Prayer Diary Sept 2012
Saturday 1st
Loving Father, sadly many have been bereaved or injured inholiday accidents across our nation. Hold each family and community in Your hands. Help us to pray imaginatively, particularly where children have been involved.
Sunday 2nd
Today, Lyall “preaches in” our friend Ivan Warwick at his new charge of St James’ Paisley. Pray for God’s blessing on that service and on Ivan’s ministry as it opens up.
Monday 3rd
Loving Father, we pray for all who take part in the Paralympic Games, that they may compete in a spirit of unity, fairness and integrity. May their endeavour inspire us as Christians in perseverance and eagerness for Your kingdom. (quoted from SBS ‘Pray Around the World’)
Tuesday 4th Presbytery meets in Thurso West
Esme will moderate Presbytery this evening, deputising for Rev Gordon Oliver. Jesus, Lord of the Church, be present in every part of this meeting so that the worship and the business are pleasing to You. Bless particularly those who join us for the first time.
Wednesday 5th
Merciful Father, help me today to make a determined effort to enhance someone’s life, even if it only means that I offer a smile to a stranger. Who knows what blessing that might bring them!
Thursday 6th Church Hall open for coffees, lunch & teas
We are grateful for the success of the lunches over the summer months. Some visitors have come almost every Thursday to enjoy fellowship as well as good food. Give thanks for those who willingly sacrifice time and energy.
Friday 7th
As Lyall and Isabel plan with the members of our Youth Group the programme for the weeks ahead, pray for God’s blessing and leading. There is so much potential here….
Saturday 8th
We are God’s representatives on earth. Yet, if we are honest, there are times when we have put people off because of our inconsistency, insensitivity or lack of love. Ask God for another chance and for His grace to be more effective.
Sunday 9th
‘This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!’ (Psalm 118.24) Pray for Isabel as she conducts our service at Canisbay and for Lyall at Keiss and Dunnet. Pray too that the hearts and minds of each person who attends might be open to receive Your word. We long that more people would gather with us to receive Your blessing. Show us how to be used to answer our prayers and help us to act.
Monday 10th
The Apostle James reminds us to tame our tongues and the Psalmist prayed that God would guard his lips. Do that for me, Lord. Keep me from indulging in gossip and help all my words to be pleasing to You - every day!
Tuesday 11th
Help us, dear Father, to put You first in our lives. So often we don’t do what You ask, and this takes us away from all that You have planned for us. Help us to obey Your commandments.
Wednesday 12th
‘The plans of the diligent lead to profit’ (Prov.21.5)
Remember those Olympians, particularly the Para-Olympians, who never gave up. We too can refuse to fail and keep our sights on Your goals.
Thursday 13th Church Hall open for coffees, lunch & teas
We thank You, Lord, for the good relationships that Lyall has with our school. Bless and use him in his regular Religious Observance Assemblies and speak to the hearts and minds of the children. Thank You too for the contribution of the school choir at our service on 5th August and for the commendation they received from HRH The Duke of Rothesay.
Friday 14th
One evening this month the Kirk Session and Board will meet to review the recent past and to plan ahead. Pray for Rev John Nugent of Wick St Fergus Church as he takes on responsibility as our Interim Moderator and ask for God’s continued blessing and leading in all our business.
Saturday 15th
Remember those in foreign lands who are persecuted for their faith. Here too there are those who are ridiculed for their belief in our Lord Jesus Christ, particularly the youngsters. Pray for those who struggle daily for their principles.
Sunday 16th
Glorify Your Name, Lord! There are many who used to gather with us regularly each Sunday but their seats are empty. Speak to those who have got out of the habit and prompt them to come back. Show us if there is something we could do to help to answer this prayer. Be close to those who would give anything to be able to worship with us but age or infirmity keeps them away. Make the fellowship of Your Spirit real to them today.
Monday 17th
Loving God, we pray today for the staff and children of our school. Give skill, strength and patience to all who teach, and open minds and hearts to all who learn. Bless each home represented. Thank You that You know and love each person, young and old.
Tuesday 18th
Gluttony is an ugly word! We are greedy for so many things, Lord. Teach us to share and to use our resources for the benefit of others.
Wednesday 19th
Merciful Lord, so often we fail to follow Your way. Please forgive us for all that we do that is not within Your will. We need Your Spirit to prompt us, pointing out when we are getting it wrong again. Thank You that Jesus died to open the way for each of us to be right with You.
Thursday 20th Church Hall open for coffees, lunch & teas
In today’s culture the temptation to push ourselves forward is very real but as God’s people we are not meant to be like that. Show us how to be humble, Servant Lord. Prompt us to do things for You and not for our own glorification.
Friday 21st
Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and for ever. Heb.13.8
When we compare ourselves with Your constancy, Lord, we have to confess that we are so fickle. Give us a deep longing to be more like You and work in us by Your Spirit to change us.
Saturday 22nd
Prayer is such a valuable privilege - and a necessity if anything worthwhile is to happen within our church. Of course, Jesus is with us as we pray on our own but where husband and wife or two or three friends pray together regularly, He meets with us as He promised, and grants a special blessing.
Sunday 23rd
Traditionally in the National Church the emphasis is on the Bible - many of us remember how it was solemnly carried into the sanctuary at the beginning of the service. As we come to worship today we anticipate learning from the Word on which we feed. Without this we fail to grow and we become ineffective. Speak to us today, Lord.
Monday 24th
As another working week starts for so many, we thank You, Lord, for all who serve us in any way within our community. Help us to show sincerely our appreciation to encourage them in their work. ‘Thank you’ is such a little phrase, but it can mean so much, and failing to say it can leave people disappointed and frustrated. Prompt us!
Tuesday 25th Canisbay Guild
Hopefully the Guild will resume regular meetings with a meal in a local hotel this evening. Thank You, gracious Lord, for the fun and fellowship which we have enjoyed in past days. As some of our former members are unable to join us, show us how to keep in contact with them, and help us to reach new members.
Wednesday 26th
Heavenly Father, we pray for the elderly folk in our community. Many face real difficulties because of age or disability. Be near to each one of them today and to those who lovingly care for them. Prompt me to follow my prayer with a visit or a phone call if this is possible.
Thursday 27th Church Hall open for coffees, lunch & teas
How consistently do I offer service for other people and for our Lord? Do I make excuses for not being available? Teach me, Lord, to look beyond my own desires.
Friday 28th
Another month is drawing to an end: how quickly time seems to fly! Merciful Lord, give me strength in weakness and courage to face any problems which may lie ahead. Help me to be a light to any with whom I may be in contact who don’t yet know You as their Friend.
Saturday 29th
This weekend Lyall and Esme are at Gartmore House, Aberfoyle for the Probationers’ Conference as part of their Ordained Local Ministry Course. Pray for a worthwhile weekend with good fellowship shared and useful knowledge learned.
Sunday 30th
Jesus, Lord of Your Church, be present in every gathering of Your people for worship today. Fill Rev John McPhee with Your Spirit as he conducts the services in Keiss and in Canisbay. Prompt Your people to attend and bless each of us richly.
With gratitude for your fellowship in prayer, Esme and June.
