“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one....for thine is the kingdom the power, and the glory forever and forever, Amen
Heavenly Father,
Today is a new day, one we never seen before, and one we will never see again. We bless you as we come humbly upon the day that is a crossover to another year in time. We have no idea what is in store for us, but we bring our cares to you...to place them at your feet. As we step to your throne, we ask for forgiveness for our transgressions, omissions, iniquities, and sins that keeps this prayer from going all the way to you. In the name of Jesus we humble out hearts, our nerves, and our earthly resistance because we know that only your will will be done either way. We can submit to it, or become a result of it.
Thank you for this year, how you've been with us, pursued us, protected us, spared us, wooed us, healed us, chastised us, directed and comforted us up to this point. We see no reason to rest in your leading us the rest of the way. What you started in us, please Lord, finish it. What you see in us, let us see; not how we see us...because we only see lack, and feel lack. If the big picture were blown up in front of us every day, I wonder would it make us run to you more often. If we could see the danger you keep us from, on the highways, in the grocery stores, in our neighborhoods, even in our own minds, and the way you gently nudge us to the safety of the day....would we love you more? I pray we learn to. I pray we make it a point to thank you more, to ask for guidance more, and to believe in ourselves like you believe in us. We are all living beneath our privilege. Just like you chose your disciples randomly, we are chosen randomly because what each of us are gifted with can help the other. We ask for our irons to be sharpened, first by you, and then as we open up and share with each other, and that the glory, the praise, and the blessing be counted to your kingdom.
It becomes so easy when you take the wheel, when you know what we need, and we say, "fix it Jesus" and when we say it, you know how we need what we need to put where we need it to bring us joy like never before, like no other man or woman can give. We ask for things, but it is so beautiful when we let you bless us with what you see fit, for then we can be happy doing your will, living in your light, and getting every need in our life met right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Teach us to be grateful. Teach us to love one another...simply because if you are in us, you are love...and we are love. Be with us, Lord...we've gotten used to looking around and feeling you, and looking for you....even when we do that which displeases you, like a child we come back and ask for forgiveness because it is a privilege. We never have to be separated, and I'm glad that door is not what's going to keep us from you. if we lose our bid to be with you, it's our own fault. Not of alienation, because you said whosoever comes to you,you will in no ways cast out.
Thank you for the door that only has a handle on our side...for you stand, knocking endlessly...unconditionally, and eternally. Now that's some love. Would that we could love each other like this. But you know us, and we are a work in progress, Lord, and so we are here...another morning, the last morning of another year......saying thank you, and walk with us into this day...and into 2013.
These blessings we ask in your name, and in 'total praise' to you, Amen
