Holy Spirit & Pentecost, Preaching & Reflecting

Holy Spirit In The Murky Corners

Holy Spirit, Pour into those murky corners where we hide shabby things, dark memories, and unsavoury desires which we do not wish to see, yet withhold from your grace.   Bring into your light the buried grudge, the venom in us, the bitterness we nurse, those secret fears which sap our energy, and the pessimism which is an insult to your…

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Lament, Pain

I Do Not Lie Here Alone

O God, I am struck down to my lowest. Pain consumes my world. The more I think of it the worse it is. It beggars my brain, it fogs my senses, It reduces my world to a searing endless struggle. I call out to you, Jesus, The crucified, betrayed, buried, descended One, You bore this pain, You lived this pain,…

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Blessing, Praise

Who Keeps Us From Falling – Martin Luther King Jr

And now to the One who is able to keep us from falling, and lift us from the dark valley of despair to the mountains of hope, from the midnight of desperation to the daybreak of joy, To God be power and authority for ever and ever. Amen.   – Martin Luther King Jr 1929-1968AD.  American Pastor and fighter for…

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Celtic, Faith, Peace

Into Your Hands

All that I am Lord, I place into Your hands. Everything I work for, I place into your hands. Everything I hope for, I place into your hands. The troubles that weary me I place into your hands. The thoughts that disturb me I place into your hands. Show me what blessing it is That I have work to do.…

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Aussie, Blessing

May God Bless You With Foolishness

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, superficial relationships, so that you will live deeply and truly.   May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people so that you will work for justice, equality and peace.   May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection,…

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Aussie, Pastors, Prayer Of Church

Prayer For Gospel Workers – Norm Auricht

Lord God Heavenly Father, Creator of all your precious people, To you belongs all thanks and praise. As you called Moses and Matthew, Samuel and Peter, Deborah and Mary, Send your Spirit to light up our lives, That others may see the Light of the World. We pray for men and women, To embrace vocation and answer your call To…

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Christmas, Poets

Moonless Darkness – Gerard Manley Hopkins

Moonless darkness stands between. Past, the Past, no more be seen! But the Bethlehem star may lead me To the sight of him who freed me From the self that I have been. Make me pure, Lord; thou art holy; Make me meek; thou wert lowly; Now beginning, and alway; Now begin, on Christmas day.   – Gerard Manley Hopkins…

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Confession, Lent & Cross, Short

Giving Up Control

Lord, Forgive me for my pride and my need to control, Forgive me for my fear and my desire to please at any cost. Forgive me Lord, for my lack of listening and for holding on too tightly. Thank you Lord, for the miracle you work despite the obstacles I put in your way, for I am but dust in…

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Longing, Relationships

For Those Seeking A Partner

  Dear God, please help me heal From grief, loss and the pain of love in my past And let me be whole and happy again I have been needy and overly-anxious, I have felt desperate and too willing to settle. Calm the need in me that makes unwise choices. Sooth the soreness in my soul that makes me crave…

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Lament, Poets

My Soul Lies Cleaving To The Dust – Isaac Watts

(A Reflection on Psalm 119)   My soul lies cleaving to the dust, Lord, give me life divine, From vain desires and every lust, Turn off these eyes of mine.   I need the influence of thy grace To speed me in thy way, Lest I should loiter in my race, Or turn my feet astray.   When sore afflictions…

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Ancient, Longing, Love, Mystics

Late Have I Loved You – St Augustine

Late, have I loved you, Beauty so ancient so new! Late have I loved you!   You were within me, but I was outside you and there I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they…

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