Jonathan Moore
Psalms 36:7
How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.
Matthew 23:37
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.
These two scriptures demonstrate the 'bid and the ask' of grace. In other words; the difference between what God offers and what some are willing to do to receive, or come under that grace. The religious and self-righteous were not willing to come under the sheltering wings of God’s grace. Often the shame-based and the self-condemned have a hard time accepting the grace of God. We need to love these ones to life, confronting the mindsets that hold prople in captivity. Pray for breakthroughs in this area!
Prayer from First Presbyterian Church Grenada Heavenly Father, we know that wind, water, rain , sleet and snow àre yours. This Sabbath we come before You with humble hearts, seeking Your protection and grace.
We pray you will place Your mighty hand over this storm and calm its force. Shield us from the fury of the wind, rain, snow and ice. Care for those in the grip of the storm and keep them from harm. We pray for the safety of every person, home, and community at risk. We lift up all rescue workers, police, firefighters, and utility crews, asking for clear minds, steady hands, and safe passage as they heroically assist others in dangerous situations. Calm the anxious thoughts and steady the restless hearts of those filled with fear. Remind them of Your constant presence, that even when life seems dark and stormy, You are with us, guiding us to safety. In the wake of the storm, we pray for swift recovery and restoration. Provide essentials like water, food, and adequate shelter, and inspire communities to come together in support and care for one another.
We trust in Your unfailing love and mercy, knowing You are our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. We pray in Jesus Name. Amen
🌾 A Parable for the Thirteenth Day — “The Ember That Wouldn’t Die”
A winter storm swept through a small Mississippi town and knocked out the power for nearly two weeks. The nights were cold, the days were long, and people were running low on strength. Every home felt the weight of the darkness.
In that town lived a man named Mr. Ray. His fireplace was old, and after days of burning wood, the fire finally went out. All that remained was a single faint ember buried under the ash.
Most folks would have given up on it. But Mr. Ray didn’t.
He knelt down, gently cleared the ash, and breathed on that ember. Slowly, it glowed brighter. He added a few twigs, then a small log, and before long, the fire was burning again — warm enough to heat his home and boil water for his neighbors.
Later, a young boy asked him, “How did you get a whole fire from just one tiny ember?”
Mr. Ray smiled and said, “You don’t need a roaring flame to start again. You just need something that’s still alive.”
And that’s how the town made it through the long outage — not with big miracles, but with small embers of hope kept alive by people who refused to quit.
💛 For Mississippi, on Day 13
You may feel like you’re running on embers right now. But embers are enough. Embers can be breathed back into flame. And this community has more strength, more heart, and more light than any storm can take away.
If you want, I can write a prayer specifically for the linemen, for families with kids, or for the elderly who are struggling the most.