Advent day 17

Abba Father

I had almost given up hope and you rescued me.  When I am weak, you are strong.  When I have stumbled out my strength, you pick me up.  Your presence, Lord, is surprising and consistent and undeserved.  Great Physician, Councilor, Comforter, Friend, Father.  Oh how often I need your rescue and yet I doubt it will come.  Thank you Father for acting in your time, your perfect time, and not mine.  Thank you for giving me what I need even if it isn't what I want.  Abba Father, please heal me.  Remove these headaches or teach me if an area of sin is causing them.  I'm trying to seek out how to treat your temple with respect and intention.  Meet me in the midst of that effort.  Redirect me if I am focus wrong.  Encourage me if I am following your will.  Teach me.  Thank you for teaching me how to pray through your Word.  I have noticed you bringing it to me.  I want to pay better attention.  I want the prayers of the these men and women to be true for me too.  With earnest heart to declare I will praise your Name forever!  To never grow weary of worship.  To never run out of ways to praise you Lord.  To show you my tears in pain, sorrow and joy.  To give over my pain as a sacrifice.  Help me to leave it on the alter Lord.  I am weary of carrying it alone.    

Pam - purpose; singleness, family, travel, wisdom
Kim - health; blessing
Katie - childlessness, adoption
Jenn - health, energy, purpose, rest
John - growing, relationship
Aaron - freedom from alcohol, relationship with you, good fellowship, healthy companionship, singleness, Christmas (car)
Mom - health; relationship with her mother; grandchildlessness, friendship
Dad - health; worry; stress
Extended Family - hardship. no matter who's dealing with what I ask you draw them closer to you
Vince - purpose, mental turmoil, depression, hiding himself away, family drama
Sarah - rest, strength, to be seen
Lisa - mourning, rest, love, relief, peace, help, bring her to the councilor
Mark - closer to you, relationship, growth, change, purpose, wisdom, compassion, discernment
Bonnie & Galen & kids - salvation, health
Jen & Todd - effective ministry, children's health
Guiles - effective ministry
Ross's - health, blessing
Rachel - adventure, new pasture, your will be done
Sarah - energy, confidence in you
Jon - passion & purpose, relationship
Pastor Greg and church leadership - protection from spiritual attack, strong relationship with you, accountability, insight
Delton & Gretchen - legal trouble
Cam - business success, balance, energy, rest

Advent day 11

Abba Father,

I have failed but you have not.  Still you call, still you answer, still you are the answer.  Help me to know you better.  Give me wisdom and understanding as I read your word.  Teach me how to worship through your word.  Teach me how to praise you.  I am afraid of running out of things to say about you.  You are so high and above.  Your works are so grand it's easy to thank you for the world  and fail to continue to praise.  Is the answer to get small?  To list all the things you have created and all the ways you walk with me each day?  To say all the aspects of your character?  Or is worship and praise the recognition of who your are and how your moving in my life?  How I notice...the act of noticing and calling it out?  Is it asking your questions knowing that your thoughts are higher than my thoughts and your ways higher than my ways?  I want to see you.  I want to notice the sun shining and praise your for your power, your plan and how you have created a world so beautiful and functional.  I want  to watch the snow floating in the sun, glittering and drifting, and praise you for the seasons.  Oh how it dances.  How you use your creation to teach us truths.  Don't let it be about me.  Teach me how to make it about you.  I want to follow where you lead like the instinct that tells the birds to fly south for the winter.  I want to lay in your presence and listen and be still like a cat lays in sunshine.  I want it to be my natural state, my natural inclination to do so.  Glorify your name through me.  Tell me what you want me to ask?  For myself and others.
Father, help me to see where your moving.  Strengthen my faith and theirs through the answers to my prayer.  Work and move in their lives and show them You.  Glorify your name in their lives.  Bring miracle.

Pam - purpose; singleness, family, travel, wisdom
Kim - health; blessing
Katie - childlessness, adoption
Jenn - health, energy, purpose, rest
John - growing, relationship
Aaron - freedom from alcohol, relationship with you, good fellowship, healthy companionship, singleness
Mom - health; relationship with her mother; grandchildlessness, friendship
Dad - health; worry; stress
Extended Family - hardship. no matter who's dealing with what I ask you draw them closer to you
Vince - purpose, mental turmoil, depression, hiding himself away
Sarah - rest, strength, to be seen
Lisa - mourning, rest, love, relief, peace, help, bring her to the councilor
Mark - closer to you, relationship, growth, change, purpose, wisdom, compassion, discernment
Bonnie & Galen & kids - salvation, health
Jen & Todd - effective ministry, children's health
Guiles - effective ministry
Ross's - health, blessing
Rachel - adventure, new pasture, your will be done
Sarah - energy, confidence in you
Jon - passion & purpose, relationship
Pastor Greg and church leadership - protection from spiritual attack, strong relationship with you, accountability, insight
Delton & Gretchen - legal trouble
Cam - business success, balance, energy, rest

Advent day 5

Abba Father,

You are the Great Physician.  I believe you can heal me.  I know you have a plan if you don't.  Help me to wait on you.  You know where I'm at.  Help me to endure without complaint and not become consumed with self.  Teach me to be more aware of others suffering and flow through me to show your love, compassion and kindness.  Help me to step out of the way so the Holy Spirit will be unencumbered.  Teach me balance today.  Teach me not to give up hope.  Teach me the balance between pursuing health and being content with where you have me right now.  The list of people that I want to bring before you grows everyday Lord.  Teach me how to pray for them.  How to look first to worship and thanksgiving before I turn my eyes to the growing needs of a sinful, fallen world.  I know you love them.  I know you love them more than I ever could.  Words can express your greatness.  You are awesome!  You hold all things in your hand.  Our lives, our stories.

Pam - purpose; singleness, family, travel, wisdom
Kim - health; blessing
Katie - childlessness, adoption
Jenn - health
John - growing, relationship
Aaron - freedom from alcohol, relationship with you, good fellowship, healthy companionship, singleness
Mom - health; relationship with her mother; grandchildlessness
Dad - health; worry; stress
Extended Family - hardship. no matter who's dealing with what I ask you draw them closer to you
Vince - purpose, mental turmoil, depression, hiding himself away
Sarah - rest, strength, to be seen
Lisa - mourning, rest, love, relief, peace, help
Mark - closer to you, relationship, growth, change, purpose
Bonnie & Galen & kids - salvation, health
Jen & Todd - effective ministry, children's health
Guiles - effective ministry
Ross's - health, blessing
Rachel - adventure, new pasture, your will be done
Sarah - energy, confidence in you
Jon - passion & purpose, relationship
Pastor Greg and church leadership - protection from spiritual attack, strong relationship with you, accountability, insight
Delton & Gretchen - legal trouble
Cam - business success, balance, energy

Advent day 4

Abba Father,

  You are so gracious.  You are a wonderfully loving father and I love you.  The beauty you create is breath taking.  Your timing is perfect.  You are holy.  You are a patient teacher.  You see my heart and you know my name.  Help me to know your names better, to know you better.  What joy you bring even on days that are hard.  Today was hard Father.  Not the worst day ever though I could have built it up in my mind as such.  You wrapped me in warm caring.  You let me feel sad and sheltered me under your wing.  You are my safe harbor.  My hope is in you.  For the bad days coming, along with the good, draw my eyes back to your face, turn my ear to your voice, direct my steps to follow.

Pam - purpose; singleness, family, travel, wisdom
Kim - health; blessing
Katie - childlessness, adoption
Jenn - health
John - growing, relationship
Aaron - freedom from alcohol, relationship with you, good fellowship, healthy companionship, singleness
Mom - health; relationship with her mother; grandchildlessness
Dad - health; worry; stress
Extended Family - hardship. no matter who's dealing with what I ask you draw them closer to you
Vince - purpose, mental turmoil, depression, hiding himself away
Sarah - rest, strength, to be seen
Lisa - mourning, rest, love, relief, peace, help
Mark - closer to you, relationship, growth, change, purpose
Bonnie & Galen & kids - salvation
Jen & Todd - effective ministry, children's health
Guiles - effective ministry
Ross's - health, blessing
Rachel - adventure, new pasture, your will be done
Sarah - energy, confidence in you
Jon - passion & purpose, relationship
Pastor Greg and church leadership - protection from spiritual attack, strong relationship with you, accountability, insight
Delton & Gretchen - legal trouble

Advent day 3

Abba Father,

You are amazing.  You fill me up and make the empty places whole.  You acted to redeem all humankind, not just those who agreed with you.  Your justice and mercy are overwhelming.  Father God I thank you for reminding me this week that your grace is not the same thing as poise and charm.  Thank you for reminding me that speaking the truth in love means that I have to have demonstrated the love first.  Thank you for bringing me reminders to pause and be amazed at the simple and complex wonders you have created all around me.  Thank you for meeting me where I'm at, for meeting my small efforts with huge amounts of grace.  You have filled my heart until it overflows with joy and I have missed that for so long.  Thank you.
I confess there are times when I use my tongue like a blunt weapon. Give me pause before I speak and always let my first response be grace and love.  I acknowledge before you Lord that I have forgotten to put you first.  Wipe away any false idols.  Remind me to come before you.
Abba, there are so many things that are wrong and broken in this world.  It feels like Ps 23's shadow of death at times.  The fear and hopelessness that our current age, and a focus on everything wrong, brings is overwhelming.  Don't let me get lost in a quagmire of helplessness.  Help me to remember that you don't ask me to help everyone, just the one in front of me.  I can't rescue mankind, only you can do that.  No matter how I feel about our current politcal representatives, you have put them in power for a reason and so I pray that your name be glorified.

Pam - purpose; singleness
Kim - health; blessing
Katie - childlessness, adoption
Jenn - health
John - growing, relationship
Aaron - freedom from alcohol, relationship with you, good fellowship, healthy companionship, singleness
Mom - health; relationship with her mother; grandchildlessness
Dad - health; worry; stress
Extended Family - hardship. no matter who's dealing with what I ask you draw them closer to you
Vince - purpose, mental turmoil, depression, hiding himself away
Sarah - rest, strength, to be seen
Lisa - mourning, rest, love, relief, peace
Mark - closer to you, relationship, growth, change, purpose
Bonnie & Galen & kids - salvation
Jen & Todd - effective ministry, children's health
Guiles - effective ministry
Ross's - health, blessing
Rachel - adventure, new pasture, your will be done
Sarah - energy, confidence in you
Jon - passion & purpose, relationship
Pastor Greg and church leadership - protection from spiritual attack, strong relationship with you, accountability, insight

Advent day 2

Abba Father,

I know there is a "right" way to do this but for so long I have failed to come into your presence at all because I was getting distracted.   Trying to keep my brain on the rails.  I know you are worthy of praise.  I know that turning my mind to your greatness is part of the "benefits" of prayer.  Taking my mind from self and placing it on you in your eternity.  So I bow my head and acknowledge your Holy name.  I revel in your Beauty and Love because you are Love.  I feel safe in your Justice.  Thank you for loving me.  For pursuing this lost sheep and walking beside me.  For disciplining me like an good Father would.  For teaching me in patience.  I want to know you better.   I want to know who you are so I can be more like you.  I want to know where you moving so I can follow.  I want to know what your voice sounds like so I can hear you.
I have been distracted.  I have placed godly tasks before you my God.  I have justified my pride under a cloak of self sacrifice.  I have lost contact with the you as my source.
I confess that I'm afraid to open the flood gates of requests.  I'm afraid you won't answer.  I'm afraid the list of needs/wants will be longer that my worship.  I'm afraid of doing it wrong.  So I lay my fear before you Lord and let go.  I let go of the idea that I'm bringing a list to Santa and instead acknowledge that you already know the needs and wants.  You are inviting me to participate with what you are already doing.
Pam - purpose; singleness
Kim - health; blessing
Katie - childlessness, adoptioin
Jenn - health
John - growing
Mom - health; relationship with her mother; grandchildlessness
Dad - health; worry; stress
Extended Family - hardship. no matter who's dealing with what I ask you draw them closer to you
Vince - purpose, mental turmoil, depression, hiding himself away
Sarah - rest, strength, to be seen
Lisa - mourning, rest, love, relief, peace
Mark - closer to you, relationship, growth, change, purpose
Bonnie & Galen & kids - salvation
For myself Lord, you know my health issues and so I ask for healing.  I ask you to help me in developing discipline in prayer and my spiritual life.  Help me to balance my life.  I want to do what you want me to be doing.  Help me to finish my to do list and those things that I can't finish, help me to let them go and rest when it's time to do so.