Author Archives: Rev. Cleo Graham

I Can’t Help Myself!

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It’s a habit, reflexive, ingrained, intuitive and spontaneous.

It’s 1:11 and it’s time to 🙏🏾.

Time to press the reset button in my day and in my life.

Reset back to a peaceful time. Yes, it’s time to get centered. Time to connect with the Holy. Praying renews my strength.

One day while shopping at 🛌 🛀 and Beyond I parked my 🛒 in a quiet corner of the store. I leaned forward and rested on my 🛒.

I parked and 🙏🏾 at 1:11pm.

Holy One, thank you for watching and waiting for us to call you. O God, we need you. We need you to shine your Light in the darkest places in our society. Destroy hatred and injustice. It’s evil, contagious and it’s killing your people.

“Let the wicked abandon their way of life and the evil their way of thinking. Let them come back to you O God, who is merciful.” Isaiah 55:7

Gracious God, “deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.” In Our Savior’s Name. Amen

A Mother’s Day Prayer at 1:11

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Holy One we give thanks for those who serve as mothers in our lives.
For mothers whose loving arms nurture, protect and support us.
For mothers whose footsteps we follow and shoulders we lean on.
For mothers who are shepherds of your people.
For mothers whose spirit continues to feed us.
We give thanks and praise in Your Holy name we pray. Amen

It’s My Birthday!

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I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

Today is my birthday! I wonder about my birth day. You know, the day that I was born. So, I Call the Almighty One who was present at my birth.
O God, You are Great! You are Good! You are here!
All the time and everywhere!
Gracious God, I park and pray early this morning before the birds awaken, spread their wings and utter their first breath tones. O God, I am in awe of your presence and power as I hear rhythmic pulsations.

It’s my birth day, my first breath, the Ruah breath that breathed life within me. Loving God, your breath is like a slow wind entering my nose and moving down to the soles of my feet. I am awakened by the fresh sounds of a primal cry and joyful musical strings. I see a bright light. I feel my life awaken to your presence and welcoming me to this new day. “I am fearfully and wonderfully made!” I am a nameless baby girl until someone said, “Cleo,” and I smiled.

Today, O God, I give thanks for the blessings of a new day as I celebrate my birthday. I eat Your daily bread. I drink from Your cup of blessings made from pressed grapes. Its the salvation that quenches my spiritual thirst. I bear witness to Your presence and glorify You in word and deed. Still, I am a work in progress. I celebrate the gift of prayer each day at 1:11 pm. I thank You O God, for Your grace, love, Spirit and so much more. Your grace is the gas in my tank. Your love is the life blood flowing through my body. Your Spirit is the seed of my contentment. Thank God, for another birthday celebration of life!

O God, You are Great! You are Good! You are here! All the time and everywhere! Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow! Amen.

Christ is Risen!

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May, our spirit rise, walk and pray each day while carrying our cross, enduring its burden until injustice and oppression are dismantled, righteousness, peace, equity, and prosperity are real for all..

May we embrace the Light of God’s Holy presence, Christ’s ways, redemption and salvation, and the power of the Holy Spirit that inspires us to declare and share love. In our Savior’s Name. Amen

Finished

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Hated by the world,

Sold for thirty pieces of silver,

Sweating blood in Your agony,

Betrayed by Judas,

Forsaken by Your disciples,

Struck upon the cheek,

Accused by false witnesses,

Spit upon in the face,

Denied by Peter, .

Mocked by Herod,

Scourged by Pilate, .

Rejected for Barabbas,

Loaded with the cross,

Crowned with thorns,

Stripped of Your garments,

Nailed to the tree,

Reviled by the people,

Scoffed at by the malefactor,

Wounded in the side,

Shedding Your last drop of blood, .

Forsaken by Your Father,

Dying for our sins,

Taken down from the cross, .

Laid in the sepulchre,

Rising gloriously,

Ascending into Heaven,

Sending down the Paraclete, .

Jesus the Innocent Lamb of God,

sacrificed for us, Jesus our Mediator,

Jesus our Redeemer,

Be merciful, Spare us, O Lord.

Be merciful, Graciously hear us, O Lord.

https://www.cbmidwest.org/prayers/0307SevenLastWordsofJesus.pdf

https://www.bible.com/2016/jhn.19.30.nrsv

A Ransom for All

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bible.com/111/mat.20.28.niv

Where are you? Why are you here? What are you serving? Who do you serve? How? What are you willing to give as ransom? Will you give your time, talents, treasures or what else? Do nothing. Simply be present. Can you be a non anxious presence?

Let Us Park and Pray st 1:11 pm

God, this Holy Week many are tempted to do a lot to prepare for the Easter celebration with family and friends. We might search for the perfect hat, the most beautiful suit and wear the most attractive hairstyle. In the midst of our prepation we might trip over the alabaster bottle and waste it’s precious oils. We may forget to sit at your table, eat, drink and recall the Last Supper. We might step on broken nails and trip on splinters from a worn out cross. We will miss whatever you have in store for us. Almighty God help us to open our eyes, ears, hearts and hands to receive you and what you prepare to serve us daily. Thank you for your life gift, a ransom for us. Please accept our meager offering of faith and stillness. In your name. Amen.

The Hands of Women

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Dear Friends,

I thought you might like this interesting quote:

“The destiny of nations lies far more in the hands of women—the mothers—than in the hands of those who possess power. We must cultivate women, who are educators of the human race, else a new generation cannot accomplish its task.” – Froebel

What are your thoughts?

Let us Park and Pray at 1:11 pm.

Holy Mother of all living beings, thank you for Your Mighty hands that stretch beyond our imagination. You embrace the universe, touching stars and hugging our lives. Holy One, you help us imagine ourselves as an extension of your hands, heart, feet and spirit in our nation. Love Divine, inspire us to unite, love and share your bountiful blessings around the world. Empower us to be steadfast, to persevere and to resist the forces of evil. May we glorify you O God far greater than we praise ourselves. Merciful God, receive our prayers. In your Holy name. Amen

Pray for NZ

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Park and Pray at 1:11 for the New Zealand Community. Join us in the spirit of Love, Peace, Justice and Unity. Shine a Light 💡 in the midst of darkness. Lift up your face and call on God who overcomes darkness. Then, Pray at 1:11 pm:

Great God, Magnificent Savior, Holy Spirit Come! Your children are crying for your people are in a spiritual battle. We are struggling to share our love with one another. But, evil comes to turn off our Light even while we pray. Come Holy Spirit, shine your light 💡 on us right now. Renew our strength, heal our brokenness and mend our wounded hearts. Inspire us with unbending faith and power to overcome evil. Strengthen our ability to end hatred through our own acts of love. We Pray for Healing. Holy One make your presence known especially during the aftermath of the storm of hatred in Christchurch, New Zealand. Comfort the broken-hearted and dry our tears. Bless us with the Light of your Holy presence. “Give us this day our daily Bread 🍞 and deliver us from evil. For you are the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.”