Prayer

To Follow God

/ The Pastor

The congregation that I serve has been renting space for 10 years but today we looked at a potential building to buy. There are a lot of questions to be answered yet, but hopes are running very high with people. Selfishly, I/we want this building, but God is in control, and so we need to pray; listening and obeying. The following poem was birthed out of this praying…

To follow God is never easy
To follow God can make you queasy
But to keep your eyes on Him alone
Is to have your vision fully honed.

So trust and trust and trust even more
And God will present an open door
So don’t create your own self-made path
For you won’t enjoy the aftermath

Breathtaking

/ The Pastor

God is oh so…
amazing
awesome
creative
majestic
artistic
awesome (did I say that already?)
Awe-inspiring
And a host of other adjectives.

To look at this scene; this artwork, and say this is just a random event is to live a life with blinders on. A sad life, really; going through life in black and white without the wonder and majesty of our Creator God. This is not random but purposefully crafted for our enjoyment but more importantly to the glory of God. People have complimented me on this photo, but really, how I can (or anyone for that matter) take credit for a beautiful photo like this. I mean, this scene was and is there. I just happened to be there to capture it on some digital media. This is God’s masterpiece, painted on His canvas and with His mighty hand.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. God’s masterpieces are all around you. Stop and smell the roses (or look at the mountains) and give God the glory.

Holy and awesome God, Your mighty hand is powerful and gentle. It can shake and rend the heavens and the earth and it can cradle a new-born life. Your hand can also craft a scene that can take our breath away; drawing our attention to You. Oh God, what can be known about You is indeed evident in creation. May we never be so busy as to miss Your majesty all around. Thank you for taking my breath away with such beauty. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

I Am Yours

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

Oh Lord my God,
I called You and You heard me.
I pleaded to You and You receive me.
I inquired of You and You answered me.
For You are my God and I will follow You.
You are my King and I will serve You.
You are my Father and I will obey You.
Send now, oh God, Your Holy Spirit.
Guide me
Lead me
Speak to me
May I not turn from Your ways to chase after worthless desires.
May I not run after vain pursuits.
Show me how I am to serve You that others may see Your glory.
For You are an awesome god who is above all other gods,
For from You and in You is Life.
And so, as I travel this path You laid out for me,
May I keep my eyes on You.
May I not turn back.
May I not second guess you.
Oh Lord my God,
I am Yours.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Bold Witnesses

/ The Pastor

Today is Ascension Sunday and thus I will be preaching on Luke 24:44-53. The following is the Great Thanksgiving liturgy I wrote for Holy Communion with this context in mind. Stand firm for the Truth and never, ever shrink back in fear…

It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, oh God. You have shown us Your glory through Your son Jesus Christ.
You have opened our eyes to the Truth.
You have cradled us in Your arms.
You have given us hope.
Oh God, Creator and Redeemer, through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection we rest secure. My we live as bold witnesses of that Truth that others may come to know You as their Lord and God. May we not shrink back but stand firm; ready to die if called to do so. And so, since we have such a sure and certain hope we join with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven in singing Your unending praise…

Open My Eyes

/ The Pastor

Open my eyes, oh Lord, that I may see the beauty of Your Word.
Open my eyes, oh Lord, that I may understand.
Open my eyes, oh Lord, that Your living word may feed me.
Open my eyes.

This is a prayer that every believer ought to pray before engaging the Word. One ought never to engage the Word in a basic, simple, intellectual matter; just seeking information. One ought to approach and engage the Word of God with
reverence
expectation
hope
excitement
wonder
awe and
wide open eyes ready to be blown away by the beauty and majesty of God’s Word. Ready to be fed and nourished. Ready to be transformed and recreated. Ready to be renewed.

God’s Word is living and active. It is sharper than a two-edged sword. It cuts deep. It kills and it gives Life.

Open my eyes, oh Lord, that I may behold wondrous things.
Open my eyes oh Lord, that I may see Jesus.
Ooen my eyes, oh Lord, I want to see wondrous things in Your Word.
Open my eyes.

Morning Thanks

/ The Pastor

As my eyes open I enjoy the gift of my next breath,
and then the next,
and the next,
and so on.
God, each breath I breathe is a gift from you.
Thank You!
As I begin my day I enjoy the gift of water:
To drink,
To cleanse my body,
To enjoy as the greatest drink of all – Coffee.
But most of all, the Living Water of Jesus.
Thank You!
As I see my children I enjoy the amazing gift of being their daddy.
As I see my wife I enjoy the amazing call and gift of being a husband.
As I eat,
As I feel the sun on my face,
As I count my blessings,
I praise You for being my God.
Thank You!

Pastor’s Prayer

/ The Pastor

Holy God,
You have called me to the awesome task
of preaching Your Word and
presiding at Your table.
You have called me to lead Your people in worship.
On my own I am incapable of discharging this call.
On my own I will surely mess it all up.
On my own I will surely attempt to rob You of all glory.
Oh God, mighty Father,
walk with me hand in hand that I may give You all the glory.
Hold me tight that I may not stray.
Grant me Your Spirit that I may be faithful with Your Word.
I praise You that You have chosen me to be Your instrument this morning.
To You be all praise and glory.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen.

Evening Praise

/ The Pastor

As this day begins to wind down.
As this body begins its rest.
As this evening takes its hold,
I praise You, Lord, for I am blessed.
You gave me each and every breath.
You gave me each and every moment.
You filled my day with awe,
and I’m left to sit back and say, “ahhh…”
To see my children laugh.
To watch them joyfully play.
For each and every moment, Lord,
I praise you as I rest.
Amen.

Thank You

/ The Pastor

I cannot see the wind but I feel it on my face.
I cannot see the air but I know it’s necessary to live.
I cannot see nutrients but I know they sustain my body.
I cannot see Your Spirit but I know it gives me Life.
Working behind the scenes.
Working without much notice.
You bless my days.
You bless my days with grace and love.
You bless my life with Your Son.
You give and give,
but yet I don’t thank as I should.
Your blessings come and come,
but I go about my days.
All that You do would be noticed if You stayed Your gracious hand.
Oh Lord, please do not stay Your hand as You should.
Oh Lord, as stand before You as a blessed one.
Oh Lord, thank You.

Lasting Peace

/ The Pastor

Holy and loving Father,
In this world there is tribulation.
In this world there is strife.
In this world there is conflict.
In this world there is no life.
Fear and death and wars and fighting.
Disease and walls and racism and hatred.
All these things run a muck.
All these things lead to despair.
But peace is peddled by politicians;
deceiving the masses into thinking they are a savior.
Peace legislated,
giving false hope.
Peace is marketed,
profiting only the privileged.
There is no safety net in this world.
There is no fortress strong enough.
There is no weapon to defend us.
There is no one who is tough.
But all praise be to You,
holy and loving Father,
that Jesus came into this world.
Jesus came into this world to die.
Jesus rose and left death destroyed.
My life, through Jesus blood, you did buy.
All praise be to you, Father, that You have overcome,
and thus, I have lasting peace.
In Jesus name, Amen.