Week of March 18 - 24, 2012

Jesus, our Lord and Savior, help us take up our daily cross. We welcome the monotony that often marks our day, discomforts of all kinds, disappointments, tensions, setbacks and cares. You fell beneath the weight of Your cross to show us You understand when we fall. Help us, Lord, who try so hard to be good, but whose nature is constantly opposed to walking straight and tall down the narrow road of life. Remind us often that in carrying our cross, we carry Yours with You. Amen.

“He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth. He had no majestic bearing to catch our eye, no beauty to draw us to him. He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, knowing pain...and we held him in no esteem.”

Isaiah 53:1-3 (NIV)

Week of March 11 - 17, 2012

Holy One of Blessing, you came not to be served but to serve. Bless all who, following in Your footsteps, give themselves to the service of others. Help them minister to all in need with wisdom, patience, and courage. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

“If any of you want to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross and follow me.”

- Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

Week of March 4 -10, 2012

Precious heavenly Father, as we reflect on Your word, You tell us that You alone are the author of perfection. Use us to fulfill Your will regardless of our past. We know, Lord, that without You we can bear no fruit. Prune away our flaws and anything that would stand in the way of praising and honoring You. Even through our difficult times, help us, Father, to understand how meaningful it is to be in a real relationship with You. It is only through Your mercy and grace that we can receive Your gift of eternal life in Your presence. Continue to shower us with Your love, and guide us to be branches that bear the fruit of Your love for others, especially those who do not yet know of Your love. We ask all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

John 15:5 (NIV)

Week of Feb. 26 - March 3, 2012

Lord, our God, we put our hope in You. As we begin the season of Lent, we seek You with all our hearts. May the light of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, continue to shine upon us so that we may be light in the darkness of this world. We trust in Your unfailing goodness and love. We look forward to serving You with each passing day. We pray all this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

“The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!
The Lord is good to those who depend on Him, to those who search for Him.”

Lamentations 3:24-25 (NLT)

Week of Feb. 19 - 25, 2012

Merciful Father, we are reminded of what St. Paul said to the Romans as he urged the casting off of the works of darkness and putting on the armor of light.

Help us as we begin the preparation of the observance of the supreme sacrifice of Your Son, to make a greater effort at loving one another as You have commanded. Assist our prayers, our alms-giving, and our fasting as we turn our faces and our minds to the message of the Cross.

We pray in the name of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

“The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.”

Romans 13:12 (ASV)

Week of Feb. 12 - 18, 2012

God of peace and mercy, You sent Your Son, Jesus, to become one of us, to show us how to be merciful and compassionate. Strengthen in us Your grace so that we may be Your disciples, seeking peace in our world, reverencing life, and reaching out in love to our fellow brothers and sisters. We ask all this in the name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

“These works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.”

John 5:36 (NAV)

Week of Feb. 5 - 11, 2012

Almighty God, we are grateful that You care enough to strengthen us. Your strength is poured into us so we can do Your will: to care for the poor, the orphaned, and the widows. Lord, we are capable people, and can do much just by loving our neighbor, praying for one another, and sharing the good news of a Savior. No matter our situation, sickness, or challenge, if we put our trust in You, we will be renewed by Your strength and Your grace in every moment of every day. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
— Philippians 4:13 (NIV)