As I sit in silence
for the service to begin,
I wonder how the living Lord
might speak to me again.
Will it be the songs we sing
or in the pastor’s prayer?
It just might be the sermon
or a need somebody shares.
Maybe God will touch my heart
through laughter or a sigh,
or even through distractions
like a newborn’s hungry cry.
Whatever means God chooses
as He bends my ear His way,
I will worship God expectantly
for there’s something He will say.
You crane your neck to glimpse your flag
while fleeing for the border.
You shield your kids while on the run
from Molotovs and mortars.
You grieve for what you’ve left behind.
You don’t know what’s awaits you.
May God protect you as you flee
from one who hunts and hates you.
Oh precious mother on the run
we stand with you while praying
that God will guide and open doors
to where you’ll next be staying.
God of all nations,
I give You thanks
for the country I call home
where liberty is prized,
justice is pursued
and freedoms are protected.
On this bright sunny day where I live,
the dark clouds of war
threaten peace far away.
I pray for those whose lives and liberties
are in grave danger.
Surround President Zelenskyy of Ukraine
with wise counsel.
Provide a hedge of protection
for his people in harm’s way.
Give the vulnerable courage.
Infuse the fearful with faith.
Heal those who’ve been wounded.
Honor the memories of those who have died.
Comfort the grieving.
Would You grant our President
and other leaders of the free world
the means to work together
for a peaceful resolution
to this complicated bloodshed?
Would You prevent this regional conflict
from becoming a world war?
Would You remind us of the lessons
painfully learned from past wars
that are too-easily and too-quickly forgotten?
Would You use this chaotic frightening scenario
as a means of opening our eyes, ears and hearts
to You and one another?
These things I seek and ask in Your holy name. Amen.
Sitting by a cozy fire
listening to John Rutter’s choir
frees me from the quicksand mire
of daily life demands.
The dancing flames invite my gaze
and penetrate the inner haze
of foggy thoughts from stressful days
and deadlines yet unmet.
And in the fire’s warmth I find
a respite from the daily grind
and faith to trust when I am blind
to how God cares for me.
When God speaks,
I want to hear
against the backdrop of constant distractions.
Amid the din of doing life
in the midst of mounting pressures
and maintaining routines
(all the while pursuing dreams),
I want to sense His presence
and hear the essence of His heart.
When God speaks,
I want to know what He is saying.
And even if it means a moratorium from praying
(because my words can often get in the way),
I am willing to be still
to know that He is God.
 Greg’s book, “When God Speaks“ is listed on the BOOKS menu at $14.99 from Lulu Books. |
My Rhymes and Reasons 