Thy Will be Done

/ The Pastor / 3 Comments

What is God’s will? What does God want? That is the age-old question that many people ask concerning their lives, but often the question is asked in selfish terms. Is it God’s will for me to get this job? Is it God’s will for my kids to get into Harvard? Is it God’s will for this cancer to be healed? I have no doubt that God has plans concerning those questions, but we need to ask another question. What is God’s will – for God’s glory? Ultimately, that’s what we are praying when we pray the 3rd petition of the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy will be done“. It is not about our will; what we want. The following poem begins to address this petition of what God wants.

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God’s will is God’s will,
and it happens without my effort.
No strength or plans of mine,
will be able to change or subvert.

God’s rule is mighty,
and His wisdom is perfect and pure.
God’s will is complete,
no one will be able to detour.

So what is God’s will?
What is the desire of His heart?
To keep His name holy,
and from Him to never be apart.

He defeats all His foes;
everyone who would oppose His reign.
God our loving Father,
longs to keep us firm in Jesus name.

So this I ask of God,
that God’s will be my hearts request,
keep me and protect me,
for in His Word I am truly blessed.

Good Night Promise

/ The Pastor

The writing of this the other night brought me peace as I drifted off to sleep. I guess that is why I write many of these evening blessings/poems while in bed. It is good for the brain and the soul to give them something else to chew on other than the stress and troubles of the day. At the end of the day; powerless to do anything about what happened that day or what will happen tomorrow, all I want to know is that my life is secure in God’s hands. I want to know that everything will ultimately be alright.

May this poem bring you peace as you retire at day’s end. God’s promise to you, in Jesus Christ, is that you are His forever. Even in the vulnerable state of sleeping, your soul is always safe in Him. Let your troubles go and rest in Him.

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Good night my lovely one.
Lay down your weary head.
Relax those tired eyes.
Your day is now all done.

Good night my little one.
Your soul is safely kept.
If death shall quickly come.
In Jesus you have won.

Good night my chosen child.
You will be always mine.
My longing gaze at you.
Will always bring a smile.

Now rest and sleep this night.
And do not fear or fret.
I’ll keep you close to me.
You’ll never leave my sight.

Unending Praise for the King of Glory

/ The Pastor

I wrote the following as part of the Holy Communion liturgy for today, July 28. God’s deserving title, the King of Glory, is still running around in my head and heart so thus that theme was picked up again, and why not 🙂
To God be the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, oh God, the King of Glory. And You are indeed deserving of that title, the King of Glory. Through Jesus Christ we have salvation. You have given the Holy Spirit, without which we would not believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. You have made us Your beloved children and thus love to dote on us; giving us Your most wonderful and perfect gifts. You have sealed us with the cross of Christ and have engraved our names in the book of Life. Oh God, there is none other worthy of the title, the King of Glory and therefore, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we join in singing Your unending praise…

Praying the Psalms ~ The King of Glory

/ The Pastor

Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord , strong and mighty,
the Lord , mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory!
[Psalms 24:7‭-‬10 ESV]

Oh, who is not guilty of glory-stealing? We all are. We all seek to satisfy good ole number 1 — ourselves. That is why I am always convicted when I read these verses from Psalm 24. But God, the King of Glory is worthy; Him and Him alone. Just reflect and meditate on what God has done through Jesus Christ and you will soon be reminded of why He is called, the King of Glory. Let us pray…

Oh to praise You, oh Lord.
Oh to sing of Your mighty name.
For Your name is glorious,
Your name is Life.
You have lifted me up from the miry bog of sin and have rescued me from the clutches of the Deceiver.
You have sealed me with Your Spirit and marked me for Life.
You have claimed for me an inheritance through Christ Jesus my Savior.
You have shielded me from my enemies; placing a guard over my soul.
You reign victorious and thus Your title, “the King of Glory”
But I confess that at times I have sought my own glory. I confess that at times I have tried to make it about me.
Oh God, King of Glory, I confess and repent. Forgive me.
I open the gates of my heart that You may enter in.
You are my King.
You are the Creator.
You are the Mighty One.
You are the Lord of hosts.
There are none that can compare with You; none that can stand against You.
There are none beside You who is worthy of worship.
You are the King of Glory.
Oh Lord, my God, the Lord of hosts,
To You I lift up my head and praise You.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen.

Shamelessly Persistent

/ The Pastor

The following is the opening prayer for the sermon I am preaching on Sunday, July 28. The text is Luke 11:1-13; Jesus teaching the Lord’s Prayer and the story of the persistent friend. To God be the glory. Let us pray…

Good things. That’s what we want, oh God, is good things. But too often those good things that we desire are only for our comfort and peace; for self-glorification. We want healing. We want stuff. We want notoriety. We ask and ask and ask some more. Maybe we even recruit others to ask on our behalf, because, after all, the more who are praying the better our chances. But that’s not how it works. Convict our hearts of this error, oh God. Give us understanding. Give us intimacy. Give us Your good gifts. We ask but we are too short-sighted. We long for something and become idolatrous. Forgive us, oh God, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Give us your good gifts. Through faith in Jesus Christ, may we long for the gift that only You can give. And thus, may we be shamelessly persistent in our prayer for the good gift of You. Now may the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, oh God, our rock and Redeemer. Amen.

Thy Kingdom Come

/ The Pastor

“God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us his Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believe his holy Word and live a godly life on earth now and in heaven forever.“
[Martin Luther’s Small Catechism]

Jesus said, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near“
[Matthew 3:2 and 4:17]

Reflecting on God’s kingdom is one that gives me great peace. When Pilate questioned Jesus, our Lord said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Which means nothing of this world can touch those who are within. And to be within is a gift of God through His Holy Spirit.

God’s kingdom is not a place,
With walls and buildings to embrace.
His kingdom is not a base,
That exists out there just someplace.

His kingdom is Jesus our Lord.
His kingdom is not of this world.
His kingdom exists without end.
His kingdom is our great reward.

God’s kingdom is here.
God’s kingdom is coming.
God’s kingdom is present.
God’s kingdom won’t disappear.

So,

Repent! The kingdom is near.
Hear this and turn from your sin.
Jesus the Lord died for you.
That in death you may never fear.

Holy Name

/ The Pastor

This is part two of a series of poems I am working on centered on the Lord’s Prayer. Part 1, Our Father, has been posted. I look forward to praying through and meditating on the other petitions. To God be the glory!

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Oh God,

“Hallowed be thy name”
Yes, Your name is holy!
It is to be honored and adored.
None other is close to being the same.

For,

You are perfect in all You do.
You are perfect in all Your ways.
You are perfect in righteousness.
So allow me the time to review.

“It is good”, You have said of all You’ve made.
In Your own image You created me.
Your Law is sure, right and pure.
Your glory has been displayed.

You are perfect in all You do.
You are perfect in all Your ways.
You are perfect in righteousness.
To speak of You I can’t overdo.

You are the giver and sustainer of life,
There is nothing outside of You.
To live in our own futile ways,
Means nothing but eternal strife.

May Your name be held up high,
By all who call upon You.
Through Jesus Christ the holy one,
My life You will never deny.

Oh God,

You are perfect in all You do.
You are perfect in all Your ways.
Hallowed be Your most awesome name,
None other can ever outdo.

May the world know and honor Your name,
As awesome, perfect and true.
May its honor be held up so very high
And its glory be always proclaimed.

Peace-filled Night

/ The Pastor

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” [2 Thessalonians 3:16 ESV]

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” [John 14:27 ESV]

The sun is racing across the sky trying to reach its finish line.
There is no stopping its advance.
It will finish its course.
It will dip below the land.
Its purpose none can confine.

Soon darkness will appear on the scene seemingly covering the light.
There is no stopping its advance.
It will darken our doors.
Giving shadows center stage.
Its presence can cause some fright.

But the darkness will not win,
for Jesus is within,
and much to its chagrin,
it will take it on the chin.

So rest your weary head and your fears you can release.
There is no stopping His advance.
God our father reigns on high
His kingdom will never end.
May His love give you peace.

Our Father

/ The Pastor

Our Father who art in heaven,
and yet You reside close to me.
You are never ever distant,
that You guarantee.

You are my Bread winner;
Jesus Christ the Bread of Life.
You are my Defender;
willing to die to save my life.
You are my Creator;
the Breather of the breath of life.

You are all of this and more,
as my Father You never ignore.
But you are not just mine,
for I am just one fruit of the vine.
There are many that reside,
in Your family we all abide.
But I am never just another face,
for You’re the Father and we all have first place.

And so as You are in heaven,
through Jesus I will be too,
with my brothers and sisters,
all our praise will be for You.

Adored

/ The Pastor

Oh God, Your name is awesome,
holy and true.
May all who preach Your name,
give praise that is due.
Not in realms of self-glory and pride,
but hallow Your name,
in all truth and purity,
for You, oh God, are the One who reigns.
May all who step into the pulpit this day,
do so with pause,
knowing that it is You
that deserves all applause.
May Your name be proclaimed
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
May You receive all worship,
for You are to be adored.