SCRIPTURE. REFLECTION. PRAYER FOR OUR CITY.
Let’s pray
for Memphis.
join us in lifting up the city we love, block by block.
THE PRAYER JOURNAL
Prayers for Memphis
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Blessings without Toil
Psalm 127 A song of ascents. Of Solomon. 1 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.2 In vain you rise early and stay up late,toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to[a] those he loves. 3 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a…
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Psalm 127
A song of ascents. Of Solomon.
1 Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to[a] those he loves.3 Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents in court.Room in the Inn is a wonderful ministry for those needing shelter in Memphis. Its impact is on those who serve and those who are served. The following comes form their website.
Our History
In November of 2009 a tiny congregation, Colonial Cumberland Presbyterian Church, answered God’s call to welcome strangers into the warm, safe sanctuary of a building that was underused during the winter. Four guests shared dinner and fellowship that first night with members of the church. This small group of people felt that this would be a good outreach “project.” Room in the Inn is no longer an outreach project; it has become a way of life and ministry for more than 50 congregations, and that number continues to grow. Memphis has many, many more of those empty, warm houses of worship that could become sanctuaries of holy hospitality. Our hope is that by opening more and more of them we can prevent people from sleeping outside on the coldest nights of the year. Father Charles Strobel, founder of Room in the Inn (Nashville) describes the RITI experience this way,
“When someone experiences hospitality and safety and a feeling of belonging, they experience sanctuary. Sanctuary is defined by the people, not the space. Everyone can become an expression of sanctuary. Ultimately, sanctuary offers one an experience of something sacred, something holy.”
Lord, continue to bless those ministries that are authentic in their love of You. Lord, provide Room in the Inn the resources they need to impact those they serve. May they not have to turn anyone away. We pray for the staff and volunteers, that they may be encouraged in their work. We pray for those staying at Room in the Inn out of necessity, that you provide them shelter and a loving embrace. God, we need more unconditional love. May the message and heart of this organization be part of the fabric of our community. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
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For the Sake of the House
Psalm 122 A song of ascents. Of David. 1 I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”2 Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem. 3 Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together.4 That is where the tribes go up— the tribes of the Lord—to praise the name of the…
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Psalm 122
A song of ascents. Of David.
1 I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
2 Our feet are standing
in your gates, Jerusalem.3 Jerusalem is built like a city
that is closely compacted together.
4 That is where the tribes go up—
the tribes of the Lord—
to praise the name of the Lord
according to the statute given to Israel.
5 There stand the thrones for judgment,
the thrones of the house of David.6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you be secure.
7 May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels.”
8 For the sake of my family and friends,
I will say, “Peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your prosperity.“If it bleeds, it leads” was William Randolf Hearst’s mantra in the late 1890’s and we’ve seen it ever since. We are drawn to the frailty of life and the violence of man. Our prayers here have lamented untimely deaths of the innocent. These prayers cover a city under attack. Even in those dark times, we are called to cry out to our Lord and to be a light that refuses to be covered.
Tonight, may we lift up the work of High Ground News. Check out their work. There mission is stated as such:
“We are sidewalk level, solutions-oriented journalism for Memphis. We are focused on the visionary people, businesses and organizations making changes in our city.
Our signature On The Ground series embeds High Ground journalists in Memphis neighborhoods. OTG neighborhoods are typically under-represented in traditional media. We strive to elevate resident voices and work alongside them whenever possible. We work to help all Memphians better understand the city’s diverse communities and their unique histories, assets and challenges.
Our wider coverage includes entrepreneurs and local business, education, healthcare, housing, livable communities, local and state policy, transportation and more.”
Father God, we pray for the righteous and the caring. Too often our conversations are focused on the evil and death around us, seemingly in every headline. But Lord, You are here and there is good in all of your children in all of Your creation. Memphis is part of this work and is a city worth fighting for. We need Your presence now. Lord, we pray for the work and attitude of High Ground News to spread throughout our community. We pray the reporters give voice to those working for good in our community, that they give encouragement and hope to those striving for a better Memphis. We pray for Emily Trenholm’s leadership in her role as Publisher and MJ Galbraith’s role of Interim Managing Editor. Help the current writers , Jim Coleman, Tamara Cunningham, Ashley Davis, Erinn Figg, Baris Gursakal, Jeff Hulett, Erica Horton, Brandi Hunter, Chris Jones, Brandis Leverette, Alexandria Moore, Deborah Robertson, Ramona Springfield, Andrea Valenzuela, and Ashlei Williams identify the stories You want told and bless them in their work. Lord, bless the photography and video gifts of Cat Evans, Ziggy Mack, Malik Martin, and Forever Ready Productions bring those stories to our neighbors.
Lord, provide them and this organization with the support they need to fulfill their mission while shining a light on the good around us. In Christ’s name, Amen.
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Hands and Feet
“2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously…
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“2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:2-6
Found out about a friend this week who meets with those on the margins in his neighborhood. His loose group provides food and attention. He’s never broadcast this work, but someone else wanted to shed light on the good work he’s doing on the F3 Memphis slack channel. If I asked him why he does it, he would probably tell me he’s just living out His call. The ministry has been named Grace + Bread. These men forming relationships with the broken and lost are modeling Christ’s love. As my preacher cited Jesus’s lament in last week’s sermon, “The harvest is plenty but the laborers are few.” I’m thankful for these laborers.
Father, we lift up this outpouring of love and coming together by the Holy Spirit to You. We thank you for the time given by the organizers to care for Your children. We pray for their ministry, that You sustain and encourage them, as they seek to walk and love like Jesus. Lord, may they be protected as they do battle against the adversary by proclaiming Christ in the darkness. Shine Your Light, Lord, through your children serving the Nutbush, Heights, and Jackson Park communities. Bless them and multiply them. Bring forth the laborers. In Christ’s name, Amen.
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Long View
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. – Psalms 90:12 Lord, may the work we do and the relationships we form be meaningful to Your kingdom. Let us not waste our life. For those lonely, introduce them to loving friendships. Surround us Lord with people who encourage and challenge…
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Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom. – Psalms 90:12Lord, may the work we do and the relationships we form be meaningful to Your kingdom. Let us not waste our life. For those lonely, introduce them to loving friendships. Surround us Lord with people who encourage and challenge us in our walk with You.
I pray this for all of our neighbors. In Your name, Amen.
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A Humble Try
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. – Ephesians 4:2 Our roads and public places are hostile. When we should be celebrating a meal, we’re avoiding bullets. Fits of rage end in death. We have no patience for our fellow man, and sometimes we don’t even see them as…
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2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. – Ephesians 4:2
Our roads and public places are hostile. When we should be celebrating a meal, we’re avoiding bullets. Fits of rage end in death. We have no patience for our fellow man, and sometimes we don’t even see them as such. It doesn’t have to be this way.
There’s a great profile today on Memphis Inner City Rugby. Their goal is to #changethegame. Shane Young and Devin O’Brien moved to Memphis as part of Teach for America and introduced rugby to their students in 2012. They are teaching kids from high poverty areas a competitive, tough sport. Through the game, the kids are learning how to handle emotions constructively and the value of teamwork. Some have credited the program with saving their life because of the outlet it offered them. We need more of these hard hitters.
MICR has been featured by multiple prominent media outlets. Check them out here: https://www.memphisinnercityrugby.org/in-the-media
Lord, tonight we lift up MICR to You. Bless this organization with the resources they need to pour into young lives. Lord, keep their mission true and their hearts pure. Lord, change lives in this program. Use the game to teach agape love and fellowship to the players. Lord, may it be a safe space for these boys and girls to be challenged in a healthy way. Lord, shower opportunity on these young men and women.
Lord, also help Memphis remember your words from Ephesians 4:2. In our own hearts Lord, may we seek You first before responding. Grant us the ability to love like Jesus. In Christ’s name, Amen.