Prayer for Today, Tuesday, October 4

 

O God of Light and Hope,

 

We reveal only a part of ourselves to others. There is much we conceal. Often there is a great difference between what others see and what we know we are. We long for trusting and honest relationships, but they are rare. Such circumstances call us to look beyond the human condition for comfort, solace, and even acceptance. You are there, O God. May we confess all that we are before You. May we repent, and feel the embrace of Your love. We are often blessed by temporal relationships. We celebrate family and friendships, but, ultimately, only You can fill the emptiness within us. Only You, Gracious God, can complete us and we give You thanks. We come to You now, O Lord, seeking to be enfolded in Your unconditional grace and acceptance. In Jesus' name we pray. AMEN.

__________________________________

Bob Emery had successful hip replacement surgery yesterday in OKC. He will be at the McBride Hospital until Thursday and then return to his home to do outpatient rehab here in Enid. Please pray for Bob as he recovers and Sandra as she cares for him.  

 

Paul Sprat's funeral is 10:00 a.m. tomorrow at Anderson Burris Funeral Home. Please pray for his family.

 

We have a number of prospective members who are on the cusp of membership. Our current members need encouragement to be faithful in worship. We need to be diligent in bringing guests and prospective members to worship and other church activities. Our fall stewardship program will shortly be underway, and the holiday season with its varied activities is just ahead. This is the time to bathe our church in prayer. As a result I am initiating a Fall Prayer Vigil. Beginning this Wednesday, October 5^th, you are invited to come to the small Prayer Chapel next to the offices at a time of your choosing between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. There may be others there or you may be alone. You can stay for the length of time that best suits you. Soft, contemplative music will be playing. Candles are available to be lit, and a unique  "prayer guide" will be available. You can come on your way to work, at lunch time, after work, or any time during the day.  This vigil will continue Monday through Saturday for 40 days, concluding on November  19^th, the Saturday before Thanksgiving Sunday. Please take the time and make the effort to come to the small Prayer Chapel for special prayers during this vigil. 

The scripture for today is 1 Timothy 1:12-20:

I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, ¹³even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, ¹⁴and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost. ¹⁶But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. ¹⁷To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

¹⁸I am giving you these instructions, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies made earlier about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, ¹⁹having faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have suffered shipwreck in the faith; ²⁰among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have turned over to Satan, so that they may learn not to blaspheme.

 

Grace and peace,

 

John McLemore