Morning prayer bump!
(probably my last chance to bump the thread until tomorrow afternoon, but don't let that stop you from bumping it yourself!)
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
Matthew 9: 35-38 RSV
Compassion -- to suffer with.
O Lord,
Emmanuel,
God with Us,
Who suffers with us,
Who feels our griefs,
Who knows our pains,
Who gifts us with his heart's own blood,
That we might know
That he knows,
That he understands,
That he cares,
That he loves.
O God with Us,
who knows the taste of frustration,
who knows how it feels to be misunderstood,
who knows the pangs of hunger,
who understands fear,
and sickness,
and sorrow
and pain.
O Lord, our Shepherd,
Open our hearts that we too might hunger
to share that compassion,
that suffering with our fellow man,
knowing as we do we suffer with you,
knowing as we do your work, we work with you,
knowing that as we give, we give to you.
O Lord,
make us the tools in your hand,
turn us into the workmen in your field,
the laborers for your harvest,
as you will,
in the way you will,
this day, and always.
Amen.
BTTT
Mat 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Mat 7:8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
Mat 7:9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
Mat 7:10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?
Mat 7:11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Lord we ask you for help in travels, for help at work, for help at home and at school. Bless and help those that deal with people in pain or sickness. Please lead us to repentance. Let us get so disgusted with the waywardness of our contry that by your Spirit, we will affect many and bring about a rekindling of the greatness we had when we feared you and loved you, oh Lord.
Jer 24:7 I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.
Bringing this post from another prayer thread, because it belongs in our Prayer Room:
~~~~~
"Just up the road from my home is a field, with
two horses in it. From a distance, each looks like
every other horse. But if you stop your car, or are
walking by, you will notice something quite amazing.
Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that
he is blind.
His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but
has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing.
If nearby and listening, you will hear the sound of a
bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you
will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the
field. Attached to her halter is a small bell. It lets
her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow
her.
As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see
how she is always checking on him. He will listen for
her bell and then slowly walk toward her and trusts
that she will not lead him astray. When she returns to
the shelter of the barn each evening, she stops
occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend
isn't too far behind to hear the bell.
Like the owners of these two horses, God does not
throw us away just because we are not perfect or
because we have problems or challenges. He watches
over us and even brings others into our lives to help
us when we are in need.
Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by
the little ringing bell of those who God places in our
lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping
others see.
Good friends are like this. You don't always see
them, but you know they are there. Please listen for
my bell and I'll listen for yours. "Be kinder than
necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind
of battle."
God be with you all.
~~~~~