Week of November 27, 2005 1 Corinthians 1: 3-9

This is the Advent Season – the season in which we remember historically the coming of Jesus to this earth; the season we remind ourselves that He comes to each of us personally as our Savior; and the time in which we remind ourselves and Scripture says that Jesus will come again – historically, to this earth – His Second Coming. One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from 1 Corinthians 1, verses 3 to 9
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.
5 For in him you have been enriched in every way-- in all your speaking and in all your knowledge--
6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
8 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

Dear Lord, You are the God of grace and peace. Help me to receive Your unlimited grace and Your deep peace in my life today. I thank You, dear God, because of this grace. For You have enriched me in every way because of the testimony of Jesus Christ that You have confirmed and strengthened in me.
I eagerly await Your coming in glory, Jesus, revealed in the Scriptures. Give me a great spirit of anticipation and excitement, and of peace and reflection, as I prepare myself and get myself ready to receive You in special ways this Advent season. Keep me strong to the end of my life, Lord; keep me blameless to the day of Your glory. Heavenly Father, thank You for the fellowship of Your son, Jesus, for He is faithful. Come, Lord Jesus! Emmanuel, God with us! Amen!

May the love of the Lord Jesus draw us to Himself;
May the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen us in His service;
May the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our souls;
And may the blessing of the almighty and most merciful God - Creator, Word and eternal Spirit - be upon us and remain with us always.
In the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

You may e-mail a response or prayer request to: peacewm@tds.net
May King Jesus, who comes to us personally each day, be with you now and always.

Week of November 20, 2005 Psalm 95:1-7

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from Psalm 95, the first seven verses:
1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
3 For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.
5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

Heavenly Father, help me to sing with joy, even when my mind and heart are not joyful. Help me to give thanks even when my mind and heart don’t feel gratitude. With all my mind and heart and soul and strength, help me to sing praises to You, to give You thanks, to extol and exalt Your name on high. For You are Lord, a great God, the great King above all gods. In Your hand are the depths of the earth, the mountain peaks, the sea, and all the land – for You formed it.

Help me to worship You, Lord, to bow down, to kneel before You, my Lord, my Maker, for You are my God. You are our God. And we all are the people of Your pasture, the flock under Your care. Remind each of us, Lord, that You have each of us in the palm of Your hand.

Jesus, You are alive and powerful. May I know that beyond the limits of my mind. May I know it in my soul, my heart, that You are the Living God, King of kings, and Lord of lords.

Thanks, Jesus, for Your love, Your peace, Your presence with me always. Amen.

May the Lord shower you with His mercy; may the light of His presence be ever your guide; may He guard you and uphold you; may His Spirit be ever by your side. May He bless Your comings in and your goings out. When you sleep, may His angels watch over you; when you wake, may He fill you with His grace. May you love Him and serve Him all your days, and then in heaven to see His face forevermore.
In the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

You may e-mail a response or prayer request to: peacewm@tds.net. May God, the great Shepherd, continue to watch over us, and may we always be aware of His presence with us – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – with us now and always.

Week of November 13, 2005 - Psalm 90:1-8, 12

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from Psalm 90, verses 1-8 and verse 12:
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You turn men back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men."
4 For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.
5 You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning--
6 though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered.
7 We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation.
8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.
12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Dear Lord, I praise and thank You, for You are a great God, majestic and powerful, Creator of the universe. Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God – no beginning, no ending.

You bring fresh perspective to my life as I think about my family, back several generations, and the future of my kids. You remind me that I will die and return to dust as all my past generations have died. But time means nothing to You, Lord, for a thousand years is like a day to You. I only want to be in Your presence.

My iniquities, my sins I bring to You, Lord – nothing kept secret in Your presence, for You know everything about me. I always seek Your forgiveness and cleansing and You are always faithful.

Jesus, help me to enjoy each day, to do as much as I can, to do all things for Your glory, to make each day precious and valuable, walking in Your ways and growing in wisdom and my relationship with You.

Thanks for Your love, Your holy perspective, Your presence with me always. Amen.

May the Lord shower you with His mercy; may the light of His presence be ever your guide; may He guard you and uphold you; may His Spirit be ever by your side. May He bless Your comings in and your goings out. When you sleep, may His angels watch over you; when you wake, may He fill you with His grace. May you love Him and serve Him all your days, and then in heaven to see His face forevermore.
In the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

You may leave a message or prayer request by e-mailing at: peacewm@tds.net.
May God be with you now and always.

Week of November 6, 2005, Psalm 34: 1-10 and selected verses

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from Psalm 34, verses 1 to 10, and other selected verses - words of encouragement and hope for us:
1 I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;
22 The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

Dear Lord, I will extol You, exalt You and praise will always be on my lips. For when I sought You, Lord, You responded. You answered me and delivered me from all my fears and my afflictions. You deliver me from all my troubles. You are close to me, Jesus, whether I am in the pits or in the clouds for You are close to the brokenhearted and You save those crushed in spirit. Your angels are here, encamped around those who fear You, and we are delivered.

Jesus, each day, help me to look to You, to get a taste of Your presence with me, to know that You are good. I seek You, Lord. My high priority is to pursue You – to give You my all – everything in me, my thoughts, desires, hopes, fears, I give to You. And You redeem me; You cleanse me; You refresh me; You save me; You deliver me.

Thanks for Your love that You shower on Your people, Your peace that You give each of us, Your joy that fills my life, Your presence with me always. Amen.

May the Lord bless you as you go on your way. May He go before you to show you the way. May He go behind you to encourage you. May He go beside you to guide and befriend you. May He always be above you to watch over you. And may He be within you to give you peace.

In the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

You can e-mail with comments or a prayer request at peacewm@tds.net.
May God, our Great Deliverer, be with us now and always.