Demands and Distractions

"What does the Lord require of you?"

Micah 6:8

The demands upon our time and tempers keep us distracted from doing what you require. Empower us, Lord God of all, to do what is required of us - to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly before you.

As we seek mercy for ourselves, help us to extend mercy to each other. As we seek justice for ourselves, help us to seek justice for those who cannot help themselves. As we stand boldly before our adversaries, we strive to walk in humble obedience to your will.

In Jesus name, help us to fulfill all that is required of us this day and all the days of our lives. Amen.

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PRAYER QUOTE

"The invitation to a life of prayer is the invitation to live in the midst of this world without being dropped in the net of its wounds and needs. The word ”prayer” stands for a radical interruption of the vicious chain of interlocking dependencies that lead to violence and war and for an entering into an entirely new dwelling place. It points to the a new way of speaking, of breathing, of being together, of knowing – truly, to a whole new way of living."

Henri Nouwen

MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT

The Lenten Journey: Yea Tho' I Walk is your invitation to step up your commitment to pray. Pray daily three times a day! Be sure to let us know in the comment section your prayer experiences!!

Whenever

Let us pray this prayer together:

When my flesh fails wrap me in a love that does not flinch.
When my heart falters, wrap me in a love that creates clean hearts and renews steadfast spirits within.
When my attention span causes my mind to wander, gently knock upon the door of my heart again.
When I am surrounded by noise and violence, lead me to a quiet place.
When the silence is intimidating, transform the threats with your tranquility.
When doing becomes more important than being, help me to be still and know the power of your presence.
When I am tempted to go another way, whisper in my ear your marching orders.
When I am are thirsty, let me drink from your cup of grace.
When I am hungry after righteousness, feed me until I want no more.
When I am are empty, step into the void and darkness and say, “Let there be light”.
When I am blinded by the idols of this world, give me the courage to see that yours is still the kingdom and glory, forever.
When the time to be silent is over, speak through me words of life to a dying world.
When,
In Jesus name, it is so!

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MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT

Remember to pray three times daily. Invite someone to take this Lenten Journey with you. Tweet, text or pray together in person or on the telephone. You can just agree to pray at a specific time wherever you are...but pray! Click on February 20-22 for information on the Daniel Fast. Join in today. As always, let us know in the comment section how you were blessed by the prayers or messages.

Do It Again

Almighty and Eternal God, we are yours, joint heirs with Christ beneficiaries of all your gracious gifts. The evidence of your work confronts us as we view our spiritual landscape today.

Once again you have been working behind the scenes of our lives. What could have been disruptive jangling discords, you have transformed our ragged edges into a melodious symphony of purpose and power. What could have been confusion, you have turned it into order. What could have been isolation, you've moved us into fellowship. What could have been condemnation, there is now no condemnation but deliverance.

Thank you for being present in more ways that we can count. Now, gracious Lord, do it again. Amen.

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MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT

Join the Lenten Journey : Yea Tho' I Walk today. Pray three times daily, start the Daniel fast and/or read the daily devotions at www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com.

Add and Subtract

“Forgive me, most gracious Lord and Father, if this day I have done or said anything to increase the painof the world. Pardon the unkind word, the impatient gesture, the hard and selfish deed, the failure to show smpathy and kindly help where I have the opportunity, but missed it; and enable me so to live that I ma daily do something to lessen the tide of human sorrow, and add to the sum of human happiness.”

F.B. Myer

MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT

Remember to take a moment to pray three times daily. Identify a prayer-buddy. Remind each other prayer and pray with each other. Today, pray just as God has forgiven you...you forgive yourself!

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Adjustment Protocol

“Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.”

Proverbs 16:3 (KJV)

O God, my Redeemer help me today to make the necessary adjustments of my attitude and actions to be a doer and not just a hearer of your word. Help me to roll onto you all of my plans, activities, dreams, schemes, hopes, objectives, cares and concerns about the future. I know that you have my best interest at heart so as I place everything in your care you will cause my thoughts to be agreeable with your will so that my thought or plans will succeed. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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On Your Mark, Get Set...

Ash Wednesday

And so we have begun. Mark the beginning of our journey with ashes as we seek to walk from the cross, through the tomb towards our glorious destiny as firmly as as our savoir Jesus Christ.

Morning Noon and Night Prayers: Take a moment and center yourself in the presence of the Lord. Be still. Today, as you pray confess that we have not always been our best self and receive forgiveness.

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Let the Journey Begin!

Henry Fields

“ Remind us anew today that you are always with us; that circumstances surrendered to you become stepping stones to high purpose; that crushing blows left in your hands do heal and become teaching tools for our survival both in this life and the life to come; that illness may weaken and even destroy the body, but will not destroy our soul. Help us to trust you more fully and to remain faithful in all circumstances, as did those first followers whom you taught to pray:

Our Father, which art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done,

in earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive them that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

[For thine is the kingdom,

the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen.

Hungry

O Lord, our God, we confess that we are hungry for many things. Help us to hunger for the things that give true life.

Help us to hunger for the things the live beyond our living.

Help us to feast upon your goodness even in seasons of dissonance and despair.

Help us to hunger and thirst after your righteousness.

In Jesus name feed us now O bread of heaven until we want no more. Fill us with your Spirit so that we may be a bountiful blessing to someone other than ourselves. Amen.

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The Lenten Journey: Yea Tho' I Walk

Walk the way of the cross with us beginning tomorrow, Ash Wednesday February 22, 2012. This is an internal journey of liberation that includes daily prayer and the Daniel Fast. Read the previous notation for directions or go to www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com for more information. Join today and invite others to do the same.

It's Still Amazing

Lord Jesus, in your name we thank you this morning for a grace that still amazes. Our lives would be terribly different if it wasn’t for your grace. Our names could be listed in the obituary section of the newspaper this morning or on the hospital registry, a court docket, or a sign-in sheet of a mental institution – prognosis poor and future dim.

Thank for your unmerited favor!Thank you for a grace that lifts us up out of the pits of hell,. Thank you for a grace that cannot be earned and is not deservedThank you for the finger of grace that woke us up. Thank you for the hand of grace that keeps us up. Thank you for the grace that stands us up again when life trips us up.

In Jesus name, may we live this day in anticipation that grace will meet us along the way

Amen and Amen.

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God Of The Unexpected

O Lord of the unexpected, help us to look for you in unexpected places and in unexpected ways. Help us to look for you in unlikely places and people, even ourselves, and see you working there. In Jesus Name, Amen

James Talley

Get you The Greatest of These is Love mixtape at www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com. Just click on the online store icon.

Show Love

“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for slain offering, a sacrifice and us to God a sweet fragrance." Ephesians 5:2

God of grace and God of Glory, thank you for loving us with an everlasting love.

Purge us and cleanse us of all sin and wrongdoing; we confess and you are faithful to forgive us of our sins. Thank you.

Cause us to live so close to you that others will notice that we have been with you.

Open our hearts so we may stand for and with those who are in need. Guide us to love one another and bear one another’s burdens.

Bless where there is pain of any kind or illness, brokenness, anxious hearts and unresolved issues.

Help us to show your love in thought, word and deed today. Show love not just to those we love but even to those who do not have our best interest at heart. It doesn’t mean Lord, that we become their doormat, it means we love you and ourselves too much to drop to their level.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

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The Greatest Of These is Love mix tape is now available for you to download. There are ten messages about love found, lost or floundering. It is perfect today, Valentine's Day or any day. Get it for yourself or as a gift for someone else. Ten love notes from me to you.

Go to:http://thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com/store-tab/.

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Unfailing Love

"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me"

Psalm 13:5-6

Open our eyes today that we may see how unfailing your love is towards us. Forgive us for being so busy that we neglected to look in your direction. We listened to everyone competing for our attention except your still small voice.

Make us to know the depth of your love that heals our failures and shortcomings. Hold us tightly against the viciousness of this world in your love. Help us to guard our hearts against every evil. Let our hearts be lifted up rejoicing in your salvation. May our mouths honor you with unceasing praise. In Jesus name, amen.

THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE

Happy Valentine's day!

The Greatest Of These is Love mix tape is now available for you to download. There are ten messages about love found, lost or floundering. It is perfect today, Valentine's Day or any day. Get it for yourself or as a gift for someone else. Ten love notes from me to you.

Go to:http://thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com/store-tab/.

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The Sound of Silence

Let us be still together:

At the mention of fasting, immediately we think of refraining from food. Sometimes, a fast from noise and idle chatter is more helpful. A period of silence is often necessary to hear God’s still small voice above the dissonance of our lives which distracts us from a deeper relationship with the Lover of our souls. This is difficult in our society in which we are inundated with words and stimuli coming at us from every direction. Some retreat to monasteries with rolling green hills and pastoral scenes to claim silence. Others walk labyrinths. You may not be able to escape to a monastery or find a labyrinth handy but you can push away from your desk and take a break. During your break, do breath prayers.

On a deep inhalation from your diaphragm, breathe: “Lord, Have Mercy.” On the exhalation: “Christ, Have Mercy.” On the inhalation: “Lord, Have Mercy.” On the exhalation: “Amen.”

Please repeat as many times as necessary, as you claim the space and silence necessary to listen to God in the midst of your precious life.

Pastor Angela L. Shannon
Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA)
Sylvania, OH

Awesome God

Awesome God, we praise you for being our God of hope in an uncertain world and in an uncertain time. Thank you for infusing our lives with a hope that becomes a testimony of grace and glory to those around us.

Gracious God, be with us in all of our decision making today so that we may choose what is good, right, just and positive. Merciful God, help us to delight ourselves in you so that others may be drawn to you as revealed in me and through me.

In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Ahmed Goodluck

Defeats Do Not Define Who We Are

Early we seek your face this morning thankful for a moment of rest. Thank you for the restorative powers of sleep and the refreshment of rest. Thank you that both were apart of our night time hours.

Forgive us again for sins committed by thought word and deed. Help us to release those who have sinned against us through forgiveness.

In Jesus name, assist us in learning from our mistakes. We know its because of your love you chastise us. Thank God our defeats do not define us nor are we doomed to repeat a negative past. Amen.

Robert Payne

Lifted Up!

O Lord, we will call upon you early in the morning to guide us in all our ways.

We will lift our hearts to you to be strengthened in all we do.

We will carry our loads and relieve the burdens of the helpless by your grace.

We will worship, witness and do the work you have begun in us until the day is done.

We will call upon you in the evening thanking you for another day. Grant us rest so that we will be refreshed to serve another day. In Jesus name, Amen.

Supervisor Stan McKenzie

13th Episcopal District, AMEC