Daily Prayer - The Gospel of Welcome

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.
 
I thought I would let John Fischer close out the old year for us.  Here is another of his messages that just brings clarity to the Gospel.  The Gospel of Welcome.
 

The Gospel of Welcome

 

by John Fischer  

 

 

 As we wind down to the end of another year, it becomes customary to think about the really important things in life and ask ourselves: What are we doing? Are we accomplishing something or are we spinning our wheels? What do you use to measure such things?

 

As far as I can tell, there is only one measurement that truly counts at the end of the day. There is nothing more important or fulfilling than knowing the Gospel of Welcome, and knowing we are doing all we can to share it with everyone we know. We don't all have to be Billy Graham, but we all do have a role to play in the furthering of the Gospel of Welcome in the world, and each of us is in the process of finding out what that is and doing it.

 

It may sound selfish but it is not. God is concerned first about you. He has provided a way back to Himself through His son, Jesus Christ, but He has left it to you to respond to Him. He does not force His will on anyone. It's an open invitation.

 

God loves you.

God wants you.

God is calling you.

He left the door open.

 

God is saying, "The door to my heart is open. Walk on in. I've done everything there is to do to make it possible for you to be welcome in my presence. The rest is up to you. You are welcome here. Come home."

 

I have a TV Guide special edition devoted to the life of Billy Graham. On the cover is a picture of him, hands clasped, head bowed, deep in prayer. I know this picture. It's what he would do while the choir sang "Just As I Am" and he stood on the platform as thousands streamed forward to respond to the Gospel of Welcome. He has just announced in one way or another. "It's okay; you can come home now," and that was all that was necessary.

 

Think about it: it's the one thing we are here on earth to do -- and that is to get right with God.

 

You can set a record, win an election, found an organization, write a hundred books, change history with your invention, become a household name, but if you end your life on earth having never accounted for your life with God, come up wanting, called on Him to be merciful and discovered, lo and behold, that He is just that, you will have failed to accomplish what you were alive for. Certainly there will be plenty of things to do after this, but nothing quite so important to God, because He has provided eternity for you and He wants you to spend it with Him.

 

Don't miss out. Don't miss out on your own opportunity to come, and, having done that, don't miss out on providing that same opportunity to others.

 

It's good news.

It's the day of salvation.

God isn't counting people's sins against them.

It's time to come home.

Welcome home!

 

 

John Fischer                

Fischtank.com   

  

May 2014 bring your heart closer and closer to the heart of our wonderful God and provide you many opportunities to share the Gospel of Welcome with others.  Happy New Year, my friends.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 

Lord, You make all things new
You bring hope alive in our hearts
And cause our Spirits to be born again
 
Thank you for this new year
For all the potential it holds.
Come and kindle in us
A mighty flame
So that in our time, many will see the wonders of God
And live forever to praise Your glorious name.
 
Amen
 
(http://www.lords-prayer-words.com/times/new_year_prayer.html)

Daily Prayer - The Treasure of Christmas

Good Friday morning, my friends.

 

Here is my prayer for today: 

God, I thank you sincerely,

from the bottom of my heart, that

The Twelve Days of Christmas,

Little Drummer Boy,

Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,

Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time,

Santa Baby,

Up on the Housetop,

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,

Santa Claus is Coming to Town,

Here Comes Santa Claus,

Jingle Bells,

All I Want for Christmas is You,

All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth,

Happy Christmas (War Is Over),

Jingle Bell Rock,

Blue Christmas,

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas,

The Chipmunk Song,

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, and

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree

are only played incessantly in public places

for a few weeks every year.

Amen.   (http://bobhostetler.blogspot.ca/2012/12/heartfelt-holiday-prayer.html)

 

Just kidding.  Kinda.

 

I will be away next week so I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you the most wonderful, Christ-filled Christmas with your families and loved ones. 

 

Grace and peace and goodwill be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 

Almighty and everlasting God,
who has made known the incarnation of your Son by the bright shining of a star,
which, when the wise men beheld,
they presented costly gifts and adored your majesty;
grant that the star of your righteousness may always shine into our hearts;
and that, as our treasure,
we may give ourselves
and all we possess to your service,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
amen.
 
(from the Gelasian Sacramentary by way of http://bobhostetler.blogspot.ca/2013/01/a-prayer-on-epiphany.html)

Daily Prayer - Escape from the misty lowland

Good Thursday morning, my friends.
 
No matter where you are in your journey of faith my sense is that you will (re-)connect with God through this prayer.  Let the Holy Spirit lead you as you read it and ponder on it.
 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 

O God, I have tasted Thy goodness and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more.
 
I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace.
 
I am ashamed of my lack of desire.
 
O God, the Triune god, I want to want Thee;
I long to be filled with longing;
I thirst to be made more thirsty still.
 
Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed.
 
Begin in mercy a new work of love within me.
 
Say to my soul, "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away."
Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.
 
In Jesus' name, Amen.
 
(a prayer of A. W. Tozer by way of http://bobhostetler.blogspot.ca/2013/12/from-this-misty-lowland.html)

Daily Prayer - Inexpressible joy!

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.
 
The word "Gospel" means "good news!".  What could be better news than this:
 
God has shown us how kind he is by coming to save all people.  He taught us to give up our wicked ways and our worldly desires and to live decent and honest lives in this world.  We are filled with hope, as we wait for the glorious return of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. He gave himself to rescue us from everything that is evil and to make our hearts pure. He wanted us to be his own people and to be eager to do right. (Titus 2:11-14)
 
With Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus, just one week away take time today to ponder that "unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord"! (Luke 2:11)
 

Grace and peace and tidings of great joy be yours,
Bruce
 

Father, in this Christmas season, celebrating the birth of your son, I marvel at the mystery of his incarnation into human history, the majesty of his annunciation by angelic beings and the jubilation of humble shepherds as they saw and shared the good news of the Savior lying in a manger. 
 
And Father, such joy is not just in the event, but, especially in the experience of what it meant and would come to mean for countless millions of people in all walks of life. It certainly means the joy of a promise fulfilled, the joy of sins forgiven, the joy of peace of mind for all who believe, the joy of hope renewed and the joy of a future guaranteed. It is joy that the human heart can never contain. It is, Father, as the Apostle Peter so profoundly said:    "…a glorious, inexpressible joy." 1 Peter 1:8 (NLT)

Amen
 
(http://praying.kansasbob.com/2013/12/joy.html)

Daily Prayer - More

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.
 
Our goal in this life is to become like Christ.  This takes a lifetime to achieve.  How often to we pray specifically about this goal?  Take your time with this prayer - there is a lot in here.
 
Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace be yours,
Bruce
 

More holiness give me, more strivings within.
More patience in suffering, more sorrow for sin.
More faith in you, Jesus, more sense of your care.
More joy in your service, more purpose in prayer.
 
More gratitude give me, more trust in you, Lord.
More zeal for your glory, more hope in your Word.
More tears for your sorrows, more pain at your grief.
More meekness in trial, more praise for relief.
 
More purity give me, more strength to o'ercome,
More freedom from earth-stains, more longings for home.
More fit for the kingdom, more faithful and true,
More blessèd and holy, more, Savior, like you.
 
(a prayer of Philip Bliss, slightly revised by way of http://bobhostetler.blogspot.ca/2013/12/a-prayer-for-more.html)

Daily Prayer - Approach on tiptoes

Good Monday morning, my friends.
 
Yesterday marked the Third Sunday in Advent.  Where have the weeks gone?  Are you preparing your heart, as well as your house, for Christmas - the celebration of the birth of our Saviour?
 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 

Lord Jesus,
the day of your nativity approaches,
the day on which we commemorate
your birth,
your condescension,
your humble incarnation.
 
Please help me and mine
to approach that day on tiptoe,
with reverence and awe,
mindful of your holiness and beauty,
and grateful for the privilege
of finding
and approaching
and kneeling at
your manger, amen.
 
(http://bobhostetler.blogspot.ca/2013/12/to-approach-that-day-on-tiptoe.html)

Daily Prayer - Spare me ...

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

 

Garth Brooks sings a song called "Unanswered Prayers".  The chorus goes like this: 

Sometimes I thank God, for unanswered prayers

Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs

That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care

Some of God's greatest gifts, are unanswered prayers.

If you are frustrated that God does not seem to be listening to your prayers, the reason is most certainly NOT that He doesn't care - he sent his One and only Son to die for you and me.  There is another explanation.  And maybe this side of heaven we will never know what that is.  But on the other side it will be clear.  Have faith in His love.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 

Save me from getting all I pray for,
from receiving all I ask,
until I learn to ask only according to your will.

Break me of my desire to have my desires.
Spare me any pleasure that will halt or delay my progress
in becoming more like you,

in Jesus' name, amen.

 
(based on a Puritan prayer, http://bobhostetler.blogspot.ca/2013/12/spare-me.html)

Daily Prayer - Hold fast

Good Monday morning, my friends.
 
Hezekiah was one of the "good kings" of Israel in the Old Testament. He "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done" (2 Kings 18:4).  The prayer below is based on his actions and attitudes during his reign.  Let us have a similar outlook today.
 
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 

Lord,
I hold fast to you.
I will not depart from following you,
but will keep your commandments,
by your grace.
 
Please be with me
wherever I go;
bless me,
prosper me,
and make me a scourge
to all who oppose you,
for the sake of your kingdom,
and for the glory of your name,
in Jesus' name, amen.
 
(Based on 2 Kings 18:6-7 from http://bobhostetler.blogspot.ca/2013/12/fast.html)

Daily Prayer - Confession time

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.
 
*Note: I will be out of town the rest of the week so my next message will not be until next week.
 
The Bible tells us to confess our sins to Him and be forgiven, and to confess to one another and be healed.  The prayer below is an opportunity to take ownership of how we have fallen short of the glory of God and to make open confession to Him.  The point is not to beat ourselves up, but to remind us of His amazing grace.

Some of these confessions really hit home with me.  And I expect there will be some that the Holy Spirit will tweak your heart on as well.  Pay special attention to those.

Grace and peace and forgiveness be yours,
Bruce
 
 
 
I confess to being a jerk while driving.
Lord, have mercy.
 
I confess to eating too much because I can.
Lord, have mercy.
 
I confess to giving too little because I can.
Lord, have mercy.
 
I confess to losing my temper with children...and adults.
Lord, have mercy.
 
I confess to the selfishness of wanting to be noticed and admired.
Lord, have mercy.
 
I confess to smugness and self-righteousness.
Lord, have mercy.
 
I confess to being ungracious and unmerciful toward others.
Lord, have mercy.
 
I confess to enjoying comfort and plenty as if I am entitled to them.
Lord, have mercy.
 
I confess to lustful glances and unclean thoughts.
Lord, have mercy.
 
I confess my envy and jealousy.
Lord, have mercy.
 
I confess my impatience and insensitivity.
Lord, have mercy.
 
I confess my covetousness.
Lord, have mercy.
 
I confess my hypocrisy.
Lord, have mercy.
 
Thank you for your promised forgiveness
and the cleansing and restoration that is mine in Christ Jesus,
amen.
 
(Posted by Hoss in http://bobhostetler.blogspot.ca/2013/12/a-confession.html)

Daily Prayer - With You I can find my way to Him

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.
 
After preaching a particularly challenging sermon, where He told the people they must eat His flesh and drink His blood, many of Jesus' followers abandoned Him.  Jesus then turned to his closest friends and asked "Do you want to go away as well?"  Peter answered: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." (John 6:67-69)
 
I struggle with following Jesus.  I find Him very challenging.  I am often frustrated with what I perceive as a lack of communication on His part; that he seems to sometimes ignore my present plight.  But whenever I think of turning away Peter's reply comes to mind: to whom would I go?  A prayer like the one below is what I need at those times to recalibrate my heart.  With it I can shake off the lies of the enemy who would have me believe that God does not truly care for me and allow me re-focus on Jesus - "my Lord, my Savior, my Redeemer, my Guide, my Consoler, my Comforter, my Hope, my Joy, and my Peace".
 
Fix your focus today on the Holy One of God.
 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce 
 
 
Dear Lord, help me keep my eyes on you.
You are the incarnation of Divine Love,
you are the expression of God's infinite compassion,
you are the visible manifestation of the Father's holiness.
You are beauty, goodness, gentless, forgiveness, and mercy.
In you all can be found.
Outside of you nothing can be found.
 
Why should I look elsewhere or go elsewhere?
You have the words of eternal life,
you are food and drink,
you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
You are the light that shines in the darkness,
the lamp on the lamp stand,
the house on the hilltop.
You are the perfect Icon of God.
In and through you I can see the Heavenly Father,
and with you I can find my way to him.
 
O Holy One, Beautiful One, Glorious One,
be my Lord, my Savior, my Redeemer, my Guide,
my Consoler, my Comforter, my Hope, my Joy, and my Peace.
To you I want to give all that I am.
Let me be generous, not stingy or hesitant.
Let me give you all--
all I have, think, do and feel.
It is yours, O Lord.
Please accept it and make it fully your own.
Amen.
 
(a prayer of Henri Nouwen, from A Cry for Mercy by way of http://bobhostetler.blogspot.ca/2013/12/incarnation-of-divine-love.html)