Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Week of Dec. 25 - 31, 2011

Heavenly Father, we give thanks for the birth of Your Son whose life taught us to live a life of service one to another. Guide us to reach outside our zones of comfort to those who are alone, abandoned, homeless, tossed aside, sick, disabled, depressed, overwhelmed by life, bewildered, or have walked away from You. A smile or kind word may be all that is needed to redirect them to Your loving mercies. As we look upon the Babe in the manger, may we see Your loving face. Give us the gift to express that love to others. In the name of Jesus, the Child of Bethlehem, we pray, Amen.

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”


(1 John 3:17) NAB

Monday, December 19, 2011

Week of Dec. 18 - 24, 2011

Loving Father, let us live this Advent with attentive awareness. Let us be ever watchful of You and Your ways. Father, help us to make choices according to Your will, to be deliberate in our actions through You, in You, and with You. Reveal to us those areas of our lives that need Your cleansing mercy. Lord Jesus, guide us as we release whatever keeps us from surrendering ourselves to You. Lord, we praise You for being committed to our salvation! Give us the grace to keep watching and waiting for You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

“Be watchful! Be alert! May He not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

(Mark 13:33, 36-37, NAB)

Monday, December 12, 2011

Week of Dec. 11 - 17, 2011

Father of all mercies, we Your children await Your glory a second time. In this season of waiting and preparation for celebrating that first coming at Bethlehem, we are mindful not to neglect our calling: To at all times love You, and to love each other unconditionally. We pray in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.


"A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse,
a scion thrusts from his roots."


(Isaiah 11:1, Jerusalem Bible)

"Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed
and all mankind shall see it."


(Isaiah 40:5, Jerusalem Bible)

Monday, December 5, 2011

Week of Dec. 4 - 10, 2011

Heavenly Father, during this season of preparation, may we draw ever closer to You and Your light. Bring us out of our darkness into the light of Your truth.Thank You that You have given us Your son to be our Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace. You have given Him all power to be justice and righteousness to the nations, and we rejoice at His coming. Lord, You are wonderful and mighty indeed! Make our hearts humble to accept the Child Jesus, and be ready to greet Him when He comes again. We ask this in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
for to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”


(Isaiah 9:2,6, NIV)