Dear Heavenly Parent,
We pray, O Lord, that You will cleanse us with Your abundant grace. Often we feel we do not need to repent, yet there is much in our lives that separates us from You. Even though our sin is not excessive, we are still called to confess. Many times we have chosen our own way and turned our back on You. There are times when we have been seduced by the easy, self-centered life offered by those elements in our culture that only want our time and money. Please forgive us, O God. May we truly turn around and be open to Your embrace. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.
I have received an unspoken prayer request. Please offer prayers. God knows the situation.
The Mason family is travelling to Pine Bluff, Arkansas today. Please pray for their journey to bury Ruby Register.
See you in church.
The scripture for today is 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11:
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.
So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.
Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
The Psalm for this week is Psalm 76:
In Judah God is known, his name is great in Israel. His abode has been established in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion. There he broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Glorious are you, more majestic than the everlasting mountains. The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil; they sank into sleep; none of the troops was able to lift a hand. At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both rider and horse lay stunned. But you indeed are awesome! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused? From the heavens you uttered judgment; the earth feared and was still when God rose up to establish judgment, to save all the oppressed of the earth. Human wrath serves only to praise you, when you bind the last bit of your wrath around you. Make vows to the Lord your God, and perform them; let all who are around him bring gifts to the one who is awesome, who cuts off the spirit of princes, who inspires fear in the kings of the earth.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
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