Month: November 2016

6 Days of Prayer for America – national boundaries

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Nehemiah 1:3-4 (NLT)

“Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”

When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.”

good-fences__________

“We will treat everyone living or residing in our country with dignity. We will be fair, just and compassionate to all. But our greatest compassion must be for American citizens.”

– Donald J Trump (On Immigration)

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Prayer:

Creator God:

You made every tribe and nation on earth and gave them different cultures and languages; and you gave them places to live distinct from one another. All are loved by You; and one day all will bow before You and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

In Christ, You have broken down the spiritual walls that separate us; and yet, You have established tribes and nations with borders and governments that justice and peace might prevail and that all might prosper.

But now, Lord, all of that seems to have gone terribly wrong.

Our world is in the throes of chaos caused by corrupt governments and the violence of war; and millions of people have been displaced from their homelands fleeing for their lives. Ancient Christian cultures are being destroyed and western civilization is being overrun by migrant people – some deserving and some depraved.

National boundaries are being “torn down” and we are in “great trouble and disgrace.”

God Only Wise:

We desperately need Your wisdom, understanding, and sound judgement to understand how to protect our national boundaries from the depraved who would do us harm; while at the same time creating a legal, orderly immigration system to admit those who are deserving of American citizenship.

Lord God, help America to sort through these difficult issues:

+ Securing our southern border

+ Removing illegals who cross the border

+ Expelling criminal aliens by enforcing our current laws

+ Ending sanctuary cities that refuse to enforce our current laws

+ Enforcing all current immigration laws

+ Suspending the issuance of visas to any place without proven and effective vetting mechanisms

Gracious God:

Show us how to sort through these seemingly intractable problems in a way that treats everyone living or residing in our country with dignity. And in a way that will be fair, just and compassionate to all.

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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit – one God forever. Amen.

Morning Prayer: Wed, 02 Nov – Psalm 25:14; Jeremiah 31:20; Revelation 1:12-18 ~ walk with me

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentence

I call all heaven to witness today that I have put on Christ.
I choose no other Lord than the Maker of heaven and earth.
This day I walk with Him and He will walk with me.

Reading: Psalm 25:14 (NLT)

The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant.

Reading: Jeremiah 31:20 (NLT)

“Is not Israel still my son, my darling child?” says the Lord. “I often have to punish him, but I still love him. That’s why I long for him and surely will have mercy on him.”

Reading: Revelation 1:12-18 (NLT)

I am the First and the Last
I am the First and the Last

When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look — I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.”
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Prayer: Patrick (389-461) – a call to stand

I call on all heaven to witness today that I have put on Christ.
Watch over me and protect me:

+ In life’s choices and circumstances
+ In my coming and going, in light and darkness
+ In hesitancy and fear, uncertainty and rebellion
+ In testing and pain, in danger and doubt
+ In bearing good news, in breaking new ground
+ Alone and with others, be they friend or enemy
+ In carrying your light, in combating darkness
+ In healing and freedom and life-giving blessing
+ In comfort or challenge, to rescue and save
+ In all my beginnings, and at each ending

I call on all heaven to witness today that I have put on Christ.
Watch over me and protect me.
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“Walk with Me” – Jesus Culture

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

7 Days of Prayer for America – finish well, you’re being watched

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)

“We are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith…. Therefore, let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

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finish-well-vote-nov-8th

Quote:

In the end, the American dream is not a sprint, or even a marathon, but a relay. Our families don’t always cross the finish line in the span of one generation. But each generation passes on to the next the fruits of their labor. – Julian Castro

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Prayer:

Merciful God:

Thank you for working behind the scenes to exceed all our expectations in these days leading up to the presidential election on November 8th.

Thank you for your providential hand in the recent revelations. The corrosive corruption of the Clinton Cartel embedded in our government and their total disregard for National Security are astounding. Thank you for your providential hand in the FBI’s re-opening of the e-mail scandal case and its affirmation of the rule of law.

On this All Saints Day, we’re reminded that we have a great host in heaven watching how we run the leg of the race you have set before each one of us. May we run with great energy and enthusiasm over the electoral finish line on November 8th. We would keep our eyes on Jesus and vote for the candidate supporting religious freedom, conservative appointees to the Supreme Court, and protection for the unborn and our families.

The future of America, our children and grand-children, and much of the free world is riding on this election. May we strip off every encumbrance to getting ourselves and our families and friends to the polls. And may we be “witnesses to the life of faith,” as the saints who have gone before us cheer us over the finish line.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit – one God forever. Amen.

Morning Prayer: Tue, 01 Nov – Hebrews 12:1-2, 22-23; Revelation 7:9-10, 16-17; 19:5, 9 ~ remember your cheerleaders

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

All Saints Day is the feast of the known and unknown believers who are redeemed and now in heaven. It has been celebrated for centuries on this date. Those who have gone before us cheer us on, and encourage us to live faithfully.

Opening Sentence

I desire to love.

As I get older my arms must get wider to embrace more of the world.

I think of the ones I have cared for in my life, all remembered and all loved.

Though some be in heaven and some still on the road, all remembered and all loved.

Ita (480-570) in fostering courage

Reading: Hebrews 12:1-2, 22-23 (NLT)

all-saints-graphic-for-hi5-1
All Saints Icon

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
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No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect.

Reading: Revelation 7:9-10, 16-17; 19:5, 9 (NLT)

After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar,

“Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”

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They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun. For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
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And from the throne came a voice that said,

“Praise our God, all his servants, all who fear him, from the least to the greatest.”

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And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”
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Prayer: – Hymn: “For All the Saints”

For all the saints, who from their labors rest, Who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest — Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress, and their Might; Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight; Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light — Alleluia, Alleluia!

Oh, may Thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold, Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old, And win with them the victor’s crown of gold — Alleluia, Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long, Steals on the ear the distant triumph song, And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong — Alleluia, Alleluia!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast, Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost — Alleluia, Alleluia!

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“Litany of the Saints” – John Becker

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!