Evening Prayer

Now I lay me down to sleep...
And ask you Lord:
Did I do you proud, today?
Did I love a stranger in a store?
Did I share Jesus' love with a neighbor?
Was I kind?
Was I thrifty?
Was I a good Dad?
Was I an attentive husband?
Was I an encouraging pastor and staff leader?
Was I a student of your word?
Was I a private worshipper?

Amen

More than Stained Glass Saints

It's Morning, Jesus
Thank you for your living word among us.
Thank you for your transcending vision.
Thank you for your sacred trust.
Thank you for the path on which you have led us, fed us.
In the circumstances laid before us, we have sought you.
In the people you have sent us we have listened for you.
In the spirit you have given us, we have followed you.
In the work you are already doing, we have joined you.
Do guide our path
Do make us one
Do instruct our hearts through scripture
Call us to prayer
Call us to devotion
By your Holy Spirit.
Amen

Burning Bush

It's Evening, Jesus
In the symbol of fire, I pray to you.
Out of the symbol I lift my face in faith toward the holy mountain.
Fire on Sinai
Fire in Jerusalem as tongues of flame.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Bring us our chariots, Lord.
Show us your glory.
Amen

He Lifts Us Up

It's Morning, Jesus

"I waited patiently, for the Lord, he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on na rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to God." (Psalm 40)

Give me today the patience to wait on you.

Give me the humility to believe that you, O' God, maker of heaven and earth, will "turn to me".

Take away my fear of abandonment and help me believe: "you hear my cry.".

And may I know this word is true for all who call on your name.

Help all of us today, to live by the power of this truth, in Jesus name.

Amen

How Great Thou Art

Galaxy Birthing a Star
A Dead Star

A Dying Star

It's Morning, Father God

By your word, you spoke the universe into existence.

Through your word you still create to today.

Speak to my heart, Lord Jesus

Speak to my heart, today.

Amen

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

(John 1:1)

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

(Gen. 1:3)

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

(Hebrews 4:12)

Holy Spirit

It's Evening, Father

I thank you for the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

I ask you for the filling of the Spirit for my tasks tomorrow.

"Holy Spirit, breathe on me

Until my heart is clean

Let sunshine fill the inmost part

With not a cloud between.

Holy Spirit, breathe on me

My stubborn will subdue

Tell me in words of living flame

What Christ would have me do."

--hymn

Set My Soul Afire, Lord

It's Morning, Jesus
Fill me with your Spirit

There you are, seated at the right hand of God the Father

I need your Spirit, Lord, to touch my life,

to guide my feet,

to inform my mind,

to strengthen my will.

Help me be the pastor of this church

with which you have entrusted me, Lord.

Surround me with good and able men and women

Who can help me shepherd your people.

Fill me with your Spirit

and shape my preaching

for the seeking of the lost

for the edificiation of the believers

for the building up of the body.

Fill me with your Spirit

and shape my vision

for the future of the kingdom

for the needs of all your people

Fill me with your Spirit

and shape my leadership

for the recruitment of the called

for the training of the willing

for the inspiration of the weary

for the delegation of the work

Fill me with your Spirit

and shape my pastoral duty

for the comfort of the lonely

for the healing of the sick

for counseling of the wounded

Fill me with your Spirit

and shape my administration

for the counting of the cost

for the planning of the work

for the close walk with you

Fill me with your Spirit

and shape my staff

for the care of the infants

for the training of the children

for the guidance of the youth

for the inspiration of the young adults

for the teaching of the mature

for the leadership of worship

for the blessing of the eldery

Fill me with your Spirit

and shape my influence

for the building of the family

for the serving of the community

for the advance of the Kingdom

in every part of the world.

Fill me with your Spirit

and inform my own soul

with the sharpness of your word

with the certainty of your absolutes

with the mercy of your grace.

Amen

One Day Within Your Courts

It's Morning, Jesus

"One day within your courts

is better than a thousand elsewhere."

Psalm 84

She Lays Her Young by Your Altars

It's Morning, Jesus

"The sparrow herself finds a home...

she lays her young by your altars

Lord of hosts, my king and my God."

(Psalm 84)

They are Happy

It's Morning, Jesus
"They are happy, who dwell in your house,
forever singing your praise.
They are happy, whose strength is in you,
in whose hearts are the roads to Zion."
(Psalm 84)

The Gates of Heaven

Psalm 84

It's Morning, Jesus
"How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, God of hosts.
My soul is longing and yearning,
is yearning for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and my soul ring out their joy
to God, the living God."

Mercy Points

It's Morning, Jesus

By your mercies we meet the day

And have met the days surrounding us.

"He rained down manna for their food,

and gave them bread from heaven."

Thank you, God

For the abundance of your supply.

Thank you for my family

Thank you for my wife

Thank you for my girls

Thank you for my friends

Thank you for my neighbors

Thank you for my co-laborers in the Kingdom.

"Mere men ate the bread of angels."

Lord, help us all look around today

At all the things you've given us.

May we live in this day as partakers of your grace.

Amen

(Psalm 77)

Praying and Thinking

It's Morning, Jesus

You called us to prayer, not rationality.

You called us to spirit, not law.

How irrational it seemed, Lord, to those Pharisees,

that your disciples plucked corn on the Sabbath.

Forgive me, Lord,

When I have "overthought" your Spirit

And tried to make pure logic of where the winds blows.

Give me faith to follow your Spirit

Grant me the instinct and humility of the eagle

To lift up my wings when the updraft of your windy spirit

lifts off the mountain

Protect me from overthinking.

Give to me, your mind, Lord Jesus

And help me wrap my mind around your thoughts:

"I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.

So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

(John 3:5-7)

Praying the Scripture: The Emmaus Road

1. While we are about other tasks, God often has
other intentions for us.
Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. (v.13)

Prayer

It was not their intention, Lord
To meet with you that day.
They had other plans.
They had a village in their sights

and other stuff on their mind.
People, wells of water, lunch,
and…who knows, maybe an afternoon nap..
But in the midst of their plans, you inserted your presence.
Be my interruption today.
Sensitive me now, through your word.
Help me to be teachable.


2. Companionship, partnership and conversation

on the journey are part of God’s plan. …”
…two of them were going to a village called Emmaus… (v.13)

Prayer

Who is my partner on the journey?
With whom do I converse over spiritual things?
Do I have a spiritual partner, Lord?


3. Sometimes you need to talk about “everything”
They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.(v.14)

Prayer

Help me, Lord
I am a “get to it” person.
Yet you have made us to process life through memory, reflection, and in the conversation of human voices.
Grant me time with that “other” with whom I can process my life. Make me a spiritual companion for another as well. By the insight of your word, your sword of truth cuts to the core of my tendency to do things “alone” and to “figure it out by myself.” Forgive me my disdain for chatter. Help me overcome my impatience with processing through spoken words.


4. Where two or more are gathered, He is there.
As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; (v.15)

Prayer

Lord, you said, “Where two are more are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them.” (Mt. 18:20)
and here, before my eyes, it is true.
What words of yours do you impress upon my spirit today?
Help me to know these words are true.
Let these words be your words, and not mine.
I yearn for holy text, not feeling
I desire the singularity of your word, not the plurality of my emotion.
I ask for the arrow, the sword.


5.. Sometimes our vision is blocked, our understanding darkened.
But they were kept from recognizing him. (v.5)

Prayer
Lord, this is truth of the human condition. Many distractions can keep me from recognizing you. This is my lot. This is my pain. I see myself here in this story, with downcast face. I have known this time in my own life. I am here, at times, needing your interruption. Thank you for this quiet time of devotion with you. Thank you for the morning walks we have together.

Song Birth

Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.

(Psalm 96:1)

On the Road to Emmaus

13Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.

14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.

15As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;

16but they were kept from recognizing him.
17He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"
They stood still, their faces downcast.

18One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
19"What things?" he asked.
"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.

20The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;

21but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.

22In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning

23but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.

24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
25He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

26Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?"

27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.

29But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.
30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.

31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"
33They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together

34and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon."

35Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples

36While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
37They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.

38He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?

39Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
40When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.

41And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?"

42They gave him a piece of broiled fish,

43and he took it and ate it in their presence.
44He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

46He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,

47and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

48You are witnesses of these things.

49I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
The Ascension

50When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.

52Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

53And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

(Luke 24)

What Have These Women Done?

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Luke 24:27

It's Morning, Jesus

Show us again where the light turned on.

Show us again how the word disspelled the darkness

Give us again that burning that comes from your words spoken to us.

It's Morning, Jesus

May my mind be transformed by your words today

May my life be shaped by your thoughts today

May I think the thoughts of God after Him

by reading His word.

"Your word is a lamp unto my feet,

You word is a light unto my path.

Grant me time with your word today,

Lord.I will walk with you today, Jesus, in your word.

Amen

A New Station

It's Evening, Jesus
Have I lived as one in whom you live today?
Have you been in me, my hope of glory?
Have I believed over-against my unbelief?
Have I hoped when I could have despaired?
Have I gotten angry when I could have loved?
Show me my worst moment, Lord
I can take it....
But show me also your glory and what I might have been.
Shape me more like you.

Amen

Up From the Grave

It's Morning, Jesus

I sing of you.

"Up from the grave he arose
With a mighty triumph oer His foes
He arose victorious from the dark domain
And he lives forever with the saints to reign
He arose , He arose,
Hallelujah, Christ arose!"
--Robert Lowry

Now We Call Friday, Good

It's Morning, Jesus

Now we call Friday, good

Your weakness displayed and mercy ripped apart

Now we see like we should

Hearts human, cold and desperate.

Now we call Friday, good

Cross takers and avoiders alike

By calendar or by faith

By ritual or just fake

We call Friday, good

Now we call Friday, good

And where disciples and believers ran

We learn to stand

Beyond the haunt of Judas

We hear the angel band

It is God who loves, not man

It is God who sacrifices for life

It is God who gives that we not die

It is God in whom our hope does lie

Now we call Friday, good.

Who once huddled and shivered in caves of fear

Confused by darkness

Hearts broken by grief

Feeling our world had ended

All joy had died

til Christ did arise.

Now we call Friday, good.

gb

Aibde with Me

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide with me.


Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;

Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;

Change and decay in all around I see;

O Thou who changest not, abide with me.



I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;

Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.

Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.


Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;

Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.

Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;

In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

---H.F. Lyte

Submerged

It's Morning, Jesus

Once death was strong and dirt stained

And darkness ruled

Now water of life and transported spirit

Better convey

The end of our journey and

The beginning of new life.

"I am the water of life" you said,

And so, our thirst for life after death is quenched.

We thirst no more.

We believe and hope

And drink deeply of your mercy and promise.

"O grave, where is thy victory?

O' death, where is thy sting?"

Christ has conquered.

Amen

The Cathedral

It's Evening, Lord
In this rocking chair I counted, I numbered my days
May the tree lined cathedral of morning
Be gifted with the song of birds
And filtering sun
To wing my prayers upward and outward
And help me remember your glory.

Amen

Birthday Balloons and Blown Out Candles

It's Late at Night, Jesus

And I am measuring my days .

Have I been a good father?

Have I put my children and wife first?

Have I made the right sacrifices?

In "dying to myself for the cross"

Have I died to things God did not intend me to die to?

Can I redeem the time?

Measure my life, Lord

By your measure.

Once I wanted to change the world,

Then I wanted to change a town,

Then I wanted to change a church,

But now I want to change myself

as changed by You

And to live faith's life before three girls.

And doing that....would I not have touched the world?

Amen

Chelsea Brown

It's Morning, Lord

Thank you, God

for Chelsea Brown.

The world is richer for your gift of this little girl, this lovely lady to the world.

You painted her eyes blue inside her mother's womb

and shaped her heart and head for hats

her mind for the sharpest kind of thinking

her wit for laughter

her focus for determination

her brain for truth

her will for command

her spirit for laughter

her life for you.

Today, Lord, my daughter is fifteen

and so ends the years of getting ready for so much.

Now begins the launch.

Protect my child Lord,

guard and direct my little Chelsea

Send fluttering angels into her heart to signal hurt and harm

Assemble applauding angels to encourage her in the right path

I give her to you as never before

On this day of celebrating the day you gave her to us.

Amen

Exhausted

It's Morning, Jesus

You bore the pain.

You bore the full load of sin

You went to the end, to utter exhaustion.

Yet, you loved.

You forgave.

"He was despised and rejected..."

Did some despise you for your love, Lord?

Did some reject your overflowing cup of mercy?

Did some consider as weakness, the strength of love?

Yet, in your redemptiive work, and redemptive vision from the cross,

Even they were loved.

"Father, forgive them" you said.

"They don't know what they do."

So today, Lord,

I pray for all who need love

And fear love

Who have not received love

And cannot give love

Who need love

And cannot trust love.

"It's good that you exist", you said to man in the garden.

And it was so good, that you gave your life to restore fallen man.

Fill my eyes with that vision of your creative, affirming love, Lord Jesus

I want to see the world with your eyes.

Amen

Nail Down Truth

It's Evening, Jesus
Examine my heart, three personed God.
Have I been judgmental today, like a Pharisee?
Have I hurled stones today, to condemn?
Have I lived in self-righteousness
And thanked you that I am not like other men?
Have I been so certain and so sure that I am right
That I have not hesitated to nail down truth, as I see it?

Lord, reveal to me my pride
If I err toward judgement
And deliver me to mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
They shall see God.

Lord I desire to see you.
Amen

The Whip, the Circle, the Stone

It's Afternoon, Jesus

The whip, the circle, the stone...

these artifacts and archetypes

do live through time

since time began

choices for man

Subduing history

you stood in trial and judgement

took our punishment

his and hers, theirs and ours

but before the blood ran

you knelt down in sand

and said no to the whip

said no to the stone

you and you alone.

The whip, the circle, the stone

are choices made

by life you gave

two denied, one affirmed

grace unearned.

Rising Fire

It's Morning, Jesus

You are the light that lights up the world.

Be the fire in our hearts

That burns away the darkness of

pride

anger

lust

sloth

envy

avarice

greed.

Amen

Burning Cello

It's Morning, Jesus

There was a burning yesterday.

You burned in the music

You burned in the quiet

You burned in the text

You burned in the heart

You burned in the singing

You burned in the prayer

You burned in the insight

You burned in the confession

You burned in the sorrow

You burned in the smile

How hot, Lord Jesus, is your burning

How deep is your touch.

Did not our hearts burn within us on Sunday?

Amen

Wind and Fire

He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.

Psalm 104:4

It's Morning, Jesus

In the stillness of yesterday, there is yet a burning.

Our hearts burned within us as you opened the scriptures.

Grant that we take the spark of prayer and,

by the wind of your grace

fan it into flame

in

all relationships today

at home

at work

at play

Show us your glory in all meet today.

Let our witness begin now.

Amen.

Fog and Light

In the weakness of a heart beat, I will seek you face.
In the newness of pregnancy I will seek your face
In the preparation of worship I will seek you face
In the danger of a diagnosis I will seek your face
In the sickness of a friend I will seek your face
In the loneliness of one divorced I will seek your face
In the estrangement of a married couple I will seek you face
In the struggle of an addict I will seek your face
In the pain of economic provision, I will seek your face

In the face of death

In the rush to the emergency room

In the preparation for a staff meeting

In the parent/child dedication

In the new member I will seek your face.
In the joy of the healthy
In the strength of the young
In the exuberance of youth
In all this that I meet today
I will seek you face.

In the planning of the mission trip

In the pastor of the sister church

In the sermons prepared in Spanish

In the healing

In the forgiving

In the spirit

In the fatigue

I will seek your face.

Amen

Light

It's Afternoon, Jesus
Thank you for the morning of scripture, song and prayer.
You are the light that that pushes back against the darkness.
May we as a congregation,
carry your light tomorrow,
Wherever we are.

Amen

Concert of Prayer

The true light that gives light to every man

was coming into the world.
He was in the world,

and though the world was made through him,

the world did not recognize him.

He came to that which was his own,

but his own did not receive him.

Yet to all who received him,

to those who believed in his name,

he gave the right to become children of God—

children born not of natural descent,

nor of human decision or a husband's will,

but born of God.
The Word became flesh

and made his dwelling among us.

We have seen his glory,

the glory of the One and Only,

who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:9-13

Father, I pray that in our silence and song before you,

You will pre-dispose us to your Presence.

Show us your glory

Give us boldness to receive you

Give us conviction of mind

that me might believe in you

Give us new birth

that as a new born we may open our eyes and see

the glory of the One and Only

who came from the Father

full of grace and truth.