that seeks your face, O God of Jacob ...
We bow our hearts
We bend our knees
O Spirit, come make us humble
We turn our eyes from evil things
O Lord, we cast down our idols
Give us clean hands
Give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
O God, let us be a generation that seeks,
that seeks Your face, O God of Jacob
Lord, we thank and praise You for the gift of freedom to gather for worship in Your house today! Thank you for meeting us there as we humbly but boldly praised Your holy name with song! Thank you for providing Your Word to us in the three scripture readings and through Pastor T's preaching ... Your message was heard by many, Lord, and we pray that we will heed Your Word, drink in Your Grace, and seek to find our purpose as we are called to be fishers of men.
Lord, our time together was short and the week ahead is long ... Holy Spirit dwell within us so that we continue to seek Your face throughout our days in all we do.
Whether we are working, playing, meeting, attending classes, interacting with family, dwell within us so that we will boldly, but lovingly, open our mouths to share the Truth of Your love. Strengthen us, send Your holy angels to fight off Satan and all his evil, and help us to share with others everything we know about Jesus and what he has done for us so that we can all enjoy community with You now and for eternity!
Father God, as we put Your Word in our hearts today, help us to remember Your promise from Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus is the same yesterday, and today, and forever!"
Help us, dear Lord, as Your church, the people of God at Good Shepherd, to always, always seek Your face, bend our knees to You, bow our hearts in prayer to You, never seeking another and always casting down our idols, help us to be a generation that teaches the next generation what it is to truly know, love, and follow You, Lord Jesus. Help us to be doers of Your Word!
We lift all of this up to You now, Lord ... and also asking that You remind us with a burning desire in our hearts to come back to You often throughout each day to call on You, praying without ceasing! In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Phillipians 1: 9-11
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best (to approve what is excellent) and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God." (NIV with Lutheran Study Bible)
The Contemporary English Version says: "I pray that your love will keep on growing and that you will fully know and understand how to make the right choices. Then you will still be pure and innocent when Christ returns. And until that day, Jesus Christ will keep you busy doing good deeds that bring glory and praise to God."
Father God, this is our prayer: that you fill us with your holiness, that our love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that we may be able to discern what is best; approving only what is excellent in Your sight; giving us the spirit of discernment; that we make the right choices. Lord, make us pure and blameless for today and the day Jesus comes back! Fill us with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ!
Holy Spirit, how do we get that holiness we long to have? Through Your Word and Sacraments! Fill us with the desire to dig into Your Word every single day, Lord. Your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, Lord. Without it, we are fools! Get our attention ... the attention of each and every member of our church council, ministry leader, and member! Lord, abide in us, draw us near to you. Put that unquenchable desire in our hearts so that we desire more of You just as a child desires candy or a baby craves milk!
Help us trust You above anything else, Father. Help us climb out of this valley that we've been caught in for some time now. Reach down and pluck us out and shake us so that we see what is so obvious ... that You love us and want the best for us. Help us trust You in that. Help us to seek Your Kingdom first, knowing that everything else will fall in place and be provided for us ... just as You've promised.
Father, forgive us when we put our trust in our own strategy more than your promises, and help us to focus all the more clearly on living in Your Word and Sacraments. We need you, Lord. Help us focus completely on You.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
The Contemporary English Version says: "I pray that your love will keep on growing and that you will fully know and understand how to make the right choices. Then you will still be pure and innocent when Christ returns. And until that day, Jesus Christ will keep you busy doing good deeds that bring glory and praise to God."
Father God, this is our prayer: that you fill us with your holiness, that our love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that we may be able to discern what is best; approving only what is excellent in Your sight; giving us the spirit of discernment; that we make the right choices. Lord, make us pure and blameless for today and the day Jesus comes back! Fill us with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ!
Holy Spirit, how do we get that holiness we long to have? Through Your Word and Sacraments! Fill us with the desire to dig into Your Word every single day, Lord. Your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, Lord. Without it, we are fools! Get our attention ... the attention of each and every member of our church council, ministry leader, and member! Lord, abide in us, draw us near to you. Put that unquenchable desire in our hearts so that we desire more of You just as a child desires candy or a baby craves milk!
Help us trust You above anything else, Father. Help us climb out of this valley that we've been caught in for some time now. Reach down and pluck us out and shake us so that we see what is so obvious ... that You love us and want the best for us. Help us trust You in that. Help us to seek Your Kingdom first, knowing that everything else will fall in place and be provided for us ... just as You've promised.
Father, forgive us when we put our trust in our own strategy more than your promises, and help us to focus all the more clearly on living in Your Word and Sacraments. We need you, Lord. Help us focus completely on You.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Pizza & Praise Nights
Heavenly Father, as the GSLC Praise Team prepares for two evenings of praise and worship, fill them with your Holy Spirit so that every detail is given to You, is planned to glorify Your name, and is all about You!
Father God, You already know each person who will be in attendance next Wednesday at St. Paul's and the following Wednesday at Good Shepherd. Send Your holy angels to guard against the evil one; prevent anything that would hinder those that are supposed to be there according to Your Will. Fill each heart and mind with the desire to know You more. Open hearts up to worship You in Spirit and in Truth.
Lord God, help the team to sing and play for You and only for You, setting aside anything and everything that is not of You. Bless their song selection, their witness, their words and actions, so that everyone who is there only wants to focus on You. Fill them with homothumadon ... that one mindedness in alignment with Your mind.
Father, bless all Your servants who will be behind the scenes donating money and sacrificing time; buying and preparing food; serving the meals; running the audio & visual equipment. Fill them with Your love and peace as they work hard to make these evenings successful. Give everyone an attitude of gratitude for each other; being thankful for all the little details and chores that will be accomplished in Your name.
We give all of Pizza & Praise to You, God. Bless our efforts as we continually work as Your hands and feet, helping to help others and ourselves know, love, and follow Jesus, our Good Shepherd. In His name, we pray. Amen.
Father God, You already know each person who will be in attendance next Wednesday at St. Paul's and the following Wednesday at Good Shepherd. Send Your holy angels to guard against the evil one; prevent anything that would hinder those that are supposed to be there according to Your Will. Fill each heart and mind with the desire to know You more. Open hearts up to worship You in Spirit and in Truth.
Lord God, help the team to sing and play for You and only for You, setting aside anything and everything that is not of You. Bless their song selection, their witness, their words and actions, so that everyone who is there only wants to focus on You. Fill them with homothumadon ... that one mindedness in alignment with Your mind.
Father, bless all Your servants who will be behind the scenes donating money and sacrificing time; buying and preparing food; serving the meals; running the audio & visual equipment. Fill them with Your love and peace as they work hard to make these evenings successful. Give everyone an attitude of gratitude for each other; being thankful for all the little details and chores that will be accomplished in Your name.
We give all of Pizza & Praise to You, God. Bless our efforts as we continually work as Your hands and feet, helping to help others and ourselves know, love, and follow Jesus, our Good Shepherd. In His name, we pray. Amen.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, ...
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
Heavenly Father, the things of this world are sometimes anything but true, noble, right, pure, lovely, or admirable! Help us to discern between what is excellent and praiseworthy, and what is not. Help us to recognize where our heart is leaning and if it's straying to the left or to the right, draw it back straight into You, Father God.
Lord Jesus, call us to think like You, to be in alignment with You. Help us to dig deep into Your Word and remember that together we are brothers and sisters in Christ; in You! Help us to live together in Your Gospel ... being truly forgiven and forgiving to one another.
Father God, teach us to live in harmony by recognizing our sins and confessing them to one another ... and by doing so, experiencing reconciliation and oneness in You. Guide our words and actions, so that as Your church, Your children, we always speak the truth in love, with gentleness and respect. Guide us to pray and to study Your Word so that we can come out thinking the same way ... Your way, God.
Father in Heaven, Provider, Wonderful Counselor, teach us to follow in the footsteps of the One You sent to be our savior and King. Help us to live as forgiven citizens of Your kingdom, clinging to Calvary's cross and running to Jesus' empty tomb to know our salvation is won! Help us to tell others about Jesus, allowing ourselves to become examples of what You can do in their lives. Help us to share the real message of grace, following Jesus, and leading others to Him. Help us to see the world through Your eyes, Lord ... seeking whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise!
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen!
Heavenly Father, the things of this world are sometimes anything but true, noble, right, pure, lovely, or admirable! Help us to discern between what is excellent and praiseworthy, and what is not. Help us to recognize where our heart is leaning and if it's straying to the left or to the right, draw it back straight into You, Father God.
Lord Jesus, call us to think like You, to be in alignment with You. Help us to dig deep into Your Word and remember that together we are brothers and sisters in Christ; in You! Help us to live together in Your Gospel ... being truly forgiven and forgiving to one another.
Father God, teach us to live in harmony by recognizing our sins and confessing them to one another ... and by doing so, experiencing reconciliation and oneness in You. Guide our words and actions, so that as Your church, Your children, we always speak the truth in love, with gentleness and respect. Guide us to pray and to study Your Word so that we can come out thinking the same way ... Your way, God.
Father in Heaven, Provider, Wonderful Counselor, teach us to follow in the footsteps of the One You sent to be our savior and King. Help us to live as forgiven citizens of Your kingdom, clinging to Calvary's cross and running to Jesus' empty tomb to know our salvation is won! Help us to tell others about Jesus, allowing ourselves to become examples of what You can do in their lives. Help us to share the real message of grace, following Jesus, and leading others to Him. Help us to see the world through Your eyes, Lord ... seeking whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise!
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Let's take some time to use an old favorite hymn to seek His face; the face of our beautiful savior and best Friend ...
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
Lord Jesus, Precious Savior, Best Friend, there's no one like you! No one can feel our hurts, no one can share our sorrows, no one can shield and protect us like you can ... like you do. The gift of prayer that our Father has given us is a wondrous thing ... and Jesus, we pray to the Father through You, the Son, by the prompting of the Holy Spirit ... Father, Son, and Spirit; Our God! What a great God you are!
Father God, draw us to you so that we will truly cast our cares aside, lay our crowns at your feet, and live in the pure peace that you want for us!
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
In the life-giving, life-changing, life-saving name of Jesus, we pray. Amen!
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
Lord Jesus, Precious Savior, Best Friend, there's no one like you! No one can feel our hurts, no one can share our sorrows, no one can shield and protect us like you can ... like you do. The gift of prayer that our Father has given us is a wondrous thing ... and Jesus, we pray to the Father through You, the Son, by the prompting of the Holy Spirit ... Father, Son, and Spirit; Our God! What a great God you are!
Father God, draw us to you so that we will truly cast our cares aside, lay our crowns at your feet, and live in the pure peace that you want for us!
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
In the life-giving, life-changing, life-saving name of Jesus, we pray. Amen!
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