Friday, February 29, 2008

What do I pray about?

What do I pray about? Through one of my wife's blogs (yes, she has two: 1 and 2), I found a website that creates a "word cloud" based on the most popular words in a blog. So, here's what I pray about:


Friday, February 22, 2008

Ro 12:1-2

Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed a to this age, but be transformed b by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

----

Father, you are a great and wise God. Your wisdom is beyond measure and beyond human comprehension. Your word says that anyone who lacks wisdom should ask you because you give generously (James 1:5). Well, all humans lack wisdom in comparison to you, so I ask that you help me, through your Spirit, to know you and your good, pleasing and perfect will. Help me, in connection with the entire body of Christ, become a living sacrifice to you. May your church unite together as one body, one bride, to bring you glory. May we all together offer ourselves to you as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to you. May we be holy, in the world, yet set apart from the world. May we live our lives as aliens on this earth knowing that our true citizenship is in heaven (1 Peter 2:11). May we live our lives as ambassadors for Christ and your glory (2 Cor 5:20).

I ask all these things according to your will and in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Rom 11:33-36

Oh, the depth of the riches
both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God!
How unsearchable His judgments
and untraceable His ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been His counselor?
Or who has ever first given to Him,
and has to be repaid?

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever. Amen.


-----

Father, your wisdom and knowledge are truly great, beyond anything any human can begin to comprehend. Your ways are not our ways and your thoughts are not our thoughts. May we, your people, conform our minds to yours through the power of your Spirit.

No man has ever met any need of yours because you are the all-powerful and all-sufficient God, the creator of every person and the one who meets our needs. You give us life; you give us food to eat and the talents with which we work; you give us salvation from our own sins. And you do things from your own grace and mercy. We owe everything to you.

May we bless your name and praise you forever.

Father, I come to you this morning to praise you and to ask you to work in the world according to your wisdom and love.

I pray that you would heal Madison from her ear infection. Show her your grace and care.

I pray that you would continue to look after Allen. I thank you that his knee is healing better than doctors originally feared. Help him recover and return to full strength.

I pray that you would continue to bless and care for the West family. Even as they have left the hospital, finally after all these months, they still need your care and watchful eye. Help Ella grow to live a happy, healthy life for your glory.

I pray that you would be with those families that have recently lost family members. Comfort Kim, whose brother died of Leukemia. Comfort Debbie, whose sister died; and be with that community. Comfort David, who lost a brother to cancer.

Father, I also ask that you meet the unspoken needs of your people. Show you power, mercy, grace and love to Marsha. Answer her prayers.

I pray that you would show yourself to Ms Wisher as she struggles with the news of her disease. If she is one of your children, help her know that you will never leave her nor forsake her, and that you have overcome the world. If she is not one of your children, I pray that you would call her to be part of your family.

I pray that you would reach out to Steve's father; take out his heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh; bring him to know you. Help our church reach out to him and show him your light.

Thank you God for the wonderful weather you have blessed us with recently. I pray that we would continue to receive rain to help us recover from our drought. And I pray for other areas suffering from drought. You are the Lord of all things, including the weather. And all things come from you.

I come to you this morning because I know that you are able to meet the needs of your people and you desire to meet our needs. Having sent your Son to serve as a propitiation for our sins, there is now no good thing you would withhold from us.

In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Php 1:8-11

For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:8-11, ESV)

Father, I pray for your church around the world. May the love of your people continue growing and thriving by your Spirit. May it surpass anything the world knows so that it is clear to everyone you have made this happen. May your people act with such love that those who would defame your people would be ashamed because of their obvious light. May your people act with such love that a dying world would see the possibility of life in you.

Father, give your people the wisdom to know your will and the ability to discern what is good and perfect. In America, we are working our way through the electoral process. Give your church in America the wisdom and discernment to know and follow the path of righteousness, and may they lead others toward you. And throughout the world, may your church become guides of love, mercy and wisdom to their communities.

Bless your church with the spiritual strength to remain pure through the trials of life. Keep your people from falling into temptation. Cultivate your church so that it bears spiritual fruit and brings you glory and praise for all time.

Amen.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Why be normal? 1 Sam 8

This past Sunday, I taught a study on 1 Sam 8, where the Hebrew people demand Samuel appoint a king to lead them, "just as all the other nations have." The people who were called to be holy (separate) just wanted to be part of the crowd. And despite God's warning that a king would be oppressive, they wanted to be like everyone else.

Also this past weekend, my school students participated in the regional science fair. That concluded months of work and gave me a slight break in my stress levels (whether it was eustress or distress I am not yet sure). But, I can now start planning for the next year's fair.

-----


Father, Lord of all creation, I come to you in humble praise of your great power and amazing love. May your kingdom extend throughout the world; may people everyone come to know you and see your glory. May I glorify you today and every day.

Father, I thank you for your wise guidance that you offer your people. Despite all the times we reject you, you still love us and lead us. Your patience and love is truly great. But there are times when you let us have our ways and suffer the consequences. When the Hebrew people rejected you as their king and demanded a human ruler, you warned them. But, they rejected you just as they always had. You gave them a king and they felt the heavy hand of government.

Still, you promised to never leave nor forsake your elect, and you did not leave them or forsake them. You continued unfolding your redemptive plan through history, and you are still saving people from themselves today. I pray that today many more people will come to know you as their father and their king.

I pray that you would work through those missionaries, such as Ionel and M, Rick and Kelly, and so many others throughout the world. And I pray your people everywhere would do whatever it is they do today for your glory and act like lights to the world. May I be a witness for you today to those around me.

And Father, as we in America continue to move through our electoral process, I pray that your will be done. Today is our Super Tuesday, but it is also politics as usual. May your people be able to rise above political rhetoric and become salt in the world. May we bring you glory and praise through our actions. May we show the world that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. May we be active in the political process as citizens, but may we remember that no government can solve the eternal problems of man; only you have the salvation of our souls. May we not place our trust in human government, but may we trust in your eternal, unthwartable plan. May we act according to your will and bring you honor.

Whoever wins this election, I can trust you are in control. You establish kings and you dethrone kings (Dan 2:21). I pray that you would guide and protect our next president and our nation. Bless us and lead us as a people.

Father, I thank you for all your blessings that you shower upon us each day. Our sinful works entitle us to nothing but your wrath, so every good thing we receive is purely by your grace. And you give us so many good things. May we always be thankful for your graciousness.

I pray that you would be with Leslie as she takes her college exams. Give her wisdom and help her bring you honor and praise.

And I pray for the West family. I can only imagine their trials that continue with Ella's health. Give the Wests wisdom and courage and faith as they work with the medical professionals to care for their daughter. I pray that you would help Ella heal and go on to live a healthy life dedicated to you.

Bless Allen Weese as he recovers from his injury in boot camp. Bless Jacob Smith in his recovery from a broken foot. Bless Debra as she recovers from her ankle surgery. Bless Steve's family.

Father, I thank you that we can know all our needs will be met according to your glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Php 4:19) in whose name I pray. Amen.