Category: Prayer Circle

“ … the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  2 Timothy 4:6b-7

When the Apostle Paul was facing the end of his earthly days, his words reflected his life in the Christian faith. Fighting the good fight, finishing the race, and keeping the faith pointed to a life of fulfillment as a Christ-follower.

These same Christian markers summarize the lives of faithful Christians today who are facing their last earthly hours and serve as reminders of the Lord’s faithfulness in their lives. Christian believers know that the Lord Who helped them keep the faith through Word and Sacrament during their earthly run will be there when they cross the finish line of this life. Crossing that line, they collapse in the arms of Jesus, the Finisher of faith and Giver of everlasting life. As Christian believers we encourage one another with these reminders of God’s past faithfulness and the assurance of His promise,

Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life (Revelation 2:10b).

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He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. Matthew 8:15

Name. Address. Date of birth. Those important pieces of information are necessary for many business transactions. Without them, neither the doctor nor the car salesman will deal with us.

We know nothing about the woman Jesus healed in Matthew chapter 8 except that she was Peter’s mother-in-law and was sick with a fever. When Jesus came into the house, He went to her, touched her, and healed her. Her healing was complete and instantaneous. How do we know that?

Matthew tells us that she arose and immediately began to serve Jesus and His friends. By her willing service, she expressed her thanks to Jesus.

Her name, address, and date of birth are not important, but her loving actions set an example for God’s people. His gift of healing from the worst-possible disease — sin — comes to us by grace through faith alone. Our response to His gift is our loving and faithful service.

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A SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE PRAYER FROM WELS LUTHERANS FOR LIFE

Dear Father, you created this world and all of us in it. After you gave life to our first parents, you commanded them to be fruitful and increase in number.  Life is precious to you.  You give life and breath to all people.  In you we live and move and have our being.  Help us and people everywhere to value life as a precious gift from you.  Lead people to see the sin of abortion and all other sins that would shorten a person’s time of grace when they could come to faith, grow in faith, live the faith, and share the faith.  Help us to speak up and defend the rights of the unborn child and those who cannot speak for themselves.  Restrain the world leaders from making decisions about the unborn, gene therapies or the aged that would demean the sanctity of human life.  Guard and protect us from anything that might shorten lives.  Lead us to do all in our power to preserve and extend the lives you have given us and other people.  We ask this in our Savior’s name.  Amen.

For every unborn child
and for his or her mother and father:
that God might teach us how to love and support them;
We pray to the Lord

For women and men
whose hearts are weighed down by the sin of abortion:
that our merciful Lord might bring them peace;
We pray to the Lord

For abortionists and those who work for them:
that they may realize the lives they are taking

and turn from the destruction and stop aborting babies:
that our merciful Lord might forgive them;
We pray to the Lord

For all medical researchers:
that God might give them the grace
to use their talents and skills
to preserve and protect all human life
from conception to natural death;
We pray to the Lord

For our legislators,
that they may preserve the right of each of us
to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness;
We pray to the Lord

For a growing love of the weak and the vulnerable:
that in the model of Christ Jesus, our Lord,
we might work to sustain and protect the lives of all who are in need;
We pray to the Lord, Amen

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All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3:16-17

Unfortunately, one of the most neglected parts of running is stretching. While there is some debate about whether stretching should be done before, during, or after running, one thing is clear: stretching your muscles is important. It can and does prevent many running-related injuries.

While running the race of faith, it is important to stretch spiritual muscles. In day-to-day life, it is easy to become complacent about what to do and how to do it. God’s Word is good for convicting believers in their sin, assuring them of forgiveness, life, and salvation in Jesus, and inspiring them to strive to live fuller lives of service.

So take time to stretch. Open the Bible and read God’s life-giving words. Then continue on your run with faith in Him, equipped with everything you need to finish the race.

Lord, we pray that you bless our “By Scripture Alone” Bible reading program at Our Savior. (more…)

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:21

The loss of a dear family members leaves a gaping hole in life. When a loved one is suddenly gone, emptiness follows. It fills the house, the schedule, even the heart. If only that dear one would not have died!

This is what Martha was feeling. She would not be experiencing this void in her life if only the Lord had kept her brother from dying.

Dealing with death is tough. Emptiness and grief are tough. Jesus knows this and comes to us in those times. His temporary answer for Martha’s brother was to bring him back to life, only to die again. His answer for us lies in His enduring words to Martha – and to us, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25b).

Even in grief, Jesus brings life, filling emptiness with resurrection hope day by day unto eternity. Present pain will be erased in heaven on reunion day. (more…)

“But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”  John 17:13

Years ago, a popular T-shirt read, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”

Many people, including Christians, believe that God wants us to be happy. But happiness is often confused with the joy we read of in Scripture. Being happy is a feeling of bliss or a mood that is dependent on other people and circumstances.

Joy is a gift from the Holy Spirit — not a moment or a mood. Joy is God’s intentional gift of His presence. Jesus came to live among us, speak the truth of God’s unconditional love for us, and take away our sin through His death and resurrection.

No matter what circumstances surround us, we can live in the joy that we are His precious children. We are made whole in the promise of Jesus, “that they may have my joy fulfilled in them” (John 17:13b). Moments of happiness are a delight, but we can rejoice in the always-present joy that is the foundation of our life in Christ! (more…)

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”  Isaiah 43:19

Some people hold the belief that new is always better. The newest phones are the best; the newest cars are the safest; and the newest version of computer software is the most secure. On the other hand, many people contend, “They just don’t make things like they used to.”

God promised the Israelites that something new was coming. Not just a new version of something, but something so miraculous, great, and marvelous that it would completely eclipse the old.

Saint Paul says that Old Testament events and practices are a shadow of the things to come (Colossians 2:17b). They find their full meaning and completion in something greater — in Someone greater. And that “Someone” is Jesus!  The miracle of Jesus’ resurrection is so great, so marvelous, so miraculous, that nothing can compare to it. Nothing but Christ’s death and resurrection can save us from our sins. Nothing else can give us forgiveness of sins and the assurance of eternal life.

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… in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.   Philippians 4:6

The four-year-old was literally bouncing with excitement. He could barely contain himself. His mother handed him the first birthday present with the reminder, “Can you say thank you to Grandma for the gift?”

“Not yet,” the little boy innocently responded, “I don’t know what it is!”

Isn’t that just like a kid? The grandmother, who knows him well, chose something just perfect for him. He should have trusted her and thanked her before opening the gift. But wait a minute! Haven’t we responded to our Heavenly Father in the same way?

The apostle Paul tells us to take every request to God by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6a). We can trust His loving response. Our generous Father, who sacrificed Jesus to make us His own again, most assuredly knows what we need. We need not wait to see what we get before we express our gratitude. It will be the perfect gift from the Perfect Giver.

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Gracious Lord and Savior, you remind us this Sunday to celebrate those who have reached their home with you in heaven.  Give of life, you offer the forgiveness of sins from pulpit, altar and font through leaders you have chosen and called.  You enlighten the minds of children who learn your ways from faithful teachers.  You create the spark of faith through the gospel and reward our witness to the lost.  You inspire the young toward a life of full-time service.  You instill in us the generosity to give our best so that many more may be added to the dignity and destiny of eternity.  Pour out on us your creative power and enliven in us an eager joy to do your will, as we too triumph as your children, as those who believe and are saved. (more…)

Eternal Lord, in the emptiness of nothing you created a universe in perfect wisdom and power.  You formed a planet with light and darkness land and water, plants and animals, an all the seen and unseen forces that serve and sustain the human crown of your creation.  Lead us all, even in these days of doubt and denial, to acknowledge you as the Maker of heaven and earth.  Help us to appreciate the wonders around us and move us to be thankful.  Not with the power of the sword or the manipulation of the emotions but with the gentle whisper of the Gospel, you call, gather and enlighten the whole Christian Church on earth and keep it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.  Remind us all that our faith cannot exist or endure or grow without Word and Sacraments. (more…)