Prayer for Today, Wednesday, May 18

O Love That Will Not Let Us Go,

You surround us with Your tender mercies and we give You thanks. Today we reflect on those who were pillars of faith upon whose shoulders we figuratively stand: those in our family, those in our church, former ministers, youth ministers, elders, teachers and friends. We do not come to this day solely by our own efforts. We are in relationship with You, O God, because others showed us Your Love, others introduced us to an understanding of Your grace, others taught us the Bible passages, and others modeled the Christ-like life. Now, Dear God, the responsibility is ours. May the sacrificial efforts of our mentors be lived out in us. May we seek to influence and lift up those who are following. We live in changing times, but, with Your guidance, we are equal to the task. Give us strength and courage as we pass the torch of faith to new generations. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
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Eric Koegel is still hospitalized at the Baylor Medical Center. They did surgically implant a tube. He hopes to be able to return home by the weekend. Please continue to pray for Eric and his family.

I go to the plastic surgeon this morning to have the dressing removed. I am optimistic that things will be back to normal.

The Bell Choir is rehearsing tonight at 6:00 p.m.

The Board meets this evening at 7:30 p.m.

Today’s scripture reading is Matthew 23:16-24:
“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath. ‘You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath. ‘How blind you are! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; and whoever swears by the sanctuary, swears by it and by the one who dwells in it; and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it.“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!

Grace and peace,

John McLemore