Matthew R. Green's Blog, page 23

A Collect for Forgiving Hearts

Gracious Father, who is patient with your stubborn and foolish children, grant us forgiving hearts, that we would be understanding and patient as you are, releasing those who have wronged us from whatever debt we hang on to and freeing ourselves from the minutia of living with tallies of being owed, through Jesus your son, […]

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A Collect to Not Judge Others

Brother Jesus, who knows what it is to be tempted and limited and weak, having shared our flesh, keep us from judging others, lest we forget our own weaknesses and needs and thus call judgement down upon ourselves for our own failings, through you whose love encompasses all humanity, even from heaven where you live […]

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A Collect for Generosity

Gracious creator, who has given great gifts to many, keep us from miserliness and from hoarding our riches, that we would be generous as you are, giving without expecting return and delighting in what good we may do for others, through Jesus our example, who gave everything that we might live and now lives with […]

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A Collect to Love Those Who Do Not Love Us

Christ Jesus, who forgave even those who pinned you to the cross, help us to go beyond the requirements of this world and to love those who do not return that love. In this way, may we walk as you do, seeking always the good of others in the hopes that goodness and reconciliation may […]

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A Collect to Give up Vengeance

Holy Spirit of God, who offers divine wisdom to those who will listen, take from us the impulse to exact vengeance on those who have wronged us, that we would repay evil with good and give ourselves in the service of love, through Christ our Lord who reigns in you with the Father in glory, […]

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A Collect to Repay Evil with Good

Generous God, who gives life and rain and blessings to both the good and evil, teach us not to respond to evil with evil, that we would bless those who curse us and seek the good of all and so fill creation with your love and goodness, through Christ our savior, who died for us […]

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A Collect to Love Our Enemies

Loving Father, who desired us into being, teach us how to love even those who hate us, that we would not be consumed by anger or animosity, but desire good for all who would be willing to receive it, through Christ Jesus our example and lord, who reigns in perfect unity with you and the […]

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A Collect to Know Our Hearts

Wise and discerning Lord, who knows our true needs, search our hearts and show us the truth of our souls, that we might know our secret faults and convoluted desires and thus know what to offer to you for forgiveness and healing and so be made whole and ready for the ways of your kingdom, […]

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A Collect to Not Fall Prey to Self-Deception

God of wisdom, who understands all things for you created them, help us to test our hearts, knowing that they are layered and complex, that we might not fall prey to our own self-deception and discover the truth that you desire in our deepest parts, through Christ our Lord, who reigns above with you and […]

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A Collect to Detach from the World’s Wealth

Almighty Father, who gives good gifts to your children, keep us from being too attached to the things of this world, that we would not depend on wealth and food and praise for our consolation, but look to the things of your kingdom and trust that your ways are what will truly satisfy our souls, […]

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