Holiness

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.

Living Worship

/ The Pastor

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [Romans 12:1]

Weekly gathering for corporate worship is just part of what we do as members of the body of Christ. We worship not to become Christians, we worship because we are Christians. Worship is not a have to; a duty, but rather a get to; a want to; a joy. That’s part of our worship life. Another part of our worship life happens “Monday through Saturday” as we present our bodies; our very lives to God. We offer our lives to God as a living sacrifice; forsaking all others and all things; placing God first. We live in such a way that is different from the world and that, right there, is really what is at the core of worship. You see, everyone worships. It is just a matter of who or what. What makes Christians different; holy, is that we worship a living, eternal God, not a finite, powerless god. We worship a God that is holy and thus demands that we be holy. God does not demand just part of our life, but the whole thing.

When you present your body to God as an act of worship you are saying to God, “Here I am. Mold me, shape me, guide me, direct me. Help me be more like Jesus. Help me be more holy as You are holy. Here I am, all of me.”  Don’t mistake worship as a weekly event but rather see your worship as a 24/7 way of life that submits to and glorifies God. When we divide our worship out or only present part of our bodies/lives to God, there is conflict and tension within our lives and our very being but when our whole being and life is presented to God, then you are at peace. Don’t divide your life up, present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. In the words of a popular praise and worship song…

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

The Pastor -|—

Holy

/ The Pastor

Holy, holy, holy are You,
oh God,
though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye made blind by sin,
thy glory may not see.
Only thou art holy,
oh God,
there is indeed none beside thee.
Perfect in power are You,
oh God,
and perfect in love and purity.

And because You are holy,
oh God,
and I am not,
may you draw me unto thee that I may know You better.
Shine a light onto Your Law that I may delight in it more.
Lead me in the path of righteousness that I may glorify thee.
Bless my learning of Your Word
and embolden my going
so I may shine a light unto your holiness.
Through Jesus Christ I pray,
Amen.

The Pastor -|—

Morning devotions ~ A Prayer of Holiness

/ The Pastor / 1 Comment

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. [Ephesians 5:3-4]

Holy God, I thank you that my eye lids opened to see this day you have made. I thank you that I am here in this world to glorify you. I thank you that you are using me to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

But I need help; we need help.

There is so much filthiness around your children. So much impurity, sexual immorality, crudeness and foolishness. There is so much temptation and Satan is too strong for us.

Forgive your Church.
Strength your Church.
Purify your Church.
Send out your Church.

May this filthiness not be named among us and may we flee from its presence. May we run to you and may we seek refuge in your arms. Then, Oh God, lift us up that we may give you praise and speak of your goodness and holiness and grace and love. May we proclaim with boldness the death and resurrection of Jesus and the forgiveness of sins.

May we be holy as you are Holy.

Loving God, this task is too great for us and if it were left up to us then we would certainly bring it all to ruin.

May you be glorified and praised and worshiped; through Jesus Christ our Lord I pray, Amen.

May God bless your day as you strive for holiness and serve Him.

The Pastor -|—