Wait! What do you see? A Star? Red, white, blue and green? A wooden Cross? A chandelier? Candlelights, sunlight and our reflections? A Choir of witnesses?
Yesterday, we prayed as we lit a candle for each state that experienced incidents of mass gun violence in 2018. We prayed for our nation and world.
Did you know that as of August 2018 there were 268 incidents of mass gun violence in the USA? https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/charts-and-maps
Imagine, our nation held numerous Prayer Vigils and devoted more than 275 days praying for peace, comfort and an end to Gun Violence. God hears our prayers. God is still speaking. Are we still listening?
Candlelights eventually fade yet, a prayer is like an endless flame. We are called to pray without ceasing.
What if we lit a candle daily?
Today is Advent, a time to wait, watch,
When you Park, and Pray at 1:11 pm try lighting a candle.
Light a candle, watch it, hold it and imagine you’re holding a prayer. Ask God to “give you this day your daily bread” in other words fulfill your needs.
Seek the Great Light of God and allow that light to enter those dark places in your life and the lives of others.
A Prayer at 1:11 pm
God of life, Light of the world,
God of Peace and Protection.
Your presence is profound,
Your work is beyond our imagination,
You do impossible things,
Your joy is our strength,
You fill us with Your grace,
You give us ways to conquer our fears,
You heal our brokenness.
You lead us out of our wilderness.
Help us to be a candlelight in the midst of darkness.
Help us to wait, watch and listen for you,
As we listen for your guidance.
Teach us to trust and obey
Guide our feet, O Lord,
Restrain the hands that harm us,
Arrest the wicked hearted,
Strengthen the weary ones, O God.
Transform cruel and misguided minds.
May Your light burn bright in our lives.
In Your Holy Name. Amen