The good news of Christ
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Lord, you know who needs the gospel truth,
To free them from the chains of Satan’s lies,
To live in perfect peace and certain hope,
To receive that purest love that never fails.
May I, O God, on hearing your surest word,
Know too who stands without the cleansing blood;
Give to your humble servant the courage of love
To speak the only message that saves the sinner.
Let me be, O Lord, no reluctant voice,
To speak that all might make the constraining choice,
Of perfect love that in the soul compels
To follow the Christ, to drink from living wells,
To come with courage to your graceful throne—
And, coming, let me never come alone.
O God, how hard to find what’s good and wholesome!
The world knows only what’s evil, vile, and loathsome;
Among your people make rule your love and kindness,
Toward race and age and wealth let there be blindness.
Let us see what you see from high in heaven,
And seek that place above where all’s forgiven.
Your way of wisdom, Lord, is my desire,
Your love of man, O God, I would acquire;
In holiness, like you I strive to live,
With free and generous heart, teach me to give.
To be like you, my Savior, my only aim,
To never end a day as I was, the same;
Perfect me, draw me upward, into the light,
To dwell forever upon your city’s height.
Regardless, Lord, of this world’s worst,
In spite of evil and harm and ill,
Let us be sure of your good will,
And always put your kingdom first.
Let none spurn faith, let none ask why
You cause the innocent early to die;
Instead, may we all marvel how,
In patience, you let us live until now.