Prayer for Today, Thursday, December 9

O Divine Presence,

Embrace us in Your everlasting arms, O God, that we might feel the power and tenderness of Your presence. May we hear the beat of Your heart as Jesus did and may we live our life in sync with the rhythm of the universe You created. A star led the Wise Men to the Christ Child. May the light of His eternal presence lead us to You. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
__________________________________________________

Richard Cook, Bob Parks’ son-in-law, has finally been released from the hospital after a lengthy stay.

Please pray for Joan Petersen, Margie Edwards, Maribel Moore and Bertie Krause’s brother, all of whom are hospitalized.

Please pray for Carolyn and me as we travel to Dallas today. I begin a series of tests at Baylor Medical Center.

Tonight the Board will gather for the annual Board Christmas Dinner. Please pray prayers of Thanksgiving for all the dedicated servants who serve on our Board.

Grace and peace,

John McLemore

Advent Devotion for Today. Please read Matthew 18:12-14:
Are you a lost sheep? In this parable, Jesus compares himself to a shepherd watching over his sheep, and the “lost sheep” here represents a member of the church who has drifted into sin. The parable tells of God’s love for you and the great rejoicing in heaven over the repentance of just one sinner! The point of this parable is finding and thus protecting “sheep” that otherwise would die from exposure to the elements or be ravaged by predators. In reality who would care about only one sheep out of the flock of a hundred? You know, in the business world, losing one out of one hundred could be considered an acceptable loss, considered just “shrinkage”, and a profit loss of just a measly 1%. But to God the loss of just one sheep is an unacceptable number to lose - God wants to find ALL of His lost sheep! Importantly, the shepherd in this parable is happier because he has rescued a “lost” sheep. GOD, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are bound by one thing, our choices. If a person “chooses” to wander away, or just happens to drift away, the Word tells us it is worse for him than if he had never known them. Therefore, the recovery of the “lost” is a rescue of the greatest magnitude.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for protecting us from harm and temptation like a shepherd, and for sending your Son to show us the way, restoring us to the community of believers when we wander away from the flock and drift into sin.

Amen
Dave Chael