Week of February 25, 2007, Romans 10:8-13

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from Romans, chapter 10, verses 8 to 13, the Apostle Paul writing to believers in Rome about their relationship with God:
8 But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:
9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile-- the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,
13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Heavenly Father, thanks for Your Word – the Word of truth, the Living Word made flesh through Your Son, Jesus – near always. Father, may I live in that Word – in my mouth as I think, speak, and keep Your words in mind, and in my heart as I live and abide with You.

And, Jesus, help me proclaim, confess, declare that You are Lord of heaven and earth, You are Lord and Savior in my life, and that I believe with complete confidence in the deepest part of my being that God raised You from the dead, and I believe with total trust that I am saved – not by anything I can do, but simply believe in You with my heart, mind, soul and strength, and I confess to myself and others that You are my Lord and Savior.

Jesus, help me to call on You each day, to seek Your guidance and help and strength and peace, to live in You and experience always Your joy, Your strength, Your help.

Thanks for Your love that You continue to shower upon Your people, and that I experience as I spend time in Your Word, and as I share and serve. 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.

If you would like to leave a message or prayer request, you can e-mail me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May Jesus, our Savior, Master and Friend, be with you now and always.

Week of February 18, 2007, Luke 9:28-36

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from Luke, chapter 9, verses 28-36 - the message and lessons of the Transfiguration:
28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.
29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.
30 Two men, Moses and Elijah,
31 appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.
32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters-- one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.)
34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."
36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.

Heavenly Father, thanks for this picture of Your glory in the midst of human frailty, disciples who did not know what to do or what to say in the midst of Your presence and glory.

Jesus, we worship You. For You are truly God. You are truly the One we can look to for all things. You lived amongst people who were very human. Jesus, as Your Heavenly Father spoke about listening to You, may we also carve time out of our day to worship You, to allow ourselves to be transformed by Your presence, to listen to You – to be still and know that You are God (Psalm 46).

Thanks for Your presence with us, Your power in us, and Your love around us – so that we can have these mountaintop experiences at times, and then get into the real life situations that we face every day, knowing that You are at our side…. 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.
God bless you and may you sense His presence this week in special ways.

Week of February 1, 2007, Psalm 138

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is Psalm 138 - a psalm of praise:
1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the "gods" I will sing your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
3 When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.
4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth.
5 May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.
6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.
8 The LORD will fulfill for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever-- do not abandon the works of your hands.

Dear Lord, with all of my breath, with all of my heart, I praise You. I bow down, and praise Your name for Your great love, for Your faithfulness, for You have exalted Your name and Your word above all things.

Jesus, when I called, You answered me. And always, when I call, You respond. Help me to ever listen for You – to rest in Your presence, to be attentive to Your call. Because I know I can always depend on You, can always trust on You – and I always need to be reminded to have total confidence in You and Your ways – then, You make me bold. You make me strong-hearted.

Even when I know, Father, that You are in heaven, I also know that You are with me – and as I walk through this life, and in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life. You stretch out Your right hand, and You save me.

Thanks, Jesus, that I can look to You for all things, and You never abandon me, You never abandon the works of Your hands. Thanks for Your presence and Your peace – and Your power as You empower me to journey through this life with joy and peace. 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, you can e-mail me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May God be with you now and always.