If you Believe

Creation calls

Playing Cards in Church

On one particular Sunday a certain soldier was in a little church with his regiment and during the Service he was shuffling a pack of cards. Every so often he would stop for a while and look at one card in paticular, before shuffling them again and looking at another one. His Commanding Officer was furious. "How dare you play cards in the church", he admonished him after the service, "Consider yourself on a charge. Report to the Commander-in-Chief at once, you are in big trouble, soldier." The Commander-in-Chief was even more furious about the soldier playing cards in church, "How dare you!" he shouted at him. "Before I give you a suitable punishment perhaps you could explain, if you can, what you were doing." The soldier took a deep breath and rather nervously tried to explain to his Commander-in Chief what he was really doing. And this what the soldier told him.... The ACE in the cards reminds me of the one and only God who is first and foremost, like this card which comes first. The TWO reminds me of the two books in the Testament, the Old and the New. The THREE represents the Blessed Trinity, the three aspects of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The FOUR, of course, are the four Gospel writers, the evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The FIVE card reminds me of the five wise girls who took enough oil for their lamps to the wedding feast; and the five foolish girls who did not because they were not prepared. The SIX is the six days that God took to create the world and the SEVEN is the day of rest, the last day of the week. The EIGHT reminds me of the eight beatitudes which Jesus gave in his sermon on the mount. The eight is also the family of Noah who took all the animals into his ark. The number NINE card is the nine lepers (out of the ten) who came back and thanked Jesus for curing them. The TEN represents the ten commandments that God gave to Moses so that we could lead better lives. The JACK, or Knave, is the devil who tries to make us do wrong. The QUEEN represents Mary, the mother of Jesus, the highest lady in the land. And the King is God, only one king, and the King of all the Universe. The TWO reminds me of the two books in the Testament, the Old and the New. In all the cards there are 365 spots, the number of days in a year. There are 52 weeks in a year, the number of cards in a pack. There are 4 suits, the number of weeks in a month. In the pack there are 12 pictures, one for each month of the year. There are 13 tricks possible, the number of weeks in a quarter of the year; and it is also the number of cards in each suit. He went on to tell his Commander-in-Chief that his pack of cards was a Bible, an Almanac and a Prayer Book. The pack of cards reminded him of God, of his wonderful creation, and how out of chaos, God ordered our world into the seasons, months, weeks and days of the year. "So you see, Sir, I was not really playing cards during the church Service. I was using them to remind me of my Faith in God, how Jesus came to save us all, and how important to me the Bible stories are." On hearing this the Commander-in-Chief told the soldier that he was truly a good man with a much deeper insight into things that he had at first imagined; and with that, he let the soldier go, telling him that all the charges had been dropped. "Thank you," said the soldier, "and may God be with you." And this is a true story of Wing Commander............ who made a recording of this story in the 1960's. by Wing Commander..........

A message from Medjugorje

If you could answer one prayer...

A cowboy's Prayer

My Song is Love Unknown

My song is love unknown, my Savior's love to me Love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be.  O who am I that for my sake, my Lord should take frail flesh and die? He came from His blest throne, salvation to bestow But men made strange and none the longed-for Christ would know.  But O my Friend, my Friend indeed, Who at my need His life did spend! Sometimes they strew his way, and His sweet praises sing  Resounding all the day Hosannas to their King.  Then: "Crucify" is all their breath, and for His death they thirst and cry. Why, what hath my Lord done? What makes this rage and spite?  He made the lame to run, he gave the blind their sight.  Sweet injuries, yet they at these themselves displease and 'gainst Him rise. They rise, and needs will have my dear Lord made away  A murderer they save, the Prince of Life they slay.  Yet cheerful He to suff'rings goes, that He His foes from thence might free. In life no house, no home my Lord on earth did have  In death no friendly tomb but what a stranger gave.  What may I say? Heaven was His home, but mine the tomb wherein He lay. Here might I stay and sing, no story so divine  Never was love, dear King, never was grief like Thine  This is my Friend, in whose sweet praise I all my days will gladly spend. My Song is Love Unknown- -Samuel Crossman

Prayer to heal our Memories

Penetrate these murky corners    where we hide our memories    and tendencies on which we do not care to look,    but which we will not yield freely up to you,    that you may purify and transmute them. The persistent buried grudge,    the half-acknowledged enmity    which is still smouldering,    the bitterness of that loss    we have not turned into sacrifice,    the private comfort we cling to,    the secret fear of failure    which saps our initiative    and is really inverted pride,    the pessimism which is an insult to your joy. Lord, we bring all these to you,    and we review them    with shame and penitence    in your steadfast light

Prayer to Understand Others

Lord, inspire me to give of my best     and make good use     of the talents you have given me. Show me how to be positive in attitude,     appreciating and valuing others,     always being ready to encourage     and give praise. Sometimes I draw conclusions about people     in terms of what I think     is meant by “success” and “failure”,     but the “failure” of one person     might count as a great “success”     of someone with other talents. Lead me never to judge people     but to accept others as they are,     knowing that it is together,     each with our differences,     that we build up your Kingdom.   Amen

Prayer to relinquish the past and move forwards

Lord, I commit my failures    as well as my successes    into your hands,    and I bring for your healing    the people and the situations,    the wrongs and the hurts    of the past. Give me courage, strength and generosity    to let go and move on,    leaving the past behind me,    and living the present to the full. Lead me always to be positive    as I ‘entrust the past to your mercy,    the present to your love,    and the future to your providence’

Sarum Prayer (God be in me)

God be in my head and in my understanding. God be in my eyes and in my looking. God be in my mouth and in my speaking. God be in my heart and in my thinking. God be at my end and at my departing Amen

St George's Day

Almighty God, We have been taught by the legend of St George to fight against dragons and to rescue the helpless. Deliver us, by the truth of the gospel, from that great dragon who leads the whole world astray. Free us from our slavery to sin and death And grant that your light may dawn again  on this nation of England. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen

True to the Last - Crucified for what he believed in....

Jesus you hung upon a cross and died for us So that we might live for you Your body was broken and your blood shed So that we might be healed and made whole You were faithful unto death  So that we might be faithful unto life Your last command was that we might  love one another A nation united through your sacrifice Redeemed by your blood Healed by your love United by your covenant of peace In your death may we find life.

Putting the Puzzle pieces together...

From the beginning you knew the final outcome watched as the jigsaw pieces were slotted into place saw the significance of every moment. As your body was anointed with oil at the table of Simon the Leper the picture was becoming clearer not only in your eyes but to an unknown woman and one of your closest friends. Judas sensed that this was his moment sacrificing trust that had been so freely given on the altar of selfish gain for his fifteen allotted minutes of fame and thirty pieces of silver The woman recognised the moment. She gave generously unselfishly a costly gift, freely offered. A fragrant sacrifice of perfume and love remembered forever in your heart. And as Judas slipped away unnoticed your disciples saw none of this failed to see the significance of the moment. Two sacrifices, one of trust and one of love. But you noticed, Lord as you notice each day our sacrificial offering and betrayal. Anon

Mary did you know?

"Mary Did You Know" Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your Baby Boy has come to make you new? This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you. Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man? Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand? Did you know that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod? When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God? Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo The blind will see. The deaf will hear. The dead will live again. The lame will leap. The dumb will speak The praises of The Lamb. Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation? Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations? Did you know that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb? The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.  [Originally written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene]

Seeing Good in Others

God our Father,    the qualities I see lived out so well in some people    are a reflection of your own goodness,    and I know that I have much to learn from other people    who reflect your image and likeness  in different ways.    Inspire me to respect others fully as my equals,    seeing and loving in them what you see and love in them     Lord, we ask you to open our eyes     that we may value and appreciate all people,     recognising what we have in common     rather than focusing on what our differences might be.     Inspire us to distinguish between what is important and what is not,     and open our minds and hearts that we may always be people     of good will who bring life and joy to others.       Amen

Prayer for Enlightenment and Unity

God our Father,    extend our horizons,    widen our vision,    and remind us how  inter-connected we are    as your sons and daughters. Breathe your Spirit into us    that we may live more truly    as brothers and sisters    of one another.  Amen

Prayer for Increased Awareness

Lord Jesus,    I ask you to open my eyes    as you did with the blind man,     so that I may really see. Tune my ears    as you did with the man who was deaf and dumb,     so that I may really hear    what you are saying to me. May the many experiences of my senses    remind me to be aware of others    and of all that is around me. May all that I experience    lead me closer to you.

Prayer to Forgive and love again

O Lord,    you have mercy on all,    take away from me my sins,    and mercifully set me ablaze    with the fire of your Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone,    and give me a human heart,    a heart to love and adore you,    a heart to delight in you,    to follow and enjoy you.  Amen.

Prayer of Self Realization

I thank you, Lord, for knowing me better than  I know myself, and for letting me know myself better than others know me. Make me, I pray you, better than they suppose, and forgive me for what  they do not know

Prayer for Positivity

Lord Jesus,    you told your friends    not to worry about the future. You showed them    how to have the attitude of simple trust    that young children have,    so that they could place themselves    into the caring hands of your Father. And so I ask for the power of your Spirit    that I may remain positive    throughout all that is ordinary in my daily life. I know that your touch    can change people and situations,    and so I ask you    to join me in offering to our Father    not only the good things of this day    but also the suffering and sacrifices    that I want to offer cheerfully and lovingly,    and in a quiet and hidden way. And so may any difficulties    and frustration and pain of this day    be transformed in your presence    for the benefit of other people.  Amen

Watch this and Know that Christ is King!

My God is so great the whole world Revolves around him!

Prayer for Palm Sunday

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father You welcomed the sinner and dined with the outcast, may we be like you and embrace all around us without hesitation may we accept everyone as our brothers and sisters. May we follow in your footsteps showing love and compassion to everyone, with your example of willingness to face  all the pain and suffering of our world and still continue on. Help us to be a shining light to those who are in the dark, may we lift those who are broken in body, mind or spirit, allow us to be a source of joy and healing to all. Help us to stay focused Lord on thee, may we not stray from our journey of faith, may we take the time to pray and meditate on the things that bring peace and happiness. Lord, you entered Jerusalem with peace in your heart. Be our vision that we too can live as people of peace in the face of the world’s many conflicts. May we hold your vision of justice and peace ever before us.  Bless us, O Blessed One, as we enter into the days ahead of us. We will need your power and presence to sustain us as we move through these difficult days together. Bless us with the love and determination you had on Palm Sunday as you proceeded on your way to the cross.

A seed of Love

Lord Even when I turn away from you you have kept your hand out stretched to me. You unfalteringly watch over me, even when I close my mind to you, you never abandon me. You constant guidance is always there for me even when I choose not to listen. Often the ways of the world take over and cloud my judgement,  I am blinded to the things you are showing me. It is hard to understand that you really are there when I look at all that is going on in this world. The pain and the suffering that is every where, help me to understand Lord that you are our Saviour, That if people turn to you and ask for your guidance you will guide us. The world has turned away from your words just as I am tempted to do. I ask you Lord to help me to be able to see clearly what it is you need me to do.  You are happy if I give you a single second of honest prayer, turning that second into a seed of love, help me to spread that love through your name. Amen