Prayer

GLORY!

/ The Pastor

After reading Psalm 29…

Holy God,
mighty and awesome,
You are worthy of all our worship.
You are worthy of all our praise.
You are worthy of all honor.
You are worthy of all glory.

Your voice is powerful;
for with Your voice You created.
Your voice is mighty;
for with Your voice You sustain creation.
Your voice is victorious;
for with Your voice You subdue Your enemies.
You voice is love,
for with Your voice You give peace.

May all Your children worship You,
in gladness,
and joy,
and cry with one voice,
“GLORY!”
You are King.
You are Lord.
You are sovereign.
You reign forever and ever.
In Jesus most awesome name I pray,
Amen.

The Pastor -|—

Adjectives

/ The Pastor

Great majesty
Wide and Deep love
Awesome grace
Unending faithfulness
Amazing mercy
Perfect timing
Steadfast ways

WOW!

Holy God and Father,
There are not enough adjectives to describe you,
but it sure is fun thinking them up.

Copious forgiveness
Mighty power
Magnificent appearance
Creative Creator
Beautiful Lord
Caring Father
Outstanding God

Etc, etc etc…

The Pastor -|—

Peace

/ The Pastor

Holy God,
Your peace has been given through faith in Jesus Christ,
yet,
this world is on a relentless pursuit of the wrong peace.
Oh God,
if only the world would pursue
YOU;
then and only then,
could they find true peace.
But sin muddies the water and thus we don’t see clearly
that which is our peace.
Many think that ending conflict will bring peace
or ridding ourselves of enemies
or putting down those who would oppose us.
But none of that brings lasting peace.
It only prepares a breeding ground for more unrest.
But may the peace that surpasses all understanding
come upon us,
oh God.
May we see in You our hope.
May we see in You our life.
May we see in You our salvation.
May our peace-searching end with You.
In Jesus name, Amen.

The Pastor -|—

Jump

/ The Pastor / 3 Comments

I look at this picture and I see a child leaping with wild abandon into his father’s arms. The child, never for a moment, thinks that his father will drop him. It is a faith that is unshaken and solid. The father is bracing himself and eager to catch the child. Never for a moment does the father imagine doing anything to endanger his child. It is a fatherly love unmatched by anything and anyone of this world.

Following the catch I imagine a loving embrace filled with laughter. The father spins his child around trying to elicit more laughter all the while each of them are smiling ear to ear; enjoying the embrace. The child feels safe and secure; totally content and willing to jump again. The Father is filled with joy. Nothing in this scene dampens the child’s faith, but only draws him closer to his father. Nothing in this scene dampens the father’s love for his precious child. What a love that these two share.

Are you this child? God our Father is the Father ready to catch you.

Jump

Father God, may I jump with wild abandon into Your loving arms. May I cling to Your faithfulness even though the Enemy would have me doubt You. Holy God, I know You stand ready to catch, may I have the faith to jump. And as You catch me, may I cling to You and bask in Your presence; ready to jump again and again. Oh God, holy Father, You are my life, my shield, my home. In Jesus most precious name I pray, Amen.

The Pastor -|—

Be Revealed To Us

/ The Pastor

Holy God,
Mighty in power,
Great in mercy,
Awesome in love;
as You heard the cry of Your people in captivity in Egypt
and sent Moses to lead them to freedom,
You heard the groaning of Your creation
and sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, to give us freedom.
He was born King and quickly upset the powers that be.
Jesus rose to prominence only to be crucified
and then raised to complete Your plan of redemption.
Therefore,
as the magi traveled far to worship this King,
may we too humble ourselves before our King.
May our pride be dismantled,
and our kingdoms be destroyed,
that we may live forever in the Kingdom You have established.
Send Your Spirit that we may see Jesus revealed again and again
as Savior and Lord of our lives;
that we too may return;
walking by the Way of the magi;
praising You,
through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.

The Pastor -|—

Advent Prayer — Come, Holy Spirit

/ The Pastor

Father God,
holy and awesome,
gracious and merciful;
we are at the threshold of the anniversary of your glorious and loving entry into human history.
You burst into our lives in humble means
and inaugurated the beginning of the end of Your plan;
Your plan for our redemption through Jesus Christ.
And now,
we anxiously await the coming of the bridegroom
to return to gather up his bride,
the Church;
a glorious promise of New Life.
And so,
as You sent Your Holy Spirit to Mary and Elizabeth,
send Your Holy Spirit to us now.
May we, too, be filled with joy and shout from the mountain tops
that Jesus, our Lord, is coming.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen.

The Pastor -|—

Faithful

/ The Pastor

Oh God,
Your Word is faithful and true,
Your Word is enduring and timeless,
Your Word is changeless and trustworthy,
You have never failed to follow through.
You have never let me down.
Oh God, so
How could I be so faith-less?
How could I be so trust-less?
How could I be so impatient?
You have never given me reason to doubt You, yet I did.

I confess.
I repent.

Hear my prayer and heal me.
Hear my prayer and strengthen me.
Hear my prayer and empower me.
In Jesus name, forgive me.

And now, oh God…

May I shine a light unto Your faithfulness
for all to see.
May I reflect Your glory,
for all to bask in.
May I proclaim Your love,
for all to know.

Satan wielded his sword against me.
Your sword is stronger for Your Word will never pass away.
May I always trust in Your faithfulness.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen.

The Pastor -|—


Working Out

/ The Pastor

I am preaching through Paul’s letter to the Philippians. The following prayer is what I am using on Sunday, Nov 4, before I preach on Philippians 2:12-13, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Holy God,
Martin Luther is quoted as saying,
The Bible is alive, it speaks to me;
it has legs, it runs after me;
it has hands, it lays hold of me.
Oh God,
run and catch us.
Lay hold of and keep us.
Open our eyes and ears
that we may see and hear Your Word of truth;
for Your Word is a living word.
It’s active and sharper than any two-edged sword.
Pierce our hearts and make us alive in Jesus.
Trim away the fat and make us lean.
May Your Word be all that is left in us,
so much so,
that You shine forth
and are glorified in and through our lives.
May we be so alive with Your Spirit
that we run after you;
working out our salvation with fear and trembling.
To you be the glory, now and forever,
Amen.

The Pastor -|—

To You Oh Lord

/ The Pastor

To You, oh Lord, I lift up my prayer;
And to You, oh Lord, I run.
For You, oh Lord, are my life and hope;
And without You I’m undone.

Many are those who pursue my life;
And many who seek to harm.
Oh Lord, be my Rock, Fortress and Shield;
Defending with Your strong arm.

Your Word, oh Lord, is life, peace and Truth;
Your Word is the only cure.
Grant me Your Holy Spirit, oh Lord;
That I may always endure.

To You, oh Lord, I lift up my prayer;
In You, oh Lord, is my life.
You hear me and know me and love me;
Oh Lord, in You there’s no strife.

The Pastor -|—

Empower Me

/ The Pastor

Empower me,
oh God,
to live a life worthy of the Gospel.
Where there is hurt, use me to provide comfort.
Where there is conflict, use me to bring reconciliation.
Where there is hatred, use me to show love.
Where there is a need, use me to bless.
Holy God,
Creator and Redeemer,
may Your grace and lover spur me to stay in the game;
not becoming complacent,
and may I have the tenacity to never stop living for You.
All glory be unto You,
Oh God,
through Christ Jesus my Lord.
Amen.

The Pastor -|—