Week of April 1, 2007, Philippians 2:5-11

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from Philippians, chapter 2, verses 5 to 11 - Paul talking about Jesus Christ, Savior and Redeemer of us all:
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Dear Lord Jesus, suffering Servant, Lamb of God, You humbled Yourself as the Son of God and were obedient to a death on a cross. And God exalted You, Jesus, to the highest place and gave You the Name that is above every name, that at Your name, Jesus, every knee bows in heaven and earth and under the earth, and every tongue confesses that You, Jesus, are Christ the Lord, bringing glory to God, Your Father.

And my response, Lord, is to cling to the cross, asking for mercy and forgiveness of my sins, knowing that You died for me, for the sins of the whole world. Help me to walk with You this week, sharing in Your sufferings and dying to myself each day, turning away from sin and each day rising to new life.

Thanks for being the Lamb of God, humble and gentle, yet our all-powerful King of kings and Lord of lords. Thanks for Your presence with us, Your love showered upon us unconditionally, Your grace and mercy always available. 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 God the Father, Jesus the Lamb of God, and the Holy Spirit equipping us for service, be with you now and always.

Week of March 25, 2007, Philippians 3:4-11

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from Paul's letter to the Philippians, chapter 3, verses 4 to 14. This is where Paul describes his relationship with God from his Jewish background to his sudden conversion, and how now he strives to know Jesus Christ, his highest priority and greatest good:
4 If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:
5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;
6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Dear Lord, help me to see in all Your glory, that my highest goal would be to know You. Help me to know that my righteousness depends on my faith in You, Jesus, not adhering to a bunch of laws that lead to legalism. Jesus, teach me to know the power of the resurrection in my daily life, where each day I die to myself and rise daily to a newer life of an ongoing relationship with You.

May I always strive to let go of the things that entangle me, of past things, and may I press on toward the goal of knowing Your extravagant love and abiding presence in my life. Thanks, Lord Jesus. 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, please e-mail me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May God be with you now and always.

Week of March 18, 2007, Psalm 32

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is Psalm 32 - a psalm of King David where the theme is one of forgiveness bringing true joy:
1 Blessed is he [blessed is the one] whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the man [blessed is the one] whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.
11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Dear Lord, once again we are reminded that Your unfailing love surrounds each of us – so much so that we can come to You seeking cleansing and forgiveness, knowing that You and You alone can forgive our sins. You cover them, Jesus, and they do not count against us because of Your sacrifice and death on the cross for each one of us.

For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away. I ached all day long because I lived in sin and Your hand was heavy upon me. My strength was sapped so that it felt like the heat of summer. But when I acknowledged my sin and did not cover it up in Your presence – brought it before You, You were quick to forgive.

Heavenly Father, You are my hiding place. You protect me from troubles by helping me walk through them when they occur. You teach me and instruct me in the way I need to go. You counsel me and watch over me.

And as the prodigal son experienced when he returned to his father, so You, Heavenly Father, have Your arms outstretched to receive each one of us and continue to give us your unconditional, limitless, and unfailing love. My heart rejoices, and I thank You for Your love and Your peace and Your presence in my life…. 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.

God, our loving Father, be with you this week and always.

Week of March 11, 2007, Psalm 63:1-8

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from Psalm 63, verses 1 to 8. When we find ourselves in the wilderness just as David was in the wilderness of Judea when he wrote this psalm, we can find solace in this God as David did:
1 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Heavenly Father, I earnestly seek You. Because I feel so parched and dry and used up at times, my soul thirsts and longs for you. I know Your power and Your glory, Father God. Your love for me is better than life itself, because You have lavished Your love on Your people – and You continue to love us. I will praise and glorify You as long as I live.

Jesus, You alone satisfy the deepest part of who I am. You overwhelm me with Your love and peace and grace and mercy. You are my help. My soul clings to You, and I cling to the cross, and under the shadow of that cross, I come to You each day for refreshing peace, knowing Your presence is with me always. Thanks, Jesus, for Your presence for You are my All in All. 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 be with you now and always.

Week of March 4, 2007, Psalm 27:1-14

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is Psalm 27, a psalm about seeking God's face:
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.
4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
7 Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.
13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Dear Lord, You are my light and my salvation. You are my stronghold, so I am afraid of no one. I am confident in You, O Lord, for I seek You. I yearn to dwell in Your abiding grace, knowing that You are in me and I am in You, as I seek to dwell in Your house, in Your holy tabernacle, in Your dwelling-place. For above all things, Lord, my heart cries out to seek Your face, to be with You, to know that You are with me – to realize that Your love surrounds me, to positively know that You are crazy about me with love, because You do not reject or forsake me.

Lord, teach me Your ways, and lead me in a straight path, knowing that I see Your goodness all around me. Help me to confidently wait on You, spending time in Your presence experiencing the power of Your word, the power of Your love, the power of Your peace. 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 leave a message or prayer request by e-mailing me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May God, our Helper and our Savior, be with us now and always.