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Praying for us all

Dear Heavenly Father, here are my requests for the new year.

  • For the wife and me to have a great year together, with health and happiness, joy and usefulness.
  • For our children to be well, in body, spirit, family, and service.
  • For our grandchildren to receive the love and care they need to develop into your children.
  • For our families of origin to increase their faith.
  • For the spiritual, missional, and numerical growth of the congregation.
  • For new beginnings in our region.
  • For the brotherhood to be strong in faith, in truth, in love, in grace, in the Word of Christ.
  • For the people we love, for the brethren you have given us, for the lost who need news.
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That Day

Immersed, I felt pure and clean — prepared
for Jesus’ coming — joyful in your forgiveness —
secure and safe — possessor of all I’d heard;
That Day, O Lord, make me a happy witness!

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Worthy of Trust

The Lord my God is worthy of trust,
In you I put my heart and soul,
This world’s possessions turn to dust,
So eternal life is all my goal.

O Father, every moment I breathe,
I hear the call of heaven’s lure,
Preserve me while the nations seethe,
In peace prepare your people pure.

The strongholds rise on every side,
The devil’s darts come flaming down;
Be now my shield and certain guide,
For I desire the living crown.

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This, I know, is grace

Thank you, Eternal Father, for each precious gift you give — life itself and all that is necessary to sustain it.

The most precious of all, of course, is that of eternal salvation. In comparison, this present life is less than a drop of water in all the oceans of earth.

And everything else besides eternal life is icing on the cake. If the present is sweet, what must heaven be like?

How is it that I was blessed with all this, when so many go wanting? How was I shown the path to freedom when billions are enslaved by sin?

This, I know, is grace, and I am humbled before you.

You deserve all praise and glory for your wisdom.

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My Heart’s Not Proud

Psalm 131

O Lord, my heart’s not proud,
And I’ve no haughty face;
My goals do not sound loud,
Nor go beyond my place.

My spirit rests composed,
Quiet, content and still;
A young child enclosed
By a mother’s protective will.

O People! Let hope soar
Both now and evermore.

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Turn over complete control

Heavenly Father, give me power today to do something that will promote the Kingdom of Christ and insert into someone’s heart the desire for you.

In order to do that, may I turn over complete control of my life to the Lord.

I reject the world and desire the Kingdom.

Bless me now that the Kingdom might prevail in every decision and action.

Be glorified in me as you were in your Son and my Savior. Make me in his image.

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For Whom Did I Forget to Pray?

O Savior of all mankind, of those
Who believe — for whom did I forget
To pray? What grace no longer flows,
What soul with sin is still beset

For lack of time upon my knees?
You called to faith, from far and near,
To heaven’s door with Kingdom keys,
With prayer we seek to make the Way clear.

Send me, O Lord, for here am I!
And send more workers to fertile fields!
Fling out the seed both low and high —
Alone you know what sowing yields.

Our Father in heaven, on you we call,
Requesting hearts both calm and brave,
To speak to the lost — one and all —
The searching soul to find and save.

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Deadly Pill of Anger

Thinking of James 1.19-21

O God, this deadly pill of anger
Closes weakened minds to reason,
Delivers the soul to wild emotion,
In vengeance feeds the wounded hunger —

Cleanse us with your word of pardon,
Open our ears to hear your warning,
Loosen tongues for harmless learning,
Let not our hearts in anger harden.

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I can’t keep doing this

O God, I can’t keep doing this. I can’t keep this up.
I’m tired and frustrated and ready to call it quits.
Temptation continually barks at my heels.
Dangers lurk around every corner.
Many don’t care, and others want to stone me.
I’m looking for that rock to hide under.
When will it all end?

My son, I can keep you and hold you and propel you forward.
I am energized for every demand, powerful for the need.
My word puts the devil on the run.
I am your tower and refuge and solid rock.
I care, I love you, and continue to call you to me.
I will stand you up in the midst of the people.
The end will be your success and not your failure.

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What’s in It for Me?

What’s in it for me? This question shows
The uncovered self. O Lord! Expose
My inward love for me and mine —
Upon my lonely darkness shine!

For me my Lord and Savior died!
For sins of mine was he crucified.
He gave his life for all mankind —
Forgiven, I the lost must find.

My Father above, ’tis for your praise,
To seek my place in your good ways.
When life seeks not my happiness,
I then am blessed, and able to bless.