Sunday, November 27, 2016

November 27: Peace Among Old Friends


            As we meet with many old friends, we ask God to bless our reunions. We give thanks for the memories we share with these friends and for their new directions and relationships. May God help us accept the changes that occur as we grow up and negotiate the differences that may come between us. We rejoice in all the accomplishments our friends have made and celebrate our own achievements with them. We ask God to assist us in leaving behind jealousy and insecurity, as well as any old grudges we may hold. May God bless our meetings and promise us many more in the future.

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Wednesday, November 23, 2016

November 23: Peace Among Family Members

Thanksgiving Break: November 23-27

           As we approach a time where relatives reunite and celebrate with each other, we ask God to foster peace and understanding between family members. May we act with patience and empathy towards our parents and our siblings and may they treat us the same. May family dinners and holidays be points of connection rather than tension. We ask for God’s guidance in navigating conflicting personalities and dissenting wills. May God help us in balancing the times when we must assert ourselves and the times when we must sacrifice for the people we love. We pray that these reunions ultimately bring us stronger, more joyful relationships among family.

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Monday, November 21, 2016

November 21: Thankfulness in Times of Stress


            Gratitude is difficult to cultivate even in our happiest times, so sometimes thankfulness seems impossible in periods of stress. We ask for God’s help in expressing gratitude during the busiest parts of our year. May God guide us towards appreciation and happiness even as we cope with anxiety and exhaustion. We remember the comfort Jesus promised us through the Holy Spirit and give thanks now for this gift. We trust in the knowledge that gratitude in the most difficult times makes the sweetest offering to God and commit to an intentional practice of expressing our thankfulness.

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Thursday, November 17, 2016

November 17: Preserving Peace Regardless of External Circumstance


            We acknowledge that if we wait for a perfect life, we will be waiting forever. Yet we sit in chaos and dissatisfaction, believing that peace will one day come to us through outside change in our lives. We understand that much of our world is beyond our control, so we commit ourselves to preserving our inner peace regardless of our external circumstances. We ask God to guide us towards greater acceptance of our lives. May God teach us the security and calmness we need to find wholeness from within rather than from without.

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