O God,

Early in the morning do I cry unto Thee.

Help me to pray,

And to think only of Thee.

I cannot pray alone.

In me there is darkness,

But with Thee there is light.

I am feeble in heart, but Thou leavest me not.

I am restless, but with Thee there is peace.

In me there is bitterness, but with Thee there is patience;

Thy ways are past understanding, but

Thou knowest the way for me.

O heavenly Father,

I praise and thank Thee

For the peace of the night.

I praise and thank Thee for this new day.

I praise and thank Thee for all Thy goodness

and faithfulness throughout my life.

Thou hast granted me many blessings:

Now let me accept tribulation

from Thy hand.

Thou wilt not lay on me more

than I can bear.

Thou makest all things work together for good

for Thy children.

                                                                                                            -Dietrich Bonhoeffer  “Letters & Papers from Prison”

“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church disipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus, living and incarnate. . . 

Costly grace is the gospel which is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.

Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner.  Above all , it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: “ye were bought at a price,”  and what has cost God much cannot be cheeap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.”

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The Way of Perfection by St. Teresa of Avila

“We must ask God, too, to make the captains in this castle or city–that is, the preachers and theologians–highly proficient in the way of the Lord. And as most of these are religious, we must pray that they may advance in perfection, and in the fulfilment of their vocation, for this is very needful. For, as I have already said, it is the ecclesiastical and not the secular arm which must defend us. And as we can do nothing by either of these means to help our King, let us strive to live in such a way that our prayers may be of avail to help these servants of God, who, at the cost of so much toil, have fortified themselves with learning and virtuous living and have laboured to help the Lord.”

St Teresa of Avila “Way of Perfection”.

Starting June, 2010 we are starting “ONE country a WEEK” prayer committment. Every week choose a country and click on the link http://operationworld.24-7prayer.com/index.php for prayer points and information on the country. Starting with Africa, our first country is Algeria. 

A calendar is posted under “ONE country a WEEK” prayer calendar. 

Please join me in praying for ONE country a Week.

Divine Office is a catholic site using the book “Christian Prayer: Liturgy of Hours.http://divineoffice.org/

Book of Common Prayer is available online with the English Standard Version Bible. http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/bcp/

Rev 8:4 The smoke coming from the incense with the prayers of the saints ascended before God.

Here is an excerpt from the March 28th date:

“I AM A GOD WHO GIVES and gives and gives. When I died for you on the cross, I held back nothing; I poured out My Life like a drink offering. Because giving is inherent in My nature, I search for people who are able to receive in full measure. To increase your intimacy with Me, the two traits you need most are receptivitiy and attentiveness. Recepetivity is opening up your innermost being to be filled with My abundant riches. Attentiveness is directing your gaze to Me in all your moments. It is possible to stay your mind on Me, as the prophet Isaiah wrote. Through such attentiveness you receive the glorious gift: My perfect Peace.” Philipians 2:17; Mark 10:15, Isaiah 26:3

HOW TO ASCERTAIN THE WILL OF GOD

1. I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people generally is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the LORD’s will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.

2. Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.

3. I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.

4. Next I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God’s Will in connection with His Word and Spirit.

5. I ask God in prayer to reveal His Will to me aright.

6. Thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly. In trivial matters, and in transactions involving most important issues, I have found this method always effective.

by George Mueller  at http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Fellowship/Mueller.Answers.to.Prayer.html

 “I shall remember the deeds of the LORD;

Surely I will remember Thy wonders of old.

I will meditate on all Thy work,

And muse on Thy deeds.” Psalm 77:11-12

 ”REST” in Care of Thyself Newsletter, January 2010 http://www.nurses4him.org/uploads/January_2010_Newsletter.pdf