Here is a poem I wrote 8 years ago and it turned out to be rather prescient. At the time I was a pastor and wrote this poem for my people. Now I am rarely able even to go to church and I hope others have me on their prayer list.
THE CHURCH'S PRAYER LIST
I see your name each Sunday on the prayer list;
I know your pain seems more than you can bear;
I wonder if you know how much we miss you;
How very much we wish you could be there.
I tuck the Sunday prayer list in my Bible.
I check it every day before I pray.
It’s hard sometimes to understand God’s workings
Especially when things don’t go our way.
But He is in control, He never leaves us;
He’s promised to sustain us all our days;
And as you’ve testified, He keeps His promise
And in the midst of pain you sing His praise.
So as I pray for you MY faith grows stronger;
It’s in God’s plan that we should bring your need
Into the throne room of His gracious presence
As at His feet we bow and humbly plead.
That we would never let earth’s common pleasures
Keep us from daily reading of God’s Word
And that we take time for the church’s prayer list
Assured our every prayer by Him is heard.
So every day amid my hectic schedule
I take the time to think of you and pray
For you are on my mind so very often
As I rush about throughout my busy day.
You’re more than just a member of my church group
Which in my life plays such a major part.
You’re more than just a name on a piece of paper;
You’re a friend forever written on my heart.
Written by Joan Hart, November 3, 2007
Inspired by Ed Cook, and all the others whose name appear on our church prayer list from time to time.
THE CHURCH'S PRAYER LIST
I see your name each Sunday on the prayer list;
I know your pain seems more than you can bear;
I wonder if you know how much we miss you;
How very much we wish you could be there.
I tuck the Sunday prayer list in my Bible.
I check it every day before I pray.
It’s hard sometimes to understand God’s workings
Especially when things don’t go our way.
But He is in control, He never leaves us;
He’s promised to sustain us all our days;
And as you’ve testified, He keeps His promise
And in the midst of pain you sing His praise.
So as I pray for you MY faith grows stronger;
It’s in God’s plan that we should bring your need
Into the throne room of His gracious presence
As at His feet we bow and humbly plead.
That we would never let earth’s common pleasures
Keep us from daily reading of God’s Word
And that we take time for the church’s prayer list
Assured our every prayer by Him is heard.
So every day amid my hectic schedule
I take the time to think of you and pray
For you are on my mind so very often
As I rush about throughout my busy day.
You’re more than just a member of my church group
Which in my life plays such a major part.
You’re more than just a name on a piece of paper;
You’re a friend forever written on my heart.
Written by Joan Hart, November 3, 2007
Inspired by Ed Cook, and all the others whose name appear on our church prayer list from time to time.
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