Week of May 28, 2006, 1 John 5:9-13:

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from 1 John, chapter 5, verses 9-13 - where John writes about eternal life and how we really can know about this gift:
9 We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.
10 Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.
11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the testimony of Your Son, Jesus, who came to this earth, grew to maturity, had disciples, taught them and many others, was crucified and died for the sins of us all, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven. This testimony is truth. And I believe it.

Jesus, I always want You in my life. I want to know You more and more. Give me a love for Your Word that helps me understand and mature. May Your Word reveal more and more of Your personality – Your promises and Your assurances. Thank You for the reality of eternal life in me right now, as I live out each day to Your glory…. 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 a prayer request by e-mailing me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May God, who brings life to each of us - even eternal life, be with each of us in our daily thoughts, words and actions. His peace always with you.

Week of May 21, 2006, Psalm 98

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is Psalm 98 - a great psalm of praise:
1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
2 The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
3 He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,
6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn-- shout for joy before the LORD, the King.
7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;
9 let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.

Dear Heavenly Father – with joy I shout to You, and join with all creation in a chorus of praise. As I see all Your marvelous works around me, and how You have been in my life and worked out my salvation, I can only give You thanks and praise for Your overwhelming goodness and love.

Help me, Lord, to praise You and worship You in new ways – to sing a new song to You, in whatever way I am able – to look for new opportunities and new approaches that continue to add excitement and joy to each new day.

Lord, my praise is inadequate, but with all Your creation bursting into praise, I join, and simply enjoy Your presence. Give me a passion and fervency for looking to You in prayer and praise.

Thanks for Your presence, Your goodness, Your joy in my life…. 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 may leave a message or prayer request by e-mailing me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May God, who encourages us, encourage us to shout our praises to Him, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Week of May 14, 2006, John 15:1-8

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from the Gospel of John, chapter 15, verses 1-8 - a description of the disciples being connected always to Jesus:
1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

Heavenly Father, thanks for being our Gardener – the One who plants, cares for, tends and prunes as needed. Jesus, I confess that it’s not easy being pruned because it hurts, but it’s necessary to cut away the unnecessary stuff that keeps us from You.

Jesus, thank You that You are the true vine. Help me, Lord, to embrace Your discipline so as to grow ever closer to You, remaining in You, with Your words as my guide. May I always be nourished and sustained by You, so that my life is fruitful. When I wake in the morning, help me to welcome You into my heart, my spiritual home each day. And as I branch out and grow and mature, remind me, Jesus, that I am nothing and can do nothing without You as the Center of my life.

May all that I do today bear fruit and bring You glory, Lord….. 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.

If you would like to leave a message or prayer request, e-mail me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May God, our great God who nourishes and cares for us be with us at all times.

Week of May 7, 2006, Psalm 23

One of the Scripture readings for Sunday is Psalm 23 - the great psalm describing God as our Shepherd:
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Dear Lord, thank You for showing me that as a Shepherd, You care for me, You lead me into green pastures, You lead me beside still waters, You forgive, refresh and restore me. You guide me in the better way, the more godly way for my life. And when I walk through tough times, as troubling as death’s shadow, You are with me. You comfort, strengthen and guard me. In the midst of enemies You bless me to overflowing. And You remind me that Your mercy and love and goodness follow me all the days of my life, as I look forward to seeing You face to face in Your house forever and ever.

Thanks for Your love and peace and presence in my life….. 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 me at: peacewm@tds.net.
Thanks, and may God, our great Shepherd, be with you always.