The Christmas Prayer

Friday, as the entire school prepared to leave for Christmas break, 

one of my students pulled an envelope from her backpack.  
She rushed to my computer desk and thrust it towards me.

"I forgot to give you this," she said.

The envelope held a Christmas card from her family.  

Inside, beautifully penned, was the following prayer:

"May our dear Lord be with you and your family as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, 

the Savior of the world.

Usher you into the new year in victory,

grant you peace and grace for the year ahead. 

Amen."

Mychelle

Resurrection Prayer

We thank you Lord for blessing us to live beyond the days when we thought Easter was all about the bunny, colored eggs, candy, shiny new shoes and white lace gloves.

We thank you for so many Easter seasons when we listened to spirited sermons and heart felt songs, and then reflected on 

how you had to carry your own cross, 

how they offered you vinegar instead of water, 

how the first of your two crucifixion mates mocked you 

       and the second asked that you would remember him in Heaven, 

how the sky grew dark so people could think about what they had done to you, 

how you asked God to forgive them anyway, 

how you died and rose on the third day morning 

      (even though as many times as we counted, it was really only two), 

how the angel rolled away the stone to reveal an empty tomb, 

how we could not wait to get home to ham, potato salad, turkey, dressing, 

      chocolate cake and sweet potato pie.

We thank you for Blessing us to live long enough to understand that it’s not so much about how Judas betrayed you 

and Peter couldn’t believe his own three lies 

and that there is no bunny that could possibly lay eggs, 

but how you willingly laid down your life in sacrifice for our sins 

and that it was an “ah-hah” moment when we realized 

this made You the Lamb of God.  

We now know that the number of days between your death on the cross and your rising up is not as important as the fact that You Arose!  

We understand the reason for this season is Your Victory over death and what that means for us as Christians.  

We now understand that though we enjoy having ham, potato salad, turkey, dressing, chocolate cake and sweet potato pie in celebration, 

You are the Bread of Life. 

We thank you Father for the gifts of age and wisdom.  

We pray that you will allow us to continue growing in Your Word as we strive to be more like you, while living our everyday lives.  

But mostly Father, we thank you for your forgiveness.  

It is proof that you understand our short comings.  

We thank you that your promises are kept, 

and that your love for us is infinite and unwavering.  

It is in your precious name that we pray and are able to have faith, Amen. 

Mychelle Martin

April 11, 2004

The Lord Has Made Them All!

A few days ago I visited my mother.  

Along the way, I stopped to take snapshots of the evening sky.  

Its beauty reminded me of

an old gospel song mother used to listen to on Sunday mornings.  

I don't remember all the words, 

but a few lines have remained intact:

"All things bright and beautiful,

creatures great and small,

All things grand and glorious,

The Lord has made them all!