Editor’s note: Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany were friends of Jesus. This year, a number of christian denominations commemorate them on July 29. Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said […]
Come Away and Rest: Prayers for Swedish Wildfires, South African Miners and Peace in the Holy Land (July 19, 2018)
Jesus said to the disciples, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they […]
Lord, Declare New Things: After Hurricane Harvey, Monsoon Floods, and the Freetown Landslide (August 31, 2017)
Do you know what I have done for you? – John 13:12c And new things I now declare – Isaiah 42:9b The word of the Lord stands forever – Isaiah 40:8b, I Peter 1:25 Lord, we see what you have done for us, but sometimes it is difficult as we do not know or […]
Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled: Prayers for Iran’s Mine Disaster and Shipwrecks off Libya (May 11, 2017)
[Jesus said to the disciples,] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I […]
I Came That They May Have Life: Prayers for Iran’s Miners, Amazon Tribes, and Midwest Floods (May 4, 2017)
I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. – John 10:10b Never-ending God, we long for abundant life. All too often we settle for what our minds believe we deserve. But that isn’t abundance. Or, as we strive to live abundantly, we do so at the expense of others, or the environment, […]
Nothing Can Separate Us: Prayers Before the US Election, for Calais and Italy’s Earthquake (December 28, 2016)
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” Romans 8:38-39, NLT Recognizing the effects of fear and anxiety in our lives, we […]
Lord, Hear Our Prayer: For EgyptAir Flight MS804, Sri Lanka’s Landslides, and Venezuela’s Hunger (May 19, 2016)
Heavenly Father, we come to you with open but hurt hearts with this week’s news. May the Holy Spirit fill us with strength and compassion towards our neighbors, near and far. We pray for the millions of students who celebrate their graduations. May their learning enrich our world. Lord, hear our prayer. We pray for […]
Give Us Wisdom to Discern: Prayers After the China Warehouse Blast and a Baghdad Truck Bomb (August 13, 2015)
God, in the trouble of this world, in the confusion of rumor and news, in the anxiety of daily life, we pray that you will give us wisdom, that we may discern between good and evil. Give us wisdom in selecting our leaders. We pray for Sri Lanka as they prepare for their Parliamentary […]
Praise and Thanksgiving: Gratitude Amid Ebola in Guinea and Mine Deaths in China (November 27, 2014)
“Praise and thanksgiving, Father we offer, for all things living you have made good” Hymn by Albert F.Bayly Father at the start of a new Christian year we offer our thanksgiving for all the mercies we have received over the past years. Despite the snow and difficult traveling conditions for many in Canada and the […]
When Words Become Weapons: A Prayer for the Soma Mine Fire and the Chibok Girls (May 15, 2014)
Jesus said, “You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you […]