Almighty Lord, the power is yours,
And glory, too, both honor and praise;
Both snow and cloud, lightning and wind,
Both young and old, hours and days,
And all the deepest ocean stores,
Let angels praise where none contend —
Our God is worthy, and none beside,
He’s Savior, Shield, Friend and Guide.
Time as Friend
Lord, let us see our time on earth as our friend,
With every thought and action geared to the end,
To learn, prepare, and grow in full desire,
For your most glorious presence in pure attire.
Lord, let us know that life is made of hours,
And moments, being present, with mental powers
In focus on our eternal purpose — earth
And heaven anew, with saints of spiritual birth.
Lord, let us find in Christ the only way
To you and all your hosts — for this we pray
And work and wait, as age and wisdom grow —
In hope, we think this passing time is slow.
Your songs
Your songs, O Lord, speak to me
And lift my soul higher.
They call me to that spiritual plane
Where inner peace prevails.
They invite us as your chosen people
To celebrate your presence.
We sing of joy and victory’s chant,
And our arrival in heaven.
Topical sermons are legit
So says Rick Kelley:
… context should not be abandoned altogether, and expository preaching/study is an excellent form of communicating the text – perhaps the most excellent form; but remote and immediate context doesn’t always need to be explored deeply to make a valid biblical point in a presentation.
The article is short, and makes use of two good illustrations, one biblical, another Shakespearian, in favor of topical sermons. Read the entire post here.
A Christmas prayer
Heavenly Father, we are grateful for this fine day, surrounded as we are with good food, beloved friends and family, and the blessings of life in Christ. Whatever our trials and pains, we are grateful to be your children, disciplined by your love.
We thank you for the eternal hope that gives us joy in the present. We thank you for the faithfulness of Christ who brings us daily peace. We thank you for the knowledge and strength that comes from the Spirit. We thank you for the family of faith, who accepts us in our weakness and corrects our errors.
We are glad to share our blessings, Father, and especially the greatest one of all, your presence in our midst and in our hearts. Give us opportunities to proclaim Christ. Let us see every person who does not follow him as your desire for fellowship. Let material things not blind us to the spiritual need.
In our bounty, let us feel the need for growing to maturity. In our need, let us know the fullness of Christ. In our fullness, let us praise the God who contains heaven and earth in his hand.
Father, we praise you and sing about your great doings; we glorify you for realizing your plan of salvation in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Last-minute preparations
A service station attendant was swarmed with last-minute customers on a holiday weekend. He shook his head and said to a preacher who was in the line, “It is funny to me that people always wait until the last minute to prepare for a trip they know they are going to take.”
“I know,” said the preacher, “I have the same problem in my business.”
See Matthew 25.1-13; 1 Thessalonians 4.13-5.11
The coming of the Lord
By John Henson, Dibrell congregation, McMinnville TN
John 10:7-11
- Jesus came that we might have life: John 10:10.
- Jesus came that we might have purpose: John 12:23-27.
- Jesus is coming again to take us home: John 14:1-3
Divine Approval
Job 19.23-29
O Lord, what desire to be found right,
even in the end, after our days!
When we are gone, we want others to know,
that we were righteous, just as Job
wanted his words written down,
chiseled in stone forever.
There must be—has to be—someone
to stand up finally, who’ll rise to speak
on our behalf and show that we,
after all, had integrity.
When all is gone and swept away—
our skin, our skill, our flesh and will—
we want no human approbation,
but only yours, divine, One
who always lives to intercede,
who brought to light eternal life
through his cross.
Though all be against us, we cannot bear
to be estranged from you—here lies
our deepest fear and agony.
Let Christ fill your holy sight
on judgment day, as we hide ourselves
behind him, claiming his righteousness,
our names inscribed in purest blood—
no cause in stone, but in our hearts
his washing and your Spirit of truth.
With hope, our hearts shall never faint;
with Christ, we do not fear your judgment.
Blistered Feet
O Lord, my feet are blistered and bruised,
My old shoes are worn and used,
My soles are broken, the skin is tough,
The ground where I walk, uneven and rough.
How often have I stubbed my toe?
At times I stumble, the going is slow,
But forward on the path I press
And still walk on in trial and stress.
I carry my weight, and a brother’s load,
This thought I bear on the dusty road:
If you, my God, can wash my feet,
The way of Christ I’ll surely complete.
Our Father, Thank You
Heavenly Father, thank you for life
In Christ — for minds that seek to know
The reason why we’re here — for hearts
That feel emotions, good and bad —
For wills that choose what pleases you —
For bodies of living sacrifice —
For eyes that see and ears that hear —
For limbs that reach for heaven — for lungs
That breathe the Spirit’s air — for hands
That work — for feet that move the gospel
Into the world — for knees that bow
In grateful prayer and ask of you,
The source of all that’s good, to give
Our daily bread — for yearnings of hope
That cry, “Lord, come!” and watch the sky
For signs and angels and rolling clouds.
Our Father, thank you — for today,
For now, for planting us firmly here,
Where we are at present, not
Another place or better time —
For discipline, testing, proof of faith —
For inching forward our commitment —
For faithfulness of your word of promise
On which we count — for love that dies
And lives again in Christ — Ah, yes!
Above all else, for love — Amen!