Week of December 2, 2007, Matthew 24:36-44

One of the Scriptures for Sunday, the first Sunday in the Advent season of preparation for Christmas, is from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 24, verses 36 to 44. In this passage Jesus is telling His disciples about the end of time and that we need to be watchful and ready:
36 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;
39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.
41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Jesus, thanks for reminding us that we need to keep our eyes on You as we live in our everyday, ordinary world. Help me to have eyes here, and also forward focused with my life to come. Jesus, if You come in the way the Gospels proclaim in power and glory, or if You come to each of us personally at the time of our death, You are coming, and we are not longed for this world. So help me to have an “other-world” focus as I live in this world.

Father God, during this Advent season of preparation and reflection, may I be more aware of Your impact on my life, Your mercy and grace, Your love and strength, the Gift that You are in me that I have already received. And then may I continue to give thanks – for life, for life in You, for eternal life that You give.

Thanks for Your presence, Lord, and Your peace in this season. 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 a prayer request, e-mail me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May you have a sense of God's presence with you this week and always.

Week of November 18, 2007, Psalm 98

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is Psalm 98 – a psalm of praise, of all creation shouting a new song and praising the living God:
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 Lord, help me to give praise to with every breath, to sing a new song – praise that may be a new song, but always to give You thanks and praise, for Your right hand and Your holy arm have worked out our salvation.

You are a God of love, and You are faithful to Your promises. Jesus, You are our Savior and Redeemer.

The whole earth shouts for joy to You Lord – all the earth with jubilant song. Your whole creation makes music with the harp and trumpets and blasts of the ram’s horn – everything bursts into glorious song as we shout for joy before You, Lord, the King. May our worship reflect Your joy and praise and truth and may Your Spirit move us to worship You with the best that we have.

Let the sea resound and everything in it. Let the rivers clap their hands with praises. Let the mountains sing together for joy before You, Lord. Let us all worship You for You are our great God.

Thanks for Your presence and joy and love, Jesus, as we respond to You, knowing that You are with us wherever we go.

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.

If you would like to leave a message or have a prayer request, you can e-mail me at: peacewm@tds.net.

May God, our King, our Savior and Friend be with us now and always.

Week of November 11, 2007, Psalm 17:1-8

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from Psalm 17, including the first eight verses.
1 Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer-- it does not rise from deceitful lips.
2 May my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right.
3 Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.
4 As for the deeds of men-- by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
5 My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped.
6 I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.
7 Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.
8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.

Dear Lord, hear my cry to You. Give ear to my prayer. It comes from a heart that needs You because I’m having a tough time at times. Probe my heart, Lord. Examine me.

I try to live the life that You have called me to, but I fail often. And You are quick to come and rescue me. Help me, Lord, to live a godly life. Keep my lips from speaking anything but truth. Help me to stay on the path You have set. May my feet not slip.

For I call on You, O God, and You answer me. I always have Your ear, and You always hear my prayer. Throughout Your word, Lord, You remind each of us that You are with us.

Remind us of the wonder of Your great love, for You love us unconditionally. Your love is always within reach. You save us by Your right hand. And we take refuge with You. Keep us, Lord, always in the shadow of Your wings, as the apple of Your eye.

Thanks for Your presence and peace, power and joy, comfort and strength with us 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 can leave a message or a prayer request by e-mailing me at: peacewm@tds.net.
God be with you always.

Week of November 4, 2007, Ephesians 1:13-23

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from Ephesians, chapter 1, verses 13 to 23. In this portion, Paul talks about our hope and our inheritance, reminding us to pray for others, and the calling that God has on our lives:
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-- to the praise of his glory.
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,
20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Jesus, thanks for the plan of salvation, which we are reminded of in the word of truth, the gospel. Thanks for our inheritance – the promised Holy Spirit working in us, guaranteeing our inheritance, that is experiencing Your kingdom and seeing You face to face.

Jesus, we ask for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know You better. We ask that our eyes of our hearts be opened to remind us of the hope that You have called us, the riches of Your glorious inheritance. And we ask that we would know the incomparably great power for us who believe – the power like the working of Your mighty strength, that You used, Heavenly Father, in raising Jesus from the dead, and seated Him at Your right hand in the heavenly realms.

And Father God, may we understand that we are a part of the Body of Christ, Your Body, Jesus, Your fullness who fills us in every way according to our needs and Your glory. Thanks, Jesus, for Your presence with us, Your power in us, Your Spirit filling us, Your peace and love which surrounds 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;
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 have a question, a comment or a prayer request, you can e-mail me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May God our Hope and Strength be with us now and always.