Month: January 2010

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Reflections from a month gone by

Here it is the end of January 2010. It has been a month of micro-ponderings (tweets) prayers that I have been focused on. I have been reading through the minor prophets and have been struck by God’s justice and God’s mercy. Justice for His people and mercy towards His people. At times I find it hard to understand what these writings mean for us today. After I have read through them all I will go back and begin to drill down a little deeper. My initial thoughts can be found in my daily prayer tweets.

My prayer tweets have been a fun project that I have been working on for the 3 months or so (you can follow them at @strscoa on twitter). This has been an exercise in condensing my prayer thoughts down to 140 characters. It has helped me get to the heart of what I have been reading. Most of these tweets come out of what jumps out at me from my Bible readings.
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A Flock of Ducks

Ok, so here’s the scoop, it January in Minnesota, we’ve had cold snaps of -20, there’s a foot of snow on the ground, and the lakes all have ice on them, yet I have a flock of duck 10 or so that come flying by my office at home every morning. I don’t know where they are going to or where they are coming from but to me they seem a little out of place in a Minnesota winter (they just circled by a couple more times). If this were summer we wouldn’t even think twice about seeing them flying around. They would blend right in to the surroundings. They would be a natural fit.

As a Christ-follower, I should be like the ducks in the winter. I don’t simply want to blend in with my surroundings or culture. I should instead standout. I would hope that people would see something different in me, the way I act, the way I respond. I believe that it is Paul who says we should be in the world but not of the world. This is not a case of being better than others, just different in how or why we act the way we do. My beliefs and values should compel me to do things differently than what the culture might dictate, what “religion” might dictate.
My challenge this week is to go out and be a duck in the winter, to standout and make a difference, not so that I can be honored but so that the love of God might be shared with others.
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30 More Days of Daily Prayers

30 More Days of Daily Prayers

Today’s prayer – Lord I often fall short yet Your love abounds. Show me what I need to change so there is less stumbling & more soaring. Amen

31 Dec 2009

Today’s prayer – Creator God, show me what I am clinging to with clenched a fist so that I may let go & come to you with open hands & an open heart. Amen.

30 Dec 2009

Today’s prayer – Lord God, what is it I need to do, that I’m not, to know You that much more? Now help me to do it. Amen.

29 Dec 2009

Today’s prayer – Abba Father, help me to know You better so that I can known myself better. Amen

28 Dec 2009

Today’s prayer-Lord, let Your righteous anger convict & correct me while Your loving mercy engulfs me. Let me be still & know You. Amen.

27 Dec 2009

Today’s prayer – Father God grant me Your wisdom & understanding so that I might see the wicked and righteous paths and choose properly. Amen.

26 Dec 2009




Today’s prayer – May God find favor with you on this day, the day we celebrate the birth of our Savior, so that His peace may engulf you. Amen.

25 Dec 2009

Today’s prayer – Abba Father, search my heart, clean it of those things that can harden it or make me prideful. Open my heart to you. Amen.

23 Dec 2009




Today’s prayer – Lord God, help me to pray- when I’m troubled, when I’m happy, when I’m sick- direct my prayers to conform to Your will for me. Amen.

22 Dec 2009

Today’s prayer – Lord God, let me stand strong, to persevere, to be a voice for You in an ever darkening world. Amen.

21 Dec 2009

Today’s prayer – Gracious Father, let me be strong & courageous as I lean into my fears knowing that You are with me always. Amen.

19 Dec 2009

Today’s prayer – Father God, give me patients as the unknown future opens up in front of me. Let me trust in You with all my heart… Amen.

18 Dec 2009




Today’s prayer – Lord, You have shown me the beliefs/values You want me to engage in. Thanks. Now I ask that You help me to live them out. Amen.

17 Dec 2009

Today’s prayer – Lord I desire wisdom so that I might know your desires, passions & will so that I might make them mine so that I can serve others. Amen.

16 Dec 2009




Today’s prayer – Lord God, help me to see the things that crowed You out & then help me to do something about them. Amen

15 Dec 2009

Today’s prayer -Lord listen with me to the words I speak, if they are displeasing to You help me change my heart to reflect Yours. Amen.

14 Dec 2009

Today’s prayer – Heavenly Father, let my beliefs & values (being) be lived out in my praxis (doings). Amen

13 Dec 2009

Today’s prayer – Father God, as You have shown mercy to me, help me to show mercy to others. Amen.

12 Dec 2009

Today’s prayer – Lord God, my tongue both curses and blesses – help me to eliminate the first & increase the second – towards You & others. Amen

11 Dec 2009

Today’s prayer – Lord show me how to give voice to the voiceless & how to serve those whom society has forgotten or rejected. Amen.

9 Dec 2009

Today’s prayer – Lord you want me to listen & do. Tune my ears to hear Your voice & my heart to do Your will. Amen.

8 Dec 2009




Today’s prayer – Father God thank you for choosing me to be part of your plan here. I am humbled & lean on you to complete your purpose. Amen.

7 Dec 2009




Today’s prayer – Lord Almighty, I desire to be in relationship with you living a life focus on your purpose for my life not my purpose for my life. Amen.

6 Dec 2009






Today’s prayer – Lord Almighty, stir up my spirit so that I remember to set you first in my life. I rejoice that You are with me & I with You. Amen

5 Dec 2009

Today’s prayer – Lord Almighty, as I remember the things you have done for me I want to honor You by being someone who fears You and serves You. Amen

3 Dec 2009

Today’s prayer – Abba Father, I desire to know you in a new way, in a way that transforms me into who you want me to become. Amen

2 Dec 2009




Today’s prayer – Lord Almighty, let me view my life with an eternal perspective knowing that in the end I will reign with You forever. Amen.

1 Dec 2009

Today’s prayer – Lord God, I want to be one who is distinct from the world, serving others for your glory & honor. Amen.

30 Nov 2009

Today’s prayer – Holy Spirit send your purifying fire to melt my heart & release its impurities so that they can be replaced with things pleasing to God

29 Nov 2009