December 26
We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. — Romans 5:1
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| Photo: Christian Fenech |
OUR
Father, Thou Who sitteth upon a throne high and lifted up, Whose glory fills
the Heavens, make us conscious this morning that Thou art not far from any one
of us, Thy children. Thou has revealed Thy nearness to us in Jesus Christ our
Lord. Help us to see that our selfishness is the only thing that can separate
us from Thee. Take out of our hearts every selfish impulse, and fill them with
a holy love for Thee. Then we know that there shall be fulfilled for us the
promise of Jesus, that Thou, our Father and He, our Brother, shall come in and
dwell with us this day. Speak to us by Thy still, small voice.
Christmas day has come and gone. We have given and we have
received the tokens of friendship and love. We cannot repeat these gifts every
day, but we earnestly beseech Thee that the Christmas spirit may abide in our
hearts and in the hearts of mankind everywhere. Take out of our hearts every
trace of jealously and hatred toward any of Thy children, and give us the
attitude toward all mankind which was in Jesus Christ our Lord. Hasten the day
when our ears shall hear the morning stars singing together and all the sons of
men joining with the angelic choir in the anthem of the first Christmas
morning, "Peace on earth among men of good will." Through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Rev. Frank W. Padelford,
Boston,
Massachusetts
November 5
We trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of
those that believe. — 1 Timothy 4:10
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| Photo: StockXchng |
OUR
God and Father, for the protecting care of the night we give Thee thanks. For
the new day, a free gift of Thine, with its message of renewal and tireless
interest on the part of our Father, we give Thee thanks. Teach us anew with
this new day the meaning of home, friendships, and opportunity to do our work
for God and our fellow-men.
Set our faces in the right direction as we go out to live
another day. Fortify us that we may not be overcome by any evil. Restrain us
from any untoward tendencies. If the way grow dark, cause us to see Thy light.
If loneliness should be our lot, let us be mindful of Thy companionship.
By Thy help may we add some joy to other lives, and live out
this day with the blessed thought of having done something worth while. And as
the shadows of the evening creep over us we would again give thanks and commit
ourselves anew to Him Who careth for all. We make our requests in the name of
Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Rev. Clarence W. Kemper,
Rev.
Clarence W. Kemper
October 27
Ye are My friends if you do whatsoever I command you. — John 15:14
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| Photo: Adrian Yee |
OUR
Heavenly Father, we bless Thee for Thy great gifts to us, Thy children--that
there is provision for all our needs. We thank Thee for the power given to men
to bless and gladden one another by the warmth of love, the truth, and
tenderness of friendship, and to support each other in all good. May we accept
this great gift with a sense of responsibility. Let not the wealth of human
love bestowed upon us be wasted or despised--the tender care lavished on us in
our early days, the love of parents, the patience of teachers, the wisdom of counselors,
all the sweet charities of home, the joy and strength of true human intercourse.
As we have received of love, so may we give. May we learn
the deep lessons of love--self-denial, patience, helpfulness, sympathy, and
growth in gracious living. May the discipline of love train us in constancy and
true virtues. May we use the love with which we have been dowered to panoply us
against evil, to preserve us under the manifold dangers and temptations of the
world.
Bless our friends--may they and we be friends of God. Above
all, may our experience of earthly love bring us nearer to Thy love, O Thou
Lover of our souls! Amen.
Hugh Black, D.D.,
New York
City, New York
October 25
He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of
thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. — Micah
6:8
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| Photo: Hajnalka Ardai |
ALMIGHTY
GOD, Whom truly to know is everlasting life, we draw near to Thee at the
beginning of this day, desiring to know Thee as the Father of our spirits, and
to refresh our spirits in Thy eternal goodness. As we draw near to Thee in
worship, we pray that Thou wilt draw near to us in blessing and in inspiration.
Grant us, we beseech Thee, the things of which Thou seest our need. We ask for
health, for opportunity, and for a willing mind that finds delight in fruitful
labor. Grant us the consciousness of sin forgiven, that in our labors and
undertakings there may be no sad friction of remorse and shame.
Grant us the blessing of friendship greatly widened. We
would not think of ourselves as too good to mingle with the humblest. We would
not live apart from others in hope and sympathy. Rather do we seek from Thee
the gladness of the common life of all Thy children, and the sweetness of its
universal hope. Thou Who hast made us of one blood, help us to toil and hope
and suffer and rejoice as brethren, that in our common life Thy purpose may be
glorified through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Rev. Howard Chandler Robbins,
New York
City, New York
July 12
The joy of the Lord is your strength. -- Nehemiah 8:10
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| Photo: Shutterstock |
OUR
Father, help us to find the secret of the Master's joy, that we may no longer
dwell in the outer courts where our happiness comes and goes as the flowers
bloom and fade. May we enter into the secret place of the Most High where He
lived, until our joy, like His cannot be taken away from us.
Teach us the joy of discovering the tokens of Thy presence
always--in the song of birds, the fragrance of flowers, the marvelous beauty of
sunrise and sunset, but more in the ringing laughter and plaintive cry of
little children, in the deep hunger in the hearts of our brothers and sisters,
and in our own souls, so that we are never alone.
Teach us the joy of a friendship that leaves no hurt nor
sting. Help us to enter into the deep joy of sympathy with our brother's need,
the sympathy that gives insight, and knits heart to heart, until we are able to
help where help is needed, and able to receive help when it is offered. Save
us, O our Father, from the darkness of selfishness, and unite us with wise and
tender love to those who need us, and those whom we need. All of this, and more
which we cannot express, we ask in the Master's Name. Amen.
Rev. Raymond C. Brooks,
Berkley,
California
March 28
Let those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee. — Psalm 70:4
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| Pgoto: Dog Madic |
OUR
FATHER in Heaven: We come to Thee with our deepest gratitude and love. Thou hast
been a kind Father and a faithful Friend. We thank Thee for daily provision,
for care and guidance and help in business affairs and in our home, for those
"common mercies" which come to us so regularly that we get to
receiving them thoughtlessly and we forget who gives them to us. Most of all,
we thank Thee that Thou dost love us, that Thy pity and compassion are never
withheld from us, that this day and every day Thy "goodness flows around
our incompleteness, round our restlessness Thy rest." In Thy mercy forgive
us. We are so weak and sin so easily that we must daily cast ourselves upon Thy
strength and daily renew our prayer for pardon. Make us strong to resist sin
and to overcome every temptation. All through this day may we be true to all
that is pure and holy and Christ-like. May Thy Kingdom come! Cheer our hearts
with new displays of Thy saving power, with signs and wonders as of old time,
with new miracles of conversion and sanctification. We long to see Christ
recognized and honored by men and by society. Heal our friends who are sick.
Comfort all who are in sorrow. Where heavy burdens are to be borne, give the
courage and the strength to bear them. And keep us all in the love of Jesus,
and in conscious fellowship with Thee. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
W. I. Wishart, D.D.,
Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania
January 5
O Lord, my God, I will give thanks unto
Thee forever. ~ Psalm 30:12
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| Photo: Jesper Noer |
Our
eternal Father, we thank Thee that Thou hast brought us into the close and
loving relationship of children, by the death of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our
Saviour, through Whom we are adopted into Thy divine family and become Thy
children.
We thank Thee that Thou Who wast the Creator of all men hast
brought into Thine own family those who accept the love and sacrifice of Thy
dear Son. We thank Thee that Thou dost share with us not only our sorrows, but
our joys; that Thou art delighted when life delights us, and when virtue and
faithfulness leads us to higher levels of thought and purpose.
We thank Thee for Thy Holy Word, and pray that our
faithfulness in studying it may result in spiritual growth and development. May
we “hunger and thirst after righteousness” and after the food of Thy Word. May
we never dare to enter upon the duties of a single day without the nourishment
and support of a Word of God!
Bless, we pray Thee, all who are dear to us, and give us all
an interpretation of friendship which centers in our divine Friend and Saviour,
Jesus Christ, We ask it in His Holy Name. Amen.
John Timothy Stone, D.D.,
Chicago,
Illinois
