Foundational Prayers

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It is with JOY that I take a moment to thank my dear Sister, Edie, from:

Rich Gifts !

Edie worked with me to create our

new Prayer Button

to link you to Shepherd's Walk.

The Prayer Walk at Sweetbriar

is a real place here

- but for those of you who do not live in NJ,

or may not have a chance to pray on the path here everyday, you can come on by to offer prayer requests [through e-mail] or just spend time in prayer on the posts that are shared here. Welcome

- if this your first time here

or you've been a long time prayer partner!

I hope you will grab my button

and pass on the path of prayer to those in deepest need!

May your heart be blessed here today!

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Father God ~~~

We come before You on bended knee today

to humble ourselves before Your throne of Grace

so freely given by the blood of Your Son,

The Lord,

JESUS CHRIST!

We ADORE You - We WORSHIP You

- We CRY HOLY is the LORD ALMIGHTY!

You - in all Your Glory are Majestic.

The earth sings with Your Praise!

We CONFESS our sinful, selfish ways, Lord.

We are humbled in Your very Presence.

Cleanse us this day and renew a right spirit within us.

Thank You for Who You Are!

Thank You for what You have done in us

- for us - and through the ashes of our pasts.

You are a GOD of RESTORATION

and we give You THANKS!

Give us HOPE! Grant us HEALING - in spirit - in truth - in our mind - in our body and especially in our emotions that tend to go in every wrong direction.

Break our hearts

with what breaks Yours, Lord!

Have mercy on us and show Your Favor to us!

The HEART of the CROSS

2 Corinthians 4:5-6
5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

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This is the exact same Cross - photographed one day after the blinding blizzard snowfall. It was barely visible in the last post picture as the snow was coming down hard and fast. Now, just one day later.... sunlight hangs on the Cross and the beauty returns - like the light of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in your life and mine.

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"If we glory - may it only be in the Cross of Christ!" May His light shine into our hearts and lives so that we may turn and receive the very reflection of His glory - and splash that light onto the lives of others around us.

I cannot think of a single emblem that overwhelmingly draws the human heart to the HEART of a Holy God. But for the Cross!

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Father-----

Thank you for the obedience that Jesus Your Beloved Son endured for the sake of redeeming us - a sinful and wicked people who were never capable of saving ourselves. You knew that - He knew that. Before time You set Your plan to rescue us and to restore the relationship we had with You - the one lost in the garden. It was always Plan 'A' - not some afterthought because we fell! O LORD, how I PRAISE YOU for YOUR HEART of REDEEMING LOVE. You are the Giver of Life - the Sustainer of Life and the RESTORER of LIFE! Praise Your Holy Name!

by the Cross of Jesus.........Amen

ENDURING OUR CROSS

The Race of Faith

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Discipline of God

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. [emphasis added]

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Father----

In our pursuit of holiness... the Cross is the very encouragement we need to run, persevere and finish the race you have set before us! May we do it all in abundant JOY with hearts turned inside out over what you have done for us! All for the Cross of Jesus in whose Name we Praise and say Amen!

The CIRCLE of LOVE

As you walk the Prayer Path at

Shepherd's Walk

and come to the Sanctuary Circle

you will meet the Father heart to Heart -

here in ...

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The Circle of Love
Stephanie K. Brower c 2008
All Rights Reserved

[Inspired by: The Sanctuary at SHEPHERD’S WALK of Sweetbriar

Isaiah 40:22 / Psalm 23 / Psalm 103 / Psalm 40:1-4 / Exodus 16 /
Song: You Are Good by Point of Grace]

I come to the Circle, bound by Your love.
Your Presence awaiting, from heaven above.
It’s all about You, LORD, encircled I stand,
Embracing the touch of, Your mighty right hand.

In sunlight, or moonlight, on cold rainy days,
Here in the Circle, upon Your face I can gaze.
Your Presence is spread like a canopy sheet,
Without wrinkle or blemish, just perfectly neat.

In the Circle we dance, and sing, and rejoice,
You whisper my name in Your most tender voice.
You’ve lifted me out of the pit of despair.
Replacing with praise, every worry and care.

To the Table I come, to feast and devour,
Your manna provided for this very hour.

Your forgiveness and love, both mercy and grace,
Held out in fullness, for my heart to embrace.

When I come to the Circle, surrendered, bowed down,
You meet me by faith and with joy You astound.
Holy, holy, holy, are You LORD, God Almighty,
As I stand in the tent of heaven’s canopy.

To the Altar I come in worship and praise,
With thanksgiving to offer for Your marvelous grace.
Love so amazing, encircled – enthroned –
My heart and my life, offered to You alone.

written in Journal:
Circle of Love = Shine the Light
November 8th, 2008

All Rights Reserved

Walk To Emmaus

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Luke 24:12-20

(New Living Translation)
12 However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.
The Walk to Emmaus

13 That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus Himself suddenly came and began walking with them. 16 But God kept them from recognizing Him.

[emphasis added]
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The above photographed print of
The Walk to Emmaus

was donated by Barbara over at: B His Girl

for the Inside Prayer Room Here at Shepherd's Walk.

My friend Jane, took it to be matted and framed

and this is the finished piece,

all hung in place in the prayer room

to greet those who come to pray here.

Barbara - thank you so much for your thoughtfulness

in sending this special print.

I love the Scripture that tells the story behind the it.

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Imagine yourself in their bare feet, walking beside Jesus Himself,

just after the resurrection,

and not even realizing it was Him!

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JESUS -

May we know and understand that You walk

beside us each and every day as we trust You with our very lives.

May we be as excited to tell others of Your love and all that

surrounds the Cross and Your resurrection to new life!

Thank You for giving us new life - Life Eternal!

HAITI EARTHQUAKE HITS HOME

As I spent time in Fasting and Prayer this morning I had been reading Nehemiah 11 & 12 when God took me to Haggai 2 and I found myself reading these words of the LORD, and though they are written to Israel - I believe they can apply to the people of Haiti right now.

For hundreds of years satan has struggled to keep control of that tiny island of Haiti - yet right now God is taking over. Read these words carefully from the prophet Haggai.

Haggai 2

Ask them, 3'Who of you is left who saw this house [land] in its former glory?

How does it look to you now?

Does it not seem to you like nothing?

4 But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD.

'Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest.

Be strong, all you people of the land,'

declares the LORD, 'and work.

For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty.

5 'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt.

And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.'
6 "This is what the LORD Almighty says:

'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens

and the earth,

the sea and the dry land.

7 I will shake all nations,

and the desired of all nations will come,

and I will fill this house [land] with glory,' says the LORD Almighty.

[all emphasis added]

It is a somber time here in NJ as our family is in prayer

for the people of Haiti after a 7.0 earthquake rocked

their world late afternoon on January 12, 2010.

Is this a 'disastrous start' of the New Year,

or the call of God, once more, to seek Him while He may be found?

My son-in-law, Rob, was due to fly into Haiti this very day with

his dad, his uncle and other top members of his mission board.

Before the news of the earthquake came

teams were scheduled to go in today -

a Ladies' Missionary Retreat was scheduled - and my son-in-law

was preparing

to work on their new home in Cayes, Haiti.

He and my daughter, Becky, along with their

three young children, Drew, Tessa, and Braden have been

preparing to leave in Mid-March, selling most of the

earthly goods in order to "GO".

Their container was shipped in December and arrived

in Haiti just last week, where it has been sitting in the heart of

Port-au-Prince, or perhaps swallowed in a crack in the earth's surface.

Perhaps God will keep it safe from harm - perhaps not. Perhaps the sacrifice

is bigger than anticipated, yet the call to "GO" has not changed.

Perhaps this is a way to 'feel' what it's like to be a Haitian.

Perhaps it gives the heart more of a sense of loss without Christ.

Perhaps it's part of the preparation for that very 'call'.

Rob wrote a little of what they are feeling on his blog

if you'd like to take time to read it and share

their story about their love for Haiti and its people:

theSliver: My heart is troubled…

FATHER in Heaven---

Hear our prayer.

You are Sovereign and we are weak and sinful.

Cleanse our hearts this day and draw us to Yourself as we

lift up this tiny country of Haiti and its people to You.

Father, You are already doing a mighty work

in that country. You have taken away the curse of satan that had been set upon this tiny nation for such a long time. Now complete this work that You have begun. May this earthquake shake the hearts of those people

and the hearts of us here - to bring us to a place

of knowing You deeper.

YOU ARE FAITHFUL in all Your ways.

YOU ARE GOOD, You are LIGHT, in You there is no darkness.

In You there is no evil thing.

We trust You this day - even when we cannot understand Your ways - we know from Your Word that they are higher than any we have of our own.

So LORD, Forgive, [Daniel 9:4-19] Heal, Mend and Redeem our own hearts first and then the hearts of the people of Haiti. Restore, Rebuild and Renew [Psalm 40:4]

as only You can do!

And WE WILL give You all the Praise and all the Glory.

In JESUS' NAME, Amen and Amen!

A YEAR-END SURPRISE!

This Downy Woodpecker was at my feeder all day - flying back and forth to the oak tree nearby. Each time I tried to take a picture of him through the window he flew away. I asked the Lord for just ONE PHOTO - and one photo was what I got! This is it! The RED on his head is actually much brighter than it looks in the picture.

Psalm 103
Of David.

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;

all my inmost being, praise His holy Name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all His benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

22 Praise the LORD, all His works

everywhere in His dominion.

Praise the LORD, O my soul.

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Father God--------

You do satisfy us with good things...

May we never forget all your benefits -

nor take for granted Your daily presence in our lives!

Thank you for this past year - for the good circumstances and even for those that were not so easy to deal with. Thank You, because in Your Sovereign plan You have our BEST in Your Heart for us!

Thank You for sustaining us over the last 365 days!

As the New Year rings in on January 1st -

would you usher us into Your Presence

where there is fullness of JOY abounding?

May our hearts be full and overflowing with the Love You have bestowed upon us through the forgiveness we have freely been given at the Cross where Jesus died!

May our lives be in full surrender to Your will and Your ways in this coming year ahead as we depend on the Living Christ who leads and guides us now!

We bless You, our God...

"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!"

In the Mighty name of Jesus ~

Amen and Amen!