Why are things the way they are? Genesis 3:1-24

Our Father in heaven,
You have given us your word but we have not listened.
Instead
we have followed our own desires
we have followed the voices of the world
Your judgement has justly come upon us
Forgive us
And shower your grace upon us
So that we may again hear your word
And seek your face
Amen

Poverty and the Poor

Father may we be a people whose hearts value release.

May we abolish debts,

May we not

shut our hands

close our ears

blind our eyes

shut our hearts

To the cries of the poor.

Keep us from unworthy thoughts and from ignoring their cries.

May we remember that we were poor but that you have made us rich;

And may we rejoice at other’s wealth gained at our expense.

Will there ever be justice? Genesis 18:1-19:29

Father, 

you are the judge of all the earth.

You will do right.

You will sweep away the wicked,

And rescue those you have made righteous.

You will not let our wickedness thwart your plans.

You will not let age or time thwart your plans.

You will not even let death thwart your plans.

Bring justice, bring mercy.

Father
Change my anger into grace
my selfishness into service
my fear into loving.
Change the desires of my heart

Give me eyes to see your salvation
ears to delight in your voice
affections that are warm towards you
and a life filled with holy and enduring actions

May your Son shine ever brighter
your grace be ever more precious
the cross be my beacon and my pillar
and you ever be the direction of my heart

Amen

Father's Day Prayer

Our loving heavenly father

You model real fatherhood

By your leadership,

Your service,

Your love,

Your commitment to truth,

Your holiness,

Your grace,

Your commitment,

Your suffering,

And your forgiveness.

We pray for the men of our world

To embrace fatherhood,

To grow in its challenges,

To be worth emulating,

Men, who live God-fearing lives.

May Christ be their all,

May God be their direction,

May grace be their example,

May loyalty be their medal,

And holiness shine from their words,

May they serve, and love, and lead as does Christ our Lord for us,

Dying to themselves that others may truly live.

God made us alive - Ephesians 2:1-10

We were dead, 
Locked in sin,
Following Satan,
Captured by our passions,
Prisoner to our desires,
Objects of wrath.
But God
Rich in mercy,

Driven by love,

Made us alive.

Together with Christ,

Raised us up,

Seated us in honour,

Saved us by grace,

As a gift,

Gained by faith.

God at Work - Ephesians 1:3-14

Our God and Father

You have blessed us,

Chosen us,

Predestined us for adoption.

You have redeemed us,

And forgiven us,

Lavished your grace on us,

And united us with Christ.

You have granted us an eternal inheritance,

And sealed us with your Holy Spirit

To the praise of your glory…

John 1:14

Our Father,

Your Son, the eternal Word became human:

He became as us;

He became with us;

He became for us.

He settled among us;

     He enabled us to see him;

     He revealed you to us.

He is now as us;

But we did not recognise him,

And instead rejected him!

What humility!

What grace!

What condescension!

What mercy!

May it not be so this Christmas.

Instead may we know you! Love you! Worship you!

Amen

Forgiveness

Father of grace,

Our debt to you is unrepayable,

Yet you have willed to forgive us.

You have paid the price,

You have carried the cost,

You have chosen grace,

And you have taken us back.

May forgiveness seize our hearts,

And inhabit our world.

Start with us,

In our thoughts,

In our marriages,

At work,

In the traffic,

In our church,

And from our mouths.

For your glory alone.

Amen

The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost

Father of Compassion.

Your Son came to seek and save the lost.

Give us an understanding of the immensity of your grace,

And a comprehension of our lostness.

Give us hearts of repentance,

And hearts seeking restoration with you.

Give us a willingness to make restitution for our offences.

Also give us eyes that see the lost.

Ears that hear the lost.

Mouths that gospel the lost.

And souls that love the lost.

Amen

Good Friday

Father you exercised considerable restraint as your innocent son died in our place.

   Give us restraint not anger.

   Grace not revenge.             

   Peace not hatred.

   Meekness not arrogance.

   Mercy not vengeance.

As we worship you alone…

Acts 15

Father

Banish our idols.

Tear them from our hearts.

Prise them from our hands.

Grow holiness.

Give us a hatred of evil.

Increase love.

Make us more aware of others.

Sensitive to their needs.

Less self-absorbed.

Let grace reign in us.

Let grace rule us.

Let grace be our vision and our guide.

Let grace be our joy.

And you alone our worship.

Amen 

Amazing Grace

Father,

you are ineffable, immensely great, and immeasurably gracious…

You have stooped down to us

and saved us

by your grace alone

Forgive our efforts to top up our salvation

Forgive our hearts desire to contribute to our own eternity

May we simply trust in Christ and his grace alone

Amen