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)

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)

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)

Week of Nov. 27 - Dec. 3, 2011

Heavenly Father, we praise You, thank You and worship You today and every day. We bring before You in this season of Advent our families, friends, country, the world and the poor. Reveal Yourself to us. Holy Spirit, come into our lives in a deeper way than You have ever done. Send Your cleansing fire, and make this Advent a time of deep renewal.

Jesus, we want to dedicate this season to seeing You more fully. Come, Lord, and make us ready to greet You when You come again. Enkindle in our hearts a burning desire to know You better, love You more, and receive more of Your wisdom and guidance, so that we may give Your love away to others. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

“Prepare the way of the Lord…”

(Mark 1:3, NAB)

Week of Nov. 20 - 26, 2011

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

JESUS, who often went hungry with Your apostles,
we thank You for the opportunities to provide food
for those who have none,
and thus discover Your presence in them.

JESUS, who said “anyone giving a glass of water
to a thirsty person in My name gives it to Me,”
we thank You for the chance to provide water
for communities that had none.

JESUS, who often had no decent clothes
and who was hounded by the authorities as a vagabond,
thank You for letting us help some of Your brothers and sisters
who suffer the same fate today.

JESUS, who taught us to look for You in the sick,
the imprisoned, and the stranger,
help us reach out to those in our own society
who are lonely, old, ill, and unwanted.

JESUS, who taught us that man does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God,
help us remember that the poor have spiritual
as well as material needs, and that we need to show them
YOU are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

JESUS, thank You for allowing us to accompany the poor
in their struggles to achieve a better life,
for when we are close to them,
we know we are close to You.

JESUS, help us who are poor and in need
To find in the faces of the poor we serve
Your own face, Your own presence, and Your strength.

AMEN.


"I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.”

— Psalm 9:1-2 (NIV)

Week of Nov. 13 - 19, 2011

Almighty Father, help us to remember that it is all about Your mercy, rather than Your justice. Guide us always along the right paths, and grant that we may never be unaware of the needs of others, especially the poor, the destitute, the deprived, and the bereaved. As we learn more and more each day to love one another, we make our prayer through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.


“Lord, listen to my cry for help! Listen compassionately to my pleading!
If You never overlooked our sins, Lord, could anyone survive?”

(Psalm 130:2-3 Jerusalem)

Week of Nov. 6 - 12, 2011

Heavenly Father, thank You for the men and women who gave their lives to protect the United States. May Your mercies bountifully abound upon those presently serving in the Armed Services. Strengthen and encourage them daily as they willingly give their all to protect our nation. May we never forget to honor their sacrifices, and offer comfort and support to their families. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

(John 15:13, ASV)