness, alone;
humility is not self-negation;
walking with You is everything.
Amen. B.D. Harr © 2012

—————-

prayer for Justice

God help us to dream impossible dreams,
Not for ourselves but for your kingdom coming.
Help us to pray, not for tasks within our power,
But for your power to equip us for tasks beyond our imaginings.
Help us to risk all that we have to follow you.

—————-

God may your new world be born afresh in us,
May it take root and flourish in our lives,
So that we can grow more like Christ in every way,
And bear the fruit of justice, mercy and love.

——————-

Keep us close, we pray.
Be the one to whom we turn
when faced with fear,
uncertainty,
and questioning.
Be the rock upon which we stand,
the truth we hold to,
certainty
to which we cling.
Be the Father in whose arms
we gladly fall,
security
in our journeying.
Keep us close, we pray.

(www.faithandworship.com)

———————————

Christ Have mercy – A prayer for Light for the Journey

May the blessing of light be on you,
light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine upon you and warm your heart.

May the light shine out of your eyes,
like a candle set in the window of a house,
bidding the wanderer to come in out of the storm.

May the blessing of the earth be upon you, the great round earth;
may you ever have a kindly greeting for people as you’re going along the roads.
And may the Lord bless you, and bless you kindly.

-Common Prayer For The World from www.waymarkers.com

Open Our Eyes Lord

Prayers for the Journey

Speak to me – Bonnie Harr

The beauty of the prayers that continue to be posted on the Light for the Journey site enrich and stir my faith. I hope that they will yours as well.

Let us walk into this day,

God’s love to give us hope,

Christ’s life to give us guidance,

The Spirit’s power to transform us.

Let us walk with joy,

Let us walk with purpose,

Let us walk each step towards God’s new world.

———————————-

May we put our hope in God’s unfailing love,

And trust in God’s eternal faithfulness.

May it lead us into paths of justice,

And guide us towards God’s righteousness,

Where we give ourselves to feed the hungry,

And commit ourselves to share God’s healing.

May we always live towards God’s new reality,

A new community with wholeness, peace and abundance for all.

———————————–

Let us pray for justice faithandworship.com

God give us this day your hearts desire,

May we love as you love with justice and mercy,

May we live as Christ lived with compassion and generosity,

May we become what the spirit intends filled with peace and joy,

May we this take new steps to be transformed into the image of God.

————————————

Pray for justice – Christine Sine

Lord, we bring to you those ‘almost’ moments.

When the opportunity arose to bring your name

into a conversation and we almost did.

When we were challenged to give to those

who are in need, and we almost did.

When we heard of an injustice and, tempted

to reach for our pen, we almost did.

When challenged by the whisper of your voice

to go where you would send, we almost did.

Forgive our timidity, our reluctance

to live the life that we proclaim.

Fill us with your Spirit of love and power

that by our words and actions

your name might be glorified,

and our ‘almost’ become ‘always’!

—————————

May our ears be attuned – faithandworship.com

In you, O Lord, do we trust,

in your love we delight,

for there is no other

to whom we can turn

who knows our needs

before we ask,

reads our hearts

and answers our requests.

In you, O Lord, do we trust,

in your peace we depend,

for there is no other

to whom we can turn

who calms our souls,

brings release,

and in whose

arms we would rest.

 

(www.faithandworship.com)

————————–

God let us not hold onto what we should release,

Let us not embrace what does not satisfy,

Let us not commit to what is not your will.

May we give up all to follow,

Twighlight burning – Bonnie Harr

Prayers for the Journey

From Mary DeJong http://waymarkers.wordpress.com/

The end of another busy week  and it is time to post prayers from my facebook page Light for the Journey. The richness of contributions from the expanding team of contributors is amazing.  As I mentioned last week, I have enlisted the help of Jamie Arpin Ricci author of The Cost of Community and founder of Litte Flowers community in Winnipeg Manitoba; Phileena Heuertz co-founder of Word Made Flesh and author ofPilgrimage of a Soul; Micha Jazz a contemplative activist in Chichester UK and a member of the Axiom Monastic Community; Bonnie Harr who posts prayers and reflections at In His Footsteps; John Birch who posts Celtic Prayers and Resources atFaith and Worship; Mary Plate DeJong who leads pilgrimages to Iona Scotland and is Forest Steward for one of Seattle’s urban forests and Mark Scandrette author ofPracticing the Way of Jesus and founding director of ReIMAGINE in San Francisco.

There are too many prayers for a single post, so I will post some today and some tomorrow. If you would like to access these prayers and reflections each day (and see  all the beautiful images that accompany them) please “like” the Light for the Journey Facebook page.

God my creator,

Draw me closer.

Christ my redeemer,

Draw me closer.

Spirit my advocate,

Draw me closer.

Let the eyes of my heart rest on you.

———————

God may I give myself only

to that which satisfies my heart,

May I give myself only

to that which strengthens my soul,

May I give myself only

to that which draws me closer to you.

———————

God you are love,

All you are expresses love,

All you do flows from love.

Lord wipe the scales from our eyes,

That we might see what love is doing.

———————–

Eternal God, Creator of all that is,

all that was, all that will ever be.

You who made the sun and moon,

Who brought night and day into being,

Transform our darkness into light,

Renew us, restore us, redeem us,

Let your presence shine through us,

That all might see.

———————-

This is your world I step upon

the air I breathe

the food I eat

This is your world I step upon

the sounds I hear

the people I meet

This is your world I step upon

your footsteps

where I place my feet

(www.faithandworship.com)

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Lord Jesus Christ let your words flow into my soul,

Let them nourish me,

Let them grow within me,

Let their truths rise up within me,

Let them give me life.

————————

Let this moment settle in my heart,

Let all that it holds rest secure in the love of God,

Let the wonder of the holy One

radiate from the centre of my being,

Until the reality of Christ’s inner presence

Spills out into the world around me.

—————————-

Bonnie Harr – Aspen Praise

Prayers for the Journey – Offerings from the Week

Prayers for the journey - Daily thoughts to light the way

Once more we are at the end of the week. Here is my summing up of prayers that I have posted on facebook. The first prayer is I added that I used as a grace at a gathering last night for people from Creation Care Study Program. It is adapted from a prayer by David Adam who used to be the vicar on Holy Island off the East coast of Engalnd

God of the elements, glory to you

God of the flowing air, glory to you

God of light beyond compare, glory to you

Glory for fertile soil and all that grows

Glory for babbling streams and all that flows

Glory for life and love and birth

God of creation, Lord of the earth

Glory to you for friends and food and fellowship

Amen

_______________________________________

May we come into the presence of God

And sit at the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ

May the spirit fill us with justice and mercy

So that we live always in the grace and peace of God

____________________________________________________

Let us witness to the truth of God’s love

And take on the identity of our Lord jesus Christ

May we be filled to overflowing with God’s Spirit

And in all things be God’s grace and peace poured out,

__________________________________________________

God may my words be lived out in deeds,

May I learn from Jesus the Messiah,

And honour him in all my ways.

__________________________________________________

May we give thanks at all times

And take into our heart the words of God

May we take on the identity of God’s beloved son

May we live for Christ, serve others

And be a part of God’s kingdom building

____________________________________________________

Lord Jesus come close

Write your instructions on my heart

Instill them in my mind

So that I will find joy in doing your will

And delight in following your paths

_____________________________________________________

God may I take your words into my heart

May I not stumble over your promises

Or lose sight of your purposes

May I trust in you for what will be

And give thanks with a joyful heart

______________________________________________________