Good Evening Dear Ones!
Happy Being Thoughtful and Thankful Thursday! Today we get to peer deep within ourselves and take a look at what kinds of things we have to be grateful for living in this country and at the same time make a list. Yes I want us to make a list! It doesn't have to be long but just enough to get us on the right track towards appreciating positive things and not dwell on negatives.
Let us begin with our "Be Stills"
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Inhale,
Hold,
Exhale.
Pause.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Inhale,
Hold,
Exhale.
Pause.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Inhale,
Hold,
Exhale.
Pause.
Let us listen to these pieces from : John Rutter- Look at the World Mix
God we light our candles as we pray for guidance as we put our gratitude list together. Help us to pray the items we put down.
God I am grateful for this country in which we live and that we may have the courage not to walk lock step with each other but with a rich diversity of personhood and spirit.
God I am grateful that we are given the courage to speak truth to power and practice civil disobedience when we don't have the words.
God I am grateful for the many men and women who have been able to make positive contributions to this nation.
God I am grateful to be able to practice my religion without fear but with radical courage and joy.
God I am grateful to be able to strive to live authentically as I am. We pray that others may be afforded the same universal human rights and privileges.
God I am grateful to be able to read any book I so choose.
God I am grateful for refugees, indigenous peoples, immigrants, the various races,creeds, and peoples who make this land of ours the diverse quilt that is like the world in a country.
God I am grateful for the many landscapes that show us your Cathedral of Life in all of its rich hues and terrains.
God I am grateful that we aren't perfect so that we may strive to work out all the rough edges together.
God I am grateful to be able to petition, picket, sit-in, sit-down, stand up, speak up, hunger and thirst after righteousness and let justice roll down even if it is my own voice crying in the wilderness.
God I am grateful for all of the men and women who have been prophets and peacemakers in ages past and those yet to be who are willing to valiantly stand up to make this the country you are calling us into being.
God I am grateful to stand with my LGBTQ family members as an open and out person willing to live authentically without being held in a closet of shame.
God I am grateful that I get to see you in every face that I meet each and every day.
God I am grateful and I add these prayers in silence__________________
God I am grateful for the rights afforded me as contained in the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
God I am grateful that even when there are dark days ahead we may with your guidance O lord carry the torches of liberty , justice, mercy , and peace.
God I am grateful that I live in this country that was conceived in liberty by civil disobedience and non-violent protest.
God I am grateful for all those who either in the military or civilian populations have given their last full measure of devotion in service to this country here and all over the world.
God I am grateful for all the protesters who seek to affect positive and life giving change in this country and the world.
God I am grateful to you. Amen.
All Good Gifts Godspell
What are in your gratitude and prayer list?
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Good Night Dear Ones, I love you and give thanks to God for you this day and always!
With Love,
Sara
Prayers from blogs on September 1st 2015 and 2014:
Remember our mindfulness exercises ? Let us use them to take care of our minds and anytime we need to: It is simply this: We start with our breathing exercises by using this format:
Inhale the Holy Spirit.
Exhale Love.
Inhale the Holy Spirit
Exhale Love
Inhale the Holy Spirit
Exhale Love
Now repeat the following 3 times;
Be Still and Know That I am God.
Be Still and Know
Be Still
Be
Now get out some kind of timer, mindfulness app, or music and set them for 5 minutes when you begin. Then close your eyes and be silent. If the music goes long don't worry that will lead you into our time of prayer and thanksgiving.
Dear God as we begin another month help us to do better in our lives and when we fail not to give up. We pray for courage and resilience to try again and again until we get it right.
God, we pray for an end to all violence and terror that makes our minds succumb to hatred, bitterness, fear, and mistrust. We pray that we may use our minds and hearts to set them on things and situations that unite and not divide.
God we pray for all our loved ones who are sitting vigil at the bedside of loved ones who are transitioning into the Thin Places. Help us to pray for all who are pre-grieving and who have entered the long journey into grief.
God we pray for our brothers and sisters who have returned to school an those who haven't begun their new educational journey. We pray for all who teach and all who learn.
God we pray for all those who work in the ministries of social work, social justice, and advocacy of any kind.
God we pray for loving minds, hearts, and spirits in which to serve the least of these.
God we pray for all who are living with a chronic illness. We pray especially for those who are ill and in the hospital remembering _____________________
God we pray for_______________________________
God accept these our prayers in the Holy Name of your Son Jesus. Amen.
Here are the prayers from last year. Please take notice, sadly there isn't anything new under the Sun.
Holy Spirit, thank you for empowering us to serve God and one another in God's kingdom.
Holy Spirit, we give thanks for those who are discerning calls to any vocation and ministry. May they discern rightly, and say "Yes" to God.
We pray this night for all children of the world who are in need of families, homes, people who love them. We pray that they may be placed in forever homes with loving families.
We pray this night for an end to all violence, terror, and abuse of any kind.
We pray for all refugees and for compassionate immigration reform.
We pray that we may become good stewards of the God's Cathedral of life.
We pray for rain and seasonable weather.
We pray that peace may prevail in this broken world of ours. May we become peacemakers to all and not be afraid to step out courageously and speak truth to power.
We pray for all those who labor and especially for our family members who labor in the fields.
We pray for all those who are hospitalized and who are living with chronic illnesses and who are suffering from brief health problems. Lord Jesus heal them and us and make us whole.
We pray for all who are dying and have died today. Bring your comfort to those who mourn and grieve losses of any kind.
We pray that we may be more loving, compassionate, merciful, and accepting to all. May we remember that all means all and not some.
God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit we add our evening prayers, thanksgivings, celebrations, and remembrances now and on on behalf of others who have requested our prayers. We lift these our prayers to you Lord Jesus, and lay them in your gentle and healing arms. Amen.
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