Send your intentions to
Prayer Requests;
be sure to list the name of the person you are
requesting prayer for. You must submit a name (if prayer is requested for a
particular person), however, if you wish, I will
not publish it to protect identities. Everyone in the St. Stephen's
Association or who accesses this site is encouraged
to remember these prayer requests during any times of private prayer or when
you in congregational prayer.
Please note due to concerns about online security,
we will not list specific prayer requests for individuals. We do, however,
recognize that some situations and needs are so important that we must all be as
aware as possible and add those intentions to our own daily prayers. Thus,
we present here those intentions that we, as a faith community, feel are
important and we solicit your remembrance of these intentions in your daily
prayers.
Continued prayers for the following ...
For the victims of natural disasters - both in our own country and
around our world - may they find loving and caring friends in all of us and come
to know that God loves them through the care and prayers of all.
For our
troops in the fight against terrorism - may they be held safe - may they not
needlessly inflict harm - may they be sustained and encouraged by our prayers
and may they be the last troops we ever need to deploy.
The families of those listed above, People with depression, Pregnant women, People fighting cancer, Young people in trouble,
people who are out of work or discerning a career change.
People struggling with childhood abuse - especially abuse from
religious and other authority figures.
For a just conclusion of the War on Terrorism, that innocent lives be spared and all countries, including the United States,
can find ways of dealing with fear so that their citizens can live peaceful lives soon.
For an end to the death penalty and all state sponsored killing.
For an end to the bloodshed in the Middle East and Iraq; and, the resumption of the process leading to a just peace for the
Palestinian and Israeli people and security for all in the
region.
DEACON'S PRAYER, though
it's pretty good for everyone to pray . . .
Please take a
moment to relax your mind and humble your heart to focus on Christ. Allow God
to be the only person on your mind while you read this prayer. If we can take
the time to read long jokes, stories, etc., we should give the same respect to
this prayer. Friends who pray together, stay together.
Dear Lord, I
thank You for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this
morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God.
You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day
for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I
ask now for Your forgiveness.
Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a
new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every
day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.
Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.
Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me
continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I
sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the
forgiveness of God.
And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example -- to slip
away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed
beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart.
Continue to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I
may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for
others. I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way. I pray for
those who are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You
intimately. I pray for those who will delete this without sharing it with
others. I pray for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.
I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my
sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I
pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all
their needs are met.
I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance,
or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.
I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees
them and every mouth that confesses them willingly.
This is my prayer.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.