09 April, 2011

daily grace

April 9

God,
This food we are about to eat
will help the hunger inside
but only Christ can fill our souls
until we're satisfied.
So thank you for our daily bread
and for each day of life,
and thank you for the Bread of Heaven:
our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

07 April, 2011

supporting grace

April 7



Eternal God,
You are our refuge, and underneath are your everlasting arms.*
Thank you for loving us and supporting us and providing all we need.
Bless this food and our hearts, so we may serve you as best we can.
Amen.

* See Deuteronomy 33:27

06 April, 2011

HANGING ON

April 6, 2011



Today I awoke feeling extremely tired. Am I pushing myself too much? Am I depressed? Am I getting sick? Is it just the dreary weather? Not sure. I just know that I could have slept in for several more hours, which is not like me. Even yesterday I felt so tired at times that I almost closed my eyes while in the midst of working.

But I keep going. I keep hanging on, just like the leaf that is hanging on our maple tree.

One lone leaf has been attached to the tree all winter and into spring. Through all of the cold, the snowstorms, the blustery winds, the driving rainstorms, this leaf keeps hanging on, never giving up its hold on life, such as it is. The leaf is shriveled and brown, with little life left, but as long as it remains attached to the branch there is hope.

Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5, NRSV)

So I keep holding on to Jesus and to his promises. And I keep trusting that he will give me strength to make it through another day.

Give us this day our daily bread. Give me this day strength for today. Keep me holding on, Jesus, attached to your power and your love and your unending grace, for apart from you I can do nothing.

03 April, 2011

Living grace

For all your love and tender care
we praise you, gracious God above.
Be with us as this meal we share.
Then may our lives be lived with love.
Amen.

01 April, 2011

Sheltering Grace

April 1

Sheltering God,
We remember how you cared for your people wandering in the
desert after Moses led them from Egypt; and how you fed them
with bread and meat from heaven and quenched their thirst with
water from a rock*. We, too, are you people, God. Thank you
for this food and drink to satisfy our needs. Continue to guide us
and care for us.
Amen.

*See Exodus 17:1-6