Jan. 26 - Feb. 1, 2014

Dear Heavenly Father, You are everywhere, and guide everything. You are in my heart, in my mind and in my world. My certainty of Your existence gives me strength, protection, and joy. Your presence and promise are my comfort. Help me live worthy of Your gifts. Amen.

"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation."
Isaiah 12:2-3 (NIV)

Jan. 19 - 25, 2014

Most gracious Father, we hear the desperate cries of the poor. They are praying to You, and because You have given us ears to hear, they are calling to us as well. Thank You that our gifts can be used to help and empower our brothers and sisters. We so much desire to be disciples of Jesus, Your son, sent to heal the sick, care for the dying, feed the hungry and in all ways infuse Your love in our lives. Thank You for helping us to help others in Jesus Name. Amen.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me’."
Matthew 25:34-36 (ESV)

Jan. 12 - 18, 2014

We praise You, Lord, for You are steadfast and faithful. We take refuge in Your arms from life’s burdens and are comforted that You are always with us. Amen.

"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
Psalm 18:2 (NIV)

Jan. 5 - 11, 2014

Gracious, loving God, we have celebrated the birth of Your Son, our Savior, we have put the past year behind us, now we look with anticipation and excitement to the beginning of a new year. We move forward to do the work that is before us, to follow Your will, to do what is pleasing to You. May the New Year be filled with the love and joy of the Holy Spirit as He continues the work which He has begun in and through us. Help us, heavenly Father, to accomplish all that You have planned for us this year in the name of Your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

Dec. 29, 2013 - Jan. 4, 2014

Dear God, thank You for the privilege of being able to commune with You through prayer. Thank You for speaking to me through Your Word and teaching me through life's circumstances. Thank You for the beautiful birds that sing such lovely songs, for the sun that shines, for the rain that cools and replenishes the thirsty earth and provides water for us to drink. I pray for those in lands where there is famine or flood, that You would balance the weather and provide for their needs. Please reveal Your power, Your love, Your presence to them in a mighty way that they would know that You are God and that You love and care about them. I thank You most of all for the great gift of sending Your Son. This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

"For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers."
Ephesians 1:15, 16 (NASB)

Dec. 22 - 28, 2013

Good and gracious Father, we thank You that the appointed time has come and that the greatest gift that You could confer upon us unworthy sinners has been bestowed. Your love for us knows no bounds, and we in turn can only marvel at such unbounded generosity. May we live our lives in such a manner that will be pleasing to You especially in the way in which we will show love to one another. We make our prayer in the name of the Babe of Bethlehem. Amen.

"But when the appointed time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the Law to redeem the subjects of the Law and to enable us to be adopted as sons."
Gal. 4: 4-5 (NAB)

Dec. 15 - 21, 2013

Dear Lord, as I begin preparing to once again celebrate the humbling yet life-changing event of Your birth, help me to find time to meditate on the mystery of this great event. Lord, whatever pain, disappointment or fear I am experiencing help me, like Your mother, Mary, to say Yes... Yes to celebration, Yes to sorrow, Yes to today, Yes to tomorrow, Yes to You O Lord and all You send, Yes Lord, Yes Thy Will be done, Amen.

"Behold, the Virgin shall be with child and bear a son and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means God is with us."
Matthew 1:21 (NAB)