Psalm 143:3-6

For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that You have done; I ponder the work of Your hands. I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Selah

Lord, on this day, as our country, society and culture face a massive implosion, help me to remember that You are my Strength, You are my Shield, You are my Staff, You are my Protector; that in the shelter of Your arms, I have nothing to fear for You have demonstrated fully in my past that You will provide for all my needs and keep me safe as Your child.

Lord, I also pray for those I love, that You will provide the same assurance to them, that they will seek Your face to find safety in Your arms. Lord, use what is coming to lead my loved ones to You and to equip me to shepherd them Home.

(This prayer was written on the morning of 30 September, 2008 as the United States awoke to face a collapsing financial system)

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Psalm 143:7-10

Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of Your steadfast love, for in You I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul. Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD! I have fled to You for refuge! Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God! Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

Lord, it is the "little" trials and temptations that catch me, trip me, turn my eyes from You. I usually recognize the big stuff, but the little yieldings to pride, or a shading of the truth, or a selfish refusal to give, or .... The list of the littles goes on and on. And that's a big part of the problem; it is the littles that spoil my walk as a disciple of the Kingdom. Like the little dings and dents that my car has accumulated, giving it a "no longer new" look; it is the little dings and dents in my testimony that detract from the reflection of Your glory in my life.

Teach me, Lord, to recognize the littles and to turn to You for instruction and strength so that Your name would not be sullied by my failures.

Prison Ministry

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Psalm 143:11-12

For Your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! And in Your steadfast love You will cut off my enemies, and You will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am Your servant.

For Your name's sake and for that alone; Your name will be glorified through my salvation and restoration to the Kingdom. You bring my soul out of trouble to demonstrate to all that You are a righteous and merciful God. You are the shield about me, standing between me and all the wiles of the Evil One. You are the protector of all who serve You and honor You. Praise You, my Lord and my Master.

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Psalm 119:79

Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies.

Lord, this speaks to me and the call to teach and lead. It reveals the responsibility that I have to be obedient and a faithful witness. Use me today to be that good and faithful servant that reflects Your glory and demonstrates the effectiveness of Your testimonies throughout the day.

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Psalm 144:1-4

Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. O LORD, what is man that You regard him, or the son of man that You think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.

Lord, without You, I am of no more consequence than a shadow that passes across the lawn, providing a momentary blockage of the light and warmth from the sun. But with You, I am equipped for Your service, trained and armed to carry the message of reconciliation into the domain of the Evil One. Not only do You arm me, but You are my provision of rest and restoration; You are my Lord and my Master.

Yes, Lord, David's question does evoke a sense of my insignificance but the answer is that I am a child of the King upon which You lavish great love.

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Psalm 144:5-8

Bow Your heavens, O LORD, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke! Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out Your arrows and rout them! Stretch out Your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of foreigners, whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

Lord, You do demonstrate the power and faithfulness of Your love each day. In creation and in transformed lives. How You bless Betty and I by allowing us to participate in this work, to be Your messengers of Good News in the prisons. To watch the quieting of B, or when a demon possessed man like R is moved to apologize for his emotional and vulgar outburst in our previous gathering. Evidences of Your Holy Spirit

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Psalm 144:9-11

I will sing a new song to You, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to You, who gives victory to kings, who rescues David His servant from the cruel sword. Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

I will sing of my redeemer and Your wondrous love for me. On the cruel cross You suffered, from the curse to set me free. Sing, oh sing, of my redeemer, with Your blood You purchased me. On the cross You sealed my pardon, paid the debt and made me free.

Thank You, praise You, my Lord. You have cleansed me and set my feet upon a solid rock. You have sent Your Holy Spirit to guide and teach me, to live a life of honor to Your name. I owe it all to You, my Lord and my Master.

 Prison Ministry

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Psalm 144:12-15

May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace; may our granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce; may our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; may our cattle be heavy with young, suffering no mishap or failure in bearing; may there be no cry of distress in our streets! Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!

Lord, my prayer this morning is for that portion of Your church within the prisons of the Vermont Department of Corrections. First for those incarcerated there who have or will come to accept You as Lord and Master; that they will continue to grow in faithfulness, that Your wisdom will infuse their hearts, minds and consciences and that they will be freed from the bondages of anger, addictions, rejection, lusts and others that have been the hallmarks of their past lives. Lead them, Lord, into lives that glorify You. Secondly, I pray for those individuals, employed by DoC, who are known by You and who seek to live according to Your word. Bless them and encourage them for they work in an atmosphere where the Evil One is honored. Thank You for their quiet perseverance. Thirdly, I pray for the DoC and that a spirit of justice will prevail, a determination to seek restoration rather than retribution. Guide and bless all those who are working to this goal.

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Psalm 145:1-2

I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.

This is my reason for being, to praise you and glorify your name through every thought, every action, every word every place I am in. You have set my times and places and I am to bring glory to your Name in those times and places.

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Psalm 145:3

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.

Lord, give me a realization of your unsearchability. Fill me with your awesomeness, no, not that, for I cannot contain that, I am a weak vessel, but I want as much of this as I can hold.

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Psalm 119:85-87

The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law. All your commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me! They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts.

It is amazing, Lord, how that the Evil One never gives up. Continuously digging pitfalls and setting snares for me, desperate to turn me from You and to bring disgrace to Your name. And these attacks vary from the sly and subtle, perhaps a cruel comment meant as a jest, to overt and deliberate disobedience such as allowing my mind to dwell on lustful thoughts.

But Your word is ever true and at hand to guide me through the no-man's-land of pitfalls and snares. All I need to do is to be willing to turn to Your word for guidance and strength; to turn to You in prayer for relief and protection; to fall on my knees before You and repent that I have, once again, grieved You.

 Praise You, Lord, for Your everlasting grace and mercy.

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Psalm 145:4

One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.

Lord, I have not done this, I have neglected to lead my children and grand children in the paths of righteousness. I confess my very grievous sin and declare to you that I repent. Lord, lead me in your path, reform me, take away that fear of being ridiculed.