at church last sunday, my role was to light the first advent candle and to pray. i spent hours trying to discern how the spirit was leading me to combine the advent season/god's character with everything from the current events of our world/nation/city down to my specific church happenings. oh, and while also trying to stay within the time limit. ;)
one friend was blessed and asked me to "publish" somewhere, so... here it is:
dear heavenly father,
great is your faithfulness
and marvelous are your deeds
just and true are you ways
you are the lord almighty
who was, and is, and is to come
god, it can be challenging to reconcile YOUR character with current events;
i’m left only to conclude that this world is not as you intended it to be
it is distorted. evil is lurking. chaos and devastation abound.
there is rising tension around subjects of race, refugees and religion
between war-torn nations, terrorist atrocities and senseless shootings…
blood-shed is unending
moral failures and illness plague our families… robbing us of our loved ones
distrust and dissension can be found amongst the very church
that is called to be YOUR bride
most everywhere we look there is immense darkness… confusion... hopelessness
as we enter into this advent season,
remind us that into darkness, confusion and hopelessness
is the very place you sent your son over 2000 years ago
as we celebrate and rejoice in the birth of our savior in the coming weeks
may our hope be renewed and strengthened as we meditate ALSO upon his return
some day there WILL BE justice.
the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral,
the idolaters and all the liars-- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur
some day ALL will be made new.
and the dwelling of god will be with men, and we will be his people
and he will wipe every tear from our eyes
and there will be no more mourning or crying or pain
god, as we eagerly await and hasten that day…
help us not retreat from this world in fear or pain,
but persevere in seeking justice and loving mercy
while claiming the truth that YOU will never leave us or forsake us
god, help us to live holy and godly lives
may there be urgency in our repentance
that we be found spotless, blameless and at peace with YOU
may we be careful, so that our hearts are not weighed down with dissipation,
drunkenness and the worries of this life
teach us to be on guard against godlessness in these last days,
keeping in step with the spirit so that we might inherit the kingdom of god
god, as our church prepares to move to breakthrough
unite us during this time of transition and change
although we may not clearly see or even understand the decisions
may we move forward BY FAITH alone
may our entire community exercise patience to wait upon the lord,
seeking wisdom and the spirit’s leading for what our next steps will be
we pray for pastor frank as he brings us today’s message
use his presentation of YOUR holy scripture to renew our minds
and remind us of the matchless hope we have in jesus
may christ’s light penetrate into the darkest and most desperate areas of our lives
god, may YOUR will be done
and YOUR kingdom come, ever so quickly
in jesus' name we pray,
amen
1 comment:
powerful words. yes, Jesus come quickly.
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