Overcoming Evil

Posted on by Rev. Cleo Graham

I stepped on a thorn and I screamed, “ouch!” Then, I said, “I hate you!”

I crushed beautiful flowers and I said nothing. Yet, some of us have reacted the

same way in our relationships.

A bruised word, an evil thought, evil ways and deeds.

Sometimes it seems hard to overcome evil. But, we can overcome evil.

Evil is unlike the sweet aroma emanating from these beautiful flowers.

Evil stinks!

Sometimes it’s hidden but it never goes undetected.

It seems to be everywhere ! But, it is not.

There is a remedy.

Let’s seek Divine wisdom:

Almighty, Merciful and Wise Spirit, thank you for the gift of your presence.

Lately, evil seems so pervasive in our society.

It’s heartbreaking to mourn the loss of innocent lives who are hated for the image you created them.

It’s hard to understand massacres like the Tree of Life Synagogue and other places of worship where people gather to pray.

It seems difficult to overcome evil.

Yet, many of us are inspired by your word and your ways. You give us guidance and solace in the midst of our pain.

When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we ask you for daily bread, physical and spiritual food to fulfill our needs. We ask you to “Forgive us our trespasses (sins).” We pray, “Deliver us from evil.”

You remind us and equip us to “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.” Micah 6:8

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:12

We pray for the victims. We seek ways to comfort our wounds.

Help us pray for the thorns in our lives?

Help us pray for those who crush flowers?

We are called,

To do good. Simply do good.

Help us Almighty One

To be good. To be profoundly good.

Love Supreme, you are good! All the time!

Help us to answer your call.

We prayer in our Savior’s name. Amen.

God Help Us

Posted on by Rev. Cleo Graham

Let us Park and Pray at 1:11 pm daily

“God of all wholeness and peace, our world yearns for your presence.  We call out to you day after day, wondering why we do not see you and why we feel so abandoned.  And yet, time and time again, you remind us that we only need to look around us to find you.  Help us to look with clarity and compassion into the faces of your children, no matter how unimportant they might seem, so that we might find you there.

Help us to see you in the faces of those who mourn.  As news breaks of the deaths of seven children and many others suffering from a virus outbreak at a health center in New Jersey, United States, remind us of the deep pain of those around the world who have experienced the loss of a child.  Open our ears to listen and open our arms to comfort.

Help us to see you in the faces of those who suffer.  As we hear about inhumane conditions in the prisons of Madagascar and the forced “re-education” of Uighur Muslims in China, fill us with a thirst for justice for all people who are abused due to poverty, gender identity, and all other vulnerabilities.

Help us to see you in the faces of those who are being affected by disasters.  As a major hurricane makes landfall in Mexico keep survivors of all disasters, both natural and human-made, safe from harm, and help us to keep them in our hearts.

Help us to see you in the faces of those we consider our enemies.  As the President of the United States threatens to withdraw aid from countries that allow refugees and asylum seekers to travel across their borders toward the United States, remind us of the humanity of all people, regardless of their skin color, language, and country of origin.  Remind us that everyone, from the most powerful leader of a nation to the most vulnerable and impoverished of refugees, is a beloved child of God.

Help us to see you in the faces of all who are grief stricken, discouraged and ambivalent by the recent Pittsburgh Synagogue Massacre, where hatred dominated. You remind us we are all made in the image of God.  Remind us of our connection to all of your children as members of your universal family.  Fill us with your love and compassion, so that we might act as your hands, feet, and voices in the world.  Make your presence known and felt in all places, so that your kingdom might grow to the ends of the earth.”

Amen.

“World In Prayer” Adapted

http://worldinprayer.org/

Where Are You at 1:11?

Posted on by Rev. Cleo Graham

It was 1:11pm when Rev. Dr. Kathy Henry prayed a blessing for our meal at my Sacred Heart Academy High School Reunion. It was amazing, unplanned and timely.

I have been indoors, outdoors, in stores, restaurants, in the pool, and even overseas in a ship.

I’ve been blessed to be with some of you in body and spirit at 1:11 pm. Thank you for being a prayer partner.

The other day, Earnest Cox, a spiritually gifted musician, educator, administrator and I prayed at 1:11 pm.

Sometimes, I happened to pray at incredible places such as a 111 address.

One day, I was in a hurry to find a parking space on a crowded street. I pulled into the last space. An amazing thing happened.

Friends! I “Parked and Prayed at 1:11pm.” and I was behind a 111 car! As I caught my breath, I expressed my thanks for signs of God’s presence and nudges.

Please, Pray with me.

Dear Lord, thank you! Your Gracious Loving Spirit, watches over our going out, our coming, our joys, frustrations, sorrows and victories. Bless our intentions and hear our prayers when we Park and Pray at 1:11 pm, whenever and wherever we pray. In our Savior’s name. Amen

A Prayer Calendar

Posted on by Rev. Cleo Graham

Are you tongue tied or uncertain about what or how to pray. Try this Prayer prompt calendar. There’s a difference Prayer theme each day. Remember, Prayer is about your heart, your intentions and your desire to have a relationship with Spirit.

Prayer is about PEACE

Presence with God

Entering God’s presence

Asking, Answering and Allowing God

Calling, Connecting & Communicating God

Expecting God

Seek God’s Guidance so you may.

Let us pray.

God help me to

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 *

In my Savior’s Name. Amen

On Her Knees

Posted on by Rev. Cleo Graham

img_0914Recently, I was inspired with hope by what I saw and experienced. I was the guest pastor at the St. Peter’s Church (Iglesia de San Pedro) in Samana, Dominican Republic, the historical church home for the descendants of enslaved and free African-Americans who left the United States on or after 1824. My sermon, based on the Gospel of Matthew chapter 5 verses 14-16 focused on this theme, “You are the light of the world!” (“Eres La Luz Del Mundo!”), a powerful message.

When I arrived early at the church before worship something caught my attention. It was before people arrived and drenched by the torrential rain. I paused at the entrance of the church. My eyes were immediately drawn to a woman dressed in white and situated on her knees, praying, as if she was begging. I saw her forehead firmly pressed against one of the steps leading to the altar. She laid before the cross as a beacon of light illuminating rays of hope, mercy, justice, compassion and more. I imagined one beam of light piercing through doors. Doors that separate children from their parents. Closed doors that separate us from discovering truth and bearing witness. Tsunamis, devastation, and other challenges. I imagined she carried a heavy load, a burdensome bushel filled with painful memories. She could not bear to stand with such a weight of injustices, a culmination of pain and insurmountable suffering. The light within her shined through her and called me and others to pause as we entered the sanctuary. She lifted her head and her knees. Her face shined like a newly minted coin. Light shined in her face and faces throughout the church beamed with expectations. The Glory of God shined affirming the presence of the Holy One, Source of Light.

Let us Pray Merciful God, Thank you that we can bring our pain, sorrow, doubts, fears, frustrations, disgrace, joys and triumphs to you. We leave our concerns on your thrown of grace. We look to you Almighty and Powerful God to empower us with wisdom and might to overcome the storms in our lives. We pray knowing that your blessed assurance gives us hope and renews our strength. Your loving kindness equips us to be your hands, heart and feet throughout this world. Shine your Light on us and in us so we may be a light in the spiritually dark places in our world. Bless us with your Light as we do the challenging work you have called us to do. We pray on bended knees, with outstretched hands, standing, sitting or simply in the stillness of our being. Loving God, hear our prayers. In our Savior’s Name. Amen.