Week of April 2, 2006, John 12:20-33

One of the Scriptures for Sunday as we near Jesus' crucifixion, is from John, chapter 12, verses 20 to 33. The beginning of this reading is also a great model for drawing others to Jesus:

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast.
21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus."
22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
27 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.
28 Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."
29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine.
31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.
32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."
33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

Dear Jesus, thanks for loving us so much that You died on the cross for us, for each of us.

Jesus, help me to look beyond my everyday life, and look to the joy of the future with You, face to face in heaven. And yet while I am here, may I look for ways to serve -- to serve those around me, to serve those in need, knowing that You are the One who needs clothing, who needs visiting, who needs food and drink.

Jesus, thanks for reminding me that as I serve others in whatever gifts You’ve given me, continue to remind me that You are with me wherever I go and whatever I do, giving me words to share, strength to continue, and hope to encourage, and Your love to explain…. Amen.


The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you His strength and His great peace. In the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

You may leave a message by contacting me by e-mail at: peacewm@tds.net.
May God be with you now and always.

Week of March 26, 2006 John 3:14-21

The Gospel lesson for this Sunday is from John, chapter 3, verses 14 to 21, famous verses that many of us have heard before and even known by heart:
14 "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Dear Jesus, such simple words, words that I have heard many times. May Your love overwhelm me so that I can respond to You. Help me to believe. Help me to know that I am not condemned when I look to You as my Savior. Jesus, with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, I love You and believe in You. And help me to reflect Your love and hope and grace and mercy to others.

Just as at Your transfiguration on the mountaintop, Lord, may Your light continue to shine in my life – shine to take away the darkness, shine to uncover and remind me of sin in my life to confess and let You deal with, transform, cleanse and forgive. May I mirror Your love and Your light to others.

Thanks for Your strength that I need each day, Your peace that brings wholeness and rest in my weariness, Your love that lifts me and encourages me, Your light that shines on me and warms my soul, and Your presence that reminds me that You are always with me…. 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 me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May God, who loves us unconditionally, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with us now and always.

Week of March 19, 2006, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from First Corinthians, chapter 1, verses 18-25:

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

Dear Jesus, thank You for coming to this earth. Thank You for loving us so much that You were willing to die for each one of us, for forgiving our sins, for cleansing us. Help me to understand better, Lord, Your love through the cross, crucified for us, may seem foolish to some, and a stumbling block to others, but You call us to walk with You, through the strength of Your wisdom, through the power of Your cross.

Jesus, while I am weak, You are strong. When I do not understand, Your wisdom through Your word is all I need.

Thanks for Your love, Your peace, Your power, Your presence with each of us – always. 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;
May the fire of the Holy Spirit bring comfort, guidance and fervency;
And may the blessing of the almighty and most merciful God - Creator, Word and eternal Holy 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 leave a message or prayer request by e-mailing: peacewm@tds.net.

May God, our Strength in the midst of a storm, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you now and always.

Week of March 12, 2006, Psalm 22:22-31

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from Psalm 22, verses 22-31:
22 I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you.
23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.
25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise him-- may your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,
28 for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.
29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him-- those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn-- for he has done it.

Heavenly Father, I praise You; I exalt You; I give You thanks; I worship You. In the assembly, in worship together with others, I praise Your name on high.

Jesus, give me a heart for worship. Give me a spirit of joy and praise in worship, that along with others around me, together we may focus on You and minister to You. Remind me, Lord, that You are always in our midst, that You inhabit the praises of Your people, that wherever two or three are gathered in Your name, that You are in our midst. What great joy that brings me!

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

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you His strength and His great peace. 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 me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May you experience God's presence in a fantastic way this week.

Week of March 5, 2006, Psalm 25:1-9

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from Psalm 25, verses 1-9, a particular emphasis on God's Guidance:
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;
2 in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.
4 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths;
5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.
8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

Dear Lord, I come into Your presence, at Your feet, privileged and humbled, praising You and giving You thanks. Show me Your ways, O Lord and teach me Your paths. Rather than the path I am on, show me Your path. Rather than the way I want to do things and run my life, guide me in Your truth. Help me in all of my uncontrollable situations. Jesus, I give You complete control of my life.

For Your love and Your great mercy are from of old. You are always with me. Show me, teach me, guide me, for You are my Hope. You are my Savior.

Thanks 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 leave a message or prayer request by e-mailing me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May God, our Guide, be with you now and always.