A PERSONAL PRAYER God, sometimes life is marvelous and wonderful, and gratitude comes easy. But sometimes, life is difficult. Bad things happen. I've seen it in the lives of other people I care about. People they love die too young. They get cheated or swindled or robbed. The job they count on goes away. Their marriages fail and friendships falter. Children struggle and parents disappoint. Money gets scarce and pressures rise. Sometimes, God, these problems are "circumstances," out of their control. Sometimes, they contributed to the problem. And God, you know there have been times in my own [...]

A PERSONAL PRAYER God of all times and all people in all places, You know how I hate conflict and tension. I suspect there are some people who love a good fight - sort of "bring it on." But not me, God. I just want us all to get along. Is that just an unreasonable expectation, God? I read your scripture to call for "shalom," peace with justice, everything in harmony. You tell me that if I come to the altar with gifts, and my brother or sister has something against me, I should leave my gift at [...]

A PERSONAL PRAYER God - Father, Son, Holy Spirit, I remember the first time I made a commitment to following you, and offered you my life in response to your amazing grace. I felt so empowered, so full of life. I felt that nothing could bring me down. It was like I was getting married - I was going to follow you for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. In my mind, I knew there would be good times and bad times, but I thought we could handle them all together, you [...]

A PERSONAL PRAYER God, Let's stir the pot. Let's shake things up. Let's turn over some temple-tables. Let's make something happen. OK, I know you have been doing that all along, but let's you and I do it together (meaning I will join in this time). God, I thank you today for all those pot-stirrers and thing-shaker-uppers, and temple-table-turners who have been your agents to accomplish your purposes. It takes courage to do that. I thank you for those who come up with the strategies for change. I thank you for those who bear the brunt of social ridicule and [...]

A PERSONAL PRAYER God, I have discovered that most folks don't like to talk about sin much. Actually, I don't like to talk about sin much. But sin is real. It is "crouching at the door." Sometimes, I find myself stuck in a pattern of living and thinking that I know miss the mark. Like St. Paul, I want to do good, but the very thing I want to avoid is the thing I find myself doing. I won't detail it all here where others can read the list - but you know what it is God, and [...]

A PERSONAL PRAYER God, There are times I think I have it figured out. Things make sense. If I do A, then B will happen. And since I want B to happen, I will do A. I can move down the road confidently toward my goals and my preferred future. But there are other times when I am not sure what I should do. Things don't seem to make sense. Doing A doesn't lead to B like I thought it would. I feel confused, conflicted, uncertain. These are times that I fall on my knees and turn to [...]

A PERSONAL PRAYER God, Today, I will make lots of choices, and I need your help. In every moment, and in every opportunity, I pray that... I will choose joy over anxiety and fear. I will choose compassion over apathy and self-centeredness. I will choose positivity over cynicism. I will choose action over complacency. I will choose growth over stagnation. I am not at the mercy of my circumstances, God. I can choose how to respond to whatever comes my way. So today, God, I will let your light shine, and will not put it under a bushel. Like a candle [...]

A PERSONAL PRAYER God, why have you blessed me so much? Why have you poured so much goodness into my life - great friends, more than enough food and provision, a wonderful family, a marvelous church? I hear that I am "blessed to be a blessing." Am I doing that, God? Am I accomplishing the purposes you have for me? Am I doing all that you want me to do with the life you have given me? I am comforted, God, when I read the stories of the people in the Bible. Boy, do they make mistakes. I am often embarrassed for them, even [...]

Our inside-out habits: We pray and worship. We study the Bible. We make friends. We tell our stories. We give ourselves away in generosity and service. A PERSONAL PRAYER God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, In the movies, the soldiers get shot and killed, and the plot just moves on. And, I guess in the real world, that happens too. The world just moves on forward without those who are lost. Except, of course, for the loved ones of those who gave their lives for country or cause. Those families will never be the same. They will move [...]

A PERSONAL PRAYER God of love, There is a worm that lives in my heart. Most of the time, I think he must be sleeping. But sometimes, he wakes up and begins to eat away at all the good feelings inside. The worm has a name - envy. When the worm is at work, I compare myself to others and spend my energy wishing I was as good as they seem to be. I wish I had the gifts and talents they have, the success they have achieved, the friendships they enjoy, the courage they seem to muster, the discipline they appear [...]