Father all wise and powerful, many countries are now focused on electing candidates to public office. Whatever the outcome of these elections, we recognize that you are in control of this world and are guiding it to its destiny. In that truth we find our peace.

And we rejoice that we have been elected, by our faith and obedience, to salvation in Jesus Christ. May you use us so that many more will be chosen for life as well, through the preaching of the Good News of the Cross. Amen.

Father, put us on our knees, that we may indeed be people who pray, and not merely people who talk or study about prayer. May we not take lightly this privilege and responsibility to appear before you. You are the God who hears and answers prayer. There is none other like you, who looks down from your throne to consider the needy. How we need you, Lord! And the Cross makes us realize how deep that need really is and how useless are our own feeble efforts to return to your presence. Praise to you for the matchless, marvelous gift of salvation! Only in Christ, Amen.

Our Father in Heaven, another week has begun. May we pratice on Monday the life of the Lord we praised on Sunday. And may Monday's practice carry through until Saturday. By his death and life, Amen.

Lord, you speak and things happen. Through your words, we are saved, and we see your love and power.

Human words are different. They often hide rather than reveal. But may we, as Christ's followers, say what we mean and mean what we say.

And today may we look behind and beyond the words of others to see their fears, concerns, and frailties. May we judge kindly, not only by what is said, but what is left unsaid. May we hear the words of others in order to understand, show compassion, establish rappor, and share your words of transformation.

By the eternal Word, Amen.

I am yours, oh, Lord, yours to mold, to hold, to throw out into the world for your purposes, yours to crush, refine, re-form; yours to stretch and push and shape, yours to "use and abuse," as Brazilians say; yours to possess, to break and make; yours to show forth light, and call attention to your sovereign powers and infiinite glory; yours to throw down and hold up. I am yours, oh, Lord, yours to do with as you please, for your purpose, holy and exalted, and I, but a tool, happy to be a small appendage to your will, a small piece in your mission, inhabit a corner of your immense and wonderful Kingdom. I am yours, oh, Lord, and yours alone, now and forever, becasue Jesus bought me and sought me out in my bewilderment and lostness; for him I give thanks, and praise, and glory. Amen.