Travel and Verse

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Tag: Prayer

Prayer of Gratitude and Blessing

January 3, 2022 / / 0 Comments

To be spoken to God upon the celebration of a birthday

Great Father and keeper of Time:

I raise my heart and hands
to you who
understands,
and commands
another year.

I come to you
in Gratitude
and celebrate this date
of my start.

I cry thanks also
for the time since you
found me,
rescued me,
reclaimed me,
resurrected me;
and how you breathed life into my soul.

I am now whole,
and my life not a dull
dim death.

Grant me now
another year of closeness to you.

And may the passing of
time be but
sign that
reminds me
of the ever-present
care
of our Lord.

anthony forrest

A Prayer for the Ordinary

February 24, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Teach me, O Lord, in your ordinary ways

Give to me your daily grace

Your slow and steady hand of guidance

Carefully adjusts my everyday progress

Nothing flashy

Nothing false

Simply ordinary and true

And the gift of your love each day, renew

 

anthony forrest

A Prayer to Stand

September 9, 2019 / / 1 Comment

Help me Lord, when I fall,

to stand and begin again.

For if I stay crumbled and small

God will not be praised.

 

Yet if while down, I cry,

“Lord your will, your way,”

His strength to do what’s right

will fit me for a new day.

 

anthony forrest

Travel Journal, 6

March 28, 2019 / / 0 Comments

New Friend Dave

The mobile passport app saves frustration and loads of time. Prior to landing back in the US, the user simply takes a selfie, adds passport information, and answers a few simple questions. When walking into passport control, the traveler bypasses all lines and shows a Homeland Security agent their phone. It’s a breeze and very efficient.

But no time saving app or brilliant travel secret was going to help us make our flight. We landed, collected our bags, breezed through passport control and customs, and promptly missed our flight.

It wasn’t even close.

Although we live close, getting a shuttle home wasn’t going to happen until the next day. Cars were outrageous for a one-way rental. Taxis were even crazier. Time crept on and we continued to trouble-shoot. It was looking like we’d be spending another restless night in an airport. Though I am no stranger to the comforts of a scum-encrusted patch of carpet near a closed Wok-n-Roll, I would have much rather slept in a bed.

There we sat—right outside of customs in the baggage claim. What could we do?

I prayed.

“Lord, give us just a little glimmer of hope. I hate to wish that somebody else missed this exact flight, but if they did, send them my way. Maybe we could split a car rental. Amen”

Opening my eyes, I saw an older guy walked our direction, talking on his cellphone.

“Yeah,” he bellowed into the phone, “I missed flight! I’m thinking about renting a car.”

I collected my mouth off the floor and introduced myself. We were heading north. And so was our new friend Dave.

Thoughts crept into mind. What if he’s a serial killer? It was unlikely, but if he was, we never “found out.” With car rented, Dave kept us company, regaled us with stories from his childhood, and drove the whole way.

We won’t soon forget Dave.

We also won’t forget how God answered prayer. That was perhaps the quickest and most specific answer to prayer I’ve ever witnessed. Though it was a simple request, God showed Himself once more that He is a God who hears. Earlier that day I read in Psalm 6 that, “The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer.”

I’m thankful for Dave. And I’m thankful for a God who hears.

 

anthony forrest 

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