#sentenceprayers

Welcome long-awaited Messiah⁠ Alongside the shepherds⁠ We receive you with joy⁠ ⁠ How are you claiming joy when surrounded by so much pain, need, injustice, and death?⁠ ⁠ Selected verses from the Shepherd’s Hymn⁠ by Richard Crashaw⁠ We saw Thee in Thy balmy nest,⁠ Young dawn of our eternal day;⁠ We saw Thine eyes break from the East,⁠ And chase the trembling shades away:⁠ We saw Thee, and we blest the sight,⁠ We saw Thee by Thine own sweet light.⁠ ⁠ To Thee, meek Majesty, soft King⁠ Of simple graces and sweet loves!⁠ Each of us his lamb will bring,⁠ Each his pair of silver doves!⁠ At last, in fire of Thy fair eyes,⁠ Ourselves become our own best sacrifice!⁠ ⁠ #Christmas2020 #Advent2020 #christmasstory #GospelofLuke⁠ #sentenceprayers #talktoGod #pandemicprayers #soulcare #encounteringgod #spiritualpractice #mindfulnesspractice #talkingtoGod⁠ #listeningtogod #godisnear #christianspirituality #trustgod #christianprayer #prayerlife #spirituallife #prayerpractice (at Sarasota, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJGZEYzFIVZ/?igshid=p7n507bp2rsw

Son of Mary⁠ Son of God⁠ Bring Peace to All on Earth⁠ ⁠ Who, what, or where are you praying for promised peace?⁠ ⁠ #Christmas2020 #Advent2020 #christmasstory #GospelofLuke⁠ #sentenceprayers #talktoGod #pandemicprayers #soulcare #encounteringgod #spiritualpractice #mindfulnesspractice #talkingtoGod⁠ #listeningtogod #godisnear #christianspirituality #trustgod #christianprayer #prayerlife #spirituallife #prayerpractice #peaceonearth (at Sarasota, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJDyIoMlvC9/?igshid=822qtqfx5at1

Consider using the text to Phillips Brook's O Little Town of Bethlehem as your prayer today. ⁠ ⁠ 1. O little town of Bethlehem,⁠ how still we see thee lie;⁠ above thy deep and dreamless sleep⁠ the silent stars go by.⁠ Yet in thy dark streets shineth⁠ the everlasting light;⁠ the hopes and fears of all the years⁠ are met in thee tonight.⁠ ⁠ 2. For Christ is born of Mary,⁠ and gathered all above,⁠ while mortals sleep, the angels keep⁠ their watch of wondering love.⁠ O morning stars together,⁠ proclaim the holy birth,⁠ and praises sing to God the king,⁠ and peace to all on earth!⁠ ⁠ 3. How silently, how silently,⁠ the wondrous gift is given;⁠ so God imparts to human hearts⁠ the blessings of his heaven.⁠ No ear may hear his coming,⁠ but in this world of sin,⁠ where meek souls will receive him, still⁠ the dear Christ enters in.⁠ ⁠ 4. O holy Child of Bethlehem,⁠ descend to us, we pray;⁠ cast out our sin, and enter in,⁠ be born in us today.⁠ We hear the Christmas angels⁠ the great glad tidings tell;⁠ o come to us, abide with us,⁠ our Lord Emmanuel!⁠ ⁠ #Christmas2020 #Advent2020 #christmasstory #GospelofLuke⁠ #sentenceprayers #talktoGod #pandemicprayers #soulcare #encounteringgod #spiritualpractice #mindfulnesspractice #talkingtoGod⁠ #listeningtogod #godisnear #christianspirituality #trustgod #christianprayer #prayerlife #spirituallife #prayerpractice (at Sarasota, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CI8E9g3FoDj/?igshid=1brhuo88iexw

My sight is so limited⁠ Your work is far beyond my imagining⁠ Grant me your perspective⁠ so I may endure with hope⁠ ⁠ What captures your attention from scripture we normally skip or skim?⁠ Where does it make a connection to your life?⁠ What invitation to action do you hear?⁠ ⁠ #Christmas2020 #Advent2020 #christmasstory #GospelofMatthew⁠ #sentenceprayers #talktoGod #pandemicprayers #soulcare #encounteringgod #spiritualpractice #mindfulnesspractice #talkingtoGod⁠ #listeningtogod #godisnear #christianspirituality #trustgod #christianprayer #prayerlife #spirituallife #prayerpractice https://www.instagram.com/p/CIxxLj0l6m3/?igshid=bw22oh5go6m0

More and more candles, more and more light,⁠ as we watch and wait for Jesus. ⁠ ⁠ Let in the Light⁠ ⁠ Jesus said, “I have come as light into the world so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness… I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ⁠ ~ John 12:46, John 8:12⁠ ⁠ Let in the Light ⁠ ⁠ Light the candles of hope, love, and joy⁠ ⁠ Prayer by Dimitri of Rostov ⁠ Come, my Light, and illumine my darkness.⁠ Come, my Life, and revive me from death.⁠ Come, my Physician, and heal my wounds.⁠ Come, Flame of divine love, ⁠ and burn up the thorns of my sins,⁠ kindling my heart with the flame of your love.⁠ Come, my King, sit upon the throne of my heart⁠ and reign there,⁠ for you alone are my King and my Lord. Amen.⁠ ⁠ ⁠#Christmas2020 #Advent2020 #christmasstory #GospelofJohn⁠ #sentenceprayers #talktoGod #pandemicprayers #soulcare #encounteringgod #spiritualpractice #mindfulnesspractice #talkingtoGod⁠ #listeningtogod #godisnear #christianspirituality #trustgod #christianprayer #prayerlife #spirituallife #prayerpractice #lightoftheworld ⁠ ⁠ (at Sarasota, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIwNKWdlI0k/?igshid=1871jpgs5mnl8

This year Zechariah surprised me. I'm usually drawn to the end of his message- the tender mercy of God, light breaking through to those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death. ⁠ ⁠ I thought that's where I'd land this year as well. ⁠Especially this year with the ⁠ COVID numbers climbing, ⁠ the natural disasters mounting, ⁠ the black folk continuing to be shot by those empowered to protect and serve, ⁠ the food pantry lines growing...⁠ ⁠ But here I am, claiming the promise of rescue from every enemy so I may breathe, relax, get back to normal. No. So I may serve without fear and keep on serving. Oh the beauty of this rescue. It comes with unending meaning and purpose.⁠ ⁠ Preach, Zechariah, Preach!⁠ ⁠ What captures your attention from this song?⁠ Where does it make a connection to your life?⁠ What invitation to action do you hear?⁠ ⁠ #Christmas2020 #Advent2020 #christmasstory #GospelofLuke⁠ #sentenceprayers #talktoGod #pandemicprayers #soulcare #encounteringgod #spiritualpractice #mindfulnesspractice #talkingtoGod⁠ #listeningtogod #godisnear #christianspirituality #trustgod #christianprayer #prayerlife #spirituallife #prayerpractice (at Sarasota, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIqJWJNlRcD/?igshid=d3lw5agl1si

Elizabeth is an unsung hero of the Christmas story- Open, Wise, Welcoming. ⁠ ⁠ What captures your attention from Luke 1:39-45?⁠ Where does it make a connection to your life?⁠ What invitation to action do you hear?⁠ ⁠ #Christmas2020 #Advent2020 #christmasstory #GospelofLuke⁠ #sentenceprayers #talktoGod #pandemicprayers #soulcare #encounteringgod #spiritualpractice #mindfulnesspractice #talkingtoGod⁠ #listeningtogod #godisnear #christianspirituality #trustgod #christianprayer #prayerlife #spirituallife #prayerpractice (at Sarasota, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIk49gnFVDY/?igshid=1va1774l6ycz4

I'm reading through the classic Christmas story from Luke, Matthew, and John this year. ⁠ ⁠ What captures your attention from the story of Zechariah and Gabriel?⁠ ⁠ What scriptures are you reading this holy season? ⁠ ⁠ #Christmas2020 #Advent2020 #christmasstory #GospelofLuke⁠ #sentenceprayers #talktoGod #pandemicprayers #soulcare #encounteringgod #spiritualpractice #mindfulnesspractice #talkingtoGod⁠ #listeningtogod #godisnear #christianspirituality #trustgod #christianprayer #prayerlife #spirituallife #prayerpractice (at Sarasota, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIfyKD2FsLq/?igshid=gioqabbhyadh