Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Let Us Pray

The first two nights of the Week of Prayer for 2009 have been nearly indescribable. The presence of God has been tangible, and the corporate anointing has been authentic. In honor of what is happening right now at CITN, here's a re-post from last year...




The
Prayer
of
Saint
Francis
of
Assisi




"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.










Where there is hatred...

















...let me sow love;













where there is injury...








...pardon;





















where there is doubt...








...faith;





















where there is despair...






...hope;




where there is darkness...







...light;














and where there is sadness...






...joy.
























O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."











Can I get a witness?

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

AMEN!!!

The past two nights have been life changing at least for me.
See you to night.

Son of Zadok said...

Sometimes we look around us and see the struggle of a world going through it's birth pains, because of what is being revealed in it. The war, the sorrow, the pain.
Opening up our life as a channel for God's gifts of love and grace is the answer. Tuning your internal voice, the spiritual instrument of you being, in line with the Universal Song of the Christ and His Communion.
And as this world gets closer to what awaits it, and as God's will is brought to pass in this age; we can be the ones standing in His glory and His presence. Bringing about the change in so many ways. One of those great gifts and engaged powers is prayer. A time for we and the Spirit to say, THIS IS MY BODY. And to be intimate in that Spirit, which is Christ. This very act of God's grace itself changes the atmosphere in us and in all of humankind.

What time are you all praying at night? I'd like to join with you. What is God creating in your heart so far in these committed times of fellowship with His Spirit?

Amalia said...

Amen.
Prayer is so powerful...and God is so faithful...
...words are not enough...

Anonymous said...

SOZ, Thank You, you don't know how much your feedback means to me.....

I love "The Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi" I was a very young man when I was given a book with this prayer in it. at the time I thought "what the heck is he giving me this for?"

God is always at work in our lives declaring the end from the beginning.

IT'S MOVING DAY! YEAY!
y'ALL PRAY FOR US....


Peace,
Dennis

Anonymous said...

Moving can be fun.

Anonymous said...

AMEN>.........no other words are needed !

Reign! said...

SOZ-prayer is 7pm -8pm each week night, culminating on Friday night.

PRAYER PRAISE REPORT
I attended ITB Sunday night. As I was preparing for sleep I received a call from my son that lives out of state. He had received tremendous favor which not only gave him peace of mind and an opportunity to experience the kingdom at hand, but also prevented him from going through a transition which would have changed the course of his destiny. To God alone, be the glory!

On the nights I can't be ITB, I am praying from 7pm -8pm.

Friend4Life said...

Can I get a witness..yeah!! Amen< I'll agree these past 2 nights have been breathe taking. I was telling my husband I smell spring in the air. (Alive & new)

*For Greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this City!!

~Peace, Love, & Dream BIG~

Anonymous said...

There could not be a better post for me today than The Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi.

In your teaching Sunday you mentioned a fasting of words. That has come back to me a few times since and in an even stronger way this morning.

I will blurk and pray until about this time Friday morning where I will then post a prophecy
for our incoming leadership of the United States.

Until then, Saint Francis Prayer are my words.

JB

peacemaker said...

Bishop,
St. Francis' prayer is very special to me. There is a song by Irish psalmist Maire Brennan whose lyrics are the words to the prayer. The name of the song is "Peacemaker". Obviously, the song title is special to me as well.
If every human could awaken to the fact that at their deepest level; the level that has been buried by the junk allowed to taint their life experiences, resides same concern and compassion for their fellowman that St. Francis imparts.
Postings like this help us all to find our way back to who we are and what our purpose really is.
I think I'll change my plea of, "If every human could awaken..." to the declaration, "WHEN every human DOES awaken...", because I believe it's happening now--across every line and boundary.

You have a great ability to post just the right thing at just the right time...and also put just the right pictures with just the right words.
I, for one, greatly appreciate the heart and effort you put into every one.

Wisdom and Peace belong to YOU!
PM

veri word: sterno
Maybe it's time some of us lit a fire under ourselves do what we need to do to manifest this prayer to the world.

Linda Luke said...

Oh Yes you can! AMEN!

Magnificent and powerful! The pictures really helps to bring the prayer into our or (my) real, everyday life!

I so desire and strive with the help of the Holy Spirit to walk in I Corinthians 13 love and when I fall to get back up! It is so easy to love the lovable and agreeable. The test comes with the bad, ugly and disagreeable.

We are called to manifest His glory, love, and to shine light into the darkness we walk thru!

Each one presence is a PRESENT!

...in agreement in spirit and prayer with my CITN/BITN fam.

Also, Bishop thanky for sharing the Christmas pics of you, Debye, Sofia and fam! Truly a wonderful life and fam!!! =)

....this was sent and is really good!

If we could only do this.............................

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'
4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli , almonds & walnuts.
6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. In stead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed-out charge card.
9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
17. Forgive everyone for everything.
18. What other people think of you is none of your business.
19. GOD heals everything.
20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will.
Stay in touch!!!
22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________.
Today I accomplished _________.
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

Lise said...

yep... up in here (Simpsonville) :}

Crownjewel, I loved the message that you posted! Lots of truly good advice there. I got a real kick out of #8, though. I know that's how it SHOULD be, but I'm the exact opposite! I pretty much skipped breakfast all of my life until the last couple of years. Don't like breakfast food! But now I usually have a banana w/ my hot tea in the morning, followed by either some select cereal w/ ground flaxseed or a granola bar about a half an hour later. It helps! Lunch is more like the college kid 'cause I'm just fixing for me. But dinner?...
unless I'm having a REALLY uninspired day, dinner is fit for the kings in all their glory! (keeping moderation in mind, of course) Funny, I've often said that Joe eats like a king. The great thing is, he never requests anything. I LOVE to cook and can cook whatever I want, and he's usually fine with it. I JUST LOVE THAT ABOUT HIM!

And I have to add my agreement to #s 1 and 24. We used to walk alot, but we were blessed (and I do mean BLESSED) to be able to purchase a really good treadmill for next to nothing off of a co-worker of Joe's. Was barely used, and he mostly just wanted someone to come and get it out of his way. I was so excited! Have wanted one for ages, but didn't want to spend the money. Happy to say the thing is getting ALOT of use! Nothing like a good 30-60 minutes of dripping sweat to relieve stress and make you feel like you can conquer the world! Now, if I could just discipline myself to do it first thing in the am!

LIFE IS GOOD!
GOD IS GREAT!
ENJOY YOUR DAY!

Anonymous said...

PM,
When the Great Awakening does take place, the laborers will be plentiful. The gospel will move around this planet at an alarming rate, with people recieving Christ from every walk of life, everywhere. With faith and love moving in an agreement never seen before, except by Jesus and a few, healings will manifest to all who need to be healed. Jesus walked in pure faith and love. He said the things He did, we will do more. The awakening is coming soon.
It has to. Christianity has been asleep as a whole long enough.

Anonymous said...

Azariah, when will you be ITB? See you soon. What a way the proper way to start the NEW year...by prayer. I know it is done every year, but NOW I see the true power of speaking your, our year into existence with a corporate annointing. The prayer of Assisi is parallel to my confession for 2009. Lord let be your peace,love, pardon, faith, hope, light, and joy to the world. YES and AMEN.

Teezy313 said...

AMEN!!!!!

These last two nights were really annointed but last night was particularly annointed for me because it was the first time in a long time that I entered in during a time when I personally didn't feel like entering in..yesterday didn't turn out the way I planned it to but after pushing myself into His prescence and letting His glory literally overshadow me the events of the day didn't really matter!

Looking forward to tonight!!!

Teezy

Anonymous said...

Hey Bishop,
This is Bo. This is the first time I've seen you're blog. It's amazing!

Linda Luke said...

Thanks Elle! I'm with you on the breakfast, lunch, dinner...cuz if I actually ate like that it would be wonderful to be able to do it but I would be HUGE. For me it's usually mini-meals ~tryin to and stay healthy. Flax seeds are yum and in smoothies! My hubby is the same except for butterbeans, peach cobbler and I should not say it, but it starts with a t_______! =)

Amen to sweat thingy too! Amazing how that works!! =)

~PeAcE

Anonymous said...

Forgiveness Prayer

Let us pray….

Lord Jesus Christ,
I ask today to forgive EVERYONE in my life.
I know that You will give me the strength to forgive and I thank You that You love me more than I love myself and want my happiness more than I desire it for myself. Father, I forgive You for the times death has come into the family, hard times, financial difficulties, or what I thought were punishments sent by You and people said,
“God’s will and I become bitter and resentful toward You.

Purify my heart and mind today.
Lord, I forget MYSELF for my sins, faults and failings, for all that is bad in myself or that I think is bad, I forgive myself; and accept Your forgiveness. I further forgive MYSELF for taking Your name in vain, not worshipping You by attending church. You have forgiven me today, and I forgive myself.

Thank You, Lord,
For Your grace at this moment. I also forgive MYSELF for any delving superstition; I reject all the superstition and choose You alone as my Lord and Savior. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit.

Lord Jesus, I specially pray for the grace of forgiveness for the One Person in my life that hurt me the most.

Lord Jesus thank You, for teaching me how to forgive. Amen!!!!
Kettly

Son of Zadok said...

"I would rather train twenty men to pray, than a thousand to preach; a minister's highest mission ought to be to teach his people to
pray."


-H. MacGregor

Anonymous said...

All Hail the Power of Jesus Name

Many interesting accounts have been associated with the use of this hymn. One of the most remarkable is a story told by E.P. Scott, a pioneer missionary to India. One day he was waylaid by a murderous band of tribesmen who were closing in on him with spears. On impulse the missionary took his violin out of his luggage and began to play and sing this hymn. When he reached the stanza "let every kindred, every tribe," he saw to his surprise every spear lowered and many of these tribesmen moved to tears. Scott spent the remaining years of his life preaching and ministering God's love and redemption to these people. God in His providence used a simple hymn as a means of introducing the gospel to a group of needy pagans.

Anonymous said...

We are blessed to be in a place where God shows up regularly - perhaps even more so that many of us recognize it when it occurs. I I have enjoyed the last couple of nights in His presence. Tonight was exceptionally peaceful and I found a stranger called joy.
We continuosly travel from good to great.
Pastor Jeff

Anonymous said...

All Interesting post Y'all, Moving went well today in spite of the rain.

ahama goin ta be now cuz ahm tard....:)

Peace,
Dennis

Anonymous said...

First and last pics: Oh Majesty, I live to see Your Face and be transformed into Your image.

I will search for You and I will find You - I will find You with all my heart.

Anonymous said...

Words cannot express what these nights have meant to me so i will too say AMEN

Lisa said...

It is amazing how different the prayer of Assisi reads a year later. It truly is annointed. It has an entirely new meaning for me reading it again. Oh how I wish I could be ITB for prayer services for the new year!!!

Unknown said...

Amen.

BTW, I noticed the same thing, Lisa.

Anonymous said...

Hey Bishop,
The other day when I was here, the song "peace train" was playing. What was really neat is that the previous day I had seen an interview with Cat Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam I believe, and a clip of "Peace Train". It was a really neat interview and he was very positive. They also spoke of Morning Has Broken and how God mercies are new every morning. I think he writes in a way that creates unity and what many can identify with, or he at least tries to.

Love you, and peace be upon you-Karl