Monthly Archives: August 2023

photo of blue sky dotted with clouds at sunrise above treetops

Saturday Prayer 8.26.2023

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I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:1-2

O Lord, renew my mind and transform me! Let me discern your will –what is good and acceptable, and perfect. Let me not be distracted by the politics or commerce or popular opinion of this world. Keep reminding me that ‘sacrifice’ means ‘sacred.’ Set me apart for your purpose as much as you set me apart from the things that distract me. (Lord, I am so easily distracted.)

Lord, I pray for your Church. Soften our stubborn hearts, and help us to put our whole selves at your disposal, not holding anything back, but being completely transformed into a community of believers who share the mind of your Son Jesus. Help us to show those who don’t know you what it means to belong to the Body of Christ. I ask these things trusting in your goodness. Amen.

photo of three pairs of hands reaching into an empty wooden bowl

Saturday Prayer 8.19.2023

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Confession

Lord, I cringe when someone says,
“You must be so proud ____!”
Am I proud? I thought I was being grateful. I didn’t think I was bragging, but that’s how it came across.

Once more, you remind me how I often assume privilege I didn’t earn.
You remind me how my life of privilege makes others’ lives harder –
not because they have to work harder
or be smarter
or do more
to get the same recognition I get,
but because
when I blithely go about my business without a care in the world,
I’m creating a world that doesn’t care.
And that is not what you call me to do.

You call me to care.
Not from a position of privilege, nor even from solidarity,
but from under the table,
where all of us are hungry
for just a crumb of grace.

Have mercy, Lord. Have mercy. Amen.

picture of two loons floating on a lake

Saturday Prayer 8.12.2023

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Lord,
Sometimes, when the waves are pushing against the boat,
I get distracted by the wind,
and am surprised by the loon calling out.

“Look up!” the loon cries,
as the eagle swoops down, skims the water,
and flies up again, something caught in its talons.

The waves push against the boat,
and my doubt pushes against my faith.
Look up!
“If it’s you, Lord, command me to come to you.”
If?
“Come”, you say. “You have faith enough. It only takes a mustard seed’s worth to move a mountain, after all.”

Lord, save me. Amen.

basket of garden vegetables

Saturday Prayer 8.5.2023

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O God of abundance,
The tomatoes are turning red in the garden.
The beans – O Lord, The beans! So. Many. Beans.
The peas and lettuce and carrots and garlic
have all fulfilled their purpose.

Earth’s bounty in my backyard might make it easy for me to ignore how we’ve damaged this fragile, beautiful planet you entrusted to us. But the dry grass and rising temperatures tell a different story.

Forgive us, Lord.

Nevertheless, your grace flows like rivers. You continue to multiply zucchini as if it were bread, given to thousands.

So take me, Lord. Break me. Bless me. Give me away.
As you nourish me, let your abundance spill over,
And bless this fragile, beautiful world, because of Jesus. Amen.