Weird and sad: The world we lived in

My son-in-law is color-blind. So for his birthday, our daughter gave him a pair of Enchroma glasses, made just for color-blind people. They look like ordinary sunglasses, but actually allow a color-blind person to see colors as we see them.

My son-in-law peered through these new glasses for the first time. He looked off at the trees in his backyard, raised his glasses to get a comparison, then put them back on and said, “Wow, my world is weird … It’s actually sort of sad!”

The world that my son-in-law was living in was a world without color (as we know it), and as he described it, “weird and sad.”

How “weird and sad” is the world in which we once lived? A world dulled by the darkness of sin, and obscured by the gloom of the grave? Stark, hopeless, colorless, doom. But now, all of that has changed for the child of God.  We see the world, not as we once saw it, but we see it through the lens of Jesus. A world that was once without eternal purpose now has purpose. A world that was once lived for self, is now lived for others.

Last weekend, I was reminded how thankful I need to be to God for allowing me to see the world through the lens of his Son, who enables me to see the brilliance of his love!

Adapted from Steve Higginbotham, preachinghelp.org

Need your help

Lord God, so many people in so many situations need your help.

  • Those who often travel, for safety.
  • Those who work in dangerous jobs or circumstances, for security.
  • Those who suffer from disasters like hurricanes or earthquakes, for basic needs of shelter, food, and water.
  • Those who must fend off oppressive thoughts and dark moods, for peace.
  • Those who serve the public, for patience.
  • Those who are employed in government or are elected to their position or have assumed power in some way, for justice.
  • Those who often deal with the poor, the oppressed, or the excluded from society, for compassion.
  • Those who are lonely, forgotten, or needy, for companionship.
  • Those who struggle with addictions or are trapped in abusive relationships, for freedom.
  • Those whose worth is tied to possessions and those who love money, for wholeness.
  • Those who have no hope or who rest upon false expectations, for faith.
  • Those who seek pleasure in this world or have seen its true end, for joy.
  • Those who serve you in the gospel, for perseverance.

You are the God who can supply every need and offer every help. Rise up, O Lord, and let us all rejoice in your active goodness.

The World and Worries Away

Help put the world and worries away!
We live in faith, O Lord, and love
For things above—remove from us
The cares of tomorrow and carnal worship—
Part light from darkness, life from death—
Make us holy, like your Spirit—
Breathe upon us, break us free!

We look for Jesus to return today

Heavenly Father, we look for Jesus to return today, not because today is THE day, but because he could come at any time. We prepare ourselves for him. We desire his coming. We pray you may send him soon. Our salvation will arrive with him.

While we wait, we work. We warn others that they must prepare, also. We offer the message to all who need to hear it. Make our proclamation effective and urgent. Make us feel its urgency and power.

We thank you for this hope. Our lives would have no meaning otherwise. The eternal service makes our work here worthwhile. The heavenly promise makes life here joyful. Where time and tears are no more, where the sea and suffering are banished, there is our desire focused when here our work is finished.

You are to be praised for your eternal purpose in Christ, for your guiding and empowering Spirit, for your saving and faith-building word, for your confirming and edifying church.

Work from curse to blessing

Lord, thank you for giving us work which provides for physical needs, gives us meaningful activity, and allows us to glorify you by our word and example.

  • Help us to see more than a job, but a place to shine our light.
  • Help us to give our best as we work not for man but for you.
  • Help us to see the person behind the coworker, the client, the supplier, the supervisor, the customer, and the staff.
  • Help us to show respect to all, to submit to authority, and to demonstrate professionalism and honesty in all our dealings.
  • Help us to be on time, to keep our word, and to be trustworthy.

Thank you, heavenly Father, for making the curse of the sweat of the brow into a channel of blessing of salvation in Christ.

When the church meets

Lord of life and loving Savior, on this day when the church meets together according to the commandment of Jesus Christ,

  • Let me be useful to the eternal kingdom;
  • Show me someone who is in need of spiritual guidance;
  • Help me to be a friend to a lonely person;
  • Put me in the path of someone who is seeking the way to you;
  • Give me wisdom to speak words of comfort and hope;
  • Make my joy and peace to shine as evidence of your salvation;
  • Let my purpose today be to edify others and to glorify you.

Build Pillars of Faith

Father God, in the face of doubt,
Build pillars of faith in the solid Word;
When clouds obscure my future home,
Make hope shine brightly all about.
If the heart feels hurts that time can’t heal,
Burn the laser of love to seal the wound.
For lack and need and empty lives,
Pour out your fullness on us who plead.

Let Truth Take Form

Make real in us your Spirit’s presence —
Let truth take form, your fullness expand
To occupy all emptiness —
Bring power, O Lord, by your command!

Away with Lesser Things

Away with lesser things, O Lord!
Prevail eternal zeal for Christ!
From me remove desire for mammon,
Let love for you and yours remain.

Our People Suffer

Flood and storm, fire and smoke,
Drought and quake, cold and heat,
From sky and sea our people suffer—
To the land, O Lord, bring relief.