Prayer for Today, Friday, April 8

Loving and Gracious God,

We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses and we humbly reflect on the legacy we have received. The influence of those forebearers of faith in our family, in our church, and in our community is far reaching. The courage and witness of faithful Christians through the centuries provides the foundation upon which we stand. May we honor them, O Lord, as we seek to grow in our faithfulness toward You. May their strength and fortitude be an example for us to follow. Forgive us when our shortsightedness and self-centeredness causes us to adversely influence those who look to us for an example of a Christian life. Help us to realize our words and actions influence not only this generation but future generations. May we receive the gifts of those who have gone before us. May we make them our own and may we share them for the benefit of future generations of followers of Jesus. This is our prayer in His name. AMEN.
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Our dear Madge Loomis died yesterday evening with her children around her. The memorial service will likely be on Monday. Please pray for Madge’s family and friends.

Chuck Crites is making an amazing recovery. He was sitting in a chair and conversing with his family yesterday.

Barbara Whinery had surgery in OKC yesterday and should be home today.

Imogene Price had hip replacement surgery yesterday at St. Mary’s hospital.

Please pray for Chuck, Barbara, and Imogene.

Please continue to pray for Laura Deatherage and also for Willo Clark.

We are hosting the NW Oklahoma Womens’ Walk to Emmaus this weekend. Please pray for the success of this spiritual retreat.

The scripture reading for today is Matthew 18:6-9:
“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes!“If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire.

Grace and peace,

John McLemore