Prayer & Praise
We know about pits and snares and depths.
We know about silence and absence and abandonment and helplessness.
We know about passionate petition and eager insistence, but we also know about the silence of shame, the darkness of guilt, the terror of resentment.
We know about the long night out of control in anxiety, when we are our true selves even if not our best selves.
We also know, some of us often, many of us seldom, all of us sometime, about the break of day when night is broken, when speech cracks silence, when your compassion overrides our shame, when your healing mercy vetoes our hurt, when your massive forgiveness overrides our resentment.
We do not know how it is that you break the night.
We do not know why it is that you harvest our silence into presence.
We only know like many mothers and fathers that in the long nights you hover until daybreak and we find that every new dawn is Easter yet again.
We know the concession speech made by Death: “He is not here, He is risen.”
We are astonished that you break the night with risenness.
In our timidity we trail your risen self; We find ourselves, now and then, Eastered alongside you.
We flex our muscles and with you find ourselves stronger than the night.
We are astonished-and glad!
We say you and tell you, praise you and obey you, all the day long, unafraid of the night that will surely come soon again.
Amen.
Walter Brueggemann;Anna Carter Florence. Inscribing the Text: Sermons and Prayers of Walter Brueggemann (Kindle Locations 1027-1031). Kindle Edition.
Thank you for the prayers for my son in law who is finally employed after a long haul and losing everything except their marriage and lives and faith. Thank God for His provision.
Thanking God with you Paige!
May he regain double what he lost!
Prayer Requests: June 16-23
brian – I just got some real hard news as to two people I had known for years had passed, one in a tragic accident and another who had struggled with illness. it has just been a rather hard weekend. I dont know what to do with the pain.
Trey – recovering from mono
Filbertz – been completely overwhelmed with tasks, trying to finish school year, business responsibilities, and a new grandson (our dear Amber) who along with his 14 month old brother and momma needs a lot of care and support. It has been very satisfying and enjoyable, but exhausting. Amber needs much attention and assistance with two little ones in diapers and hubby not available (long story) so weāre pulling long hours. Baby Charles is doing great and older brother Isaiah too. All that and career transitionsā¦so prayer for strength, wisdom, and mercy appreciated.
Dusty – has broken her foot .
Michael and Trey Needing prayer covering
J2 and her husband facing nonsense from the local government which may result in $6000 in fees. Prayers for wisdom and the community voicing their frustration, and that they would be heard.
Michael Liles āSmurfā A man Derek served with in Bosnia and Iraq, he has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrigās disease, ALS. The lifespan for those diagnosed with this is very short. Prayer for Michael and his family. You can find out more, also about his speaking before Congress for more attention to ALS, on his FB page: https://www.facebook.com/michael.liles.169
Scott Pastor friendās 18 month old Granddaughter was killed when a dresser and television fell on her.
Neo – rapid recovery from surgery .
Nonnie- her Grandson Bennetās recovery from his surgery!
Gary – for a solid job opportunity and something to come quickly for housing. Also, just for some encouragement during this frustrating time.
Scott Praise for all that God has done and prayer during this time of transition.
Michael Needs a job and income. Now.
J2thePerson – disability application processed quickly.
Chile -family member who was given just two years to live.
Ryan – dealing with loneliness and a desire for true friendship.
Derek – friend Dennis , served two tours with Derek and is possibly PTSD
London – for her eyes.
Sarahās Nephew-in-Law Blake Serving 9 months in Afghanistan. Pray for safety.
Pastor Saeed FREEDOM
Gomergirl – coworker/ friend, Kathy. niece was one of the victims in Santa Barbara
Captain Kevin – cervical spinal stenosis (narrowing of the upper spinal column), which causes pain in my neck and shoulders as well as down into my hands. , bone spurs in my hands, and what appears to be a separating of my left wrist and hand. I should be going in for an MRI on that hand sometime in the next week. Iām wearing braces and taking some pretty strong meds, but the relief is minimal. My pain specialist says that pain sensations I feel are probably heightened by the fibromyalgia.
Thank you, Dusty.
Holy Father, I come on bended knees boldly before Your throne. Please, Lord hear our united cries for mercy. for healing and comfort. We know You are able, please be willing to answer our plea.
For Gary and Michael I ask for solid gainful employment
For Neo and Bennet I ask for rapid full recovery from surgery.
For Trey and London I ask for complete healing
For Smurf and Dennis, and Derek I ask for healing and knowledgeable docs
For Blake a hedge of protection and complete safety
For brian, Scott’s friend, and gomersgirl’s coworker comfort them in their time of grief.
for Capt. Kevin – heal his body as it betrays him
for J2P and husband hear their needs and fill them.
for Chile’s family member compassion and healing
For Ryan comfort and friendships
For Filbertz so prayer for strength, wisdom, and mercy
Remember Your mercy Father and grant each request to the hearts desire of those in need.
Heavenly Father, healer….please bring healing to Capt. Kevin.
~the valley of vision
God THE ALL
o God whose will conquers all,
There is no comfort in anything
apart from enjoying thee
and being engaged in thy service;
Thou art All in all, and all enjoyments are what to me
thou makest them, and no more.
I am well pleased with thy will, whatever it is,
or should be in all respects,
And if thou bidst me decide for myself in any affair,
I would choose to refer all to thee,
for thou art infinitely wise and cannot do amiss
as I am in danger of doing.
I rejoice to think that all things are at thy disposal,
and it delights me to leave them there.
Then prayer turns wholly into praise,
and all I can do is to adore and bless thee.
What shall I give thee for all thy benefits?
I am in a strait betwixt two, knowing not what to do;
I long to make some return, but have nothing to offer,
and can only rejoice that thou doest all,
that none in heaven or on earth shares thy honour;
I can of myself do nothing to glorify thy blessed name,
but I can through grace cheerfully surrender soul and body to thee,
I know that thou art the author and finisher of faith,
that the whole work of redemption is thine alone,
that every good work or thought found in me
is the effect of thy power and grace,
that thy sole motive in working in me to will and to do
is for thy good pleasure.
O God, it is amazing that men can talk so much
about manās creaturely power and goodness,
when, if thou didst not hold us back every moment,
we should be devils incarnate.
This, by bitter experience, thou hast taught me concerning myself.
I feel like everything is going bad and wrong at once. My family is facing another situation that could cost a lot of money and I’m extremely stressed out about it. š
J2tp, in the same boat with ya….praying with you (((hugs)))
I wish I could go into detail, but I can’t. We’re both losing tons of sleep over this, and I need to find a lawyer to consult with about our options. Please pray that we make the right decisions and that this resolves soon–preferably within the next few days.