Week of June 20, 2010, Galatians 3:23-29

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is Paul’s letter to the Galatians, chapter 3, verses 23 to 29. It’s about law and faith and God’s promises:
23Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
26You are all sons [and daughters] of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Jesus, help us to understand that there is no law or set of rules that brings us closer to you, but rather what you have first done for us. You have loved us first, and continue to love us. You draw us to yourself. You draw us to the cross, reminding us that your sacrifice on the cross, your suffering and death, has saved us, has brought us to you – all through faith, a complete trust in your actions, not our own.

Jesus, you also remind us that we are equals – one with another, and that we are all one in You. Thanks, Jesus, that as children of God, we are heirs, according to the promise – the promise of eternal life, the promise and reality that you love us so deeply, the promise and the reality that you are always with us.

Thanks, Jesus, for your love, your peace, your presence in our lives – always. 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 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 emailing me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May you know God’s presence with you more and more each day.

Week of June 6, 2010, Psalm 32

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is Psalm 32 – a psalm which reminds us that when we experience forgiveness of sins, we experience true joy:
1 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the man 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!

Thank You, Lord, for being a great God who forgives my sins. For I could not keep silent. My bones wasted away, my strength was sapped. I sensed Your hand heavy upon me, Lord, to deal with sin. And when I confessed my sins to You, Lord, You forgave the guilt of my sin.

You are my hiding place, Lord. You protect me from trouble when the waters keep rising, and You deliver me. You instruct and teach me Your ways. You counsel me and watch over me. When I become stubborn and want to do things my way, You gently correct, and guide me in the ways I need to go. Because of Your unfailing love that surrounds me, I trust in You, and with complete confidence in Your Lord, I live each day with praise and rejoicing and thanks.

Thanks for Your presence, Lord, Your love that surrounds us, Your peace that fills us. 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 emailing me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May we be more and more aware of God’s presence and working in our lives each day.