Signed, Sealed, Delivered

13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1

It's Morning, Jesus
Your word is true.
And so it is that in you I live and move and have my being.
The word of truth
Cracked open my soul the way rain softens the brittle, crocodile skin of thirsty earth;
The good news of my salvation, lifted me from the pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings. (Psalm 40)
So today, I live in you
breathe in you
hope in you
step forward in faith in you.
Grant me wisdom today when I stand in the path with many choices
Grant me humility today to accept the guidance of others
Grant me patience today to live in the longsuffering that builds community
Examine my heart, three personed God
And help me stand.
Truth will stand when the world is on fire.

Amen

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world...

Ephesians 2:1

It's Morning, Jesus
Today, in the new life and power of Christ the servant
Christ with the towel around his waist
Christ with mud on his hands
Christ with dirt under his fingernails
Christ with liberty for the prisoner
Christ with water for the thirsty
Christ with bread for the hungry
Christ with teaching for the children
Christ kneeling down with children on his lap
Christ on a hot and sweaty hillside with loaves and fishes
Christ talking to a woman by a well
Christ writing with his finger in the dust
Christ washing his disciples feet
Christ visting in a home
Christ visitng the apostles and the waiting church
in that upper room to get them out of that room
with power for ministry
with power to go to the jails
with transformed personality and boldness to speak to the authorities
with broken hearts for the children
with new eyes to see the lost all around them

O Christ, my Savior
When I was dead in my trespasses and followed the ways of the world
I wanted all things to happen at my feet
I wanted all things to begin where I am
I wanted to be the maker, the creator, the stirrer of all things
But when you came into my life
And, Holy Spirit of God, moved on me and in me,
Immersed me with your presence
It was not to keep me where I was
But to take me where you were
at work in the world.
I thank you, Lord Jesus,
That those early disciples broke out of that little room
When the Spirit came
I thank you they never lingered begging you to come again
Pleading for your visitation again,and again, again,
But did, by power filled lives,
Join you in your work
Found where you were already at work
And went to join you there
And when they got there
They were filled with the Spirit
Again and again and again
When they met stubborn authorities
They were filled with the Spirit
Again and again and again
When they were arrested and put in jails
They were filled with the Spirit
Again and again and again
When they met the demonic
They were filled with the Spirt
again and again and again
God forbid that I should have any desire
to make things happen at my feet..
That is the way of old Adam, the way of the World
No Lord Jesus,
Today, I will allow your Holy Spirit to move MY FEET
to where you are already at work in the world
and
commissioning men to go
calling men to come
asking for laborers in that harvest

So this morning,
I sit in prayer with you
at the beginning of this day
I worship
I cry
I sing
I plead my personal life before you

And I accept the power you give me here
as not for me
not for my own enjoyment
not for my own hallelujah experience
but for what you meant it

8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

So today, Lord
I am in my own Jerusalem.
I am in LaGrange.
How will I be a witness in LaGrange, today
Where will I find you today in LaGrange?
Are you still in those places you said we would find you?
Or have you changed, Jesus?

Believing you are the same, yesterday, today and forever
I will not sit in my prayer room this morning
Imagining that this cup of coffee, this hallelujah,
this music, this song, is what it is all about...
No Lord Jesus,
Whether I have a good feeling or not
Whether I get the high or not....
I will be empowered today for witness
When I go to LaGrange.

Lord send us all.

Amen

Under His Feet

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Ephesians 1

It's Morning, Jesus
Give to all of us today,
A Spirit of Wisdom
Not that we may prosper, or benefit, or get our way, but that we may know you better.
May our hearts be enlightened
to an awareness of your incomparably great power
May the power that raised you from the dead
be released into us today
Power to love,forgive, witness, serve.
In Your Name
Amen

Chosen, Sealed, Redeemed

11In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1

It's Morning, Jesus
You are seated at the right hand of God the Father
And there you reign
Bringing everything into sujection to the Will of the Father
Thank you, Jesus
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for the guranteee of our inheritance.
May we live to day in the embrace of your love
May we meet each struggle in the truth of your grace
May we navigate each pathway in the light of your providence
Grant today, Heavenly Father
Truth to sustain families in tragedy and trial
Be with the families who suffer the loss of loved ones
Be healing to those injured in body
Be Spiritual help and hope to those in fearful places
In the mystery of suffering in this world,
We lean on the certainty of your love for us
and for our friends,
In Jesus Name
Amen
In Jesus name
Amen

Give Thanks

"But thou, O Lord, shall endure forever, and thy remembrance unto all generations. (Psalm 102:12)

"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto his name, O Most High; To show forth thy loving-kindness in the morning and thy faithfulness every night." (Psalm 92:1-2)

It's Morning, Jesus
Upon a five string guitar I take up a song
For you have made me glad in the work of your hands.
Lord Jesus, your works are very great
And as I camp out in them
serve in them
pray in them
live in them
trust in them
I will know victory in these works of your hand.

I give you myself, this day
Not to my works
but to yours
I give my hands to the work of Your hands
And guide them by your word, your will, your way.

Amen