Our refuge

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .

Vision looks inward and becomes duty. Vision looks outward and becomes burning desire. Vision looks upward and becomes faith.



God Is Our Refuge


God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will we not fear, though the earth do change, and though the mountains be moved into the heart of the seas;

Though the waters thereof roar and foam, though the mountains shake at the swelling thereof. Selah

There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God, the holiest dwelling-place of the Most High.

God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, at the approach of morning.

Nations were in tumult, kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

HaShem of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our high tower. Selah

Come, behold the works of HaShem, who hath made desolations in the earth.

He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariots in the fire.

'Let be, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'


- Psalms 46: 2-11

Jewish
source: Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)

Help, Lord

A PRAYER for HELP.

Dear Lord I have reached the end, I have no hope,
I’ve reached rock bottom, I cannot cope,
I’ve spent my life and now I’ve come,
To this stage, Ican go no further, unless you are the one,
Who can hear my plea and pity me.

I once was young and had big plans,
To beocme the best in all the land ,
At what I did, the world was my oyster,
Not for me, being in some office cloistered,
But up and away, I would have my day.

Being brilliant, the best and when put to the test,
Would rise above all others, to be a shining star,
To be seen in all my glory but alas, I crashed,
And now all my dreams are smashed,, my hopes are dashed,
I am nothing, just a shell and my life is shot to hell.

It started with the in crowd, you know the ones, who talk aloud,
Scoffing at others hopes and fears, with snide remarks and jeers
Expressing disdain , feigning to know so much better,
Than those who try to teach morals which is no mean feat,
In this day and age,, common sense, why was I so dense.
I now have nothing to say in my defense.

Thrills, excitement, they were all the rage, until I trached the stage,
It all became banal, new thrills were my need and so I took no heed,
Of advice given, no matter how sage, I had reached the stage,
Of wanting more, more than anything could give, I needed to live,
The high life, so came the quest, for what I thought best

For in seeking that adrenalin rush, my higher plans had turned to dust,
And now all I wanted was that ever present high,
Which only druge could satisfy, they let me fly,
Higher and faster, with a whirling madness, replaced by sadness,
For I no longer found what I sought, Nothing came, there was nought,
To takes its place, emptiness just empty spage

So now here I am at last, when all is past, ,
Weakened, ravged by diease, sinking to my knees,
Nowhere else to turn, all my bridges burned,
Just here now all alone, how can I atone,
Lord Please pity me and hear my plea.

Experience Your Blessing

Father, I'm praying that (name one or more) and others in my circle of family and friends will be blessed in living for You...

May they live in such a way that they'll be blessed. Protect them from keeping company with those who openly sin or from following their advice. Help them find their pleasure in obeying You, in thinking of Your Word day and night. (Psalm 1:1–2)

May they seek You, finding their refuge in You, being willing to keep their hands clean and their hearts pure. May they worship You, giving You the glory due Your name and walking in the light of Your presence. May they fear You with reverence and awe, living upright lives in unity with others. (Psalm 119:2b; 2:12b; 24:4–5; 29:1–2; 89:15; 112:1–2; 133:1, 3)

Help them not to try deceiving themselves or anyone else about their sins—least of all You—but to confess them, knowing they'll be forgiven. Help them to trust You alone, living in humility, without loving or trusting anyone or anything more than You. (Psalm 32:1–2; 1 John 1:8–9; Psalm 40:4)

May they be kind and help the weak, choosing to live in Your presence, praising You, setting their hearts on finding You. (Psalm 41:1–2; 84:4, 5b)

Bless them for Your kingdom purpose and glory. In Jesus' name, amen.

Prayer of Repentance

Merciful God,
we have sinned
in what we have thought and said,
in the wrong we have done
and in the good we have not done.
We have sinned in ignorance:
we have sinned in weakness:
we have sinned through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry.
We repent and turn to you.
Forgive us, for our Saviour Christ's sake,
and renew our lives to the glory of your name.

Prepare Them Spiritually

Father, I'm praying for these (name them) who are serving in ministries or are on mission for You...

There are many involved in every ministry and mission—some who go and some who serve locally. There are often those behind the scenes who help with planning, financial support, and prayer, as I'm praying now. We're all part of their service, directly or indirectly, and I'm sure none of us feels worthy to be used in such a way. Yet this is one of the good works You've prepared for us to do, and we're grateful. (Ephesians 2:10)

Help us to live worthy of such a calling; keep our hearts prepared for the amazing things You plan to do. Give us pure hearts, sensitive to sin and willing to confess everything You bring to mind, knowing You are quick to forgive. Forgive us when we sin without being aware, and keep us from sinning willfully. Help us not to let any sin rule over us. (Ephesians 4:1; Joshua 3:5; Psalm 51:10; 1 John 1:9; Psalm 19:12–13a; Romans 6:11)

Protect our time with You. Don't let busyness keep us from prayer or being in the Word daily. Help us to live according to Your Word and not neglect it. (Matthew 6:6; John 17:17; Psalm 119:9, 16)

In Jesus' name, amen.

Prayer for Hurricane Season

O God, Master of this passing world, hear the humble voices of your children. The Sea of Galilee obeyed your order and returned to its former quietude; you are still the Master of land and sea. We live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control. The Gulf, like a provoked and angry giant, can awake from its seeming lethargy, overstep its conventional boundaries, invade our land and spread chaos and disaster. During this hurricane season, we turn to You, O loving Father. Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with the passing of time. O Virgin, Star of the Sea, Our Beloved Mother, we ask you to plead with your Son in our behalf, so that spared from the calamities common to this area and animated with a true spirit of gratitude, we will walk in the footsteps of your Divine Son to reach the heavenly Jerusalem where a storm-less eternity awaits us. Amen.

Originally dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Audrey in 1957.


- Fr. Al Volpe, Cameron Parish, LA

Help, please Father!

[We are] destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and [we are] taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
( 2 Cor. 10:5)
Father, so often my thoughts make a wasteland of what you are wanting to
plant there. Help me this day to let every one of them be captive to your
leading. In Jesus name. Amen.

Prayer for those in despair

Dear Father,
Send your life-giving Spirit
upon those who despair of living,
O generous and loving God.
If it is your will,
let them find rest from their labors
that they may have peace.
If there is a call they have not heard,
open their eyes and ears to know it
that they may find the joy of abundant life.
Grant them your blessing this day
and every day.
Amen.

May We Appreciate and Remember

Father,
Today may we appreciate this food and remember those who are hungry.
May we appreciate our family and friends and remember those who are alone.
May we appreciate our health and remember those who are sick.
May we appreciate the freedoms we have and remember those who suffer injustice and tyranny.
Peace on earth.

Spouse with Chronic Illness

Dear Saint of God,

Accept the state of your body today, this instant, and turn to God. If you wake feeling strong and vibrant, be that, and turn to God. If you wake in pain and fear, accept that, and turn to God. Gently let your spouse know that you cherish him/her for the goodness of his/her heart, but that you free him/her from having to assume your burden, because you have given this burden to God.

Thank You for This Amazing Day

Thank You for This Amazing Day


i thank You God for most this amazing
day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth
day of life and love and wings: and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any-lifted from the no
of all nothing-human merely being
doubt unimaginably You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)


- e. e. cummings