"You may be the only gospel another person reads." - a familiar saying 

Have you read a good book lately?  Did you tell another person about the good book you read?  Did you hear about the good book that someone else read? 

Novels, short stories, science fiction, essays, biographies, romance, history.  There are all kinds of books to read, from every genre and from every age. 

But YOU may be the "book" that another person reads.  You are the character, you are the story: the way you live and work and speak and love. 

Are you a good read? 

Father, write your story on the pages of my life so that others may see Your gospel through me.  Amen. 


Photo by Joel Muniz on Unsplash

"... and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak, and as many as touched it were healed." - Matthew 14:36 

Oh, how I wish I could touch the tassel on His cloak and be healed.  To feel the power released by Him and enter into me would be so warming. 

We all have issues and problems and worries and concerns.  Just let me touch You so I can be healed. 

Jesus, heal me.  Amen.

"The prophet went on and waited for the king on the road, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes." - 1 Kings 20:38 

It seemed like a good idea.  In order to compensate for a sore toe, just ditch the tennis shoes and walk the treadmill in sandals.  Well, now there's band-aids decorating my blistered soles! 

Sometimes the choices we make aren't so smart.  How often do we place bandages on our "blistered souls"?  We try to cover up our mistakes, our hurtful actions, our transgressions, our ridicule.  We don't want to expose our scorn to others. 

Remove the bandage and free yourself in the Sacrament of Confession. 

Divine Physician, let my soles walk openly toward your mercy.  Unveil the goodness in my heart and heal my soul of all guilt and shame.  Amen.

OMG!  The butterfly landed on my hand in the backyard.  How cool is that!!  I could feel it tickling the back of my hand.  And, then, in the blink of an eye, it was gone. 

Do you have a moment when God was so close to you, you could touch him and feel His tickling deep in your soul? 

O God, come close to me.  Enable the Holy Spirit to come alive in my soul.  Amen.

"He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." - Matthew 3:12 

Some call them weeds; others call them flowers.  God says He will come and separate the wheat from the chaff. 

What if I'm "having a bad day" when He comes?  What side will I be on? 

Everlasting God, may You always see favor in me.  Amen.

Even a tree knows its source as it points its way to the Heavenly Kingdom.  Stretching to the sky with its "fingers" pointing heavenward, it is worthy of imitating. 

Show me, Heavenly Father, the way, the truth and the light.  Let my arms always stretch up to You.  Amen.

How many times have I yelled out, "What's wrong with me?".  As my outer self withers, fades and becomes disfiguring, my inner self begins to share this same ugliness. 

Where is my hope?  Where is my love?  Where is my nourishment? 

In you, Dear Lord, I find my Hope and my Love.  Leave me not, O Lord, for my soul rests in You.  Amen.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit ... Blessed are they who mourn ... Blessed are the meek ... Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness ... Blessed are the merciful ... Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven." - Matthew 5:3-12 

I heard an interview with a player reflecting on being named to play in the 2019 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.  "Blessed," he stated.  "I am blessed."  He must have used the word "blessed" to describe his feelings at least a dozen times in the short interview. 

We are all "blessed" in one way or another.  We live in a democratic society; we own homes and cars; we have employment and schooling options; we have access to good health.  We can practice our religion freely; we are forgiven of our sins and transgressions; we have a Savior that died for us; we have a relationship with a God that loves us. 

We ARE "blessed."  How many times do you acknowledge it? 

Loving Father, I am Blessed.  I am truly Blessed.  Thank you.  Amen.


Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

"The good leave an inheritance to their children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the just." - Proverbs 13:22 

It's enjoyable to look back at days gone by.  We're fascinated by watching old movies, listening to golden oldies, reading timeless novels, or hearing a wise man's story. 

How will you be known by the next generation?  What legacy are you leaving?  What will people say about who you are, what you did, what faith you shared? 

Dear God, like the classics from long ago, let my life unfold as its own unique classic in your kingdom.  Amen.

Six prayers to keep on your mind and in your heart for each week of Lent. 

WEEK 1: Lord, as we enter Lent help us to draw near to you in praise, stripping away all that distracts us from worship. Amen. 

WEEK 2: As Jesus resisted temptation by the devil in the wilderness, help us reflect on his faithfulness to God, his rejection of worldly values, and hold these thoughts in our hearts throughout Lent and beyond. Amen. 

WEEK 3: Jesus, you prayed and fasted. As your disciple, teach me about spiritual discipline in my relationship with you. Amen. 

WEEK 4: Lord, may Lent be a time of inward searching that makes me more able to look with compassion at the needs of the world. Amen. 

WEEK 5: Thank you Lord for desert experiences, when being confronted with myself makes me realize my need of you. Amen. 

WEEK 6: Lord, you’ve guided us through the difficult days of Lent, encouraging us along the way. We pray as we move towards the darkest day, that you’ll not forsake us but remind us of our Savior’s ultimate gift and promise of new, abundant, eternal life for all who believe and trust in him, your precious son, Jesus. Amen. 

SOURCE: https://thevalueofsparrows.com/2018/02/19/prayer-six-short-prayers-for-the-lenten-period/