Tag Archives: shine

Freedom and Light – Three Prayers Inspired by John 8

Posted on by
Reply
Forgive by Yongsung Kim

No Condemnation by Lisa Degrenia
Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.” – John 8:10-11

Jesus, you do not condem
You reveal
You write the truth on the sands of our souls

We hear our prejudice
We see our hypocrisy

continue with your own prayers of confession

We drop the stones of our deadly traditions
Our blood trappings
We surrender our false supremancy

All have sinned, we have sinned
All fall short, we fall short
All need you and your redeeming love,
We need you and your redeeming love

Shine On by Lisa Degrenia
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12

Shine on Jesus
Shine on me 
Make me a Child of Light
Being light
Living in light
Bearing the fruit of light

Shine on me and in me  
exposing the works of my darkness to the light
Your healing, redeeming Light

Shine on me, Shine in me, Shine through me
Exposing the works of darkness around me
The oppression, corruption, destruction
Exposing them to the light
Your light
Your truth, your justice
Your mercy, your healing, your love
Your ways
Your Light

Shine on Jesus
Lord of Light
Light of the World
Shine your healing, redeeming Light

Freedom in Christ by Lisa Degrenia
Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.  The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.- John 8:34-36

Come Mighty Savior!
Wield your truth
Release the captives
Release us

Come Mighty Savior!
Shatter the bonds of
Fear and Sin
Shame and Injustice
Falsehood and Death

Come Mighty Savior!
We long for your deliverance
Take our strongholds and give us freedom
Take our numbers and give us names
Take our sentences and give us life

If you make us free
We are free indeed

Continue with your own prayers of deliverance and thanksgiving

************

I’ll be posting prayers based on the Gospel of John throughout Lent and Easter this year. Thanks for coming along with me on the journey. – Lisa <><

Three Prayers Inspired by John 8 © 2023 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting without asking permission. It’s always a treat to hear from you if you’re using it. Leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in a book, blog, etc.

Two Prayers Based on Luke 24 and John 1

Posted on by
Reply

summer in the scriptures luke (5)

Open My Eyes
Based on Luke 24:13-35, The Road to Emmaus

Open my eyes to your presence
Break the bread
Tear the veil in two

Open my eyes to your presence
Your Word and your Way
To see and seek

Open my eyes to your presence
A dawn of recognition
The fullness of your grace
Now mine to reveal

Blue Blueberries Food Fact Facebook Post

Help us Shine
Based on John 1:1-14

John 1:9
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

Welcome Glorious One
Lord of Life and Light
Dawn in us your power and peacemaking
Hallelujah! Help us shine!

You bathe us in the light of your grace, that we may be grace
You fill us with the light of your truth, that we may be truth
You flood us with the light of your love, that we may be love
Hallelujah! Help us shine!

Sharing your light
Spreading your light
Beyond our imagining to your desiring
Hallelujah! Help us shine!

Unveiled
Bright
A beam worthy of the stretch of your embrace
Hallelujah! Help us shine!

Draw us
Draw all
To your light
Hallelujah! Help us shine!

_______________

For the next few months, I’m reading a chapter from the Gospels each day. This is part of the Summer in the Scriptures reading plan sponsored by the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. Click Here for the reading plan.

You’re most welcome to read along and to join the Facebook discussion group, Summer in the Scriptures. You don’t need to be a Methodist or attend a Methodist church. All are welcome and all means all.

As part of the Facebook group, I’ve been supplying prayers based on the day’s reading. Feel free to post your prayers and observations based on the readings here or there as well.

May the grace of the Gospels, the challenge, and the call, inspire us to great faith and great good works in Jesus’ name. – Lisa <

Open My Eyes © 2020 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Help Us Shine © 2009 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting with proper attribution.
Please leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in any form.

Two Prayers Based on Luke 8-9

Posted on by
1

summer in the scriptures luke (8)

Prayer based on Luke 8:22-25
Jesus calms the storm

When the waves rise high above our ability to see your face…
Still my soul, Lord Jesus,
Calm the storm in me

When the howling wind and the pouring rain drown out the sound of your voice…
Still my soul, Lord Jesus,
Calm the storm in me

When the thunder and the lightning distract us from Your presence in every circumstance…
Still my soul, Lord Jesus,
calm the storm in me

moment of silence

Jesus, we see You calming storms
Storm tossed seas and stormy lives
Extend Your power and grace again,
Upon us and our fear-filled world

Speak peace and healing over bodies and spirits
overwhelmed by the crashing waves of circumstance

Jesus, speak peace. Moment of silence

Speak peace and protection over minds and hearts
adrift in confusion or drowning in fear

Jesus, speak peace. Moment of silence

Speak peace and hope over people, families, and communities
swamped by loss after loss

Jesus, speak peace. Moment of silence

You are the Prince of Peace.
You are the Resurrection and the Life.
You are strong to save.
Our hope and trust are in You

Continue to lift up prayers for needs or prayers of praise.
Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer 

 

Prayer based on Luke 9:28-36
Jesus is Transfigured

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. – Luke 9:28-29

Everlasting Light,
Glorious, Merciful, One,
You come, we rise
Shine in our minds,
Enlighten our understanding of you and your ways
So we may do what is true and live in your light

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
Let your face shine, that we may be saved. (Psalm 80:19)

Breath of Life,
Refiner’s Fire,
You come, we rise
Shine in our eyes,
Illumine what is in need of correction and cleansing,
Spark in us your compassion and reign

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
Let your face shine, that we may be saved. (Psalm 80:19)

Jesus, Messiah,
Light of the World,
You come, we rise
Shine in our living
Shine in our glory
No more night
No more mourning
Radiant hope for us and for all

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
Let your face shine, that we may be saved. (Psalm 80:19)

_______________

For the next few months, I’m reading a chapter from the Gospels each day. This is part of the Summer in the Scriptures reading plan sponsored by the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. Click Here for the reading plan.

You’re most welcome to read along and to join the Facebook discussion group, Summer in the Scriptures. You don’t need to be a Methodist or attend a Methodist church. All are welcome and all means all.

As part of the Facebook group, I’ve been supplying prayers based on the day’s reading. Feel free to post your prayers and observations based on the readings here or there as well.

May the grace of the Gospels, the challenge, and the call, inspire us to great faith and great good works in Jesus’ name. – Lisa <

Jesus, Speak Peace © 2011 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Let Your Face Shine © 2018 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting with proper attribution.
Please leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in any form.

Arise Shine- A Devotion for the Third Week of Advent based on Handel’s Messiah

Posted on by
Reply

morning sun bedroom window

Arise, Shine
Readings and Reflection for the third week of Advent

SONGS FROM HANDEL’S MESSIAH:
For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover the Earth and The People That Walked in Darkness
For Unto Us a Child is Born

SCRIPTURES to read this week:
Isaiah 60:1-7
Isaiah 9:2-7
John 1:1-14

REFLECTION QUESTIONS for this week:

  • Where do you see people “letting their light shine” in our community?
  • What local problem or situation most needs the light and love of Christ? How will you arise and shine to address this need?

PRAYER:
Jesus, your light makes us light
What a gift to be made in your image
To reflect your grace and hope, your power and peacemaking
Hallelujah! Help us shine!

Share your light with all, near and far,
Beyond our imagining to your imagining and desiring
A beam worthy of the stretch of your embrace.
Worthy of your glory. Jesus, help us shine!

Unveiled, Bright, Shining before others and for others
So others see you in us and are drawn to your Light

You bathe us in the light of your grace, that we may be grace
You fill us with the light of your truth that we may be truth
You flood us with the light of your love that we may be love

Hallelujah!
Come Glorious One, Lord of Life and Light!
Dispel the darkness.
Reveal what is real so we no longer fear the night nor the light
Dawn in us a new day and a new us.
Help us shine!
~ Help Us Shine, by Lisa Degrenia

************
Arise, Shine
A Devotion for the Third Week of Advent
based on Handel’s Messiah © 2019 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting with proper attribution.
Leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in any form.

Growing in Resilience: Everlasting Light, based on Isaiah 60

Posted on by
Reply

healing hand lightGrowing in Resilience
Day 21, Read Isaiah 60
Reflection: Everlasting Light,
based on Isaiah 60:1-3; 19-20, NRSV

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn… The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you by night; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, or your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.

Everlasting Light,
Glorious, Merciful, One,
You come, we rise
Shine in our minds,
Enlighten our understanding of you and your ways
So we may do what is true and live in your light

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
Let your face shine, that we may be saved. (Psalm 80:19)

Breath of Life,
Refiner’s Fire,
You come, we rise
Shine in our eyes,
Illumine what is in need of correction and cleansing,
Spark in us your compassion and reign

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
Let your face shine, that we may be saved. (Psalm 80:19)

Jesus, Messiah,
Light of the World,
You come, we rise
Shine in our living
Shine in our glory
No more night, No more mourning
Radiant hope for us and for all

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
Let your face shine, that we may be saved. (Psalm 80:19)

***********
Click Here for more on the Growing in Resilience Reading Plan sponsored by Bishop Ken Carter and the Cabinet of the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. 

Everlasting Light © 2018 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in any form.