Do It All!

Happy New Year!

Surely the Lord has blessed us to start a new chapter called 2012. As we stand at the threshold of the unknown and unexpected, we hold tightly to our faith in Jesus Christ who is the same, yesterday, today and forever more. As we begin the journey of a new year, be sure to do all to the glory of God.

"...do all to the glory of God"

I Corinthians 10:31

In the quiet moments of prayer, we sincerely reach out to you O Lord, our God in the midst of cultural pluralism that presents challenges to the way we see and hear you. Thank you for your persistent love that transcends the troubles of this world to sustain us in seasons of joy and sorrow.

Forgive us for giving our best to the wrong things. Forgive us for giving our best efforts to trivial pursuits and our meager contributions to major kingdom service. Forgive us when we fail to do all to the glory of God whether in desire, drink, dress, conversation, thought and action.

Guide us so that we will know what is important and unimportant. Empower us to do the things that truly matter so that the things that don't matter will not occupy too much of our time. In Jesus Name, Amen.

VMM

Empower Our Reach

Fountain of life, we thank you for the gift of another day. Forgive us of our sins of omission –the things we didn’t do and should have done. Forgive us for the sins of commission- the sins that so easily beset us.

Help us today to offer thanks to you, not in pious gestures or empty words but by living faithful to your call. Enable us to bear the fruit of thankfulness by serving others. Empower us to reach beyond our comfort zones to build community with those around us. Help us to willingly accept the love and friendship of others. Help us to trust that you have our best interests at heart...even when tough tests come from you, our Tender Teacher.

We know that you are with us and for us everyday. In Jesus name, we offer this prayer, Amen

Endless Love

O lord, our God, how excellent is your name in all the earth. Forgive us for coming too often with our petitions for our right now and tomorrow needs without proclaiming your great and mighty acts or thanking you for the joy of our salvation.

We rejoice this morning for your unfathomable amazing grace, unequaled peace and endless love. Help us to make known today all the marvelous things you have done in us and in the lives of those we know and love.

We pray for the victims of earthquakes and tsunamis; gang violence and acts of hate; victims of AIDS and other diseases; and those who live in the gap between what is promised and what is delivered. Giver of every good and perfect gift, help us to share with the hungry and marginalized; help us to bless those who can't bless us back.
In Jesus name, Amen
VMM

Words Matter

Gracious God, today forgive me for the moments when I’ve used words in a manner that did not honor you. My words were not as pleasing, as I wanted them to be. Negative rolled off my tongue instead of positive. Cutting remarks slashed their way to the heart of others. Truth that should have been spoken in love was spoken in anger. The push to have the last word has alienated me from friends and family.

Lord, help me today to use my words for right and good things. Help me to be slow to speak and swift to hear. Show me how to repair the breach in my relationships. In the name of Jesus, help me to change what I think because it will change what I say, lest I sin against you. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord my strength and my redeemer. Amen.