Prayer for Today, Monday, August 8

O God of Life,

We talk often of Your love and seldom about Your judgment. While we believe there is more grace in You than sin in us we still understand there are consequences to our behavior. Today’s culture emphasizes certain sins but misses so much of what Jesus taught. His statements about judgment centered around attitudes and actions of the heart, care for the least among us, and issues related to wealth and power. It is easy to point our finger at the adulterer or one with a certain sexual orientation, but it is hard to sell all we have, give to the poor and follow him. In the final analysis we realize we are all sinners before You, O God. We beg for forgiveness and seek to sin no more, knowing that our nature betrays our intentions. In the face of Your judgment we pray for Your mercy and grace to abound. In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN.
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L.V. Powell died yesterday morning. Please pray for Marianna, their sons, and their family. His funeral will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at Ladusau-Evans Chapel.

Lynn Miller’s brother, Dr. Jim Bougaerts, passed out and stopped breathing, He is hospitalized and in an induced coma. Latest word is that he is improving. They are still diagnosing the cause. Please pray for him.

We had a great VBS / Bridge Sunday yesterday. Thanks to all who helped.

We are still collecting fans and money. We have delivered 105 fans so far and will deliver another 10 or so today. These temperatures are unbearable and there are many in need.

The scripture for today is Romans 15:7-13:
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name”;and again he says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”;and again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him”;and again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.”
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Grace and peace,

John McLemore