LIVING HOPE

I Peter 1:3,5  "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade ~~kept in heaven for you..."

I am chosen and cherished by God, but a stranger in this world, Lord Jesus, by Your blood.  You cleansed me by your mercy, You saved me by your death and resurrection.  You give me hope by Your faithfulness and by your power you protect me in a fallen and polluted world.  By Your wisdom You sustain me through the fiery trials that must refine my life.  How can I help but give you my praise. Thought I do not see You, I love You more than words can say.  Oh what shall it be like when I see You fully on that Day!

Amen

Amen

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What Love is This?

Thank you Father that when it comes to You loving us there is no pause or delete button on your computer. There is no limitation nor separation from your love. 

No Pause or Deletion - Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT) 

“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love..." 

No Limitation - Ephesians 3:18-19 (NLT) 

"...may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully..."  

No Separation - Romans 8:38-39 (NLT) 

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

The lyrics of Stuart Townend's song: "How Deep the Father's love for Us" expresses so profoundly the infinite wonder of God's love.

"How deep the Father’s love for us, How vast beyond all measure,

That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss – The Father turns His face away,

As wounds which mar the Chosen One Bring many sons to glory."

Thank you Father for this eternal, faithful and sacrificial love. In the name of Jesus our Savior. Amen.

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for integrity, humility, patience and love

O Lord and Master of my life, 

spare me from the spirit of apathy and meddling, of idle chatter and love of power. Instead, grant to me, your servant, the spirit of integrity and humility, of patience and love. 

Yes, O Lord and God, 

grant me the grace to be aware of my sins and not to judge others, for you are blessed, now and ever and forever.

Amen.

- a prayer of Saint Ephrem   

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that we might see and hear with our heart

Lord, open our eyes

that we may see you in our brothers and sisters.

Lord, open our ears

that we may hear the cries of the hungry,

the cold, the frightened, the oppressed.

Lord, open our hearts

that we may love each other as you love us.

Renew in us your spirit.

Lord, free us and make us one.

Amen

-a prayer of Mother Teresa   

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Oh, the power of prayer...

Never underestimate the POWER of PRAYER.

It is the key to spiritual survival.

It is of the utmost importance in our Christian walk.

It is how we tap into the power of God. How we tap into His STRENGTH. 

It is vital to our intimate relationship with Christ.

Pray often. Pray fervently. Pray expecting.

“...be unceasing and persistent in prayer...” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Amen

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JESUS THE SERVANT

"Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments and taking a towel, He girded Himself.  Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the discipes feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded."

Dear Jesus, my Lord and Teacher, as you humbly washed the feet of Your disciples, I glimpse a portent of the greater humiliation to come, when You will be crucified for all humanity.  Even thought You possessed the very nature of God, You claimed nothing for Your own advantage but emptied yourself, taking the form of a slave.  As the Son of Man destine for divine glory, You came to serve and give Your life as a ransom for many.  With your disciples I hear You call to imitate You in humble servanthood.  O Master, teach me to serve You gratefully by washing the feet of my brothers and sisters.  Help me to worship You by giving myself to serve others.  I love You.  Amen.

The Path of His Passion

Worship Bible

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True Friendsip

Friends for 75 years Kris on the left 

and Wanda my wife on the right.

Father, you created and redeemed us for many reasons and one was for friendship. It is quite astonishing that you, the infinite Triune God, desires friendship with us. It is an amazing friendship that is rooted in your truth, love and goodness. Your wonderful friendship is the basis for all true friendship and is revealed in the following Scriptures. 

The dignity of friendship: God said: “Abraham, my friend;" Isaiah 41:8 (ESV)

The intimacy of friendship. "God's intimate friendship blessed my house, Job 29:4 (NIV)

The foundation of friendship. "The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him...." Psalm 25:14 (ESV)

The privilege of friendship: "....Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me." John 15:15 (NLT) 

The loyalty of friendship: "A friend loves at all times," Prov. 17:17 (ESV)

The compassion of friendship: "Our friend Lazarus...." John 11:11 (KJV

The influence of friendship: "As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)

The witness of friendship: “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” Mark 5:19 (ESV) 

The council of friendship: "The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense." Proverbs 27:9 (NLT) 

The communication of friendship: "The LORD would speak to Moses personally, as a man speaks to his friend...." Exodus 33:11 (GW) 

The confrontation of friendship: "Faithful are the wounds of a friend;" Proverbs 27:6 (ESV)

The reach of friendship: ".... a friend of tax collectors and sinners!" Luke 7:34 (ESV) 

The commitment of friendship: "....there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24 (KJV) 

The sacrifice of friendship: "There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." John 15:13 (NLT) 

That you Father for your gracious and generous gift of friendship. And thank you for the friends in my life that follow your example of true friendship. "Surely God is my help (my Friend); the Lord is the one who sustains me." Psalm 54:4 (NIV) 

In the name of our dearest friend, Jesus. Amen.

Amen

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a prayer of repentance

O Lord,

The house of my soul is narrow;

enlarge it that you may enter in.

It is ruinous, O repair it!

It displeases Your sight.

I confess it, I know.

But who shall cleanse it,

to whom shall I cry but to you?

Cleanse me from my secret faults, O Lord,

and spare Your servant from strange sins. Amen

 - a prayer of Saint Augustine

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releasing our cares

Sometimes it is so hard to let go of the way we want things to be. So often things go so wrong. People die. Loved ones suffer. Our hearts break. And the end of our painful trials does not seem to be anywhere in sight. In such times it is good to release our burdens to the Lord in prayer.

Our days are in your hands Lord. Our future is in your hands. Our lives are in your hands. We release our cares and worries to you knowing that you are good. We confess our trust in you and the acknowledge that you are at work in our lives, bringing beauty from ashes.  Amen

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come boldly

Confession of Sin

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name. 

 Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life.

May the words of Isaiah 12 be our assurance this day:

Surely God is my salvation; 

    I will trust and not be afraid.

 The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;

    he has become my salvation.” 

With joy you will draw water 

    from the wells of salvation. 

In that day you will say:

         “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;

                make known among the nations what he has done,

                 and proclaim that his name is exalted. 

         Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;

                let this be known to all the world.

           Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, 

                for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

                            -Isaiah 12:2-6

We come boldly to the throne of grace this day, O Lord, to confess all that we lack, knowing You are gracious and quick to forgive, drawing towards us in love.

Amen

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Come, My Light

Come, my Light,
and illumine my darkness.
Come, my Life,
and revive me from death.
Come, my Physician,
and heal my wounds.
Come, Flame of divine love,
and burn up the thorns of my sins,
kindling my heart
with the flame of thy love.

Dimitrii of Rostov

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WORDS OF WISDOM

Proverbs 1:1-7  "The proverbs of Solomon son of David, King of Israel:

for attaining wisdom and discipline;

for understanding words of insight;

for aquiring a discipline and prudent life,

doing what is right, just and fair,

for giving prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the young ~~

let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance,

for understanding proverbs and parables,

the saying and riddles of the wise;

For the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge

but fools dispise wisdom and discipline.

Wonderful counselor.  You have provided simple guidelines for every demension of our lives ~~principals that bring peace, justice, and good sense to everything we do.  Thank You for being aware of the ordinary aspects of our earthly existence ~~ the buying and selling, the winning and losing, the joys and sorrows.  You are a Father Who advises His children carefully and kindly.  Help us always to put You first and to seek Your will instead of our own.  Father, give me understanding and wisdom as I study Your Words in Proverbs.  I love You.  Amen.

Amen

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Everyday is a Good Day

Ezra 8:22 (GW) 

"......Our God works things out for the good of everyone who dedicates his life to serving him...."  

Romans 8:28 (NIV) 

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  

Father how encouraging and comforting it is to know the good plans you have  for our lives today.  Your infinite good, everyday, is always greater than any finite bad that any day may bring. 

Father I know that in your wisdom and power your good purpose is always bigger than the bad days I may experience. As you have reminded me: "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah  29:11 (NLT)   

Thank you Father for the good gift of this day and the goodness we will experience through your grace, wisdom and power. "for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." 

Philippians 2:13 (NIV)  

With deep appreciation in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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in thanksgiving and trust

Thank You, dear Father in heaven, for the blessings and graces You have give me this day. Once more I entreat Your continuing protection. Conscious of my own weakness and frailty, of my many faults, I entrust myself to Your loving care.