Mayb2day

God of infinite love,
we know you to be Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
one God but in a community of relationship and expression.
You are watching over this troubled city;
weeping over this city; aching for this city;
and enfolding this city with your everlasting arms.
Protect and keep us, feed and teach us;
nurture and inspire us; guide and enable us.
Help us to make a worthwhile contribution to community life
and all our relationships,
that society may know peace with justice,
love with respect; healing with joy;
and hope for a brighter tomorrow,
through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Copyright Anthony D Miles March 2007

Creator God, you are the giver of life.
As I embark on a another day’s journey with you,
be with me in my chores and responsibilities;
in my working and playing;
in my activity and resting;
in my sighing and laughing;
in my speaking and listening;
in my reading and writing;
in my thinking and praying.
I dedicate this day to you,
asking you to forgive, heal and equip me,
that I may be ready for today’s challenges and opportunities.
In all things may your Spirit of grace and humility,
guide and direct me in the ways of peace and joy.
So, loving God,
may this day be lived for You,
for those I love,
and those I ought to love,
for the sake of Jesus,
my saviour, example and friend.  Amen

Copyright Rev. Anthony D. Miles February 2006

God of the ages,
you are before us,
with us
and beyond us.
Lead us, we pray,
from winter to spring;
from night to day;
from darkness to light;
from slumber to consciousness;
from an old year to a new beginning.
May your renewing Spirit burst forth into our lives
with forgiveness, fresh vision, and blessed hope;
through the resurrecting power of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Copyright January 2004 Rev. Anthony D. Miles
Source:  Maybe Today, by Tony Miles – published by CWR

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Almighty God, from your throne in glory,
you humbled yourself and came alongside us.
You graciously kissed the earth of this fallen world.
You shone your light into the dark places
through the precious gift of Jesus, your Son, our Saviour.
Illumine our hearts, we pray, that softened by your love,
we may, in humility, come alongside those in need.
Help us to reach out with compassion and generosity,
as channels of your healing, peace, and hope.
May this be our gift to you, this Christmas,
for the sake of your kingdom.  Amen.
 
© Anthony D. Miles  December 2003

God of miracles and wonders,
shatter our complacency;
challenge our apathy;
feed our spiritual curiosity;
until our restless souls
find peace in your grace and mercy.
This we pray, in the name of our Saviour, Jesus,
who came that we might find spiritual freedom
and everlasting life. Amen.

Anthony D. Miles March 2004

Almighty Creator,
You alone are our God
- worthy of all our praise and worship.
You gave us the gift of life
and made us to live in community.
You want us to celebrate our diversity,
but to discover that You are a God of unity
who longs for us be one just as You are one,
so that the world may believe.
With many tongues and yet with one voice,
we worship You together.
We adore You for all that you are
and for the hope that You give
to our broken and fragile world.
We praise you that You have not abandoned us,
but desire us to turn towards Your love,
and seek Your healing and reconciliation in all our relationships.
You have sent Your Holy Spirit to work in our hearts,
to draw us closer to You and to one another.
We confess with shame, our stubbornness,
independence and selfishness;
our intolerance, our pride, and our insensitivity towards others.
We freely admit our lack of desire to live in harmony with You
and with one another.
Forgive us we pray,
and may we be assured of Your pardon,
through our saviour, Jesus.
May Your grace and mercy permeate our very being;
may we be truly cleansed, renewed,
and remade into our Lord’s likeness.
for we ask this prayer in His name,
that we may be living stones,
building upon the Rock for the sake of Your kingdom.  Amen.

Copyright  Anthony D Miles  2007

Almighty God, on this special day for the people of Wales,
we remember Saint David, your servant.
We give thanks for his passion for the Gospel
which helped to spread Christianity;
We give thanks for his purity and simplicity of life
which enabled his pursuit of Christian perfection;
We give thanks for his gentleness, but clear spiritual leadership.
Grant that we may learn from him
and respond to the words that are thought to be his last:
‘Be steadfast and do the little things’;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Copyright Anthony D. Miles March 2008

 

O loving God,
you call us to follow Jesus and to serve you in the world;
you inspire and sustain us, whilst equipping us for service.
Yet, you never promised that our lives would be easy!
Your promise was to be with us as we walk our sometimes difficult journey of faith.
Today we give you thanks for the dedicated life of Rob Frost,
for his total Christian commitment and love of you;
for his humility and courage;
for his obedience and passion in communicating the saving power of Jesus;
for the way he helped others into a relationship with you through our Lord;
for his ability to release people’s gifts and share the vision you gave to him.
We pray for his family and close friends at this difficult time
– especially his wife, Jacqui,
his children, Andy and Chris,
and his father, Ron.
Bless, keep and comfort them,
and enfold them in your everlasting arms of love.
May they hold onto all the wonderful promises that Rob believed with all his heart,
and through their tears, may they be assured of the joy of eternal life,
through Jesus Christ, our only Saviour and Lord.  Amen.

Tony Miles

Please read my initial tribute to Rob – written the day after he died – blog entry 12th November 2007

Awesome God,
in you we put our faith
and not without reason.
You are our provider and sustainer;
you are our deliverer and healer;
you are the lover of our souls.
We offer our gifts in gratitude and with thanksgiving.
Accept our money and our lives lived in your service,
for the furtherance of your Kingdom,
in the name of Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen

© Anthony D. Miles October 2004

We thank you, Good Shepherd,
that you have kept us safe in your care and provided for us;
you have blessed us with the gift of life
and sustained us through all our joys and sorrows;
you have saved us
and we are no longer lost, but found by your grace!
Come and fill your hungry lambs
and, in your mercy, receive all we offer to you,
that our offering may further the work of your kingdom;
to the praise and glory of your holy name.  Amen

© Anthony D. Miles  May 2004

Be good to yourself and take time to read the following without any hurry and reflectively.  Why not find somewhere that is quiet and be alone as you let the words speak.  Perhaps you can go for a walk, or sit in a garden – anywhere, but ensure no interruption.  Take your time. 

Ssssshhh.
Shush.
Be quiet.
Yes … you!
Hush and listen.
No! … I mean really listen,
carefully and prayerfully.
Stop what you are doing and thinking right now.
Be still
and learn to listen properly.
Just listen!

Put aside your “To Do” list and your agenda.
Put aside your guilt and your frustration.
Put aside your plans, hopes and dreams;
and simply be!
Rest your thoughts,
relieve your mind
and calm your restless soul.
Just listen!

Listen to your heart
and relax to the rhythm of your body
– a temple of the Holy Spirit.
Let the strong arms of your Creator embrace you
- the One who gave you the very breath of life.
Allow the sounds of God’s creation to be a lullaby
that rocks you in the cradle of divine love
and know that you are enfolded in the duvet of his peace;
that deep peace that passes all human understanding.
Just listen!

Find that place deep within you
and be still and know that God is with you by the gift of his Spirit.
Remember that he loves you far more than you could ever imagine.
You are cherished,
despite your failings;
despite your faithlessness;
despite your inability to take control of your life,
or even to influence the lives of others.
Hear the still small voice of acceptance.
Wait for it.
Just listen!

You are chosen.
You are needed.
You are understood … completely!
You can be forgiven and renewed.
Bask for a moment in grace and mercy.
Go on … enjoy it!
For life is a gift.
Find out in the stillness who you really are
and what is important
- most important!
Just listen!

Allow the balm of God’s healing to soothe you.
Oh yes … and understand this:
Unless you listen more often,
I mean, really listen;
unless you open the floodgates of your heart to God’s Spirit,
you will never find the inrush of life in all its fullness,
you will never find true meaning and purpose.
Rather, you will find yourself dancing to the wrong tune,
or pounding a pointless treadmill.
You will find that you will grow tired and weary,
you will stumble and fall,
you will never soar with those wings clipped!
Just listen!

So, do yourself a favour
and listen, precious one;
listen with care and attention;
listen and live.
For you are loved unconditionally by your Maker
- the One who sent his Son
to set you free;
free to soar on wings like eagles.
He longs for you to trust,
respond
and receive all that he has for you.
BUT,
for heaven’s sake
… just listen!

Anthony D. Miles © July 2003

When I feel abandoned and alone,
help me to cry out to you in all honesty.
Assure me of your loving presence,
and may your everlasting arms embrace and comfort me.
In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen

©  Anthony D. Miles 2003

Lord,
you are faithful and never too busy.
Your word is right and true
and your plans stand firm forever.
Help me to understand what you are saying to me,
so that I may graciously say what I mean
and mean what I say.
For I want to keep my promises to you and others,
as I walk in the freedom of faith all my days.  Amen

©  Anthony D. Miles 2003

God, the great Producer and Director,
help me to keep my focus on Jesus,
who was the broadcaster of your word
and also the message.
May I resist the temptation
to become distracted in the performance of my duties.
Rather, let me play my part
in the power of your Spirit of love and creativity. Amen

Rev. Anthony D. Miles 2003