I’ve started taking my little Bible to church with me again. Part of me thinks that some people may see me using my Bible on the iPhone and think that I’m doing something else (like checking Facebook or sending text messages). So I take my little Bible with me and today I opened up my Bible and found this prayer card from my grandfather’s memorial service. On the front is an image of the “Sacred Heart of Jesus” and on the back has the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, it goes like this:
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
That’s pretty awesome if you ask me. I’m glad I stumbled across this prayer card. It’s message is a constant reminder to me. I’m also happy to see that Sarah McLaughlin sung this prayer in a song, enjoy!
One of the things in my Christian walk that has needed improvement is my prayer time. I’ve been spending a LOT of time in prayer over the past year, yet it doesn’t seem consistent to me. One of the ways I want to improve upon that is having a little time at the end of each day to spend with God. That’s where this thing comes in:
It’s called a prie-dieu, which in French means, “pray [to] God.” For those of you who don’t know, I spent many years at a Catholic school and it was not uncommon for me to go to Mass (service) two times a week, which included using a prie-dieu to kneel and pray.
Well my uncle is a Catholic priest and was very gracious and gave me this prie-dieu which survived a fire in the church many years ago. My hope is that by placing it at the end of my bed, that it will serve as a reminder to spend a little time with God before I go to sleep.
To me, it’s almost like I’m “checking in” with God. Almost to say, “hey God, here are my praises, my concerns, etc.”
Do any of you have any special ways of approaching God in prayer? How do you spend time with Him? I know my way may seem odd to some, but I find it very relaxing and an appropriate posture for prayer.
I was looking through iTunes and the charts looking for new music when I stumbled across Jon Foreman’s new song, “Your Love Is Strong.” You’ll know Jon from the group Switchfoot. Anyways, I love how this song mixes a prayer with his lyrics. I totally need to hear this at this point in my life and I’m glad Jon is leaning more towards his roots in music, whereas the latest Switchfoot stuff (while good), just didn’t seem to have the same depth as previous albums.
Your Love Is Strong
Jon Foreman
Heavenly Father, you always amaze me
Let your kingdom come in my world and in my life
Give me the food I need to live through today
And forgive me as I forgive the people that wrong me
Lead me far from temptation
Deliver me from the evil one
I look out the window the birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune or out of place
I walk to the meadow and stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl on her wedding day
So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need
Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong
Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong
Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong
The kingdom of the heavens is now advancing
Invade my heart, invade this broken town
The kingdom of the Heavens is buried treasure
Would you sell yourself to buy the one you’ve found?
Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me
Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong
Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong
Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong
Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong
Our God in Heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us weary sinners
Keep us far away from our vices
And deliver us from these prisons
