African food insecurity

I’ve been reading various articles about food shortages in Zimbabwe, drought in Kenya and Tanzania, wheat rust in central Africa.

Our Father in heaven,
In today’s reading in Jeremiah, You forsook the children of Israel because they had followed other gods. They had defiled the land with the lifeless forms of vile idols. We see through a glass darkly, but if the food insecurity in Africa is related to idol worship, we cry out for mercy. Stir a spirit of repentance across this continent. Send revival. May they confess their sins and may You separate the stain of idolatry from the land as far as the east is from the west.
We also read in the gospel of John about the feeding of 5000 with five small barley loaves and two small fish. As the Christian aid agencies bring food to various places across this continent, we pray for a multiplication of the food to the glory of Your name and the establishment of Your kingdom on earth.
Make Your face to shine upon Africa. Amen.
Jeremiah 16:10-21, John 6:1-15

Prayer regarding wheat rust

Lent Quotes: Character is the product of daily actions

Character is the product of daily, hourly actions, and words and thoughts; daily forgivenesses, unselfishness, kindnesses, sympathies, charities, sacrifices for the good of others, struggles against temptation, submissiveness under trial. Oh, it is these, like the blending colors in a picture or the blending notes of music which constitute the man.

–JR Macduff

hattip: Transfigurations

John 6:8-15

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” (John 6:8-9)
      Jesus, help us receive every offering with thanksgiving, knowing that you can multiply it thirty, sixty, a hundredfold. Teach us throughout this diocese to receive what the youth are offering.

Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. (John 6:10)
      Holy Spirit, “to everything there is a season, time for every purpose under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) Please help us recognize and respond to those times when we should be sitting at the feet of Jesus rather than be up and doing.

And Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks he distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. (John 6:11)
      Jesus, thank you for showing us once again that you are able to provide what we need, when we need it. Help us turn to you in our hour of need with thanksgiving.

So when they were filled, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. (John 6:12-13)
      Jesus, please gather up the fragments of my life so that none of them are lost. Use them all for your kingdom purposes.

Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” (John 6:14)
      Father, please give us sight to recognize Jesus for who he is.

Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he departed again to the mountain by himself alone. (John 6:15)
      Jesus, you told us that your kingdom is not of this world. Help us seek out your kingdom rather than the kingdoms of this world. Thank you.

Monday: 89:1-18; Jeremiah 16:10-21; Romans 7:1-12; John 6:1-15
Tuesday: 97, 99, [100]; Jeremiah 17:19-27; Romans 7:13-25; John 6:16-27

Albany Intercessor

Covenant Design Group

The Covenant Design Group will be meeting in England the last week in March.

Dear Heavenly Father,
We yearn for You. We yearn for a church that is a dwelling place for You. We yearn for a Communion built on the foundation of righteousness and justice.
Stir in the members of the Covenant Design Group a spirit of praise. May they walk in Your light. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
Stir in the members of the Covenant Design Group a spirit of love and faithfulness. May they rejoice in Your name all day long and exult in Your righteousness. We pray that each member of the group is grounded in Your righteousness and justice. If any are not, we pray for a change in heart or a change in personnel.
Be the glory and strength of the Anglican Communion! Stir in the worldwide communion a spirit of praise. Stir the intercessors! May our songs be a pleasing habitation for Your majesty. Our only hope is in You, Lord. Our only hope is in You.
Psalm 22:3, 36:9, 89:14-18