Saturday, July 25, 2015

COAL

Snippet

"The law tells me how crooked I am. Grace comes along and straightens me out."― Billy Sunday

Scripture

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13,14 NIV

Song
I'm just an old chunk of coal John Anderson
https://youtu.be/PlkE2Le_RFg

Hey I'm just an old chunk of coal but I'm gonna 
be a diamond some day
I'm gonna grow and glow till I'm so blue pure perfect
I'm gonna put a smile on everybody's face
I'm gonna kneel and pray every day last I should become 
vain along the way
I'm just an old chunk of coal now Lord but I'm gonna 
be a diamond some day
I'm gonna learn the best way to walk gonna search and 
find a better way to talk
I'm gonna spit and polish my old rough edged self till I 
get rid of every single flaw
I'm gonna be the world's best friend gonna go round 
shaking everybody's hand
I'm gonna be the cotton pickin' rage of the age I'm gonna 
be a diamond some day
[ guitar - fiddle - dobro - piano ]
Now I'm just an old chunk of coal...

Sentence Prayer

God of our salvation,
You straighten the winding ways of our hearts
and smooth the paths made rough by sin.
Make  our conduct blameless,
keep our hearts watchful in holiness,
and bring to perfection the good you have begun in us.
We ask this through him whose coming is certain,
Whose day draws near:
your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the 
Holy spirit, God forever and Ever.


Opening Prayers: Collects in Contemporary Language ; Scripture-related Prayers for Sundays and Holy Days, Years A, B & C. Norwich: Canterbury Press, 2001. pg 5

Sunday, July 19, 2015

PRAYERS FOR CHATTANOOGA

Snippet

Terrorism has become the systematic weapon of a war that knows no borders or seldom has a face. JACQUES CHIRAC, speech, Sep. 24, 1986

Scripture

His mouth is full of lies and threats;
    trouble and evil are under his tongue.

He lies in wait near the villages;
    from ambush he murders the innocent.
His eyes watch in secret for his victims;

    like a lion in cover he lies in wait.
He lies in wait to catch the helpless;
    he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.

His victims are crushed, they collapse;
    they fall under his strength.

He says to himself, “God will never notice;
    he covers his face and never sees.”

Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God.
    Do not forget the helpless. Psalms 10:8-12

Song
American Soldier by Toby Keith

I'm just trying to be a father,
Raise a daughter and a son,
Be a lover to their mother,
Everything to everyone.
Up and at 'em bright and early,
I'm all business in my suit,
Yeah, I'm dressed up for success from my head down to my boots,I don't do it for the money, there's bills that I can't pay,I don't do it for the glory, I just do it anyway,

Providing for our future's my responsibility,
Yeah I'm real good under pressure, being all that I can be,
I can't call in sick on Mondays when the weekend's been too strong,I just work straight through the holidays,
Sometimes all night long. You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door.Hey, I'm solid, hey, I'm steady, hey, I'm true down to the core.

And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price.
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice.
Oh, and I don't want to die for you,
But if dying's asked of me,
I'll bear that cross with honor,
'Cause freedom don't come free.

I'm an American soldier, an American,
Beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand,When liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right,I'm out here on the front lines. Sleep in peace tonight.American soldier, I'm an American soldier,

Yeah, an American Soldier, an American.
Beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand,When liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right,I'm out here on the front lines, so sleep in peace tonight. American soldier, I'm an American, an American, an American soldier!

SENTENCE PRAYER

Almighty God;  Do something about the injustice of 

terrorism, repay the evil that is spreading to four corners 

of the world.  Jesus, you died to pay for the sins of the 

gunmen and the servicemen, may we overcome this evil 

by doing the good deeds of sharing the news of Jesus with 

all.  

Holy Spirit;  comfort the victims families and convict them 

of the shortness and unfairness of life, that they may seek 

eternal life in Jesus.  Protect our soldiers at home and 

abroad, thank you for their service.  

Almighty God; it is clear we are living in a chaotic and 

evil time, help us to see any sin that may have prompted 

You to remove Your hand of protection upon us. . .

Jesus; you have said a prophet will be known by his fruit-

Mohammed brings death and oppression, Mohammed is 

still in the grave, may we in faith be willing to pay with 

our life, to tell the story of Jesus the Son of God who died 

to pay for mans’ sins, but overcame death to prove he had 

that right!

Holy Spirit, give us the Semper Fi Spirit of those soldiers 

to  “always be faithful” to our God, Country and the 

innocent.” 


Amen R.M.