Friday, August 21, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Sunday Morning Prayer for August 16, 2009
Prayer for August 16, 2009
Dear Lover, Redeemer, and Friend,
We know that in You dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Everything that God is, all His glory, all His majesty, all His beauty, all His perfection, is displayed in You, Lord Jesus. We worship and prize You above everything and everyone else. We delight in Your presence. We long for Your fellowship.
Father, if we’ve come here for anything else today, please forgive us and correct us.
If we’ve come to be entertained by good music, forgive us and help our souls to be enraptured in You.
If we’ve come to be pleased or to think better of ourselves through a well-presented talk, forgive us and give light to our minds to know You better.
If we’ve come to see and be seen, forgive us and help us to see only Christ and Him crucified.
Give us more of You today, Lord Jesus.
In Your precious name I pray,
Amen.
Dear Lover, Redeemer, and Friend,
We know that in You dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Everything that God is, all His glory, all His majesty, all His beauty, all His perfection, is displayed in You, Lord Jesus. We worship and prize You above everything and everyone else. We delight in Your presence. We long for Your fellowship.
Father, if we’ve come here for anything else today, please forgive us and correct us.
If we’ve come to be entertained by good music, forgive us and help our souls to be enraptured in You.
If we’ve come to be pleased or to think better of ourselves through a well-presented talk, forgive us and give light to our minds to know You better.
If we’ve come to see and be seen, forgive us and help us to see only Christ and Him crucified.
Give us more of You today, Lord Jesus.
In Your precious name I pray,
Amen.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Prayer for August 9, 2009
Prayer for August 9, 2009
Dear Lover Of Our Souls,
May we read your tender heart towards us in the manger of Your birth, in the garden of Your agony, in the cross of Your suffering, in the tomb of Your resurrection, and in the heaven of Your intercession. Deepen in us a sense of our holy relationship to You as spiritual bridegroom and sinners’ friend. You have loved us everlastingly and unchangeably; may we love You as we are loved by You.
If temptation comes to us, give us grace to overcome evil and do what is right.
If we have important decisions to make, give us grace to choose the right way and to refuse the wrong way.
If things go well with us, keep us from all pride and from thinking that we do not need You.
If sorrow and trials come to us, keep us from despair and give us hope in You.
In Jesus’ precious name I pray,
Amen.
(Based on “Christ Is All” in The Valley of Vision, edited by Arthur Bennett: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1975 and from The Plain Man’s Book of Prayers, by William Barclay, p. 10)
Dear Lover Of Our Souls,
May we read your tender heart towards us in the manger of Your birth, in the garden of Your agony, in the cross of Your suffering, in the tomb of Your resurrection, and in the heaven of Your intercession. Deepen in us a sense of our holy relationship to You as spiritual bridegroom and sinners’ friend. You have loved us everlastingly and unchangeably; may we love You as we are loved by You.
If temptation comes to us, give us grace to overcome evil and do what is right.
If we have important decisions to make, give us grace to choose the right way and to refuse the wrong way.
If things go well with us, keep us from all pride and from thinking that we do not need You.
If sorrow and trials come to us, keep us from despair and give us hope in You.
In Jesus’ precious name I pray,
Amen.
(Based on “Christ Is All” in The Valley of Vision, edited by Arthur Bennett: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1975 and from The Plain Man’s Book of Prayers, by William Barclay, p. 10)
Monday, August 03, 2009
What Age for Marriage?
My friend Howard Fisher gives a "heads up" on his blog today on Albert Mohler's new article. The money quote from Mohler's article is:
Indeed, design reveals purpose. The fact is that young people value their freedom, independence, and opportunity for adventure more than they value obedience to the Lord in matters of sexual expression. Some delay marriage to get their education, and then to get established in their careers and finances. And their parents' generation has encouraged them to do so. And our pulpits have been silent, for the most part, in encouraging young people to marry. Mohler says:
It is time for us to boldly teach our people to marry soon if they do not have the gift of celibacy.
The biblical case for early marriage is even stronger than Regnerus indicates. Our bodies are not evolutionary accidents, and God reveals his intention for humanity through the gifts of sexual maturation, fertility, and sexual desire. As men and women, we are made for marriage. As Christians, those not called to celibacy are called to demonstrate our discipleship through honoring the Creator's intention by directing sexual desire and reproductive capacity into a commitment to marriage. Marriage is the central crucible for accepting and fulfilling the adult responsibilities of work, parenthood, and the full acceptance of mature responsibilities.
Indeed, design reveals purpose. The fact is that young people value their freedom, independence, and opportunity for adventure more than they value obedience to the Lord in matters of sexual expression. Some delay marriage to get their education, and then to get established in their careers and finances. And their parents' generation has encouraged them to do so. And our pulpits have been silent, for the most part, in encouraging young people to marry. Mohler says:
The vast majority of Christians who have gone before us would surely be shocked by the very need for a case to be made for Christian adults to marry. While the New Testament clearly honors the gift of celibacy for the cause of the Gospel, the eight out of ten evangelical young people admitting to sexual intercourse before marriage are clearly making no claim to the gift of celibacy.
It is time for us to boldly teach our people to marry soon if they do not have the gift of celibacy.
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