blessed are the peacemakers April 23, 2010
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I wonder what this looks like in practice? Make it your prayer today. Pray that you would bring peace wherever God leads you. Pray that you would love your enemies, just as Jesus loved you. Pray that God would give you the opportunity to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Just be careful not to pray it if you aren’t willing to apply it to your life… connie :]
Blessed are the PEACEMAKERS,
for they shall be known as
the Children of God.
But I say to you that hear,
love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you,
pray for those who abuse you.
To those who strike you on the cheek,
offer the other also,
and from those who take away your cloak,
do not withhold your coat as well.
Give to everyone who begs from you,
and of those who take away your goods,
do not ask them again.
And as you wish that others would do to you,
so do to them.
we are responsible April 18, 2010
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I
God,
The image of your son is not visible
- in the pages of our newspapers
- in the faces of our leaders
- in the deployment of our weapons
- in the violence of our actions.
Christ,
Take our words,
Our world
Our weapons
Our work
And transform them in your image.
So we may see your face
In truth where news is reported
In justice where power is abused
In peace where war is threatened
In reconciliation where deeds foster hatred.
Open our eyes Lord!
II
God,
The image of your son is deformed by our sin,
Because we sin against you and our neighbours.
Forgive us when we ignore the suffering of your people
And violence and injustice near and far.
Give us the courage to confront our fears and
Help us to act as agents of peace.
Restore to us the vision of one church.
Open our eyes!
III
God,
We are created in your image.
The only way to show your peace and justice
Is through us.
We are responsible for your world and
For each other.
Transform us through your Holy Spirit.
Open our eyes!
(These 3 prayers were created during a seminar on Liturgy and Music organized by the WCC in October 2002 in Faverges/France)
letting the side down March 20, 2010
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I have to say I was both shocked and surprised when I arrived at the stables the other week for the Day of Prayer. When I arrived in the afternoon there was about fifty, which is really something special, especially in Fermanagh! Not only that, there were so many from down south who joined with us. Some where from as far as Dublin, Cavan and Longford. At the start I found this hard to believe that so many would travel hour after hour to come to a prayer meeting, I just couldn’t get my head around it. I couldn’t understand why Christians from far and wide travelled mile after mile to pray for Enniskillen when us locals struggled to make an appearance. I couldn’t help but feel that some of them care more about Fermanagh than us locals do.
As we were praying I really did feel convicted. We call ourselves Christians here in Fermanagh but we don’t take the time to pray for our hometown. It’s true. It really was amazing to see so many from all over the place meeting together in prayer, but it really drove it home that we’ve been letting the side down. I’m not talking about missing one meeting, I’m talking about our prayer-lives in general. As Christians we should want to join together in prayer, wherever that may be. But so often we make excuses, so often we excuse ourselves and refuse to enter into His presence. This HAS to change. Or rather, we HAVE to change.
connie :]
what if? February 20, 2010
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“If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer offered in this place” (2 Chronicles 7:14-15 Amplified Bible).
IF we ask, He WILL answer. So, why don’t we seek His face?
A House of Prayer, for all peoples February 20, 2010
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We had our Church opening this afternoon (Brookeborough Elim), God has blessed us with a beautiful Church building! But it got me thinking, what sort of House have we been building? The Church should be a place of sanctuary. A place of worship. And a place of prayer. FOR ALL PEOPLES.
My prayer is that the Church, as a whole, will once again become a House of Prayer. I think it’s fair to say that we’ve got side-tracked and strayed from this… “My house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (Isaiah 56:7 Amplified Bible). As you read what Marty Haugen has to say remember that His Church should be founded on prayer, and practice it for yourself.
connie :]
“Let us build a house where love can dwell
and all can safely live.
A place where saints and children tell
how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions,
rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where prophets speak,
and words are strong and true.
Where all God’s children dare to seek
to dream God’s reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness
and as symbol of God’s grace;
here as one we claim the faith of Jesus;
all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where love is found
in water, wine and wheat;
a banquet hall on holy ground,
where peace and justice meet.
Here the love of God, through Jesus,
is revealed in time and space,
as we share in Christ the feast that frees us;
all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where hands will reach
beyond the wood and stone,
to heal and strengthen, serve and teach,
and live the Word they’ve known.
Here the outcast and the stranger
bears the image of God’s face;
let us bring and end to fear and danger:
all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where all are named,
their songs and visions heard
and loved and treasured, taught and claimed
as words within the Word.
Built of tears and cries and laughter,
prayers of faith and songs of grace.
Let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:
all are welcome in this place.”
Marty Haugen
come follow February 7, 2010
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Jesus cries out to us to come follow. And we do, from a distance. This is a far cry from what our faith should be. The only way we can become more and more like Jesus is to follow close behind Him. We may pray that we’ll become more and more like Jesus but so often we aren’t willing to pay the price. When we come follow He asks us to carry our cross as well. True discipleship demands our all, this is why we should come into His Presence and find strength in prayer.
“How hard is it sometimes to get leave of hearts to seek God! Jesus Christ went more willingly to the cross than we do to the throne of grace.” Robert Murray M’Cheyne.
PERSONAL PRAYER REQUEST… INTERVIEW FOR BELFAST BIBLE COLLEGE THIS COMING FRIDAY- PLEASE PRAY THAT HE’D SETTLE MY NERVES AND IF IT’S HIS WILL ALL WILL GO WELL! THANKS!
connie :]
what’s your vision? January 30, 2010
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I can’t believe it’s been a year since we had our weekend of prayer, how time flies! It’s got me thinking, what’s our vision? Has it remained the same? Our vision should be simply, and solely, Jesus. If it’s anything else it’s nothing at all.
the price He paid January 24, 2010
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make my life a prayer to you January 24, 2010
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What if we made this our prayer for today? Maybe we’d live differently? Maybe those around us would too?
the POWER of God January 8, 2010
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