Daily Prayer - Three Strands / Accountability

Good Monday morning, my friends.

 

Do you have accountability in your life?  Do you have someone who knows where your heart is likeliest to stray from God?  Does that person have permission to question you on it? 

 

Is it greed? Envy? Alcohol or drugs? Pornography? Anger? Laziness? What is that "in" that the devil has in your life?  Just as ALL have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) we ALL need accountability.

 

Two are better than one,

   because they have a good return for their labor:

If either of them falls down,

   one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls

   and has no one to help them up.

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

   But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered,

   two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

 

This passage repeatedly speaks of how two can be better than one, but why does it end by talking about three?  I just figured this out: that third strand is God!  When you enter into an accountability relationship with another follower of Christ, God becomes the third partner (Matthew 18:20).

 

If you already have that relationship with another believer – fantastic – why not contact them this morning to see how they are doing?  If you don't, please pray that God would show you who it is that you need to partner with.  The answer may be surprising!

 

(For you technically minded, check this out: http://iproduceapps.com/christian-apps/accountable/)

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

 

Heavenly Father,

 

The enemy is all too familiar with my greatest weaknesses.

But I also know that in my weakness, You are strong.

Lord, teach me that life in You is not a solo sport.

Help me to find and build trusting relationships with other followers of your Son.

Join us in a partnership of three strands that will glorify Your Name.

In Jesus' name we pray.  

 

Amen.

 

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address. Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

 

Daily Prayer - Pastor Appreciation

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

 

As we near the end of October, Pastor Appreciation Month, I would like us to lift up another prayer for those who faithfully teach and minister to us.  Think of those who first taught you the Gospel, and those who continue to pour into your life.  Remember that those who are called to be teachers will be judged more strictly (James 3:1) and so ask God to strengthen them.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

 

Father, we thank You for the spiritual leaders You have placed in our lives.

 

We thank You for those who express personal concern when they see that we're troubled and offer Bible-based counsel and encouragement.

 

We thank You for those who contend earnestly for the faith, who do not follow the trends of their day but the teaching of the Bible.

 

Father, we thank You for those who kneel before You and lift us up in prayer.

 

You've given them a burden to care for our soul, to love us unconditionally. 

 

We hold them in the highest regard as they carefully deliver Scriptural truths that will keep us from being shaken as the slide to decadence continues to increase.  

 

Keep them safe from the evil one so that they remain a solid example to those whom they shepherd. 

 

We pray this in Jesus' name.  Amen.

 

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/a-prayer-for-pastors/)

 

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address. Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

 

Daily Prayer - Add flavour to the lives of others

Good Wednesday afternoon, my friends.

 

I like salt.  OK – maybe a little too much.  But salt is not optional – it is a required element in our diet.  And our spiritual journey requires us to be salt for others.

 

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

 

 

Father,

 

I want the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart to be pleasing to You this day. 

 

I pray that my conversation is uplifting so that I build others up rather than tear them down.

 

Just as salt is tasty to food making it more pleasant to eat, I pray that my dialogue is wholesome making conversation pleasant and beneficial to those who listen.

 

Because of Your redemptive work in my life I am blessed and highly flavored with the preserving salt of Your holy Word. 

 

I want to spread the message of Your salvation to others so that they are snatched from the evil one and their lives are preserved for this life and the next. 

 

We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/a-prayer-for-being-the-salt-of-the-earth/)

 

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address. Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

 

Daily Prayer - More than we can ask or imagine

Good Tuesday Morning, my friends.

 

A few days ago I realized something.  Perhaps it was God speaking very quietly in my ear.  The message was: I do not realize how much I need Him.

 

And it is true – I don't.  I still make most of my decisions without consulting Him.  I still plough ahead and do things my way.  I still do not spend any significant time in prayer or the Word.  I really don't know how much I need Him.

 

Do you?  Can you help me?  Can we help each other?

 

Let's pray for each other in this regard: that we can all come to understand our absolute dependence on a God that loves us more than we can imagine, and wants to do more for us than we could even conceive of asking. 

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance!

Bruce

 

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

 

Ephesians 3:17-21

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address. Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

 

Daily Prayer - A prayer that brings peace

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

 

This is a prayer I can relate to.  Satan has certainly tried (and continues to at times) to convince me I am "an exception to Your (God's) redemptive power".  Lifting this prayer brings me peace, and I pray it does for you as well.

 

I ask for your prayers this weekend.  Tomorrow I, and numerous other leaders from my church, are off for a weekend youth conference with the junior and senior high school students.  Please pray that these young adults and adolescents will have a powerful encounter with God and that we as leaders will be good role models, and wise and courageous in our leadership.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

 

 

 

Father,

 

Your grace is sufficient to meet all my needs in the midst of trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger and sword. 

 

I am truly more than a conqueror because of Your love for me!

 

I choose to believe Your Word and apply its wondrous truths to my life.

 

I reject Satan's cunning lies that seek to convince me that I am an exception to Your redemptive power or that my troubles can never be repaired by Your almighty hand.

 

Your power is unbiased, all-reaching, and ever merciful to those who call upon You in times of trouble.

 

I'm so grateful that Your sufficiency exceeds my need.

 

Thank you for salvaging my life by taking my feet from the sinking, miry clay and setting them upon the solid rock to stay.

 

Amen.

 

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2011/10/18/a-prayer-for-overcomers-2/)

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address. Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

 

Daily Prayer - We are still sinners ...

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

 

Today I forward you in its entirety this articly by John Fischer.  Can you relate?

 

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Fischtank.com <john.fischer@mac.com>

Date: Tue, Oct 18, 2011 at 4:46 AM

Subject: The Catch - The way it goes

To: macpherson@celtic.ca

 

 

 

Website      About John      Appearances      Contribute     The way it goes                                 by John Fischer   Here is a typical scenario for a Christian today. See if any of this fits, and then let us know.   When you first became a Christian you were acutely aware of your sin. Indeed it was your sin and helplessness to stop it that drove you to Christ because you had heard that He had forgiven your sin, removed it as a barrier between you and God and even broken sin's power over you on the cross. Suddenly salvation is free and being right with God is there for the taking. As to your own sin, you had nothing to hide. You were not measuring yourself as a semi-good person coming to the cross. You were not "joining God's team." You were despicable and incapable of anything good. And in your confession and forgiveness, you were washed clean, unburdened, overwhelmed with grace, thankful, open, honest and pure. You felt like a baby inside, giddy with delight, like Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas morning, the spirits having done it all in one night! This is how you felt.   Then you started going to church and hanging around other Christians who have been Christians for a while and something gradually changed. A shift occurred. The shift was away from focusing on sin, the need for forgiveness and helplessness to produce anything good, and towards what you could do to become a better Christian.   The law or the process of obeying the commands of scripture became something attainable. It became something able to make good people better. And there are countless programs, seminars, small groups, books and studies to help you do this. Hardly any of these remind people of either their despicableness and their inability to do good; almost all of them help you to become better.   What is the goal? To be good people. What do we try and show the world? That we are good people. What happens when we turn out to really be bad people hiding behind a mask? People laugh at us and feel better about their own sin. What they supposed about us all along is true - we are a bunch of hypocrites - and the gospel is totally wasted on them. They never hear it. (The world only hears the gospel when it hears about our sin.)   What happens to the gospel, the cross, forgiveness, grace and the great feeling of astonishment? It becomes a story in the past - something to sing about and be sentimental over.   The New Covenant is the same as our conversion. We need the Spirit to begin and we need the Spirit to continue. The New Covenant requires our sinfulness and inadequacy to do anything good and it requires an unmasked life so that the miracle of the life of Christ can be easily seen in us and not confused with us.   If any of this has peaked your interest you should seriously consider jumping in on our Catch On Teleconference Study tomorrow night. See tomorrow's Catch for all the details.   John Fischer The Catch Online

To learn about ways to contribute the Catch, please click here.

 

 

Click to Download  Still Life - Available for Download   John Fischer's landmark 1973 album Still Life is now available for download!     Includes the original recording of his most-loved "All Day Song (Love Him in the Morning)" and other favorites like "Setting of the Sun," "Brightest and Best," and "Matthew's Blues." This version has all the sparkle and pop of the original. Find out how well this music has held up over the years and how far ahead of its time it really was.

Forward email This email was sent to macpherson@celtic.ca by john.fischer@mac.com |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. The Catch | 1278 Glenneyre | Laguna Beach | CA | 92651

  

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

 

 

Dear Heavenly Father, we lower our heads before you and we confess that we have too often forgotten that we are yours.

 

Sometimes we carry on our lives as if there was no God and we fall short of being a credible witness to You.

 

For these things we ask your forgiveness and we also ask for your strength.

 

Give us clear minds and open hearts so we may witness to You in our world.

 

Remind us to be who You would have us to be regardless of what we are doing or who we are with.

 

Hold us to You and build our relationship with You and with those You have given us on earth.

 

 

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address. Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

 

Daily Prayer - Disturb us, Lord

Good Monday morning, my friends!

 

Paul tells us that we should be, as he was, content in all circumstances:

 

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:11-13)

 

But notice that "content" does not mean "comfortable" or "complacent".  To be in need, to be hungry, to be in want – these are not comfortable predicaments to be in.

 

Two things I ask of you, LORD;

   do not refuse me before I die:

Keep falsehood and lies far from me;

   give me neither poverty nor riches,

   but give me only my daily bread.

Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you

   and say, 'Who is the LORD?'

Or I may become poor and steal,

   and so dishonor the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:8-9)

 

Being too rich – or comfortable – can cause us to rely too much on ourselves and not on God.  Let's ask God to help us to not let that happen.

 

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance!

Bruce

 

 

Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves;

when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little;

when we arrived safely because we have sailed too close to shore.

 

Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of the things we possess,

we have lost our thirst for the water of life.

 

Stir us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas,

where storms will show your mastery;

where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.

 

We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes

and to push us into the future in strength, courage, hope and love.

 

Amen.

 

(http://www.archchicago.org/departments/stewardship_dev/pdf/theology_scripture/prayers.pdf)

 

Bruce MacPherson

macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821

 

You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material.

 

If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address.

 

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Daily Prayer - The Good Samaritan (re-mixed)

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

 

Last evening I heard a whole new take on The Parable of the Good Samaritan.  Yes, it is certainly a story about helping someone in need, but perhaps there is more to it.  Perhaps it is a commentary on missed opportunities by the Church.  If you will recall, a priest and a Levite came across the man but each "passed by on the other side".  These two individuals would certainly qualify as "the Church" in Jesus day, and leaders in the Church, at that. They, for whatever reason, decided this man was not worth their time.  So what happens when the Church fails to help?  Well, then the World steps in (this time in the person of the despised Samaritan).  Sure, the World can provide comfort and aid which will help in physical healing but the Church has so much more to offer – spiritual healing, a relationship with God, and eternal life.

 

Is the church truly any different today?  Do we see the hurting in our midst?  Do we take time from our busy schedules to reach out and help?  I know there are parts of the Church who do this well, but in general I think we could do a much better job in this regard.  I am again reminded of the song "Does Anybody Hear Her" by Casting Crowns.   

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

 

P.S.  As a follow up to yesterday's note on the movie Courageous, this morning I came across this short (and presumably true) anecdote about fatherhood/parenting:

 

"Earlier this week, as I struggled to keep all the balls in the air, my 6 year-old son hit me with a humbling question-

 

Son: (looking at me quizzically with his head tilted to one side and an eyebrow raised) "Why can't grown-ups smile dad?"

Me: (Fearing where this discussion might be headed, and knowing my stress level lately) "Grown-ups CAN smile bud."

Son: "No they can't."

Me: "Sure.  Grown-ups are able to smile.  Do I smile bud?"

Son: "Nope."

Me: "Does mommy smile?"

Son: "Nope.  My Sister (3 year-old) and I are the only people in this family that smile."

 

At this point a whirl of emotions were circling around in my head, realizing that my stress load had obviously poured over onto the family and was impacted everyone.  Trying to think of a good teacher-like response (nothing came to mind) and wanting to maintain my composure, the only thing that I could come up with was to force a concerned smile, look at him in the eye and ask, "will you teach mommy and I how to smile, bud?"  "Sure dad", he said smiling, with a little bit of a wink.

 

Tore me up.  Time for me to be `da Dad and dive in 100% when I am at home." ~ Curtis K.

 

 

Father, I confess that too often I am highly selective in the way I approach people and put up barriers against those I find unattractive.

 

Would that I could learn to see people more as You see them, and recognize no one according to the flesh, but according to Your view of them.

 

I might not like everyone, but You call me to love everyone with the love of Christ, a love that transcends emotions and barriers and that sees each person as uniquely valued in Your eyes.

 

May I grow in this love of the will by desiring the highest good of those I encounter every day.

 

May I break through the stereotypes and prejudices that I have absorbed from my background and culture, and may I learn to view my love and service of others as my love and service of You.

 

(http://www.kenboa.org/blog/2010/11/24/seeing-people-as-god-sees-them-a-prayer/)

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address. Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

 

Daily Prayer - Where are you men of courage?

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

 

"Where are you men of courage?"

 

This is a line from the last scene of the movie Courageous.  A friend of mine went to see it this week with his family and asked me to recommend it once again to all of you. I am happy to do so.

 

This movie asks some tough questions of fathers, and certainly made me uncomfortable at times.  I could see my own failures.  But that is how we grow - we find those areas of our lives that are hiding in the shadows and drag them out into the light of day.  Yes, they can be ugly, but we cannot deal with them unless we see them clearly.

 

Please search out show times in your area and take your spouse, and maybe even your kids, to see this movie. (For those of you in Ottawa, the movie is playing at the SilverCity Gloucester Cinemas in Orleans.  Click on the link for show times.)

 

 

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce 

 

Most gracious Heavenly Father,

 

We thank you for our earthly fathers, those to whom you have entrusted the responsibility to provide loving protection of their families and guidance of their children.

 

May our earthly fathers imitate the manly courage of Abraham, Jesse and Joseph, and all the holy fathers of the past in providing wise counsel to the children you have given to their care. And may our spiritual fathers be guided by the examples of Saints Peter and Paul, all the Apostles and their saintly successors. Give them valiant faith in the face of confusion and conflict, hope in time of trouble and sorrow, and steadfast love for you, for their families, and for all your people throughout the world.

 

Assist all fathers of families, all spiritual fathers, and all Christian men, that through your Grace they may steadily grow in holiness and in knowledge and understanding of your Truth. May they generously impart this knowledge to those who rely on them.

As you, our Heavenly Father, so loved the world, sending your only Son to be our Savior and Redeemer, we ask you to help all men to imitate His fatherly gentleness and mercy toward those who are weak; His humility, perfect obedience to your Will, and fearless witness to your Truth. May their lives be examples to all of heroic faithfulness to you.

 

We ask your blessing on all those to whom you have entrusted fatherhood. May your Holy Spirit constantly inspire them with justice and mercy, wisdom and strength, fidelity and self-giving love. May they receive your Grace abundantly in this earthly life, and may they look forward to eternal joy in your presence in the life to come.

 

We ask this through Jesus Christ, your Son and Our Lord, AMEN.

 

(Adapted from http://www.wf-f.org/Father.html)

 

 

Bruce MacPherson

macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821

 

You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material.

 

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Daily Prayer - Salt of the Earth

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

 

I trust and pray you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Weekend for God has given us much for which to be thankful!

 

 

In Matthew's Gospel Jesus calls us, the church, the "salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13).  So what does that mean?  There was obviously no refrigeration available during Biblical times, so salt was added to meat to keep it from spoiling.  Without salt, the meat would go bad, and quickly.  Try leaving some hamburger lying around on the counter for a few days or a week!  

 

So why would Jesus call us "salt"?  Well we, His church, are put here literally to keep the earth from spoiling.  Think about this – if someone forgot to put salt on the meat, and the meat went bad, would that person blame the meat?  Don't we do that when we look at society and see how "rotten" it has become?  We fail to see that the Church holds the responsibility of preserving (saving!) those who are around us.

 

So look around you (as I look around me) and see who we could sprinkle a little salt on today.

 

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

 

Sing a new song to the LORD! Everyone on this earth, sing praises to the LORD, sing and praise his name. Day after day announce, "The LORD has saved us!"

 

Tell every nation on earth, "The LORD is wonderful and does marvelous things! The LORD is great and deserves our greatest praise! He is the only God worthy of our worship. Other nations worship idols, but the LORD created the heavens. Give honor and praise to the LORD, whose power and beauty fill his holy temple."

 

Tell everyone of every nation, "Praise the glorious power of the LORD. He is wonderful! Praise him and bring an offering into his temple. Everyone on earth, now tremble and worship the LORD, majestic and holy."

 

Announce to the nations, "The LORD is King! The world stands firm, never to be shaken, and he will judge its people with fairness."

 

Tell the heavens and the earth to be glad and celebrate! Command the ocean to roar with all of its creatures and the fields to rejoice with all of their crops. Then every tree in the forest will sing joyful songs to the LORD.

 

He is coming to judge all people on earth with fairness and truth.

 

Psalm 96:1-13

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address. Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.

 

Daily Prayer - the Smoking Doctor

Good Friday Morning, my friends.

 

 

Sometimes I feel like the doctor in the picture above, and I am sure your pastor/priest/minister does too.  What is wrong with this scene?  Well, someone concerned about your health, someone who tells you smoking is bad for you, probably shouldn't have a lit cigarette in his hand.  Or be overweight.  Or drink heavily.  But the truth is that some doctors have these issues.  Does that mean that he or she is not genuinely concerned about your health?  Not at all - it just means they are human.  The same is true for anyone who teaches or preaches in the chuch.  Please do not expect perfection from these.  Remember they are on a journey too.

 

October is "Pastor Apprciation Month".  Why not send your's a note or card today.  Dayspring offers free on-line e-cards - find them here.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

 

 

 

Oh Father God, I pray for pastors, for their families, for their marriages, for their ministries, and for their congregations.

 

I pray for their witness and I pray for their minds, that they will think new thoughts and dream new dreams.

 

I pray for their bodies that they will be healthy and strong, that they can run long the race that you have set before them.

 

I pray for their friends, that they will be true to their pastor and true to You; that they will always lift their pastors up, always encourage them, always help them on the journey.

 

I pray for resources to flow into their ministries because it is Your work and what You have purposed to be done. I believe that you will resource what You have commanded to be done.

 

And so I pray that people with money will give money, that people with time will give time, that people with faith will exercise their faith, that people with big ideas and big dreams and big visions will give those ideas and dreams and visions to the cause.

 

(http://servingstrong.com/a-prayer-for-pastors/)

 

 

 

Bruce MacPherson

macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821

 

You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material.

 

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