Jonathan Moore
“You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord? “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.”
Isaiah 58:5-8
'Prayer and fasting' is also 'prayer and action'. What can often be merely performative must also become purposeful and transformative. As Paul writes in Galatians: “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. ”
(Galatians 5:24-25)
If I am going to pray; "Thy will be done, Thy Kingdom come", shouldn't I be prepared to be the answer to that prayer here on earth?
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
📖 Modern Parable — “The Table No One Sat At”
There was a family who owned a big wooden table. It had scratches from old arguments, dents from slammed dishes, and stains from meals no one enjoyed together. Over the years, each member drifted to their own corner of the house — eating alone, living alone, hurting alone.
One day, the youngest daughter walked by the table and noticed something she had never seen before. Carved into the underside, almost hidden, were the words:
“Love one another. — Dad”
She called her brother to look. He called their mother. Their mother called their father. And for the first time in a long time, the whole family stood around the same table.
No one spoke at first. Old wounds were loud. Old memories were heavy. But the father finally said, “I carved that when you were little. I wanted this table to be a place where we remembered what mattered.”
The mother whispered, “We forgot.”
The son said, “Maybe we can remember again.”
So they sat — awkwardly at first, quietly at second, honestly at last. They talked about mistakes, misunderstandings, and the hurt they had carried alone. And as they talked, something changed.
The table didn’t look different. The scratches were still there. The dents were still there. The stains were still there.
But the family was not the same.
They realized something sacred: God doesn’t wait for families to be perfect before He brings them together. He meets them in the mess, heals them in the honesty, and binds them in love stronger than their past.
From that day on, the table became their gathering place again — not because the family was flawless, but because God was faithful.