Pastor Van Dellen

As Pastor Van Dellen readies himself for retirement and we celebrate his 40 years in the ministry of our Lord, Jesus Christ, this weekend, we pray ...

Heavenly Father, thank you for calling Pastor Van to be your humble servant, giving of himself all these years ... a lifetime of living out the Great Commission, baptizing and teaching in the name of Jesus, your beloved Son. Thank you for working in him to be the called and ordained representative for you at Good Shepherd for 30 years! We are so grateful for all you have done through this man in our midst!

Holy Spirit, as Pastor and Judy enter the next phase of life here on earth, continue to work in them your will ... inspiring them to continue to spread your Word to everyone they meet. Keep them focused on Jesus, the author and perfector of their faith, the One who will meet all their needs in the glorious riches He gives so freely.

Lord God, bless them with good health, supportive friends and family, the financial means to do what you have in mind for them. They have always sacrificed for the people of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church ... help us to be appreciative so they know they are loved by us, too. As always align their hearts and ours with yours in everything we say and do.

Precious Jesus, thank you for saving us through your death and resurrection. We are eternally grateful to you for the faith you have given us, knowing that we will live forever with you in your Kingdom when this life comes to an end here. Be with us each and every day as we go about your work, helping people to know, love and follow you! In Your name we pray! Amen!

Let the Little Children Come to Me ...

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Mark 10:14

But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Luke 18:16

Today begins a week of pure joy and excitement for lots of little ones as they invade Good Shepherd for VBS!

Heavenly Father, as Jesus commanded us to "go and make disciples" and as he rebuked those disciples who were closest to Him, saying "Let the little children come to me", we come before you today asking You to guide and lead everyone involved in vacation Bible school this week at Good Shepherd. Make it a place where all little children will be welcomed and loved and taught the true story of Jesus and what He did and continues to do for them!

Holy Spirit, fill the building and fill the hearts of all who enter it! Do great and marvelous things by planting seeds in the little ones and fertilizing those that have already been planted. Guide the words and actions of each and every person who will be serving this week; use them to share the love of Jesus with everyone they come in contact with ... whether it be little children, the children's parents, teens that will be watching them, or other adults in their midst. Speak through each and every person at VBS, Lord.

Father God, thank you for providing beautiful weather; please keep the temperature and humidity at comfortable levels all week; keep storms at bay during the VBS hours.

Thank you for the wonderful building You provided for Your church at Good Shepherd; please keep it a safe shelter for everyone, and guard against any injuries or illness from entering.

Thank you for the technology You have provided; please let everything work smoothly so there are no hindrances or distractions and everyone can just focus on You, Lord.

Precious Jesus, as You continued in teaching Your disciples, You added, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." These are Your words, Lord Jesus, and may we heed them!

Jesus, may we all be like little children when it comes to humbling ourselves and believing everything You tell us in Your Word. Open our eyes, hearts, and minds to see everything and everyone around us as You see them. Help us to fully comprehend that You really do love us all so much that You gave Your very life for us so that we can live with You forever in heaven! Help us to know and believe that the Kingdom of God belongs to us ... Your children; young and old!

Fill us with You, God ... so that everything we do is centered on helping people to know, love, and follow Your beloved son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In His name we pray! Amen!

Prayer Gathering Tonight

Lord God, Father in Heaven, Wonderful Counselor, Blessed Redeemer,

You are our Good Shepherd and You are mighty to save us when we call out to you!

Hear our prayers, oh Lord ... have mercy on us!

Bless the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts ... You are our Rock and Redeemer!

As we come together this evening, draw us nearer to You ...

Inspire us ... align our hearts with Yours ... help us to call out to You in accordance with Your will ...

Help us to remember that praying is a two-way conversation ... reveal Your presence, Father ... open our ears and hearts to listen to Your response ...

Jesus, be there as You promise us in Matthew 18:20 ... for where two or three are gathered together in Your name, we are confident that You will be there!

Please fill us with Your presence and indescribable peace and joy . . . and teach us to pray ...

We lift up our concerns, our praises, our griefs and all our thoughts to You, God ... In Jesus' name. Amen

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, ...

His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

Precious Lord and Savior, how blessed we are to awaken once again to a new day in Your grace! And what a beautiful, sunny morning it is in southeastern Michigan!

Rejoicing in Your mercies, which are new every morning, we commend ourselves and this day, this weekend, to You and to Your gracious care, asking that You direct our course, guiding us in our service to You.

Grant grace to our words and to our actions, so that all may be done according to Your will. Keep us steadfast in unity with each other as we meet together.

Finally, provide us with opportunities to witness to You and Your love, giving us both the willingness and boldness to confess Your name. Through Your life expressed in us, lead those to whom we witness to receive You and Your undying love for them; through Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen

"Take My Life and Let It Be"

Let's take some time today for individual personal prayer, using the lyrics of this familiar hymn by Frances R Havergal ...

Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King;
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect and use
every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it Thine,
it shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal Throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour
at Thy feet its treasure-store;
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all, for Thee.

Hear our words, oh God, that they might be real and true and genuine. Holy Spirit, move within each of us today that we will desire to do and be all the things we have just prayed for ourselves. There is nothing more we would rather be than totally yours; so please take our hands, our feet, our voices, our possessions, our lives, hearts, thoughts and motives and use them, direct them, so that everything we say and do will be pleasing to You! Take our love, Lord, and multiply it so that it overflows onto everyone we meet today. In the precious name of Jesus ... Amen

Praying for the wives ... and future spouses out there

Heavenly Father, there are some exceptionally wonderful women you've placed at GS and we need to take some time to lift them up to you!

You know each one by name ... you know all of their struggles ... all of their joys ... their hurts; their pains. You know every hair on each beautiful head, Father. You will fulfill your purpose in each one of them, Lord ... Your love endures forever!

Right now, we lift up Judy, Chris, and Kimberly; wives of great men who love "to tell your story".

Lord, thank you for 40 years for Judy "in the ministry" with her husband! Thank you for your faithfulness to her all these years ... for inspiring her, for providing for all her needs, for comforting her. Lord Jesus, wrap Judy in your arms and hold her tight ... continue to fill her with support and encouragement for her husband. Be with Pastor and Judy as they plan for retirement ... send your angels to guard against all danger during traveling ... provide good health ... shower them with Your peace and love always!

Father God, we praise you for Chris and the woman she is! Her joy, peace, patience, and kindness radiate your love, Lord. Guide her and show her your ways as she mothers the 5 little blessings you've given her. Please keep her strong and healthy; providing her with rest and replenishment as she needs it. Protect her and the kids as they camp this week. Give them and all the "family campers" good weather and wonderful memories, please Lord. Father, as Pastor and Chris get ready for their mission trip to Alaska next month, reassure them in their plans ... calm any fears or worries with your peace.

Holy Spirit, abide in Kimberly as she is apart from Tom right now. Provide just the right amount of time for her to take care of everything that needs to happen before she leaves to join him in Haiti next month. Guide her as she continues to be one of your shining stars ... even in this dark world. Give her just the right words to always speak your truth, no matter what the reaction of others might be. Continue to give her wisdom and understanding as it pertains to mothering, being a supportive wife, a responsible employee, and every other role you have given her.

Lord, we pray for each of these women and all women connected with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and School; that your love and mercy is felt by each and every one of them. Place on their hearts the desire to grow in their relationship with you, Lord, and with that will surely come hearts filled with support and encouragement for their husbands, children, friends, ... everyone they come in contact with.

For those women that are not yet married, Father, we ask that you provide patience and confident hope that the man you have picked out for them is out there and you have it all planned out ... just right. Build up those men, Lord ... make them men of great integrity ... men that have humbled themselves and make you the center of their lives.

Father in heaven, we thank you for this wonderful day and the opportunity we had to come into your sanctuary and worship you! We look forward to living each day this week knowing that you are with us; walking right by our side. Make your presence known Lord. We long to feel your touch; fill us up when we are empty. Bless us and keep us, Lord. Look down on us with favor. Make your face shine upon us and give us your peace. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Great Expectations

"We should act with as much energy as those who who expect everything from themselves, and we should pray with as much earnestness as those who expect everything from God." Charles Caleb Colton

Lord God, Heavenly Father, King of Kings, Prince of Peace, we do expect big things, but unfortunately we do tend to rely on ourselves to provide them ... and sometimes we don't expect much and aren't surprised when not much happens. Instead of us being complacent, we are letting go of any old, bad habits and crying out to you, earnestly in prayer! We know we need change in order to grow Your Kingdom, Father. We know we need unity so that we can all work together, side by side, with a one-mindedness, focused on You. Lord, we're asking You now to be the King of the Universe to the children and teens of our congregation; to reveal Yourself in a new way to them and draw them close to You. We need your help, God, and we have been also looking for manual help by adding a staff member dedicated to serving You by working with our youth. We have been blessed with the addition to our paid staff and we ask you to lead and guide Terry as he endeavors to rally our youth for You! Father, help Terry stay the course and run the race marked out for him. Provide him everything he needs; health, energy, time, focus, and helpful parents. Holy Spirit, fill the kids with the desire to want to know you more and help them to see that this is a great opportunity to be a part of something big! Fill the parents with Your conviction to also be a part of the new improved youth program, Lord. Instill in them that parents are to "train up a child" in Your way, God. Show them that everything they do and say is a model for their children and teens. Help us all be supportive of Terry, encouraging to him and our youth. Help us to seek ways to be a positive part of the youth program. Convict our hearts to know what to do and how to pray, Lord Jesus. Be with us, the kids, Terry, and our pastoral staff and ministry leaders. Guide us, lead us, protect us from Satan, and teach us to go out and make disciples for you, Jesus. Amen.