Prayer for Today, Tuesday, January 11

O God,

You are our constant companion and that is a mystery to us. How can the God of the universe be present to us in a real and personal way? Yet You are here. For us it is a matter of faith, not reason. Thank You for Your presence. Help us to realize that it is in the depth and breadth of human relationships that we come to more fully experience You. You live in us as we love others. You meet us when we gather as a community to worship You. When we isolate ourselves from others, those also created in Your image, we isolate ourselves from You. Forgive us, O God, for our shortcomings. Forgive us when we limit the depth and breadth of Your love. Empower us, we pray, to see and experience You in those around us. We offer this prayer in Jesus name, AMEN.
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Yesterday Peg Krick wrote in an email: “Dear John-- Our grandson Corey arrived back at Eglin Air Force Base today at noon. We are all so grateful to have him back. This will be a better year. Thanks again for your prayers. Love Denny and Peg”

We celebrate this good news from the Kricks. Corey has been in Afghanistan

I saw Fran and Marty Hoad on Saturday. Fran is now in the nursing home part of Golden Oaks and is under hospice care. Please pray for the Hoads.

We have much to celebrate and we have much to do in Jesus name. May we joyfully be about the work at hand.

Today’s scripture is Matthew 7:21-28
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’ “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!” Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching,

Grace and peace,

John McLemore