Prayer, Plain and Simple

Ice Cream: A Prayer of Thanks

mherringshaw1 — Fri, 31 May 2013 00:58:40 +0000

“God, thank you for ice cream. Well done! Sure, we humans have been clever enough to combine your goods in a creative way, But you made the milk, the eggs, sugar, the flavors we use to fancy it up and the ice that makes it cold. Thank you, thank you. And please enjoy it with me. Jesus, you never had the chance to enjoy ice cream. But you live in me, so relish the moment. Thank you so for the simple, delightful gift of ice cream!”...

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“I Need a Job” – A Prayer

mherringshaw1 — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:02:50 +0000

"Lord, you know I need work. I want to do my part and carry my weight. I’m not asking for a handout; but I do need your help landing the right employment. It’s been too long and I’m feeling frustrated. You know exactly the situation that fits my skills, my interests and my experience. You know the perfect job. Bring the right relationship into alignment. Do that miracle of connection. Someone out there needs exactly what I offer. I ask you to bring this connection and to do so quickly. If...

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Super Bowl Power Outage: Let There Be Light – a Prayer

mherringshaw1 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 01:52:33 +0000

“God, light matters. We need light and when light goes out, we’re thrown into confusion and even fear. When power fades or goes out, we need to turn to you. God, you are our power source. You are the source of light. As the lights have gone out in the Super Bowl it reminds us that you alone are the only reliable source of power. Keep the power on! Keep the lights on! Let there be light!”...

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SAD: A Prayer for Joy and ‘Vitamin G’

mherringshaw1 — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:58:33 +0000

“God, I need vitamin D, but even more I need ‘vitamin G.’ Today, I am heavy with sadness. These winter days are gloomy and cold and I crave the light. I was made for light. Even my body knows this. I need the vitamin D that comes from light, and now, in the shadows I feel pushed down and heavy with despair. And it is not without cause. I am battling challenges in my life: strained relationship, financial pressures, tasks before me that are too much for my capacity. But I find myself now...

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Egypt: A Prayer

mherringshaw1 — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:15:16 +0000

“God, today we pray for Egypt, a nation one again in great turmoil. Save Egypt from violence and despair. You love this land, and always have, even when that love demanded your hand of discipline and judgment. Egypt along the Nile is intricately woven into the fabric of our histories together. It was your land of plenty for Jacob’s family when their promise land was gripped in famine. It was your place of refuge for Joseph when he fled there from Herod with Mary and the child Jesus. From...

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Good Coffee: A Prayer of Thanks for Simple Pleasures

mherringshaw1 — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 11:37:33 +0000

“Oh God, you are so creative and generous. The delicious cup of coffee I’m enjoying this morning has to be one of your great inventions. Thank you. I remember (as James reminds me – James 1:17) that every good and perfect gift comes from my Father, from You! Coffee is good, very good, as you said when you surveyed your handiwork at the beginning of time. The fruit of these little bushes tucked away on the sides of mountains in the far corners of the world have come to me on this...

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Time Management: A Prayer

mherringshaw1 — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:34:29 +0000

“God, you know what’s on my calendar. You know I have more ‘to dos’ than I have slots in my day. I am not sure what needs to be set aside, but something has to go. I need your guidance to help me set priorities. You tell me in John 15 that you want my life to be fruitful, full of rich abundance, that multiplies into the lives of others. But you also warn me that fruitfulness means pruning. A branch on a vine that bears no fruit is lopped off. And a branch that does produce is snipped...

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Prosperity and Success: A Prayer

mherringshaw1 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 12:32:31 +0000

“God, I have been afraid of the words 'blessed' and ‘success.’ And not only the words… I have been afraid of the thing itself! I have demeaned ‘prosperity,’ ‘affluence,’ ‘abundance,’ and ‘victory’ by crediting you with bringing pain and sorrow as discipline in my life. Yes, you use these sorrows, but your intent, your end is joy! I have not believed you want to bring me joy. Sadly, this is what I think of you. And as one of my wise teachers has said, ‘What I think of...

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Abortion: A Prayer of Repentance for Healing

mherringshaw1 — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:22:56 +0000

“God, I come to you broken and ashamed. I am sick with regret and don’t know where else to go. Have mercy on me. I know that the choice I made to end this pregnancy defied your heart and your law. You create life. We must never presume that it is ours to give, or take away. My own life is a gift from you; I would not want another human to determine my destiny. And yet in my desperation I made that choice. I took your role and played God. I took a life in my hands. Yes, I panicked and...

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Inauguration Day: A Prayer

mherringshaw1 — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 11:48:28 +0000

“God, today we ask for a blessing on United States President Barack Obama. As he begins his second term in office we pray that your hand would strengthen and protect him, that your voice would guide and comfort him, that your heart would consume him, that your will would lead him. You give our governments responsibility to carry out portions of your purpose. Behind every political agenda you are at work moving history to conform to your intent. Even when leaders stray from your course, you are...

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