Friday 31 August 2012

Friday -- what is your special mission?


Friday Retreat....
Prayer:  Sovereign Lord,  You rule over our lives with love and peace and enthusiasm.  You  heal us when we are hurt and You have already forgiven each of our faults.  Long ago You chose us to be who we are today.  Thank You God that You made us in Your image.  This we pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read Ephesians 1: 1-14

St. Paul reminds the Ephesians that God already had each of the Ephesians (and us)  in mind, even before we were born.   Long, long ago God decided to adopt us into the family through Jesus Christ.  We have been chosen by God to carry out a special mission.
Our special mission is the Great Commission.    

Read through this passage of Scripture again and jot down words or phrases that helped the Ephesians (and us)   in spreading the Good News of Christ.  

Jesus said:  Now go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely, I will be with you always, to the very end of the age…..
Matthew 28: 19-20

Prayer:  God of love and delight,  we listen for Your voice this day.  We know that You love us beyond all measure and we love You in return.  Our love for You spills over into sharing the Good News of Christ with those we meet this day.  May we be Your love to those who need Your love this day.  May we be Your hands to those who need help this day.  May we be Your voice to those who think they are voiceless this day.   For each and every one of our days,  we give You our thanks and praise.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Many blessings!

Thursday 30 August 2012

Thursday - fruits of the Spirit

Prayer:   Holy Almighty God,  may love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, self-control, and faithfulness reign in all of our lives.  May these attitudes govern our lives and bring us into a right Spirit within You.   Amen.

Read Galatians 5: 22-26

This Scripture passage is often called “The Fruits of the Spirit”.   The fruits of the Spirit are visible signs, and attitudes,  that a person is made new in Christ.    Call them Vegetables of the Spirit if needed.  Or the Cookies of the Spirit.   But think up a phrase that is something you enjoy eating.    

Why would St. Paul choose to call them the “fruits of the Spirit”?  Because each of the “fruits” are visible…. and positive.. and makes us whole.  Kinda like fruit helps keep us in good health.

As Christians,  we should all be able to identify the nine fruits in each of our fellow Christians’  lives.   But what happens if we don’t see all nine fruits in our own life?   Ah,  then that is something for you to work upon.   

Jesus never said being a Christian was easy!  Jesus said that God would help us along our journey.     God can see our inner being but it is everyone in our community that sees our outward being.  

As we spread the Good News of Jesus into our community and Church,  we must exhibit the nine fruits of the spirit so that others go “why is that person so different?  Why is that person so kind and loving?”    

Our whole life must be an example of our loving God.   

Prayer:  Divine Healer,  may  the fruits of Your Spirit be so much of our lives and attitudes that people notice a difference in our lives.    May we share these fruits of the Spirit that You have given to Your people so that everyone we meet this day may feel the Hand of God working within their lives and speak the truth.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Many blessings!

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Wednesday -- Work and Worship

Prayer:  Great God,  we thank You for those who work tirelessly in Your name.  We thank You for those who serve You so that others may know of Your love.   May we all imitate Christ and become like Christ more and more each day.  Amen.

Read  1 Thessalonians 1: 1-5

This is one House Church that was hopping!   The Thessalonians took the Great Commission to heart.  They shared the Good News of God not only in Thessalonica but
in other regions nearby to their city.     They worked and never ceased.   And why did they work so hard sharing the Good News of Christ?  Because of their work of faith,  their labour of love, and their patience of hope in following Christ. 

And what “work” did they do?  They worshipped together,  they had fellowship together,  they prayed, and reflected upon the words of Christ.  

Yet the House Church in Thessalonica had a rocky start.   Some of the people in the community did not agree with the new religion and arrested several converts and tried to capture Paul.  Paul managed to leave but he did not want the House Church to fold because of dissention within the community.    And the House Church thrived and survived because of the congregation’s belief in the Great Commission.   They imitated Christ.

May we too this day imitate Christ and serve others with love, joy, and hope so that they can see the love of Christ. 

Prayer:   God of the World,  together we worship and adore You.  We give You our lives so that we can share Your love with our neighbours and friends and family.   Help us to be a blessing to all we meet this day.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.
Many blessings!

Tuesday 28 August 2012

Tuesday -- prayer footprint


Tuesday Retreat.....
Prayer:   Holy God,  Holy Mighty,  Holy Immortal One  grant us Your Peace.   May we always remember to bring everything in our life to You in prayer.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read Colossians 4: 2-6

And in all things,  pray.   Keep your whole life in prayer to God.   Pray for the Ministers and Elders that they may be lead by Christ to  bring awesome worship to all peoples.  Pray for your neighbours and those who live near the Church that they may become aware of God’s presence in their lives and then thirst for Christ.

St. Paul also asks us to say prayers for ourselves so that each time we open our mouths,  it will be to give God glory.     Remember to bring out the best in other people and don’t cut them down.

So what happens if we do all the things Christ told the disciples to do in the Great Commission and nothing happens.  It is simple…..we are to continue to pray and we are to continue to worship God and we are to continue to read the Bible and we are to continue to share the Good News of Christ.   We frequently want to see God’s work immediately.   We think if we pray a bit,  then God will fill up our churches with people.   This is not what the Great Commission said at all!  God never said that our Churches would be filled with people.    God’s work frequently takes a lifetime.    And sometimes our Churches close because God has other plans.    Even this House Church in Colossae is no more.   In fact,  there is no longer a town.   But what is the legacy or foot-print that has been left by this small congregation?  A wonderful Epistle on living life in Christ and encouragement for life’s journey!  

We need not see our work in spreading the Good News as a failure but as a time living in Christ and doing the best we can do for God.    Worship!  Pray!  Read your Bible!  Serve others and tell them of Christ!  This is what God asks us to do.  What is your legacy?  What is your prayer footprint?

Prayer:  Heavenly Father,  we pray for the Ministers and Elders that they may be lead by Christ to  bring awesome worship to all peoples.  Pray for our neighbours and those who live near the Church that they may become aware of God’s presence in their lives and then thirst for Christ.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.
Many blessings!

Monday 27 August 2012

Monday - Letting the Word of Christ run

Monday Retreat....
Prayer:   Great God,  may we ever be even-tempered.  May we ever be content with who we are in life.  May we always ask forgiveness when we fail.  May we always rejoice in Your Name.  Thank You!  Amen.

Read Colossians 3:  12-17

“So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
 15-17Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. “  (The Message   Colossians 3: 12 – 17)

Paul gives the Colossians some awesome items to meditate upon.   But most importantly,  Paul instructs the Colossians to love whole-heartedly.   As we learn how to share the Good News,  we too need to remember to love whole-heartedly. 

When we come to Worship or come to God in prayer,  the words of this Scripture are exactly the attitudes that we need.  Read agin this passage from the Colossians.  Pick out three phrases or sentences that you will reflect upon this whole day.   

Prayer:  Creator,  Redeemer, Sustainer  may we love You more and more each day.  May everything we do this day be done in the name of Jesus.  May we let the Word of Christ have the run of our lives this day.  Help us to forgive as quickly as God forgives us.  May we wear love and surround others with Your love today.     This we ask in Your Son’s name.  Amen.

Sunday 26 August 2012

Sunday Worship

Prayer for Sunday Worship:
Let the earth rejoice in one voice and cry, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord". Holy is Your name in all the earth. All creation bows down to Your glory.  Help those who are to preach Your words this day, to preach as if their lives depend upon it.  Help those who listen to Your words this day, to meditate and reflect upon Your Word.  May we give You glory and honour, praise and love. An then may we take what we have heard, and spoken, and sung out into Your world to share Your love with all creation.   This we ask in Jesus' name.  Amen.

Saturday 25 August 2012

Saturday in prayer

Holy God,  we prepare our hearts for worship tomorrow.  We ask for forgiveness for the things we have forgotten or for the things that we have left unsaid.  Forgive us Lord!  May we come to worship with clean hearts.   Be with the Vacation Bible School leaders from Westwood Presbyterian Church as the lead VBS in Lockport Community Church this week.  Be with those who lead us in music tomorrow.  Be with those who open the doors of the Church and prepare bulletins so that we can joyfully praise God together in Worship. We thank You,  Great God,  that we can come together to worship You and then take Your love and joy out into the community.   This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.

Friday 24 August 2012

Friday - happiness

Prayer:  Divine Healer,  embrace us with Your love of satisfaction, happiness, contentment, and delight.  Allow us to feel confident that we are moving in the perfect direction for our life.   Help us to recognize and celebrate all the wonderful things we have achieved, all the magnificent people with whom we have connected and all the rich experiences we have lived.  Help us to recognize the goodness of our lives.  We are truly blessed. Thank You God!     (Anke Hendry)

Read Colossians 2: 6-12

Even the Colossians were perplexed with the task of the Great Commission.   Where does one begin?  The task seems so complicated. For us today,  we too look at the Great Commission and think, “Do I really want to talk to my neighbours about the Great Commission?” 

Yet,  St. Paul writes that once we live in Christ,  we become deeply rooted in Christ.  When we are deeply rooted in Christ,  our foundation of faith is strong and we want to share our life in Christ with others.  Life in Christ means a life of hope.    St. Paul uses a lot of imagery here to get across to the Colossians how wonderful is living a life in Christ.   

St. Paul says now we are to do what we have been taught…..we must live our lives in Christ out into the community.  We must take the tasking of the Great Commission to heart.    St. Paul admonishes us to  let our living spill over into thanksgiving.  A life in Christ is always a life filled with love, joy, and hope.

Yet,  there are those,  says St. Paul,  who will try and trip you up.  They will try to dazzle us with big words and intellectual double-talk.  Yet their lives do not reflect that of Christ.
 
Understanding Christ is not difficult at all, says St. Paul.  We are already in Christ and living a life of faith.  We just have to acknowledge this life.  Christ has gone through all the trials first and has given us eternal life. Nothing can be simpler than that.

Prayer:  Great God,  we  thank You that we are already in Christ and are living a life of faith.  Thank You that You gave us the gift of Eternal Life.  This we rejoice in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Many blessings!

Thursday 23 August 2012

Wednesday and Thursday - time of meditation

Ooops.  Did anyone read yesterday's  blog and say, "That sounds familiar".    It has been a full week here and I ended up pulling last week's retreat instead of Wednesday's  retreat.
So, today you have both the corrected Wednesday retreat AND Thursday retreat.   



Prayer:  No matter where we are today O Lord,  we know that You are with us in everything we say and everything we do.     If we are to rejoice in Your love,  help us to rejoice greatly.  If we are to meditate upon Your word,  help us to meditate fully.  If we are to be a blessing to our neighbours, help us to serve with love.  This we ask in Your Son’s name.  Amen.

Read Colossians 1: 24-29

St. Paul is sitting in jail.  Yet even as he is sitting in jail,  he is keeping the Colossians in his prayers.   He encourages them to  continue sharing the Good News of Christ with the world.  

God wants everyone to know the glorious mystery of faith.  The mystery is this:  Christ is in each of us, so therefore we can look forward to sharing in God’s glory.  It is that simple.   We must preach Christ.

We preach Christ and then teach about Christ so that everyone can be brought to maturity.  This is why St. Paul states that he is working day and night,  year after year, so that he can encourage others to share the Good News.

How will you encourage the Ministers and Elders this day to share the Good News of Christ?

How will you bring the glorious mystery of faith to your family and friends?

Prayer:  Heavenly Father,  may I encourage those who Preach Your Word,  those who visit the sick,  those who help cloth the poor, and those who feed the poor.  Be with these people so that they know they are being held in Your hand.  This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Thursday 23 August

Prayer:  Divine God,  please install courage,  balance, confidence, and joy into our lives.  Assist us to find blessings and opportunities even in the most challenging experiences.  Thank You God for the life You have given me.  This day I rejoice knowing that I am woven into the tapestry of Your love.  Amen.

Read Colossians 2: 1-5

St. Paul gives the Colossians (and us!) encouragement and wants to let them (and us) know that they (and us) are not alone in our tasking of spreading the Good News. 

St. Paul writes that he wants everyone to know that we are “woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God.   Then we will have minds confident and at rest, focussed on Christ,  God’s  great mystery.”(The Message  Colossians 2: 2).

Focussing upon Christ leads to a solid foundation in our  faith.  

It is amazing to know that we are not alone in the tasking of the Great Commission.   Together all peoples from every nation are woven into the tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God.    Amazing!

Prayer:  Great God,  move through every part of my body and mind.  Dissolve all feelings, thoughts, and patterns of frustration, irritation, and aggravation.  Please sweep away all impatience, struggle and suffering that resides in my consciousness.  Allow me to turn my frustration into inspiration and enthusiastic action.  Thank You God.  Thank You God that You weave the tapestry of Your love into our lives.  Thank You God!  Amen.  (Anke Hendry)

Many blessings!

Wednesday 22 August 2012

Wednesday -- the Great Co-Mission

Prayer:  Holy God,  we come before You in awe and praise.   We know that Jesus is Risen.  Hallelujah.   And we rejoice in the task that Jesus has given to us so that all the world may know of Your love and Your peace and Your path.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read St. Matthew 28: 16 – 20

Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee to meet Jesus.  The moment they saw Jesus,  they worshiped him.  

Jesus said to all who were present on the mountain in Galilee:  “God authorized and commanded me to commission you:  Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Then instruct them  in the practice of all I have commanded you.  I will be with you as you do this,  day after day after day,  right up to the end of the age”.  (The Message,  Matthew 28: 18-20)

Jesus’ words are called The Great Commission.    This Great Commission was not just given to the disciples but to each and everyone one of us as we are baptized into the faith and life of Jesus.

What does “commission” mean?    It means the authority given to one to carry out a task.
Read over the Great Commission and reflect how Jesus has given you a task.  And what is your task as a Christian?   To go out and share the Good News of Jesus with everyone we meet.  We are to share the way of life of Jesus.   Then everyone will be  baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Then we are to instruct everyone in this way of life.    And we do not do this task alone.  Jesus has told us that he will be with us each and every day of our lives.

We can read about the Great Commission and think that it is a task for Ministers and Elders… but in actual fact,  it is the task that Jesus has given to each and every one of us. This is the Great Co-Mission.  We have all been given the task.  Now go and share the Good News of Jesus with everyone you meet this day!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father,  we know that we are forgiven.  Hallelujah.  Through the death and resurrection of Your son,  we are forgiven.  Hallelujah.   May we take the enthusiasm of Your Holy Spirit with us this day as we begin sharing the Good News of Jesus with our world.  This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Tuesday - prayers for Ministers and Elders

Prayer:  God of love and laughter,  we keep our Ministers and Elders in our prayers that they may hear Your voice leading them to spread Your Good news and the knowledge of Your will.  We bring before You other Churches and Denominations so  that they may be filled with Your knowledge and Your will.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.


Read Colossians 1: 9-14

St. Paul states that since he heard about the Christians in Colossi, he has kept them all in his prayers.     So too, do we need to keep our Ministers and Elders in our prayers that they may hear the voice of God leading them to spreading the Good news and the knowledge of God’s will.  So too, do we need to keep all other Churches and Denominations in our prayers that they may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will.

Write down here the names of the Minister(s) and Elders of the Church you attend. 

Keep the Minister(s) and Elders  in your prayers all day today.   

Prayer:
Great God,  please keep ________________________ (Ministers/Elders) in your loving care.  Fill them with the knowledge of Your will through  spiritual wisdom and understanding.    We pray for ___________________ (Ministers/Elders) that they may live a life worthy of You and may please You in every way.  Help them to bear fruit in every good work, growing  in the knowledge of You.   Provide  ______________ (Ministers/Elders) strength so that they may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully give thanks to You, O Lord.   Amen.

Many blessings!

Monday 20 August 2012

Monday -- Priority Worship

Prayer:  Bless the Lord oh my soul.  Bless the Lord oh my soul.   May we worship Your Holy name this very day.  You give us more blessings  than we can ever imagine.  May we, in turn,  be a blessing to others.  This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Read Colossians 1: 3-6
As you read this passage of scripture,  read it as if you were one of the Colossians hearing Paul’s words for the first time.  

What kind of impact did Pauls’ words have on you?

St. Paul declares to the Colossians that the Good News of Jesus produces faith and love.  Faith and love spring from hope.  

In our worship,  how do faith and love spring up from hope?    It begins when we sit in the pew and give a short prayer of thanks to God that we can come to worship each Sunday (or what ever day you worship). 

As Christians,  we worship God because we love God,  not because we have to worship God.  Nor is it because God keeps  attendance.     We go to Worship out of our great love for God.    Yet what happens when we begin to miss Sundays and not go to worship due to life or health?      Our joy and hope becomes smaller. 

In the new Church,  the Gospel was being spread all over the world.  And the Gospel was producing fruit and growing.   When we think that the Good News started with Jesus sharing the love of God with twelve men and some women,  what is amazing is the numbers who call themselves Christians today.  

Yet as we sit in our Church pews and see other pews empty,  we get discouraged and trudge home from Worship with heavy hearts.     Perhaps this is God’s call that you need to do something in order to bring Worship back into the lives of God’s people.   Talk to your Elder and Minister about Worship.   Seek them out and ask that they pray for Worship to be the focus of the Church! 
Other than sharing the Good News with our friends and family,  worship is the one central way of sharing the Good News.  In each and every Church,  our Worship should be  the best we can offer to God.    Worship must be our  main focus.    We invite our family and friends to Worship with us in joy and love. 

Prayer:  Holy Holy Holy God.  Lord of power and Might.  Be with those who lead the Church this day.  We ask that Your healing and Your strength come down upon them and may they be a blessing to You.   We ask for those in Your Church who are making decisions,  may they make decisions that bless Your Holy Name.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Sunday 19 August 2012

Saturday and Sunday of Prayer

The weekend!  A time for prayer and reflection....


Great God,  let the earth rejoice in one voice and cry, "Holy,  Holy,  Holy is the Lord!" 
Holy is Your name in all the earth..... 
All creation bows down to Your glory..... 
Incline our hearts towards You.... 
Our lives in are Your hands....  
Help those who are to preach Your word this day to preach as if their very lives depended upon it.
May the Words of their mouths give us insight and awe into Your Holiness and Your Glory.
Help those who listen to Your words this day to meditate and reflect upon Your Word.
Incline our hearts towards You.  Our lives are in Your hands.
May Your word refresh those who preach and those who receive Your Word. 
May we give You glory and honour,  praise and love this day and forever. 
Holy, Holy, Holy are You Lord.
This we ask in Jesus' name.  Amen.

Many blessings!

Friday 17 August 2012

Friday -- preparing Sermons

Prayer:   The heavens have declared Your glory, Great God.  The skies proclaim the work of Your hands, Great God.  Day after day,  they pour forth speech and night after night they display knowledge.  Your voice and Your love is heard through out the world.  Help us to stop and listen this day to Your voice and to be Your love.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read  Psalm 19 

Read over this Psalm and through this day,  memorize Psalm 19: 14

Good sermons are written not on Saturday night in a hurried rush but earlier during the week so that the Holy Spirit has time to break in and bring the words of God forth in the Minister’s minds (for reflection) and hands (for typing).     Ministers are given the task of reading the weekly scriptures early in the week and spending time in reading, meditation, and prayer. 

For each minute a sermon is preached,  a Minister must prepare for an hour.    So a 15 minute sermon must have a minimum of 15 hours of prayer, reading, meditation of preparation.

What happens when Ministers write their sermons Saturday night or don’t spend enough time in preparation?   Then we all suffer and loose sight of the glory and love of God.  It is as simple as that. The Word of God that is written Saturday evening or in a few short hours without prayer and medidation is not full of the love of God.  

What happens when the person sitting in the pew stops listening to sermons?  We loose out on the Word of God.  We loose out on the fullness of life that God provides for us through Worship.

So what is a person in the pew to do if the sermon is a dud? Remember that gratitude is that basis of who we are as Christians.   Gratitute (giving thanks) is a positive attitude.   So if the sermon is a dud,  a positive attitude is to Pray.  Pray for the Minister that he/she may be open to receiving the Word of God.  Pray that those who are sitting in the pew may receive the Word of God through the hymns that are sung or the prayers that are prayed or the scripture that is read.  And then throughout the next week,  pray that the Minister may feel the presence of the Holy Spirit and be enthused to study, pray, meditate upon the Word of God.

A good sermon does three things.   First it brings before us each week a portion of the Holy  Scriptures.   Sometimes this is called being soaked in God's Word.  Kind of a neat image isn't it! Second the Minister explains the background of the Holy Scriptures so that we all gain knowledge of God's Word.  Third  the Minister gives us the love of Christ to meditate upon and share with others.  Or said another way,  the Minister gives us a task to do -- or something to think about-- so that we share the love of Christ with others.  

Now go forth and pray for your Minister that he/she may be opened to receiving the Word of God and in turn Preach the Word of God for all peoples. 

Prayer:  Risen Lord,  may the words of Your Scripture that are preached and read and  discussed this week and the meditations of all our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord,  our Rock and our Redeemer.  Amen. 

Many blessings!

Wednesday 15 August 2012

Thursday - Worshipping God


Thursday Retreat.....
Prayer:  Your name O Lord,  has saved us.  You fill our hearts with Your love and Your  strength.  May we lift up our voices today so that others may know of Your love and Your healing.   This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read St. Matthew 28: 18 – 20 (yup,  again) 

So,  we have been given a Commission to go forth and share the Good News of Jesus with everyone we meet.  Yet how are we to do that?  Some people are quite comfortable with going up to strangers and sharing the story of Jesus.  Many people are not comfortable with telling people about Jesus.    The remainder of this month will be ways we can share the Good News of Jesus!

But there is a step we need to take before we share the Good News.  That is worship.   We need to worship God daily through reading the Bible, praying, and attending worship.

So why do we need to worship God?  It is not because God demands we worship God  but it is out of our love and joy that we come before God in worship.
But how do we worship?    Each Sunday we plunk ourselves down in the same pew as we always do and then our minds tend to drift off… and especially drift off during the preaching of the Sermon.

What is the Sermon?  Why is it important? 
Scholar Kenton Anderson has said that
“Preaching is helping people hear from God.   When we can give life to the words on the page; When we can feel the heartbeat of the writer; When we can show how faith encourages others; When we can demonstrate how lives are transformed;  When we bring together the human and the divine; Then we are truly proclaiming the love of God!”  

Sermons are preached so that we can learn of the love of God through Jesus Christ and the blessing of the Holy Spirit.      Good sermons must give those of us in the pew something to take home and meditate upon during the week.    Good sermons must reflect the love of God through Jesus Christ and the blessing of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:  May we ascribe to You, O  Lord,  all glory and strength.  May we ascribe to You, O Lord the glory due Your name.    May Your love through Jesus Christ and the blessings of the Holy Spirit be with those who preach Your Word this Sunday.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Many blessings!

Wednesday - What is Your Task as A Christian?


Wednesday Retreat....
Prayer:  Holy God,  we come before You in awe and praise.   We know that Jesus is Risen.  Hallelujah.   And we rejoice in the task that Jesus has given to us so that all the world may know of Your love and Your peace and Your path.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read St. Matthew 28: 16 – 20

Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee to meet Jesus.  The moment they say Jesus,  they worshiped him.  

Jesus said to all who were present on the mountain in Galilee:  “God authorized and commanded me to commission you:  Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Then instruct them  in the practice of all I have commanded you.  I will be with you as you do this,  day after day after day,  right up to the end of the age”.  (The Message,  Matthew 28: 18-20)

Jesus’ words are called The Great Commission.    This Great Commission was not just given to the disciples but to each and everyone one of us as we were baptized into the faith and life of Jesus.

What does “commission” mean?    It means the authority given to one to carry out a task.
Read over the Great Commission and reflect how Jesus has given you a task.  And what is your task as a Christian?   To go out and share the Good News of Jesus with everyone we meet.  We are to share the way of life of Jesus.   Then everyone will be  baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Then we are to instruct everyone in this way of life.    And we do not do this task alone.  Jesus has told us that he will be with us each and every day of our lives.

We can read about the Great Commission and think that it is a task for Ministers and Elders… but in actual fact,  it is the task that Jesus has given to each and every one of us.  Now go and share the Good News of Jesus with everyone you meet this day!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father,  we know that we are forgiven.  Hallelujah.  Through the death and resurrection of Your son,  we are forgiven.  Hallelujah.   May we take the enthusiasm of Your Holy Spirit with us this day as we begin sharing the Good News of Jesus with our world.  This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Many blessings!

Tuesday 14 August 2012

Tuesday -- the call of God


Tuesday Retreat....
Prayer:  For the joy of serving You.  Hallelujah.   For the love that You give to us even when we seem unloving.  Hallelujah.  For the peace that You shower us with even when our minds are frantic with thoughts.   For the blessings that You have given to each and every one of us.   We give You thanks and praise.  Amen.

Read St. Matthew 28: 11 – 15

While the women are rushing to tell the Disciples the Good News of Jesus being raised from the dead,  the guards have scattered.  
 
A few of the guards go tell the High Priests what has happened.

The High Priests and Religious Leaders meet together and come up with a plan.  The High Priests and Religious Leaders give the soldiers a sum of money and tell them to say that the body of Jesus was stolen while the soldiers were asleep.  Oh,  and the High Priests and Religious Leaders will make sure the soldiers don’t get blamed for “sleeping on the job”.  Yet the penalty for “sleeping on the job” for a Roman Solider was death.   And the High Priests and Religious Leaders were willing to risk their necks on the line to keep these soldiers alive.

Yikes.  Talk about making a situation worse!

The High Priests and Religious Leaders thought they were doing the right thing by protecting their faith against someone who had questioned their belief.   Yet,  they had closed their ears to the call of God through Jesus. 

What do we do today when people question our beliefs?   Are we like the High Priests and Religious Leaders?  Do we try and hide behind our beliefs?   Or do we open our hearts and ask God for guidance and wisdom? 

Prayer:  God Almighty,  we open our hearts and ask for Your guidance and wisdom.  Continue to make us whole so that we can serve You each and every day of our lives.  This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Many blessings!

Monday 13 August 2012

Monday - a time of joy

When we hear happy news,   our hearts jump for joy.  When we see a specatular meteor showers like this weekend,  our hearts leap for joy.    Joy is one of the gifts of God.  This gift of joy is contagious and can easily be shared with our friends and family.

Monday Retreat....
Prayer:  Great God as we read of the resurrection this day,  we give You thanks and praise for those who worship You!   For the Church: that we may offer patient and gentle care to all who find life’s journey burdensome.  For the grace to slow down and be aware of the gifts and graces that God offers us each day.  For all who exercise leadership: that they may place their gifts unselfishly in the service of others and be guided to draw forth the gifts of those around them.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read St. Matthew 28: 1 -  10

After the Sabbath,  Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to sit at the tomb to pay tribute and honour to Jesus, as was the custom.
Suddenly  the earth moved under their feet.  When they looked up,  one of God’s  angels had come from heaven.  The angel rolled the stone away and said to the women, “Fear Not!  Jesus is not here.  He was raised, just as he said.”   
Angels are messengers from God.  Today we see so many pictures of angels that we think all angels are cute looking.  Yet in the Bible each time an angel comes to bring news from God,  the first words out of their mouths is, “Fear not!”  

The angel rolled the stone away not to let Jesus out but to prove to the women that Jesus had risen from the dead.

The angel tells the women to go and tell the disciples that Jesus is risen from the dead.  What great joy the women must have felt.  Jesus is alive!

As the women are on their way to tell the disciples what has happened,  they are stopped by Jesus.  Jesus tells the women to tell the disciples that they are all to meet Jesus in Galilee.  What great joy!  The disciples too will see Jesus and know that he is alive!

With the same joy of knowing that Jesus is raised from the dead,  this day go and tell everyone you meet of the Good News of Jesus…. through your words and your example.

Prayer:  Holy God,  Holy Mighty,  Holy Immortal One,  have mercy upon us.  Holy God,  Holy Mighty,  Holy Immortal One,  grant us Your peace.  Holy God,  Holy Mighty,  Holy Immortal One,  grant us Your love.  Amen.

Sunday 12 August 2012

Sunday Worship


Sunday Prayer....
Great God,  we humbly come into Your presence.  Open our hearts and our souls to Your words and Your prayers.  Help us dwell in Your Spirit so that we can take Your love and Your joy out into the community this week.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Many blessings!

Saturday 11 August 2012

Saturday - Preparing for Sabbath

Prayer:     Holy God,  prepare our hearts this day for Worship tomorrow. We ask for forgiveness for the things we have forgotten or for the things we have left unsaid.  Forgive us Lord!   Be with the Vacation Bible School leaders as they lead VBS in Knox – Zion Carberry and Knox Neepawa and Knox Winnipegosis  this week.   Be with those who led us in music tomorrow.    This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Each Saturday in August will be a time of reflection from the past week.

Meditate and reflect upon what are the most important insights you have learned this week in this Devotional.  Or,  asked another way,  what made you go “humm” this week in this Devotional?


What one insight will you take from this Devotional this week and share with your family or friends?

Prayer:    Come Holy Spirit.  Come down upon us this day so that we can carry out the work of God.  Come down upon us this day so that we can tell everyone of the love of Jesus Christ.  Come down upon us this day so that we can grow to holiness and go forth in peace.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.
Many blessings!

Friday 10 August 2012

Friday - repercussions


Friday Retreat....
Prayer:  To You,  Great God,  we lift up our souls.  In You we put our trust.  Do not let us be put to shame nor let our enemies triumph over us.  Show us Your ways O Lord,  and teach us Your path.  Guide us  in Your truth  and teach us,  for You are our God and Saviour.  Our hope is in You all day long.  Amen.

Read St. Matthew 27: 62 – 66

The opening words to this scripture are “After sundown, the High Priests and Religious Leaders….”   After sundown does not mean anything to us but for the Jewish people,  after sundown on Friday meant the beginning of the Sabbath celebration.   This would be a time when all families were at home celebrating the Sabbath (Hebrew called Shabbat).  
Shabbat was from sundown on Friday to sunset on Saturday. 
And where were the High Priests and Religious Leaders on Sabbath after sundown?   Rushing to Pilate’s palace…. Breaking the words of the Law.  The very words that Jesus had been saying to them that they were following the words of the Law more than the God of the law.  

After sundown,  the High Priests and Religious Leaders come to Pilate and ask that guards be placed by Jesus’ tomb as they do not want Jesus’ prophecy to come true.   At best they thought the guards would capture the disciples trying to take Jesus’ body away so that the disciples could declare a miracle had occurred.    This would create huge problems for the High Priests and Religious Leaders.  The people would rise up against them.  

Jesus is crucified,  the Temple curtain rips,  and there is an earthquake.  The High Priests and Religious Leaders are now very concerned that this man they “got rid of” was actually who he said he was.  Oh oh.    And now the High Priests and Religious Leaders are concerned about repercussions.  

Have you ever had an instance where you were convinced you were correct but as time went by,  you discovered that you were wrong?    Think of how much more the High Priests and Religious Leaders would be going, “Oh oh.  Oh dear.  Did we do the wrong thing?”    

Prayer:  Great God,  sometimes the troubles of our heart seems to multiply.  Free us from all anguish.  Set us upon Your path of love and peace.  Guard our life and rescue us when we fall down.  Our hope is in You all day long.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Many blessings!

Thursday 9 August 2012

Thursday - stand up for what you believe

Today's  readings makes a statement that we often miss.   Joseph goes to Pilate and asks for Jesus' body.     We read that sentence and think, "How very nice of Joseph to care for his friend even in death.  What a good friend."   Yet,  Joseph has just publically declared himself a friend of Jesus.... Joseph who is part of the Sanhedrin.  The Sanhedrin that was unbalanced by Jesus' teachings. The Sanhedrin that plotted Jesus' death.   The Sanhedrin that stirred up the crowds in order to ask for Jesus to be crucified. 
Joseph now stands up for what he believes and stands up publically.   Wow.  
Today,  remember Joseph and stand up for what you believe!

Thursday Retreat.....
Prayer:  Creator God,  out of the shadows of the valley of death you led us and we will fear no evil.  You bring us beside pools of still water and You restore our souls.  You prepare a table before us and Your goodness overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of my life and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Amen.
 
Read St. Matthew 27: 57 – 61

Joseph of Arimathea goes to Pilate and asks for the body of Jesus. Pilate grants his request.  The Joseph takes the body and wraps Jesus’ body and places the body in a tomb.
In Matthew,  Joseph is called a disciple of Jesus.  Joseph was also a member of the Sanhedrin. 

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary stay and mourn outside Jesus’ tomb.  They were sitting outside the tomb according to Jewish rites that state a body can not be left alone until after burial (shemira).   This watching over the body was not to keep the body safe but to honour the person who had just died. 

Traditionally,  burial was granted even to criminals after execution.  Burial took place on the day of the death.  The person or person(s) who handled a body would be considered “unclean” and have to go through a rite of cleanliness in order to be made clean.  

Prayer:   Thank You God,  that through the death of Your son,  we were made clean.  You have given us clean hands and a pure heart.  We are blessed and continue to receive Your blessings each and everyday.  May we continue to seek Your face and share Your love with those around us.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen

Many blessings!

Wednesday 8 August 2012

Wednesday - Psalm of Sorrow and Joy



Wednesday Retreat.....
Prayer:  Great God,  prepare our hearts, minds, and souls as we read Your scriptures.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read Psalm 22 

Today,  read through Psalm 22 and see God’s goodness.  Remember that  the Psalms are prayers of God’s people.    When reading through Psalm 22,  take time to pause and reflect upon God’s holy word.  What words or phrases stand out?

  
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
    Why are you so far from saving me,
    so far from my cries of anguish?
My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
    by night, but I find no rest.
Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
    you are the one Israel praises.
In you our ancestors put their trust;
    they trusted and you delivered them.
To you they cried out and were saved;
    in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
But I am a worm and not a man,
    scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
All who see me mock me;
    they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
“He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
    “let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
    since he delights in him.”
Yet you brought me out of the womb;
    you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth I was cast on you;
    from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me,
    for trouble is near
    and there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls surround me;
    strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13 Roaring lions that tear their prey
    open their mouths wide against me.
14 I am poured out like water,
    and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
    it has melted within me.
15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
    and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
    you lay me in the dust of death.
16 Dogs surround me,
    a pack of villains encircles me;
    they pierce my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display;
    people stare and gloat over me.
18 They divide my clothes among them
    and cast lots for my garment.
19 But you, Lord, do not be far from me.
    You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
20 Deliver me from the sword,
    my precious life from the power of the dogs.
21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
    save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
22 I will declare your name to my people;
    in the assembly I will praise you.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
    All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
    Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or scorned
    the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
    but has listened to his cry for help.
25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
    before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
    those who seek the Lord will praise him—
    may your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth
    will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
    will bow down before him,
28 for dominion belongs to the Lord
    and he rules over the nations.
29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
    all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
    those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve him;
    future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness,
    declaring to a people yet unborn:
    He has done it! Amen.
(New International Version)

Many blessings!