Where Could I Go?

Living below in this old sinful world,
Hardly a comfort can afford;
Striving alone to face temptations sore,
Where could I go but to the Lord?

   Where could I go, O where could I go;
   Seeking a refuge for my soul?
   Needing a friend to help me in the end,
   Where could I go but to the Lord?

Neighbors are kind, I love them every one,
We get along in sweet accord;
But when my soul needs manna from above,
Where could I go but to the Lord?

Life here is grand with friends I love so dear,
Comfort I get from God's own Word;
Yet when I face the chilling hand of death,
Where could I go but to the Lord?


Note:  This is an old hymn which we have been singing a lot together as a family, and I find the words running through my head at different times in the night and day.  It is a reminder for us to look to the Lord for help and strength in this life.  He is always ready to take our hand and lead us through any trial we encounter on our earthly pilgrimage.

A Prayer for the Divine Indwelling

Lord Jesus, I am longing
   From sin to be set free:
To find my deep desiring
   Forever fixed on thee.
All hope I now abandon
   Myself to conquer sin;
Invade my willing nature
   And come and dwell within.

The passing years oppress me,
   My growth in grace so slow:
My wayward fickle cravings
   Have leagued me to the foe.
Myself to self disloyal,
   I loathe yet love my sin:
Now hear my heartfelt pleading
   And come and dwell within.

If Thou should'st stand close by me
   'Tis more than I deserve;
But, being still outside me,
   From virtue, yet, I swerve.
Come nearer, Lord, than near me,
   My succour to begin:
Usurp the heart that craves Thee!
   O come and dwell within.

By W.E. Sangster, found in The Secret of  Radiant Life, 1957

The Family Prayer - Maombi ya Familia

God made us a family.                          Mungu tufanye kuwa familia.                          
We need each other,                              Tunahitaji wote pamoja,
We love each other,                               Tupendane wote pamoja.
We forgive one another;                          Tusameheane mmoja mmoja;
We work together,                                  Tufanye kazi pamoja,
We play together,                                   Tucheze pamoja,
We worship our Lord together.                 Tumsifu Bwana wetu pamoja.

Together we learn God's Word,               Kwa pamoja tujifunze Maneno ya Mungu,
Together we grow in Christ,                    Kwa pamoja tukuwe ndani ya Kristo.
Together we love all men,                        Kwa pamoja tuwapende watu wote,
Together we serve our God.                     Kwa pamoja tumtumikie Mungu wetu.
Together we reach for heaven,                 Kwa pamoja tufike Mbinguni,
Together we are a family.                         Kwa pamoja tuko familia.

These are our hopes and ideals;                Haya ni matumaini yetu na mfano bora;
Help us to obtain them, O God,                Tusaidie kupata hayo, O Mungu,
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord;                Kupitia Yesu Kristo, Bwana wetu;
Who lives and reigns with You,                Anaye ishi na kutawala na wewe,
And the Holy Spirit, One God,                  Na Roho Mtakatifu, Mungu mmoja,
Now and forever, Amen.                            Sasa na hata milele,  Amina.                                              

Parent: Father God,                                    Mzazi:  Mungu Baba
May the spirit of patience                           Fanya roho ya subira
   be upon our hearts;                                       iwe ndani ya mioyo yetu;
And the attitude of respect                          Na mtazamo wa heshima
   within our minds.                                          katika kumbukumbu zetu.
May the law of kindness                              Fanye sheria ya wema
    be upon our tongues;                                    iwe ndani ya ndimi zetu;
And the touch of gentleness                        Na kugusa kwa upole
    within our hands.                                          katika mikono yetu.
All:  Amen.                                                  Wote:  Amina.


Note:  I found this prayer when we were packing up all our things to get ready to return to Tanzania, and I brought three copies along with us.  Now my husband has agreed to include it in our morning prayers during the Christmas season, and hopefully longer.  I have been thinking about the gift of family in life.  Family is the place that we learn and grow.  It is the place that we are challenged to increase in virtues and to work to overcome vices.  I am very thankful for the family God has placed me in, and I find this simple prayer a recognition of the way family life helps to prepare us for heaven, when we all will be united as a family, for we are children of God. Since we have Tanzanian children join us sometimes during morning prayers, we are learning this prayer in Swahili also.

Prayer for This New Year

O Lord, the years are slipping by,
   Our journey once seemed long;
This life on earth: a breath, a sigh,
   Eternal life: a hymn, a song.

O Lord, wherever I may be,
   I want You first; O bring me back.
I consecrate my life to Thee;
   Set me on the narrow track.

1-1-2015

Note added on 1-16-2015:  This morning I read another prayer in a devotional book I am reading called My Daily Bread by Anthony J. Paone, S.J., Confraternity of the Precious Blood, 1954. I see that this second prayer goes along with the prayer I wrote for this new year.
Here is the prayer:
   "My Jesus, in You I place all my hopes and desires.  To You I offer all my sorrows, trials, and disappointments.  Let me never treasure what can take me away from You, nor desire anything which can keep me from doing Your holy Will.  No friend nor any created thing can take Your place in my life.  Stay with Me and teach me how to live my life in union with You.  Enlighten me, strengthen me, and correct me, so that I may seek You first and love You above all else.  Amen."

Prayer of Synesius of Cyrene

O Christ, come among men as source of light,
Your ineffable birth is before the beginning of time.
You are the radiant light shining with the Father.
You irradiate lusterless matter and illumine the souls of the faithful.

You have created the world and fixed the orbit of the stars;
You sustain the axis of the earth,
You save all mankind.
You guide the sun in its course to light up all our days,
And the crescent moon which dispels the darkness of night.
You make the seed to sprout, preparing food for the flocks.
From your inexhaustible fount, You pour out the splendor of life,
Making fruitful the whole universe.

~~~ Synesius of Cyrene, c. 400 ~~~

Prayer of St. Patrick

Christ be with me, Christ within me;
Christ behind me, Christ before me.
Christ beside me, Christ to win me;
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me;
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger.
Christ in hearts of all who love me;
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself today
The strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and One in Three.

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need;
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The Word  of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.


Note:  I put a simple tune to this prayer, and it has been running through my head for the last couple months.  I find this prayer very strengthening in that it reminds me of Christ's presence with us, always and everywhere, giving concrete examples.  What is there to fear when Christ is always with us?  Just believe.  Walk by faith, not by sight.  Christ is with us to strengthen us and grant us wisdom through His grace. God is our Father, the Son is our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit is with us to help us persevere, giving us courage and strength to work for God.

Praise, Praise to Thee

Shadow and coolness, Lord,
   Art Thou to me;
Cloud of my soul, lead on,
   I follow Thee.
What though the hot winds blow,
Fierce heat beats up below?
Fountains of water flow---
   Praise, praise to Thee.

Clearness and glory, Lord,
   Art Thou to me;
Light of my soul, lead on,
   I follow Thee.
All through the moonless night,
Making its darkness bright,
Thou art my Heavenly Light---
   Praise, praise to Thee.

Shadow and shine art Thou,
   Dear Lord to me;
Pillar of cloud and fire,
   I follow Thee.
What though the way is long,
In Thee my heart is strong,
Thou art my joy, my song---
   Praise, praise to Thee.

by Amy Carmichael,  Edges of His Ways