I think of all the effort that went into the Canada Day celebrations in Springford. There was a team of people who worked hard to bring this together. Often we are not aware of everyone who has given time and supported in various ways what we are then able to experience and enjoy. On Canada Day in Springford and across our country, several individuals and families were able to have happy times of enjoyment because others had given and planned and carried out the special activities. This reminds me of a commitment to care about what happens for others. If all we care about is ourselves, then we would not contribute to what brings blessing to others. God does intend us to give of ourselves for others. It is the example of Jesus. When we sincerely consider the question, “What would Jesus do”? then the answer will always centre around giving and loving. In the words of Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) With this in mind, we can know that prayer is a significant way of giving. Praying for others is not to draw attention to ourselves. Our quiet and consistent prayers for others lifts them up and God works His love in the lives of others as a result of our prayers. When our hearts are moved by the heaviness of what someone else is carrying, we can help to lighten that load by praying. Engaging in prayer for someone else is a loving and effective way to give and we too are blessed when we choose to give by praying. Please join us for our WEDNESDAY PRAYER TOGETHER tomorrow July 5th at 1 pm.
Asking God to strengthen our commitment to give in meaningful ways by praying for others, Pastor Lola
Thank You God for this gift of remembering others in prayer. Thank You that prayer is powerful and effective. We consider the ways that we have seen You bring answers as a result of our prayers. We are aware that praying is an ongoing commitment and we pray that You will strengthen our resolve to pray. Thank You for others who also trust You and pray along with us. Our God, we are grateful that our times of praying are times of drawing close with You. We acknowledge our dependence on You when we pray. We do not pretend or imagine that we can live our lives without You. For the cares and concerns of our lives and the lives of others that lay heavy on our hearts, we find relief when we bring them to You in prayer. When we are asking, “What would Jesus do”? we recall that Jesus spent a great deal of time in prayer. We want to follow that example. Today we pray that You will guide us in all of our thoughts and prayers. We pray for those who are discouraged, for those who have waited so long and are still waiting for hope to appear on the horizon. We pray for those who have been hurt by the words or actions of another. We ask for Your persistent and gentle healing for those hurts that at times cripple the life of the one who has been hurt. Our prayers extend for ourselves to guard us against hurting another, sometimes without awareness. We are praying that our communities will be places of care and concern for each other where we are willing to give to bless and benefit others without seeking recognition. Our loving God, we do pray for newcomers to our country of Canada. We pray for them to grow to feel at home and we pray for us to be warm in our welcome. We want people to have a comforting sense of belonging and we pray for our part in that. In these summer months, we pray that we will not get caught up in our own plans and past times and overlook those around us. We continue to pray for those who are sick in hospital or hospice care or at home. Please sustain those who are ill and those who travel to visit and to support. We pray now for those who have been touched by loss and pray that they will know the consolation of You with them. Whatever You want us to do to accompany them in their sorrow, we pray that You will guide us in this. Thank You God for the gift of giving in prayer. Where people feel forgotten, we pray that they will know we remember them. Where people feel unloved, we pray that our love for them will be evident. Where people have lost sight of You, we pray they will see You again. Where people do not know which way to turn, we pray they will turn to You. For those who have been recently married, we pray Your blessing over their commitment to love each other always. For those who have been married several years, we pray for the sweetness of ongoing faithful love and commitment. For households where new babies are expected, we pray for blessing. For the new things You want to birth in our lives we pray with gratitude and expectancy. Yes, God we affirm that it is a blessing to give as we pray and we thank You in advance for the ways that Your Spirit will bring Your wise and loving answers to the prayers we have prayed together today. In the name of Jesus our Saviour, AMEN.