Czytaj książkę: «Best Loved Prayers and Words of Wisdom»
best
loved
Prayers
& Words
of Wisdom
Compiled by Martin H. Manser
Associate Editor: Nicola L. Bull
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Introduction
Indexes
Author Index
Index of Bible References
Index of Titles and First Lines
Best-Loved Prayers and Words of Wisdom
Acknowledgements
Copyright
About the Publisher
Introduction
We live in an age that demands quick fixes to problems and immediate answers to difficulties. Alongside such a desire for instant solutions to major issues, another, deeper, desire surfaces from time to time. Such a longing recognizes that at least some of our difficulties can be resolved by looking at lasting, time-honoured values of human experience and wisdom such as faith in God through Jesus Christ, the importance of prayer, love and service, strength of character, integrity, loyalty and humility.
As we explore for ourselves what generations before us have discovered as the qualities of being human, we realize afresh we are not alone but many before us have trodden a similar path. Our task then is to stop and listen, to follow in their footsteps, to move in the direction they point us to, to apply the principles that underpinned their lives to our own way of living.
>We have had in mind two kinds of readers as we have compiled this collection of readings, prayers and quotations. First, those planning a gathering such as a wedding or a funeral who are looking beyond mere quick ‘sound bites’ to more profound wisdom. Secondly, those who are seeking for deeper meaning and purpose in life or who want inspiration above the ordinary daily routine.
Each reading is given an introduction which sets its background or gives interesting or helpful information. All the readings are arranged in alphabetical order of title (ignoring ‘A’ or ‘The’ at the beginning of a title). For ease of reference there are also indexes to help you locate a particular reading.
The voices of the speakers and writers quoted in these pages echo to us through the ages to say, ‘There is more to life than your present experience.’ Our desire is that we will all not only stop and listen but also respond to the message given here so that we will find the refreshment, peace and light for our own journey that we can then pass on to others.
Martin H. Manser
Nicola L. Bull
Indexes
Author Index
Aidan, St | St Aidan’s prayer |
Andrew of Crete | Crying to God |
Andrewes, Lancelot | Blessing and honour |
Anonymous | Confession |
All other love | |
As the sun sets | |
Belief in the unseen | |
Dare to believe | |
Dedicating all to God | |
Food for all | |
For the church | |
Gathered in God’s granary | |
God in all things | |
Guard me | |
Holy desire | |
An island prayer | |
Life be in my speech | |
The Lord goes with you | |
Love, and go on | |
Loving Communion | |
May God shield us | |
Motorist’s prayer | |
My colours | |
The new year | |
Prayer for mourners | |
Protect our journey | |
Risking love | |
Solomon’s wisdom | |
Time is precious | |
Traditional Gaelic prayer | |
Anselm, St | Have mercy on me |
Aquinas, Thomas | Food for the faithful |
Aristides | Epistle to Diognetus |
Augustine of Hippo, St | Alleluia |
An evening prayer | |
What do I love? | |
Baillie, John | Evening prayer |
Barclay, William | Prayer for humility |
Basil of Caesarea | Marks of a Christian |
Bass, Dorothy C | Time as gift |
Baxter, Richard | Daily seeking after God |
Meek and lowly | |
Beecher, Henry Ward | Steer by the Bible |
Benedict of Nursia | The help of God |
Bernard of Clairvaux | Like a reservoir |
O little Bethlehem | |
Betjeman, John | Take warning |
Blake, William | The Lamb |
Bonaventure | Journey into God |
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich | Help me to pray |
Thanking God | |
Bright, William | Deliver us from cold hearts |
Brontë, Anne | Last lines |
Brooks, Phillips | Looking through the Bible |
Browne, R E Charles | What is prayer? |
Browning, Elizabeth Barrett | How do I love thee? |
Bryan, William Jennings | Immortality |
The miracle of the radish | |
Bunyan, John | Pilgrim’s Progress |
Who would true valour see | |
Calvin, John | Obedience |
Carey, William | Expect great things |
Chadwick, Samuel | Prevailing prayer |
Chambers, Oswald | Discipleship |
Not to criticise | |
Chesterton, G K | The donkey |
Chrysostom, John | Richer than all men |
Clare, John | Nature acknowledges God |
Clement of Alexandria | Beauty |
God’s first Bible | |
Coleridge, Mary | Lord of the winds |
Colonna, Vittoria | The Cross |
Columba, St | Safe in God’s hand |
Common Worship, 2000 | Gloria in Excelsis |
Loving God above all things | |
Counsell, Michael | Thank God |
Cranmer, Thomas | Accept our sacrifice |
Cropper, Margaret | Jesus’ hands |
Croucher, Rowland | Go with the Lord |
Cyprian | Encouraging words |
Davenant, John | Justification of believers |
de Blois, Louis | Self-will |
de Foucauld, Charles | Abandonment to God |
Dickens, Charles | At Christmas |
Dimitrii of Rostov, St | Illumine our darkness |
Dolben, Digby Mackworth | I asked for peace |
Donne, John | Distractions |
Keep us, Lord | |
No man is an island | |
Dostoevsky, Fyodor | Don’t be afraid |
Doyle, Stephen | The end of a pilgrimage |
Edwards, Jonathan | Signs of conversion |
Elliot, Jim | A good exchange |
Erasmus, Desiderius | The way, the truth and the life |
Fee, Gordon | The gathered church |
Fénelon, François | Dying daily |
Spiritual trials | |
Forsyth, P T | Problem solving |
Fox, George | The bright morning star |
Francis of Assisi, St | Canticle of the Sun |
The prayer of St Francis | |
Share the gospel | |
Shout joyfully | |
You are holy | |
Gibran, Kahlil | Man’s purpose is to be happy |
The nature of love | |
Speak to us of prayer | |
Gregory of Nyssa | Seeing God |
Grellet, Stephen | Doing good today |
Hale, Matthew | Observing the Lord’s Day |
Henry, Matthew | Man’s equal |
Seeing more of God | |
Henson, Herbert Hensley | Christ’s ladder to heaven |
Herbert, George | Love bade me welcome |
Trinity Sunday | |
Hillyer, William Hurd | My Master’s face |
Hopkins, Gerard Manley | God’s grandeur |
Ignatius of Loyola, St | Putting love into practice |
Serving God | |
John XXIII, Pope | Dying well |
Jonson, Ben | Hymn to God the Father |
Julian of Norwich | All manner of thing shall be well |
The Lord’s meaning | |
Pray anyway | |
Praying and trusting | |
Kempis, Thomas à | Imitating Christ |
Not reading, but doing | |
Rich in grace | |
Strengthen me, O God | |
We cannot avoid temptation | |
Ken, Thomas | Glory to God the Trinity |
Praise God, from whom all | |
blessings flow | |
Kennedy, G A Studdert | When Jesus came to Birmingham |
Kierkegaard, Søren | Reading God’s word |
Kipling, Rudyard | If |
Kolbe, Maximilian | Be prepared for trials |
Latimer, Hugh | Latimer’s last words |
Lawrence, Brother | The presence of God |
Lewis, C S | The apologist’s evening prayer |
Courage | |
The importance of Christianity | |
Listening to that other voice | |
Love is as hard as nails | |
Lewis, H Elvet | Freedom from fear |
Lincoln, Abraham | God’s best gift |
Longfellow, Samuel | Keep us through winter |
Luther, Martin | Bless our meal |
Comfort for bereaved parents | |
Conversion | |
God’s word | |
Wise men | |
Manser, Martin | Easter Day |
When you feel depressed | |
Marshall, Peter | Slow us down |
Mason, John | The pearl of great price |
McCheyne, Robert Murray | Be of good cheer |
The gift of the sun | |
Merton, Thomas | Into the desert |
A stolen book | |
Meyer, F B | Confessing our helplessness |
Milner-White, Eric | Teach us to pray |
Moltmann, Jürgen | Friendship |
Moody, Dwight L | Three ways to look |
Morrison, Charles C | The church |
Mother Teresa | Love begins at home |
Serving | |
Smile at someone | |
Murray, Andrew | God’s glory revealed |
Magnify God’s glory | |
Nee, Watchman | God’s means of deliverance |
Newbigin, Lesslie | Understanding the gospel |
Newton, John | Amazing grace |
Niebuhr, Reinhold | Bound in this bundle of life |
Nightingale, Florence | Life is a hard fight |
Nolte, Dorothy Law | How children learn |
Nouwen, Henri | Caring friendship |
A Christmas prayer | |
Origen | Beyond our understanding |
Necessary for understanding | |
Owen, John | The work of the Spirit |
Packer, J I | God knows me |
Pascal, Blaise | Enlightenment faith |
The God of Christians | |
Man is but a reed | |
Paton, Alan | Prayer for peace |
Stand up and be counted | |
Patrick, St | For guidance |
I arise today | |
Penn, William | A Quaker prayer |
Pink, A W | Circumstances |
Polycarp | Polycarp’s prayer |
Quoist, Michel | Forgetting myself |
I want to love | |
The telephone | |
Raleigh, Walter | The service of God |
Romero, Oscar | God’s church will never perish |
Rossetti, Christina | Being fruitful again |
Journeying in faith | |
Lord, seek us | |
Ryle, J C | Humility |
Thirst relieved | |
Schweitzer, Albert | The soul |
Scotus, John Duns | Happy and peaceful |
Shaw, Gilbert | The Holy Spirit |
Shnorhali, Nerses | A morning prayer |
Smith, Hannah Whitall | God cannot fail |
Smith, Wilbur M | The resurrection of Christ |
Spurgeon, Charles Haddon | Beware anxiety |
The Bible is a vein of pure gold | |
Live on the Lord Jesus | |
Stevenson, Robert Louis | The best things |
Stott, John | Opening the door to Christ |
The Word of God | |
Stringfellow, William | No mere religion |
Sundar, Singh | Conversion to Christ |
Taylor, Jeremy | Christian humility |
Different gifts | |
Following Jesus Christ | |
Taylor, John Vernon | Love’s self-opening |
Temple, William | Resting-places |
Teresa of Avila | Friendship with God |
Let nothing disturb thee | |
Thompson, Francis | The hound of heaven |
Thurman, Howard | Peace of mind |
What makes you come alive? | |
The work of Christmas | |
Tournier, Paul | Conviction of sin |
Tozer, A W | Christ’s second coming |
God speaks | |
Trapp, John | Worldly foolishness |
Tucker, Alice | Church music |
Tutu, Desmond | Easter |
Tyndale, William | Trust in the favour of God |
Tyndale’s last words | |
Very, Jones | The prayer |
von Hügel, Friedrich | Persistence |
Washington, George | Observe good faith |
Watson, Thomas | Warm your hearts |
The world in the heart | |
Watts, Isaac | Christ has the keys |
Joy to the world | |
Weatherhead, Leslie | God of truth, deliver us |
Wesley, Charles | Christ, the Lord, is risen today |
Vain repentance | |
Wesley, John | Covenant with God |
I felt my heart strangely warmed | |
Only sinners need forgiveness | |
Wesley, Susanna | Loving God above all things |
Willis, Love Maria | Father, hear the prayer we offer |
Winslow, Octavius | The religion of joy |
Zwingli, Ulrich | Confidence in Christ |
Index of Bible References
Genesis 17:7–9 | A people for God |
Exodus 33:18–23 | Moses and the glory of the Lord |
Numbers 6:24–26 | A blessing |
1 Samuel 16:7 | God sees the heart |
1 Kings 19:9–12 | God speaks out of silence |
2 Chronicles 7:14 | The Lord’s promise to Solomon |
Psalm 1 | Delight in the Lord |
Psalm 8 | The majesty of the creator God |
Psalm 23 | The Lord is my shepherd |
Psalm 95:1–7 | Let us make a joyful noise |
Psalm 100 | Make a joyful noise |
Psalm 121 | Lord, you never sleep |
Psalm 127 | The blessings of home and children |
Psalm 139 | All-knowing God |
Proverbs 17:17 | At your side |
Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 | A time for everything |
Isaiah 41:10 | Do not fear |
Isaiah 53 | The suffering servant |
Matthew 5:3–12 | Blessed are they ... |
Matthew 6:25–34 | Do not worry |
Matthew 7:1–5 | Look to your own faults |
Matthew 7:7–8; 21:22 | Ask and you will receive |
Matthew 11:28–30 | My yoke is easy |
Mark 10:14–16 | Jesus blesses children |
Luke 1:46–55 | Mary’s song |
Luke 10:25–37 | The Good Samaritan |
John 3:1–8 | Being born again |
John 14:1–3 | The father’s dwelling-places |
Acts 9:1–19 | On the Damascus road |
Romans 5:3–5 | Suffering leads to hope |
Romans 8:14–17 | Children of God |
Romans 8:31–39 | Who will separate us from the love of Christ? |
Romans 11:33–36 | Unknowable God |
1 Corinthians 13:1–13 | The gift of love |
2 Corinthians 1:3–4 | God of consolation |
Ephesians 2:10 | Made for good works |
Ephesians 4:1–6 | Unity |
Ephesians 6:13–18 | God’s armour |
Philippians 4:4–9 | Rejoice in the Lord |
Colossians 1:15–18 | Christ above everything |
1 Timothy 6:6–8 | Gain in godliness |
James 1:5–6 | Ask God for wisdom |
James 1:27 | What is religion? |
1 Peter 2:9 | A chosen people |
1 John 3:2 | What we will be |
Revelation 22:1–5 | New heaven and new earth |
Index of Titles and First Lines
(where the first line differs from the title, the first line appears in italics)
Abandonment to God
Abbot Anastasius had a book written
Accept our sacrifice
All dear Friends everywhere, who have no helper but the Lord
All manner of thing shall be well
All nature owns with one accord.
All other love
All the danger is when the world gets into the heart.
All true knowledge of God
Alleluia
All-knowing God
Almighty God, Father of all mercies
Almighty God, in this hour of quiet I seek communion with thee
Almighty God, merciful Father, and my good Lord
Alone with none but thee, my God
Although today he prunes my twigs with pain
Amazing grace
And from the time that it was shown.
And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings
And thus, in my folly
And what do I love when I love you?
Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow
Anyone who has not begun to pray
The apologist’s evening prayer
As it was, as it is, and as it shall be evermore
As the grain from which the bread we break was made
As the sun sets
Ask, and it will be given to you
Ask and you will receive
Ask God for wisdom
At Christmas
At the beginning of the day
At the Day of Judgement we shall not be asked
At your side
Be attentive to time and how you spend it.
Be gentle, when you touch bread
Be of good cheer
Be of good comfort, Master Ridley.
Be prepared for trials
Beauty
Being born again
Being fruitful again
Belief in the unseen
Beloved, we are God’s children now
The best things
Beware anxiety
Beyond our understanding
The Bible is a vein of pure gold
The Bible is God’s chart
The Bible is like a telescope
Bless our meal
Bless us, O Lord, in this coming year
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
A blessing
Blessing and honour
The blessings of home and children
Bound in this bundle of life
The bright morning star
But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance
But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood
Canticle of the Sun
Caring friendship
Children learn what they observe.
Children of God
A chosen people
Christ above everything
Christ gave us proof of immortality.
Christ has the keys
Christ, the Lord, is risen today
Christian humility
A Christian should be an alleluia
Christianity, if false, is of no importance
A Christmas prayer
Christ’s ladder to heaven
Christ’s second coming
The church
Church music
Circumstances
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest
Come, our Light, and illumine our darkness
Come to me, all you that are weary
Comfort for bereaved parents
Confessing our helplessness
Confession
Confidence in Christ
Consider the spirited example
Conversion
Conversion to Christ
Conviction of sin
Courage
Covenant with God
The cross
Crying to God
Daily seeking after God
Dare to believe
Dear Lord, teach me to be generous
Dear Lord Jesus, we shall have this day only once
Dear readers, from this rhyme take warning
Dedicating all to God
Delight in the Lord
Deliver us from cold hearts
Different gifts
Discipleship
Distractions
Do not fear
Do not judge, so that you may not be judged
Do not let your hearts be troubled
Do not worry
Do we know our poor here and now?
Do you wish to honour the body of Christ?
Does the road wind uphill all the way?
Doing good today
The donkey
Don’t ask yourself what the world needs
Don’t be afraid
Dying daily
Dying well
Easter
Easter Day
Encouraging words
The end of a pilgrimage
Enlightenment faith
Epistle to Diognetus
Evening prayer
An evening prayer
Every time you smile at someone
Expect great things
Experienced mountaineers have a quiet, regular, short step
Faith is not occupied with difficulties
Faith is, then, a lively and steadfast trust
Father, hear the prayer we offer
Father, I abandon myself into your hands
Father, we have walked in the land where Jesus walked
The Father’s dwelling-places
First, I advise that you should implore the help of God
Following Jesus Christ
Food for all
Food for the faithful
For after all what is man in nature?
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God
For everything there is a season
For guidance
For it is good to be children sometimes
For it is not what you are or have been that God looks at
For the church
For the hallowing of daily life and common tasks
For we are what he has made us
Forgetting myself
Freedom from fear
A friend loves at all times
Friendship
Friendship with God
From all my lame defeats and oh! much more
From the cowardice that shrinks from new truth
Gain in godliness
The gathered church
Gathered in God’s granary
The gift of love
The gift of the sun
Give us courage, O Lord, to stand up
Gloria in Excelsis
Glory be to God on high
Glory to God the Trinity
Go, and know that the Lord goes with you
Go with the Lord
God be in my head
God cannot fail
God did not write a book and send it by messenger
God has called you to suffer, and you go, like Abraham
God, I give you the praise for days well spent
God in all things
God knows me
God never allows us to see another person at fault
The God of Christians
God of consolation
God of truth, deliver us
God sees the heart
God speaks
God speaks out of silence
God to enfold me, God to surround me
God, who could have saved us without crosses
God’s armour
God’s best gift
God’s church will never perish
God’s first Bible
God’s glory revealed
God’s glory, you understand, is seen primarily in his goodness
God’s grandeur
God’s means of deliverance
God’s word
A good exchange
The Good Samaritan
The grace
Gracious affections have efficacy
Gracious Lord, grant that we may know
Grant me a road and a watchful eye
The greatest of all crosses is self
Guard for me my eyes, Jesus Son of Mary
Guard me
Happy and peaceful
Happy are those who do not follow
Have mercy on me
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep
He is the image of the invisible God
He that followeth me, walketh not in darkness
Hear me, O God!
Help me to pray
The help of God
Here, then, is the crucial question
The Holy Communion is Christ’s ladder set up on the earth
Holy desire
The Holy Spirit
The hound of heaven
How children learn
How do I love thee?
Humility
Humility is not a mere ornament of a Christian
Humility is the great ornament and jewel of the Christian religion
Hymn to God the Father
I am no longer my own, but yours
I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed
I arise today
I asked for peace
I believe
I believe in the sun even when it is not shining
I believe that the Bible is the best gift
I feel isolated, Lord
I felt my heart strangely warmed
I fled him, down the nights and down the days
I have found by a strict and diligent observation
I have just hung up; why did he telephone?
I have only, then, to add the heads of the work of the Spirit
I hoped, that with the brave and strong
‘I know that my Redeemer lives’
I lift up my eyes to the hills
I think it was about five this morning
I want to love
I will establish my covenant between me and you
I’ve found the pearl of greatest price
If
If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves
If the only-begotten Son of God, the King of kings
If we Christians would join the Wise Men
If we pray we will believe
If you are wise you will show yourself rather as a reservoir than a canal
Illumine our darkness
Imitating Christ
Immortality
The importance of Christianity
In the last day, that great day of the feast
In the name of Jesus Christ, who was never in a hurry
Into the desert
An island prayer
It is all the gift of the sun
It is an indisputable truth that all of us one day will receive a visit
It is impossible that a nature should be perfectly happy
It is just like men who look at the sun in a mirror
It is not your outward appearance that you should beautify
It is only natural that your son’s death and the report of it
Jesus blesses children
Jesus Christ the apple tree
Jesus’ hands
Journey into God
Journeying in faith
Joy to the world
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus
Justification of believers
Keep me, O Lord, while I tarry on this earth
Keep us, Lord
Keep us through winter
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work
The Lamb
Last lines
Latimer’s last words
Lead a life worthy of the calling
Let nothing disturb thee
Let us make a joyful noise
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