The "Take-Home" Prayer
Dear God, I praise You and thank You for the gift of Jesus who shows us the way to live receiving and sharing abundant life and love. I thank you that You show us that You want to make us whole, to live into the fullness of life, and to be Your gifts of life in the world. I confess that I sometimes am afraid to walk in Your Way, afraid of making waves, of what other might think or do in response to my living Your newness of life. I confess that there are days when I don’t live Your life at all, and other days when I drift away. I sometimes serve lesser gods of money, work, entertainment, and more. But You are healing, hope, and life - - there is really nowhere else that is “real” in which to center myself. So I turn from those other ways, and turn now to You. I open myself to You, to listen in Your presence, seeking to know who I am in You, to embody Your gift of new life this day, and be Your gift to others (take some time to be silent, open to the wonder of God’s love for You revealed in the gift of Jesus. Listen for ways God is calling you to move, to act, to understand yourself that will form and lead you in God’s Spirit-- 15 minutes or so). I thank You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.