Tag Archives: love

God’s Prayer to Us

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Have you ever thought of a prayer roll reversal? What if God sent a prayer to us? Yesterday, I wondered what God would say to us in a prayer. Here’s what I came up with:

My Earthly People

I have been watching your troubled world for quite some time now and pray that you would take these few suggestions as to how you might turn things around.

Your environment is in big trouble. It is going to take more than demonstrations to set it right. It is going to take all world leaders, not just a few, to acknowledge the problem and make intelligent decisions. It is also going to take the world population as a whole to do their part. I pray that all of you will take the necessary steps to save your planet.

Your love for one another is sadly lacking. This is obvious from the wars, terrorism, senseless killings, starvation and disease that plague your world. People who love each other do not tolerate this behavior, and, once again, would make intelligent decisions to rectify these situations. I pray that you would do all in your power (and mine) to recognize and eradicate such behavior.

Your daily lives are sadly lacking in love and respect, not only for each other, but for yourselves. You have been taught love from the moment of birth and somewhere along life’s path have either abandoned, forgotten, or ignored this love…not in all cases, but in many. Husbands and wives break their vows, parents pit children against one another, children come to believe that life is all about them, governments forget that they are elected for the betterment of the people, not the detriment.

You are my people and I want only the very best for you. I gave you free will, hoping you would use it wisely. Some of you have willingly and lovingly accepted me; others have deliberately denied my very existence.

It is my prayer that you will open your minds and hearts, and use your intelligence as intended.

You are my children and I love you dearly. Please hear my prayer.

Your Heavenly Father.

 

 

 

 

Condolences to Congratulations

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It was my privilege once again to attend funerals for two members of my church, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian, Scarborough. One took place on Saturday, April 22nd and the other on Monday, April 24th. The only significant difference in the lives of these two people, besides their gender, was their age. Alfred was in his 102nd year and Debra had just turned sixty.

The love, admiration, and accolades directed to these two wonderful people by their friends and families left the rest of us wishing we had known them better while at the same time conveying the feeling that we knew them well.

Debra had been an operating room nurse, well known for her caring ways, sunny smile and warm hugs. She was also known for her tenacity in dealing with health problems, and for continuing to love unconditionally in the face of all adversity.

Alfred, had been active all of his life and even at the age of one-hundred-and-one, was still doing aerobics, walking, and standing tall and straight. Our Pastor remarked that when Alfred walked down the aisle to his familiar pew, everyone else automatically straightened their posture.

As end-of-life celebrations can be, these two were so inspirational that one could not help but offer congratulations along with condolences to the loved ones left behind; congratulations for having shared in the lives of these two remarkable people.

Condolences to congratulations…it was so fitting to offer both.

 

One Pair of Hands

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Every once in awhile a song comes along that can move us to tears…joyful or otherwise…in my opinion this is one of them. How fitting for this time of Lent. How wonderful to believe. Thank you, Jesus.

A Family Day Prayer

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Sometimes certain prayers will resonate with us more than others. Our associate pastor, Monica McClure, gave such a prayer yesterday and I’d like to share it with you, with her permission. It not only touches on Family Day but our world issues which certainly need much prayer.

 Prayers of the People

Abba Father,  As a people who dwell in the shelter of the Most high, we praise you for being our refuge. Lord, there is safety for us in the shelter of your wings. We thank you for our mountain top experiences of your grace which have strengthened our faith and given us hope for the future.

As we continue to walk with you on life’s journeys…through the valleys as well as on the mountain tops…draw near to us so that that we might dwell forever in your presence.

Generous God, you have blessed us with life. You have placed us in families giving us a place to call home.

On this family day weekend we think about our own families. We thank you for our parents who gave us life, our family members who have shared and enriched our lives and with whom we share many memories…

We thank you Heavenly Father for setting the solitary in families. But, we are also mindful that for some of us the word “Family” brings mixed emotions or heartache…some of us have experienced much pain within our family relationships…People who should have loved us and cared for us have failed us…Some of us feel the pain of abandonment, of abuse, of neglect…of heartbreaking loss, the pain of disappointed hopes and missed expectations, the pain of alienation from loved ones. Have mercy on us Lord, and minister to us your healing grace even in the messiness of our family relationships.

Father, today we pray for those who long to be married and have their own children…for childless couples who long to be parents…hear and answer the desires and prayers of their hearts. We pray for those that are in the midst of parenting infants, children, and young people.   Give them wisdom, courage and stamina in raising their children to be well-adjusted citizens of the world, with a real desire to love and serve you.

We thank you for our St. Andrew’s church family today…another family to which we belong…one branch of the body of Christ…with almost 200 years of family history!  Remind us of our commitment as a church to provide for and participate in the spiritual nurture of our children and young people. Continue to bless us, encourage us and keep us faithful to your call to share the good news of Jesus with everyone.

Prince of Peace, we continue to lift up the needs of our own broken world in the turmoil that surrounds us…We ask you to give wisdom, discernment and courage to elected representatives in government. We pray for people who are very anxious about what the future holds for them. For those who feel powerless to effect decisions that will have a direct impact on their lives. Remind us,  that although we do not know what the future holds we know that you hold the future…and give us your peace. In Jesus’ name we pray.  AMEN

 Pastor Monica McClure

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Scarborough

February 19th, 2017

 

 

 

How Do I Love Thee?

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Some people will read no further than this title thinking that because of the word “thee” it will be of Biblical content. Not so. It is actually from the poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)…How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways. However, I am going to put a new spin on it because I am moved to do so.

How do I love you? Let me count the ways.

I love you with compassion in your thoughtless ways.

I love you when your ire is up and when your guard is down.

I love you for infrequent smiles that are your very own.

I love you in the times you let your inner bully win.

I love you more for times when you reign that bully in.

I love you in the many ways that you appear aloof.

I love you when uncalled for, you offer up reproof.

I love you though these things are not the you you’re meant to be.

How do I love you? Unconditionally.

Has the time come for all people to come to the aid of our world? Can we do with unconditional love whatever is in our capacity to do to heal our brokenness? Can we ask with Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Top of the World

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Whistler Peak 2 Peak Gondola Admission Ticket, Whistler, null

A peak experience was experienced (really!) during my Christmas week in Whistler visiting family. It was the day we took the gondola peak to peak sight-seeing trip; the wonder of it all took my breath away…literally, at one point. There were twelve of us having lunch in a mountain-top restaurant. We enjoyed fabulous food, great fun, super scenery, and a wonderful togetherness before eight of our group went skiing down the mountainside and the other four, including yours truly, hopped the gondola for the peak experience of travelling from the top of Blackcomb mountain to the Whistler mountain peak. I had only soared above the clouds on airplanes up to that point. Words cannot describe the beauty of it all and it reminded me of the Carpenter’s 1972 hit “Top of the World” because it was my family’s love that put me there.