Nourish Your Heart

O LORD of the oceans, My little bark sails on a restless sea, Grant that Jesus may sit at the helm and steer me safely;

Suffer no adverse currents to divert my heavenward course; Let not my faith be wrecked amid storms and shoals; Bring me to harbour with flying pennants, Hull unbreached, cargo unspoiled.

I ask great things, expect great things, shall receive great things. I venture on thee wholly, fully, my wind, sunshine, anchor, defense.

The voyage is long, the waves, high, the storms pitiless, but my helm is held steady, thy Word secures safe passage, thy grace wafts me onward, my haven is guaranteed.

This day will bring me nearer home; Grant me hold consistency in every transaction, my peace flowing as a running tide, my righteousness as every chasing wave.

Help me to live circumspectly, with skill to convert every care into prayer. Halo my path with gentleness and love smooth every asperity of temper; let me not forget how easy it is to occasion grief; may I strive to bind up every wound, and pour oil on all troubled waters.

May the world this day be happier and better because I live. Let my mast before me be the Saviour’s cross, and every oncoming wave the fountain in his side. Help me, protect me in the moving sea Until I reach the shore of unceasing praise.

From Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions

A whole new world is mine today… May I be wiser, Lord I pray! I’d strengthen friendships, old and true And learn to cherish new ones too;

To keep on learning and to grow And little deeper as I go. To cast aside each grudge and grief And hold fast to a firm belief

That life is joyous, gracious, good, When lived in terms of brotherhood. To welcome fun, and play awhile, To lighten work with a pleasant smile!

To thank the Lord and every day Remember Him and kneel to pray, In gratitude for strength and health And blessing which are all my wealth.

This year’s a gift of God to me To spend, or use, or set me free… A whole new year is mine today… May I wiser, Lord I pray.

by anonymous

Last weekend I listened to a beautiful rendition of Third Day’s song “Cry Out to Jesus.” The song really struck me.

I thought about my mom and my dad and how they are getting older. It seems like there is not enough time to earn the money so that I can see them more often. They have become precious to me and for the first time in my life I understand how much I love my mom and my dad.

There are many hurting people in today’s world who seem to have no hope or no way out of their predicament. We all need saving. Lord we need your help.

We are broken. We are disappointed. We are filled with shame and regret. We desire to live for you but we do not know how to live for you from this place of sin.

We are filled with panic and we cannot see an end to our suffering. We are exhausted both physically and spiritually. We cannot hold out hope much longer. We need to see that you are here with us in our torment.

Thank you Jesus that you came here to heal us. You came to give us hope. You came to heal our broken hearts and our broken lives. Thank you for your forgiveness and your peace that you give us. Thank you for restoring to us the joy of our salvation.

Luke 4:18-19 God’s Spirit is on me; he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, To set the burdened and battered free, to announce, “This is God’s year to act!”

Cry Out to Jesus by Third Day

To everyone who’s lost someone they love Long before it was their time You feel like the days you had were not enough when you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains Keeping you back from your life You believe that there’s nothing and there is no one Who can make it right

Chorus

There is hope for the helpless Rest for the weary Love for the broken heart There is grace and forgiveness Mercy and healing He’ll meet you wherever you are Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

For the marriage that’s struggling just to hang on They lost all of their faith and love They’ve done all they can to make it right again Still it’s not enough

For the ones who can’t break the addictions and chains You try to give up but you come back again Just remember that you’re not alone in your shame And your suffering

Chorus

When your lonely (when you’re lonely) And it feels like the whole world is falling on you You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus Cry to Jesus

To the widow who suffers from being alone Wiping the tears from her eyes

For the children around the world without a home Say a prayer tonight

Chorus