Prayer & Praise: July 11-17
Almighty, eternal, everliving God of Truth, Maker of heaven and earth, and Creator of men, together with thy eternal beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified for us and raised for death, and with thy Holy Spirit, everliving, pure and true: O God of wisdom and goodness, mercy and justice: O Savior bountiful, righteous, and faithful, through whom life and light are given: Thou hast said, “I do not desire the death of a sinner, but that he be converted and live,” and “Call on me in time of trouble, and I will deliver you :”
To Thee do I confess myself a miserable sinner, burdened with many iniquities, for I have greatly sinned against thy holy commands, and I am heartily sorry that I have offended thee. For the sake of they dear Son, have mercy on me, forgive me all my sins, and make me righteous through Jesus Christ, my Lord, thy Son, thy eternal Image and Word, whom though didst send into the world to be for the world a Sacrifice, Mediator, Redeemer, Deliverer and Savior, according to they wondrous wisdom and mercy which is past our understanding. Sanctify me with thy holy, living Spirit of purity and truth that through thy Spirit I may truly know thee as the only God, the omnipotent Creator of heaven and earth and men, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; that I may know thy Holy Spirit of truth and purity, my living Comforter; that I may firmly believe in thee, obey thee, give thanks to thee, reverently fear and call upon thee, and come at last in joy to behold thy face and worship thee forever. In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed. Deliver me through thy righteousness. Turn me, O Lord, unto righteousness and eternal life. Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of Truth!
Mercifully preserve and rule our churches, our country, our schools. Give the blessings of peace and order. Direct and protect our leaders and those in authority; gather unto thyself and forever keep a Christian Church in this land. Purify and united us with thy Holy Spirit that we may be one in thee, truly knowing and calling upon thee through thy Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who tasted death on the cross for us and rose again.
Almighty, eternal Son of God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, though who art the eternal Word and Image of the father, our Mediator and Redeemer, who died for us and rose again, with all my heart I give thee thanks, for thou didst take upon thyself the nature of a man and became my Deliverer, didst suffer physical pain, didst die and arise again. And now though art pleading for me. I beseech thee, look graciously upon me and have mercy, for I am alone and in need. I beseech thee, look graciously upon me and have mercy, for I am alone and in need. Through thy Holy Spirit increase in me the light of faith, help me to overcome my weakness; guide, protect and make me pure. In thee do I put my trust, O Lord; let me never be ashamed.
Almighty, Holy Spirit of truth and purity, our living Comforter, enlighten me, direct me, and sanctify me. Strengthen the faith in my soul and heart, and grant me a sincere trust. Sustain and guide me that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may see the will of the Lord, that I may forever be in God’s holy temple, and with a joyous heart give thanks unto him, and in the assembly of his eternal church honor an praise him forever. Amen
Philip Melancthon
…amen.
John 17 (NIV)
1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
6″I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. 12While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13″I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
20″My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24″Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25″Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
Thank You, Jesus. I know You stand at the Father’s side, praying for me. I praise Your name. Amen.
Amen to Tony P. and P. Melancthon’s prayers, and especially to Jesus’ prayer! 🙂
Good morning PP friends. Praying for all of you today.
G’mornin’, CK!!!
Have a blessed day!!
Heading to the doctor. Would appreciate prayer. Nothing serious.
E,
Praying for you. May your trip be uneventful.
May today be bright for you
May you remember Who paid the price for you
May you rest in His love
May you find that joy that is His promise to you
May God richly bless you in Christ Jesus today.
Amen.
Lord Jesus, thank You for the words recorded in John 17. Thank You for those loving, assuring words…
Thy Kingdom come, Lord.
I really need to get employed…if you’re in the same boat, let us know and we’ll pray for each other.
Michael,
Praying for you, my friend. May God employ you quickly and in a job that can bring you joy.
Thank you, Tony…it’s starting to get a little tight… 🙂
Michael,
That’s when He works the best. When He can get ALL the glory.
TonyP,
Absolutely!
Remember Sarah today as well as she and her family are walking through a tough situation…
Michael,
Remembered…
Father,
Be with Sarah and her family today. Bring them strength and reassurance. Remind them of Your love and Your grace. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Domestic violence turned into a workplace shooting in ABQ with at least 6 dead including shooter. 4 in hospital 2 in surgery
sad…
I lift the struggles of those who gather here and ask with believing that You will touch lives and transform circumstances. To You be all glory. Help our faith. Hear our cries. Answer our desprate pleas. Many are in great need. Need that is intense. Forgive our impatience. We can’t see far. Help us as we take steps in the dark, take the fear of falling and failing away. Create new things in our path that will lift our eyes to You.
oh, London, sad indeed…
Cheri,
Amen and amen.
London,
Just saw the headline. Praying for those involved…..
May His grace rest on all…
Lord Jesus, we need You. Instruct us, increase in us, focus us in these confusing times so that You may bless us according to Your grace, mercies and power. For some, Lord, Satan seems to be free to give his, hateful best shot at both our minds and bodies. We need to see You Lord; we need to see You at the Father’s right hand. We praise You for Your promises we have believed and staked our lives on. But, Lord we need You.
Em,
Amen.
My doctor’s visit went well. I am uncomfortable but antibiotics hopefully will do the trick.
it is very difficult for me to ask for help as i am the ‘helper’ so i risk this w my PP family…
i need prayer that i continue to allow the softening of my heart towards one who has greatly wounded and betrayed me…and currently continues to. The message i received on Sunday was regarding the Cross of Christ… and the reminder I put Him there, i am bought w a price and as i am forgiven i must also forgive…
He forgives me and i need to forgive this person, no matter the risks and my imagined/logical fears if by doing this it may lead me to being betrayed and hurt again in the future. I resist this as i want to control this one circumstance and not surrender it into His hands again, to protect myself. I ‘allow’ Him access and control in all other aspects of my life, except this one. For it means i will/must obey and follow as He directs me to…
Na’amah,
That is the kind of prayer God honors…we’ll be praying.
Lord, protect Na’amah. Protect her heart. Keep it soft in understanding Your love, but keep it strong, Lord and able to stand in Your strong love.
thank You Lord for blessing Erunner through…
Amen to your prayers Em.
Gentle Savior, Many in my family are hurting tonight. Help. Bring comfort and rest. Heal deep scars and raw wounds. Come, Lord, minister~
Na’amah,
Praying that He will give you the strength to forgive as you have been forgiven.
E,
Amen! Praying for continued ease and recovery.
Psalm 19
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
May Your glory reign in our lives.
May You hear the praise of Your people.
Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
thank you all…need them
been in denial of how hardened my heart is on this, still is as my initial response in reading to Tony P’s “Praying that He will give you the strength to forgive as you have been forgiven.”
was an immediately self defensive well “i’ve never done xy&z to them, they don’t need to forgive me or deserve… (smack self up side of head)
Na’amah,
Don’t feel too bad, my response to that message to me (numerous times) was exactly the same. I think that the hardest part is realizing that true forgiveness doesn’t bear any baggage “I’ll forgive if..” or “I’ll ONLY forgive such and such…”
I have heard it said more and more often that we (Christians) need to quit trying to be so happy all the time. I mean, the WORLD is such a hard place and all. Why should we go around smiling and telling others that it will be okay?
We are supposedly selling something that is false when we say these things, or when we show any outward sign of happiness.
I have been a GIANT in this BTW. I am one of the most pessimistic, easily angered, obnoxious, downers that you would be unlucky enough to know.
But you know what? I’m gonna try something different. I’m going to not just find joy, I am going to try to actually…GASP….be happy.
I have preached that sermon (you know the one) about joy and happiness not being the same thing. ANd they are not, but they are also not mutually exclusive either. You can actually have both. (I think I hear bootsteps outside my door 😯 )
Now don’t get me wrong. Life sucks sometimes. Heck, it sucks A LOT of the time for many folks. But does that mean that we have to trade in the idea of a smiling Christian for the frowning (supposedly mor realistic) one? Can we never face adversity and trials with a smile?
“Yeah, but you have never faced X, Y, or Z. You have NO IDEA what it’s like.”
Nope I haven’t. But I HAVE faced J, K, and L. Not to mention P, Q, and R. So while I may not have personally faced your place of trial, I have faced my own. And I have wallowed, sulked, and lingered in almost every instance.
Well, I’m going to try something that is evidently contrary to my nature. I’m going to try to remember that this too shall pass. I’m going to try and wear a smile, not all the time probably, more often than not.
I’m going to try and realize that while life may indeed suck A LOT. It also has those moments in time where it truly is the gift of a loving and gracious God.
Feel free to tell me how silly I am. Stronger language is okay too.
And my picture that you see with the smile? I will be doing that as I read…..
May God grant you a moment of happiness regardless of your situation.
TonyP,
That is a keeper…great word for today!
Michael,
Thanks. I turned off the radio last night on the 2 hour commute and God evidently had something to say in the silence. 😀
I think what you wrote is profound…I have had a very strange measure of joy and the ability to be happy when merited though this latest trial.
It feels unnatural… 😉
Michael,
😆
Tony P., it hurts when I smile. That’s why I say, “Arrrgh!” Thanks for sharing that good word, Brother.
CK,
😆
My pleasure….
😆
Tony P i am the opposite of your self description above… “I am one of the most pessimistic, easily angered, obnoxious, downers that you would be unlucky enough to know.”
i have one of you as a relative in my life that has told me more than a few times that ‘it is really hard being w the (insert very bad word here 🙄 ) Bluebird of Happiness when life is s***!”
i’m not in denial about all the things in and of LIFE that are hard/bad/unfair etc., just decided early on (after episodes of clinical depression) being content and happy in general takes WAY LESS energy for me than being angry…okay, staying angry… or being pessimistic when i am still going to have to ‘deal’ w whatever the issue, situation or task at hand needs to be done. I’d rather be in good mood, makes it easier for me.
so being confronted with my consciously hardened, unforgiving heart against someone that i know i need to forgive is sort of a life anomily for me…i have worked hard to not ever pray for this person or ‘discuss’ this person/issue w God after doing so for many years. cause i don’t want any softening of my heart towards them… i am personable, friendly, receptive and interactive in my interactions w them…they are unaware of the depth i’ve closed myself off from them.
And now it is a constant hummmmm of awareness, i know i must forgive as i have undeservably been forgiven…
Michael, re: your #36 YES! That’s God lovin on you, not you lovin on Him… what a wonderful salvation! Somebody’s gonna say to you, “I wish I had your strength” and it’ll make you mad that they give you the credit. just sayin’ – dunno
Your post really lifted my spirit today, Michael.
Oh Lord, praise You! Father, Son and Holy Spirit – praise Your matchless Name.
Em,
“Oh Lord, praise You! Father, Son and Holy Spirit – praise Your matchless Name.”
AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!!!!!
Na’amah,
That is the thing about being unforgiving, usually the recipient of our unforgiving attitude is totally unaware of it. The only damage that is incurred is usually to ourself. When they are around, our thoughts darken and our spirit snarls.
When we forgive (truly forgive) someone, it releases us from that bondage.
Lord,
Don’t have words.
Wish I could.
No utterance.
Help.
Loved ones hurting.
Pain is great and wounds are deep.
^/
~~~
I/I
I~I
Help us wait
Heal
mend
recover
restore
make new
~^~
Prayer and praise…..
Philippians 4
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
In EVERYTHING, by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING….
Prayer and praise….
In everything…
Something else that I was ruminating on on my commute.
How often do we only try to bring things to the Body for prayer that pass some sort of weight meter? Are you (like me) one of those folks that hesitate to ask for prayer for things that we think may be to insignificant?
It says “everything”, right?
So I offer this:
Ask me to pray for something you consider insignificant. I won’t scoff or wrinkle my nose, I promise. (yes, I said scoff)
And you know what? God won’t mind either.
Name it and claim it I ain’t, but asking for prayer for better grades in school (you or your kids), a promotion, Johnny or Sally doing well in a sporting event, I’m up for it.
It’s okay to want prayer for the little things too.
Cheri,
Praying……
Tony @45 – well said.
Joining in prayer with you all.
And regarding the “praise” aspect of prayer & praise, I praise God for my wonderful bride. Today is her birthday, and I’m so grateful that God has seen to bless me with such a glorious partner in life. 🙂
Tim,
Happy B-day to the Mrs.!!!! Many more to follow!!!!!!
What to do…
We debate who is the best or the worst.
We call out one another for theological and eschatological failures (as we see them).
We rant about the government (for or against).
We denounce this, that, and the other thing….
I love Jesus!
I love this sad, broken, misbegotten lump of a world!
I love that He has charged me with loving in SPITE of my self.
I love that when it is all said and done, He gets the final decision on ALL of it.
Lightens the load a bit.
I got some love to spare, any body lacking?
<<>>
Tony P…
“…I love that when it is all said and done, He gets the final decision on ALL of it.
Lightens the load a bit…”
I marvel at all the peeps i know, observe, serve, work with that do not have this knowledge. I find myself wondering where/how do they keep pushing through and pray for my opportunity to share such wonderful information.
hmmm…you really do NOT sound like someone w natural pessimistic and frowney face countenances tendencies to me Mr. P. and if so, maybe you need to share what you’re drinkin’ and/or smokin’ 🙂
I don’t know where to post this that isn’t linked to anyone else’s website in a way that I can keep it annoynomous.
Lots of cool connections happening in my life lately…one from a few months ago is with someone that is a case worker at the healthcare for homeless agency here in town. She has a group of folks transitioning back into being housed. They have learned activities for daily living (ADL) and are now looking for ways to give back to the community by doing volunteer work. It’s awesome really…
She told them about the stuff we’re doing and they want to volunteer to help us with putting bags together and/or anything else we need to do.
How cool is that? We think we’re going out and helping the poor and homeless…and it’s the poor and homeless that now want to help us??
Very cool!!!
London, this is very cool and praise worthy news!
Yeah, it’s very cool.
Looks like we’re hooking up with a local group going over on a medical mission trip to Haiti next. It’s cool cause we have some expertise in missionary travel and a connection to a travel agent that specializes in that so can hopefully get all their luggage stuff cleared for them easily. They can help us with our school drive and with other projects.
We may also be hooking up with a group that’s working in Thailand building schools and getting kids educated. That’s a big deal to me…
Hoping we can send them some school supplies like spirals, pencils etc that we have left over from our school supply drive this time.
Just love how the connections are working out…
Kinda weirds me out since I’m not employed at the moment but I can’t not do the stuff I’m doing. It’s like a crazy complusion of some sort 🙂
Well…that and it’s a heck of alot more fun than IT.
lolol London i had an opportunity to become a data base creator w a significant salary increase, another friend told me i’d be insane w/in 3-6 mths based on this i can only imagine participating in the activities you are provide so much more positive stimulus for you!
Well…if you were insane in 3-6 months…just imagine what I’m like after 10 years!
It was funny a week or so ago, my budhist friend who I absolutely adore and look up to in many, many ways called me out of the blue. We worked together in the US and then again in the UK and are pretty close.
He has one of the biggest hearts for hurting people that I know. He’s lived in Refugee camps in Africa, done field work gathering nutritional data in India, worked as a human sheild walking children to school in Palestine…he’s AMAZING and has been an example to me of what I think Jesus must have been like to be around. He just has that “vibe” about him…
Anyway…he called me up and was completely miserable and using every once of his brain power trying to think of a way out of our industry and job. He’s way better at the job than I’ll ever be and he still hates it with his entire being…
It was kinda fun in a warped way to be able to laugh at his suffering 😉 but I completely understood it. I just can not force myself to get serious about looking in that field any more but I know I have to soon.
London! That is so cool!
It started out light blue by the mountains fading up into darker blue then to purple.
The mountains were black, looking like one of the silhouettes of cowboys or coyotes so popular in the desert yards.
As I drove on towards Vegas, the skyline began to lighten more, and what surprised me was the amount of white that existed as an in-between.
I could deffinitely begin to see the area where the sun would come up as the focus of the shading changes. But what reallly captured me was the fact that I could see the spectrum, just as you do in a rainbow. I hadn’t noticed that before I guess.
The skyline began to change towards the expected orange, but again I noticed that the edges where the sun wasn’t the focus were a deep maroon fading into the expectant orange glow.
Coming down the pass into Vegas, I saw the bright orange glow of the sun just below the distant mountains, the mountains themselves were distinct as three stages of blue, each lighter as they grew in distance.
The sky grew more and more orange, the rainbow of colors pressing outward towards the horizon.
Up came the sun, blazing orange and so very bright.
The point?
Another quiet commute home last night led to some more much needed, for me at least, insight into the things of God.
I wrote yesterday that “I love this sad, broken, misbegotten lump of a world”.
And I realized that that was true, but how much time did I spend actually SEEING it? I couldn’t remember the last time that I had actually and intentionally watched a sunrise, so I intended to do that this morning. And I did.
And you know what? I realized that He painted that beautiful scene for this morning for ME. ANother instance in time where He reminded me that He has me on His mind.
See, I can say with certainty that He painted it just for me because no matter how exactly close to where I was at that moment, where you to be there you would have seen only the one He made for you.
I saw it with MY eyes.
I saw it with MY mind.
I saw it with MY spirit.
All created specifically by Him for ME.
Again we as Christians seem to far to often buy into the world’s take on the world itself, or even worse, the take of certain other fine church folk that say that we should circle the wagons cause the worlds a pit of darkness and despair. And at times it can indeed be just that, make no mistake. I do not press towards the thought of always seeing duckies and bunnies and sunshine, but I do think we need to open our eyes and our hearts to some of the wonders of His creation. He went to the trouble to make it, we should enjoy it.
“But there are so many wars!!
Yep, and so many instances of peacful acts of kindness and love.
“But there are diseases and death!”
Yep, and so many instances of God gifted breakthroughs in science and medicine.
“But there are so many disasters!”
Yep, and so many selfless people reaching out to their fellow man with love and grace.
Make no mistake, I can pessimize with the best of them, and you can “But..” till you fail to ever see anything positive.
Or,
You can choose to watch a sunrise unfold, just for you.
You can choose to smile at a stranger, a gift that came just from you.
You can choose to accept His gifts of wonder, given just to you.
I have chosen to see things, things that He shows just to me.
I wonder what He has for you?
So moving Tony… Thank you for hearing God and calling us upward to a higher standard. This is so Christ-like. Your questions remind me of Him…
Murder!
“Don’t even hate”
Fornication!
“Keep even your eye clean”
Tithe!
“Forget the Law, and begin to REALLY love one another in giving.”
He was always raising the bar, and calling us to higher ground, and you have echoed His love and intention in your above post.
Some would have just driven and been riddled in mind by worry, anxiety and vain imaginations…
You chose to hear God whisper to you through His creation.
We were created in His image, and will truly journey from glory to glory.
nomans,
The weirdest part is how EASY it can be to hear Him. It’s really exciting.
Na’amah,
“hmmm…you really do NOT sound like someone w natural pessimistic and frowney face countenances tendencies to me Mr. P. and if so, maybe you need to share what you’re drinkin’ and/or smokin’ ”
I quit drinkin and smokin… 😉
As to whether or not I am as I described, my beautiful bride would say, “YES AND YES AGAIN!!” (fourteen years she has weathered come August) 😀
But as to how I’m a comin’ to the road I’m on, it is a continual grinding by the mortar and pestle in the Hands of a loving and persistent God.
As long as I seem to be runnin’ away with this place…tell me to shut up if I bore you. I’ll only cry for an hour or so. 8)
Anyway,
For years we have made sure to pray before meals. We had even made it our daughter’s thing to say the prayer. Recently to me it seemed to have almost become a hurdle to pass before we could get to grubbin’.
So I had a thought….what if each night one of us would look up a bible verse to share at the table? I asked the wife, and she seemed to think it was a pretty cool idea. The daughter was a bit less enthused 🙂 .
So last night I shared the verse that I found, my wife said since it was my idea I obviously was first 😀 .
It was Philippians 4:6-7. I read it and talked about it’s meaning.
Then we ate.
And maybe, just maybe, a little bit of God’s word got stashed in my daughter’s heart for later use.
🙂 and i hope you’ve already made special plans to celebrate that auspicious day in your life’s history Mr. P
your description of the sunrise was beautiful, as well as your turn of mind to see what our Father has provided for each of us to restore our wonder throughout our day and evening. Even in the midst of difficult and even painful tasks, there is something that will bring His magnificence to our eyes, heart and mind… even if it only to take a breath.
Na’amah,
We’re pretty laid back as far as anniversary hooplah goes, maybe a movie and dinner out (sans kids 😀 ).
TonyP. be careful you are well rested asthe movie may not hold your interest and it would be a shame if while on your date you find yourself zzzzzzzzing out w/out the kids to disturb you 🙂
Na’amah,
😀
Ephesians 1
15For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
May we remember to love the saints. May we cease the incessant tearing of one another, and instead strive to restore one another with even a portion of the grace that we have been given.
Jesus is Lord, and He is risen. Amen.
Very much would appreciate prayers….last night was very difficult and I’m running on 2 hours sleep.
Sarah, will be lifting you up in prayer today.
praying
Sarah
We are holding your ams up today.
I wish I could make this better for you 🙁
Thanks all…we were hoping the morning would bring some relief, but it has not. Please pray for wisdom…I may need to have my boys stay at one of my brother’s houses tonight.
Praying
I think that would be wisdom at this point… 🙁
PS 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Tony @61 –
That sounds great…let us know how it turns out for your family.
She just started in again on me, asking what right I though I had to be in this house. I explained that I had driven 1200 miles to see my mom and dad and for my boys to see their grandparents.
Things escalated to the point that she grabbed me by the arm, shoved me. Sammy is up, and she called me a bitch in front of him. I asked her not to do that in front of him, she went on to say it repeatedly. I told her she was going to get to the point she wouldn’t see her grandkids. Her response was to turn to spit on Sammy….thankfully she didn’t follow throw.
Dad is leaving to go to work…I’ve texted my brother to get the kids over to his house.
Honestly, y’all….with the kids in the mix is totally a different ball game. Praying for the Spirit to so fill me that He overwhelms the situation.
Sarah –
I’m joining those in prayer for you.
Sarah, praying. That’s got to be extremely tough what you’re dealing with. Praying that God gives you wisdom and strength.
Thank you all….I feel better myself. Man, it’s amazing how these situations can bring on such emotions. I’m staying out of her way for the moment and she seems to be calming down. The interaction with my son was what really sent me over the edge. It’s been a very difficult night and morning.
Tim,
Last night was Annie’s night. Mickie told me that she had found one and brought it to her to see if it was good. Mick said it was. 🙂
She picked Mark 14:38
38Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
We asked her what she thhought it meant, and she said that you need to keep praying so that Satan can’t get to you. (I thought that was pretty good for a current application of the text for an 11 year old).
Then, I made sure we covered the idea of context. I explained what was going on at that moment in the garden and all, and how while her direct application for today was sound enough, the entire context is needed to find the WHOLE meaning. Once her eyes started glazing over I figured I should shut up.
Then we ate.
I was surprised that she had gone out on her own like that. I have been PAINFULLY lax in any kind of family bible time, hopefully this will lead to more of it.
Thanks for asking BTW 😀
She has come out of the episode. Just came in to compliment me on my parenting, on how great the kids are and what a wonderful person I am. That was one of the longest episodes I’ve been a part of…
I’m signing back off, very thankful for your prayers.
John 13
2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
This always amazes me. Not just the fact that He washed their feet, but that He washes the feet of the one that betrays Him completely. I see Him taking exactly the same amount of time and care, perhaps even a touch more, in washing Judas’ as He does anyone else’s.
Jesus,
May I learn to be like You. Amen.
This one is a punch in the nose:
John 13
12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13″You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
How often have I been “above” something He would have already been doing?
Jesus, please forgive my arrogance.
TonyP,
That was a word…wow.
Waiting for news about the birth of my grandson … c-section(baby is larger than mom can deliver) should be taking place soon … prayer appreciated!
nancy,
Praying!!! And prayerfully- Congratulations!! Both of our children were c-section.
praying for all the moms today, goodness! Sarah and her poor mother, nancy and the mom going into surgery to give her grandson life and all the burden bearing “Mr moms” too – God send angels and strength and the wisdom to triage according to Your will, Lord. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, our great God we need You; we praise and thank You.
Grandson has arrived safely … 8 pounds 7 ounces … 20 1/2 inches long! My daughter & grandson are both doing well. Thanks so much for the prayer. Shhhhhewww … this grandma thing is exhausting! 😉
nancy,
CONGRATULATIONS!!! 😀
nancy, recover and enjoy! 😉
I need you all to pray for my brother tonight… Death is surrounding him 🙁 He needs to be saved/rescued from himself. Please pray.
nomans,
Just saw this…praying.
Normans, please know I am praying…
Nomans, praying, praying, praying.
praying
Nomans, praying/
Thoughts & prayers…
thank you all so much…
Sarah, my heart is breaking for you.
Nomans, I know this prayer well, we are fully acquainted, will continue in prayer for you and your brother.
Jlo…thanks. The night seems to be going okay. I have to get some rest tonight as we start the 20 hour drive home tomorrow morning at 7.
Nomas…praying for your brother, even as I prepare to make this roadtrip with my brother. Two years ago I could not have imagined having a relationship back with him let alone seeing him step up and be the reliable and strong man he is. Praying for your brother with the undergirding of that foundation…of seeing something impossible happen.
Sarah, I had not seen your post earlier. In prayer for you and your family. You are a wonderful daughter, and role model; not just your kids, but for me as well. May God continue to provide you with needed strength, and endurance.
Nancy, congratulations on your new grandbaby!
Endurance, thank, you Lord.
nomans,
Praying…..
Nomans praying for you and your brother
Sarah praying for your safe travel home and for comfort of your heart…very difficult experience
Congrats Grandmama Nancy
TonyP@ # 82 …He washed the feet of the one who betrays Him ooh boy 🙂
Na’amah,
Ooh boy indeed. 😉
This prayer was in Spurgeon’s Checkbook of Faith this morning (talking about halting & stumbling along in faith)…I thought it was worth sharing:
“Lord, though I halt in faith, in prayer, in praise, in service, and in patience, save me, I beseech thee! Only thou canst save such a cripple as I am. Lord, let me not perish because I am among the hindmost, but gather up by they grace the slowest of thy pilgrims – even me. Behold he hath said it shall be so, and therefore, like Jacob, prevailing in prayer, I go forward though my sinew be shrunk.”
Tim,
Excellent.
washing the feet of the betrayer – Jesus must have had a broken heart as he realized what this man was rejecting … Lord, make eternity more relevant to me today…
praying and reading the list this morning – God keep
Em,
The question for me is would I knowingly provide for someone that would betray me on so deep a level? Would I react as Christ did?
Unfortunately for me at this point in time I have to say no.
If I am honest about it, I don’t know if I would provide for someone that I knew was going to betray me in ANY way, much less deeply.
God willing, someday maybe I will be able to say, “YES!!”
Spurgeon on reading the Bible:
But let me say one thing, before I pass on to the second point. If this be the Word of God, what will become of some of you who have not read it for the last month? “Month, sir! I have not read it for this year.” Ay, there are some of you who have not read it at all. Most people treat the Bible very politely . They have a small pocket volume, neatly bound; they put a white pocket-handkerchief round it and carry it to their places of worship; when they get home, they lay it up in a drawer till next Sunday morning; then it comes out again for a little bit of a treat, and goes to chapel; that is all the poor Bible gets in the way of an airing. That is your style of entertaining this heavenly messenger. There is dust enough on some of your Bibles to write “damnation” with your fingers. There are some of you who have not turned over your Bibles for a long, long while, and what think you? I tell you blunt words, but true words. What will God say at last? When you shall come before him, he shall say, “Did you read my Bible?” “No.” “I wrote you a letter of mercy; did you read it?” “No.” “Rebel! I have sent thee a letter inviting thee to me; didst thou ever read it?” “Lord, I never broke the seal; I kept it shut up.” “Wretch!” says God, “then, thou deservest hell, if I sent thee a loving epistle, and thou wouldst not even break the seal; what shall I do unto thee?” Oh, let it not be so with you. Be Bible-readers; be Bible-searchers.
I like a man of God that doesn’t mince words! Not a lot of fluff and perfume.
Gotta love Spurgeon.
Tim,
I haven’t read a lot of his stuff, but I am coming to like him quite a bit. THe website with all his sermons is pretty cool. I’m on his Bible sermon.
Hard to believe how young he was….of course so was David, huh? 😉
Okay,
In the asking for prayer in the little things category:
I am considering writing a blog of my own, but not sure if I should.
Any thoughts? And prayers definitely appreciated for direction from on high as well. 😀
“There is dust enough on some of your Bibles to write “damnation” with your fingers…” i’ve known a couple good men of God who reached this point. we starve our spirits and ask for strength
praying, TonyP and it’s hard to do on this one – nobody here wants to lose your presence on this site ,i’m betting
it’s not either/or.
write your blog and still hang out here too.
Em,
Thanks for the prayers. It wouldn’t mean me disappearing from here.
London,
I would plan on doing just that. I wouldn’t wander off, but I was looking for feedback on whether it’s worth doing. I know many of the folks here blog and their input (as well as all of the rest of you 🙂 ) is appreciated.
TonyP,
I think you would be great..
we are headed back to tn. we left at 8:30 this morning and have about 650 miles to go. we`re shooting for driving through the night….prayers appreciated.
Praying Sarah
Sarah,
Praying for you guys. Take your time and decompress on the way back. Sing some songs, tell some bad jokes. 🙂
Well,
It lives:
http://dragyn1.wordpress.com/
Now I get to join BrianD in wondering what to talk about….
Michael makes it look so easy.. 😀
Yes, I know boats don’t use roads…
Sarah, praying tonight for your very long drive tonight.
TonyP, late as well, but it is always great to see you!
thanks jlo and tony…we just had a loud singing session and the boys just now fell asleep. 500 more miles to go.
nene…thanks, and thanks as well for your kind words above. what a week!
Tony, welcome to blogging.
I don’t have the problem of what I’m going to say, as long as I plan ahead. Figure out what you want your blog to be about, and what you want to talk about, and then write about it. Draw inspiration from others, but be yourself, find your own voice.
Then figure out a schedule and stick to it.
If it is helpful, ask other bloggers for advice, and read articles by bloggers like Chris Brogan and Scott Williams (LifeChurch) on the topic of how to grow and maintain a blog. You don’t have to go overboard, but publicize yourself on Facebook, Twitter, FriendFeed, any social networking platform where people will see it.
I wonder if blogging is in a small way like planting a church: lots of people on the first day curious to see what it’s all about, then much less people, who are more committed to the project, showing up afterwards.
Home. 23 hours almost exactly. We are happy to be here, and it looks like the dog we brought back with us is going to get along with our old White Shepherd.
Thanks for all the prayers this last week. I’m ducking back into some quiet for awhile to decompress. Michael…thanks again for having this place we can turn to when we need support.
BrianD,
Awesome advice, dude. I may tap your blogging brain on occasion if I may?
nene,
Thanks. 🙂