Our Father in Heaven, we Your children gather at Your feet this morning, to begin the day with You. We seek a Father's blessing before we go forth. We are not of ourselves, able for the duties of the coming day — and we seek strength from You. We cannot resist the temptations that we must meet — and we ask You to give us grace to meet them victoriously. We lack wisdom to always choose the best things and the best courses — and we pray that You will give us wisdom that we may walk in the way of holiness.
Graciously remember us, Your children, O God, and mark not our iniquities against us — but in Your mercy, bless and save us. Teach us to do your will. Help us to live all this day so as to please You. Let us not grieve You, nor hurt Your heart of love — by our heedlessness, our unbelief, or our disobedience.
We beseech You to bless us in our employment and in all our common duties this day. Help us to be faithful in all our duties, and skillful in our employment. Help us to make our secular life truly our Father's business. Thus may we glorify You in the work of our hands.
We would not confine our prayers to ourselves and our own home. We pray for our neighbors. May Your blessing descend upon their households. Some of them know You not. No voice of prayer rises to You from them. Have mercy upon these. Bless the children for whom no father or mother prays. Let Your peace rest upon the homes of those who love You.
Receive us now into Your care as we go our way into the unknown experiences of the day. Keep us and bring us together at the close of the day in peace. We ask all in Jesus' precious name. Amen.
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TUESDAY EVENING
Evening has come again, O God, and we gather back at Your feet. You have kept us through the day, and given us many blessings. We are grateful to You for them all. Fix in our hearts, to abide there forever, every good thing that has come to us this day — the good thoughts that have warmed our hearts, the gentle impressions made upon us by our friends, all that has come to us through books or through nature. Teach us to number our days, so that we may get a heart of wisdom from the things we experience. We would grow wiser with each passing day. So we ask You to teach us all that we should learn from this day, before the day is folded up and put away.
We would remember our friends. Some of them may be in anxiety, or perhaps in sore temptation. We pray for these friends of ours, that the holy things of life may be theirs. We cannot do much to help them — but we can pray for them, and You can reach down Your hand and help them in all true, wise, and holy ways. We put them — all our dear ones — into Your care, leaving them with You. Do for them what is best. Lead them in paths of Your own choosing.
We would remember before You, the great world. It lies in sin. Over our heads is the celestial city — but underneath us and around us is darkness, with all its assailing powers, ready to harm and destroy us. We plead tonight for the lost ones — that You will have mercy upon them and save them. Show us where they are, and send us out to find them, that in Your name we may carry gospel blessing to them. Bless us upon our beds, and give us Your protection and Fatherly blessing. We ask all this through Jesus Christ. Amen.
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J.R. Miller (1840 - 1912)
Prolific author and pastor of Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois, Rev. James Russell Miller served the USCC as a field agent in the Army of the Potomac and Army of the Cumberland.J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia. J.R. Miller D.D.'s lasting fame is through his over 50 books. Many are still in publication.
James Russell Miller (March 20, 1840 - July 2, 1912) was a popular Christian author, Editorial Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication, and pastor of several churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois.
In 1857, James entered Beaver Academy and in 1862 he progressed to Westminster College, Pennsylvania, which he graduated in June, 1862. Then in the autumn of that year he entered the theological seminary of the United Presbyterian Church at Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Mr. Miller resumed his interrupted studies at the Allegheny Theological Seminary in the fall of 1865 and completed them in the spring of 1867. That summer he accepted a call from the First United Presbyterian Church of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. He was ordained and installed on September 11, 1867.
J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia.
Five years later, in 1880, Dr. Miller became assistant to the Editorial Secretary at the The Presbyterian Board of Publication, also in Philadelphia.