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Prayer for the Week 5.20.18

 

 

This Week’s Prayer

Almighty God,

On this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit:

Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth;

through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

 

Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday, the day we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

I'm grateful for the presence of the Spirit in my life, aren't you? God's Spirit lives and breathes in us; guiding, comforting, filling, and strengthening us.

The Holy Spirit brings life and power - especially in those moments when we feel discouraged and overwhelmed.

The Spirit convicts us of evil and guides us into the light of truth.

He heals our fractured relationships, and binds our hearts together.

Let's pray that this gift is poured out on the whole earth, in abundance. Oh, how we need the balm of unity and love that only He can give.

And I will pray for you, my dear reader. I will pray that the Holy Spirit will fill your life to overflowing, and that you will experience His presence and a new and tangible way.

May He renew your strength and give you joy.

Love,

Rachel

Prayer for the Week 5.13.18

 

 

This week’s prayer:

 

O God, the King of glory,

you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:

Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us,

and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before;

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting.

Amen.

~Book of Common Prayer

 

Do you ever stop to consider that we are never left to face life’s difficulties alone? In this week’s prayer, I am reminded that the Holy Spirit is always with us, giving us strength for the journey.

His Spirit provides comfort, breathing life into our tired souls.

He revives us.

Best of all, Christ has gone before us, making a way through whatever hardship or struggle is in our path. He leads us forward, and we can trust that He will always sustain us, each step of the way.

When I pause to remember that Jesus triumphed over persecution with forgiveness, over evil with goodness, and over hatred with love, I see the path before me clear and all confusion falls away.

Ohhhh. This is what I’m called to do and be:

We redeem others because we are redeemed.

We forgive because we are forgiven.

We love because we are loved. 

Our Savior Christ has gone before us. We need only to follow in His footsteps, and we will be sustained by His Spirit - just as He has promised.

~ Rachel

On this Mother’s Day, wherever it might find you

 

On this Mother’s Day, wherever it might find you, may you feel loved.

 

For the mom who is overwhelmed and tired, may you find a moment of joy. You deserve it.

For the woman who misses her mom, may you feel her arms around you no matter how far away, or how long gone. She loves you still.

For the one who mourns a lost baby, or who grieves for a kid who has lost his way, may you be comforted in the knowledge that your child is being held by angels. That beloved one is always, always in God’s care.

To the mom who works hard to make a good life for her kids, may you feel appreciated and cherished. 

To the one who has been a mama to other people’s kids, who has mentored and cared for people she calls her own, may you understand the depth of the gift you’ve given them. It is priceless.

For the mom whose kids are grown and gone, may you be filled with sweet memories and tender thoughts of the children who still bear the marks of your love.

To the new mom who is just beginning her motherhood journey, may you know that you will always have what it takes to do it well. You were made for this.

 

I’ve heard it said that every woman is a mother in some way, whether by biological means or by spiritual and emotional means. I believe it.

Women who care for others cannot help but be mothers. We give, we sacrifice, we love, we encourage, we fight, we dig deep. And yes, we cry sometimes, because there are times that tears are the only way to be a mom.

 

This crazy mix of emotions is what makes Mother’s Day what it is.

 

Filled and fraught, tender and bittersweet.

We remember our own mothers and reach for them through space and time.

We savor the smells of freshly bathed babies, and dream of graduations and weddings.

We mourn our losses and celebrate our joys. 

 

Wherever this day finds you, whatever season of life you’re in, I pray that you feel loved and known. I wrap my arms around you and I give you a long squeeze that says, “you are someone special.”

Today, I give you permission to treat yourself to something good. A cup of tea, a slice of cake, a walk in the park, a chick flick, or maybe a nap. Whatever makes you happy, do it! I insist.

On this Mother’s Day, may you know that you are beautiful inside and out, and that this world is better because of you.

Thank you for being part of my online life.

 

You are loved; so, so loved.

 

Always your friend and Company Girl,

Rachel

Prayer of the Week 5.6.18

 

This week’s prayer:

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding:

Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire;

through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Book of Common Prayer

 

 

Sometimes, I find myself praying for my long list of things I need God to do for me, rather than praying that I would love Him more. What a difference it could make if I set my requests aside and simply asked for a heart full of love for Him!

What if I spent some time pondering His great love for me, His tender care, and His unfailing mercies?

I am reminded that He can do above and beyond what I can imagine, and I am able to rest in the knowledge that He is working on my behalf at all times.

This week, let’s allow God’s love to be poured into our hearts. And loving Him in all things, we can let Him do His work to keep His promises, and trust that He will exceed all that we can desire.

With love,

Rachel