{"id":64,"date":"2017-03-08T23:14:59","date_gmt":"2017-03-08T23:14:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?p=64"},"modified":"2021-12-18T17:12:55","modified_gmt":"2021-12-18T16:12:55","slug":"theme-do-not-lose-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/03\/08\/theme-do-not-lose-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"Theme: Do not lose heart"},"content":{"rendered":"
PDF version<\/a><\/div>\n

 
\nThis prayer sheet<\/span> brings together prayers on the theme of not giving up, keeping the faith despite opposition and reasons for discouragement. It also includes two\u00a0of my songs, “Do not lose heart” and “Christ is in our midst”.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n

SONG<\/strong> (link to music in credits below)<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/songwriter\/playlist_shorter\/do_not_lose_heart.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Do not lose heart, keep on praying
\nDo not lose heart – pray
\nTill the Kingdom comes – pray
\nTill the darkness fades
\nwith the rising sun
\nDo not lose heart – pray<\/p>\n

\n

A. CALL TO WORSHIP<\/strong>
\n(based on Psalm 124)<\/p>\n

If it had not been for God,
\nwhere would we be?
\nIf it were not for God in our lives,
\nwhat kind of people would we be now?<\/strong>
\nWe are not alone.
\nOur help is in the name of the Lord
\nwho made heaven and earth –
\nour Redeemer, our Creator,
\nand Friend!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

B. LITANY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Who has been with us from before the beginning,
\nbringing us into existence?
\nWho has loved us and blessed us
\nand sent us on our way?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Who has pointed us toward the path
\nand posted the signs we need
\nto find our way?
\nWho has been at our side when the road
\nhas been smooth and gently curving?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Who has remained with us through every hairpin bend,
\nconstruction zone, pothole and detour?
\nWho will celebrate with us when we
\nreach our journey\u2019s end?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Only One. The One and Only.
\nHoly One. The One and Holy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

C. PRAYER<\/strong><\/p>\n

My Lord God,
\nI have no idea where I am going.
\nI do not see the road ahead of me.
\nI cannot know for certain where it will end.<\/p>\n

Nor do I really know myself,
\nand the fact that I think that
\nI am following Your will
\ndoes not mean that I am actually doing so.
\nBut I believe that the desire to please You
\ndoes in fact please You.
\nAnd I hope that I have that desire
\nin all that I am doing.<\/p>\n

And I know that if I do this,
\nYou will lead me by the right road
\nalthough I may know nothing about it.<\/p>\n

Therefore will I trust You always,
\nthough I may seem to be lost
\nand in the shadow of death,
\nI will not fear,
\nfor You are ever with me,
\nand will never leave me
\nto face my perils alone.<\/p>\n

Thomas Merton<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

D. SONG<\/strong> (link to music in credits below)<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/songwriter\/playlist_shorter\/christ_is_in_our_midst.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Christ is in our midst
\nHe is and ever shall be<\/p>\n

\n

E. READING<\/strong><\/p>\n

Acts 9:1-19<\/a><\/p>\n

Consider the reading from Ananias’ experience – the challenges he faced and the joy that came from following God’s lead.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

F. RESTORATION SONG<\/strong><\/p>\n

God called forth a people,
\nand we responded to His call
\n\u2018Rebuild this ancient ruin,
\nrestore my city walls.\u2019<\/p>\n

He has led us day by day,
\nas we listened to His voice
\nand we were fed on finest wheat,
\nand manna from the skies.<\/p>\n

When we started, we were strangers.
\nWe hardly knew each other\u2019s names.
\nNow we are brothers and sisters,
\nand we will never be the same.<\/p>\n

As we built, brick by brick,
\nwe discovered the corner stone,
\nand as we let Him mould and fashion us,
\nHe built us up in love.<\/p>\n

Now we have seen, and we have heard,
\nthat the Lord our God is great.
\nFor a wilderness has been transformed,
\ninto His holy place.<\/p>\n

\n

G. LET US PRAY<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cLet us lift up our hearts as well as our hands to God in heaven.\u201d (Lam 3:41)<\/p>\n

Let us pray \u2026<\/p>\n

\n

H. CLOSING PRAYER<\/strong><\/p>\n

We have waited patiently for God,
\nand he has heard our cry.
\nHe has set our feet on solid ground,
\nand kept us steady as we journey together.<\/p>\n

We are the people of God,
\nshaped and moulded
\nby the story of God,
\nfreed from our sins
\nand reconciled to the Father
\nby the work of His beloved Son.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For the potential You see in us
\nand the possibilities that lie ahead:
\nChrist be before us.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For our plans and their fulfilment,
\nfor Your promises and their unfolding:
\nChrist be before us.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the problems that beset us
\nand the perils that ensnare us:
\nChrist be within us.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Be around us,
\nabove us and beneath us.
\nOn your path, O my God,
\nand not my own, be all my journeying.
\nRule this heart of mine
\nthat it be only Yours.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

CREDITS<\/strong><\/p>\n

The following resources found on https:\/\/re-worship.blogspot.com\/<\/a> and adapted for this prayer sheet:<\/p>\n

H. inspired by a longer litany by Jeremy W. Yoder, posted on http:\/\/mennodiscuss.com\/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=9931<\/a><\/p>\n

Additional credits<\/p>\n

B. Unknown
\nC. by Thomas Merton, http:\/\/www.onbeing.org\/blog\/thomas-mertons-prayer-that-anyone-can-pray\/7157<\/a>
\nF. by Gerry Tuohy, from http:\/\/www.northumbriacommunity.org\/meditations\/meditation-day-12<\/a><\/p>\n

Songs (Cover and D.): http:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/songwriter\/songs.php<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Prayer sheet prepared by Rev. Irene Bom, OLM in International Presbytery of the Church of Scotland.<\/p>\n

First used in Scots International Church Rotterdam at the monthly prayer service in June 2016, and adapted for general use.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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Both have since passed away after a long life of loving and prayerful devotion in God's service. I first met John and Ruth the year\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/john_and_ruth_wedding_plaque.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/john_and_ruth_wedding_plaque.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/john_and_ruth_wedding_plaque.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/john_and_ruth_wedding_plaque.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1615,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/07\/20\/tips-using-prayer-sheet\/","url_meta":{"origin":64,"position":2},"title":"Tips for using a Prayer Sheet","author":"Irene Bom","date":"July 20, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I\u2019ve been compiling prayer sheets for some years now. It's my way of \u201cpreparing the way for the Lord\u201d (Isaiah 40:3) when asked to lead a prayer meeting. The prayer sheet serves as a framework, with prayers and responses to share, as well as room for silence, personal concerns and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "article"","block_context":{"text":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"List of prayer sheet blog posts","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/tips_for_using_prayer_sheets.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/tips_for_using_prayer_sheets.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/tips_for_using_prayer_sheets.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3672,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/12\/24\/theme-the-greatest-is-love\/","url_meta":{"origin":64,"position":3},"title":"Theme: The greatest is love","author":"Irene Bom","date":"December 24, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"PDF version \u00a0 As promised, a new prayer sheet to bring our 2017 Advent series on Faith, Hope, Joy and Love to a close. \"And now there remain: FAITH [abiding trust in God and His promises], HOPE [confident expectation of eternal salvation], LOVE [unselfish love for others growing out of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer sheet"","block_context":{"text":"prayer sheet","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer-sheet\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/hands.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/hands.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/hands.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/hands.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15318,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2024\/06\/04\/in-the-jesus-way-we-pray\/","url_meta":{"origin":64,"position":4},"title":"In the Jesus Way we pray","author":"Irene Bom","date":"June 4, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 The Lord\u2019s Prayer (a paraphrase) based on Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4 O God, you love us like a good parent, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and are present in every aspect of our existence. May your nature become known and respected by all. May your joy, peace, wholeness and justice \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0be the reality for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/twilight_blue_rotterdam_inner_city.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/twilight_blue_rotterdam_inner_city.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/twilight_blue_rotterdam_inner_city.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/twilight_blue_rotterdam_inner_city.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8469,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/11\/15\/too-beautiful-for-war\/","url_meta":{"origin":64,"position":5},"title":"Too beautiful for war","author":"Irene Bom","date":"November 15, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 \u00a0 Two prayers by Simon Bailey - written from a teenage perspective - expressing distress at the ongoing threat of nuclear war and violence and recognising the comfort that comes when we bring our fears to God who is \"warm enough to take all [our] shivers away\". \u00a0 #1\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/nuclear-weapons.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/nuclear-weapons.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/nuclear-weapons.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/nuclear-weapons.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Irene Bom","author_link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/author\/irenebom-com\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer-sheet\/\" rel=\"category tag\">prayer sheet<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"PDF version   This prayer sheet brings together prayers on the theme of not giving up, keeping the faith despite opposition and reasons for discouragement. It also includes two\u00a0of my songs, “Do not lose heart” and “Christ is in our midst”.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}