Thursday, June 22, 2006
6/22/2006, #108, 2nd Quarter 2006
"Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my father who is in heaven." (Matthew 18:10)
Jesus, you told the Pharisees over and over again that their purity of doctrine was insufficient; please help us in the days ahead to remember to care for the lost and the least and to repent of despising your little ones who have been led astray.
"For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost." (Matthew 18:11)
Jesus, you have come to the right place: the Episcopal Church has lost its way; save us from ourselves.
"What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?" (Matthew 18:12)
Help, Lord, it is the ninety-nine who have gone astray! Help us go after every sheep that has been led astray.
Holy Spirit, thank you for the high honor and calling you have given us: you have placed us in one of the most exciting mission fields in North America, the Episcopal Church. Help us to be faithful in answering your call.
"And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray." (Matthew 18:13)
Father, you have given us the opportunity to bring great joy to you and your son by bringing the ninety-nine back to you. Help us fulfill your joy!
"Even so it is not the will of your father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish." (Matthew 18:14)
Father, as we seek out the lost and the least, we know that we are in the center of your will; help us remain there.
"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother." (Matthew 18:15)
Jesus, brother sinned against brother at the General Convention: all sinned and fell short of your glory; help us go to one another in love.
"But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'" (Matthew 18:16)
Holy Spirit, help us to be faithful witnesses to one another; help us lead and call people back to Jesus.
"And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector." (Matthew 18:17)
Lord, this is from Matthew's gospel and he was a tax collector and you went after him and saved him. Help us remember that you are calling us to seek out the lost both inside and outside the church.
"Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 18:18)
LORD, give us a heart to loose and set the captives free.
"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19)
Holy Spirit, bring us to a quiet common mind in you as we seek the will of Jesus for this diocese and for the Episcopal Church so that the father's will may be done on earth as in heaven.
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)
Thank you, Jesus, for being here among us. Thank you that we are not alone, for you are with us.
A word received: I Am, don't be afraid.
***** Hi,
I spent 5 hours in the ER last evening while they checked out if I had congestive heart failure and/or a "silent" heart attack. Neither was the case! (Thank you, Lord!) While there I got to pray with the other guy in the room and give him a cross. I keep praying for opportunities to give away crosses. I am sometimes surprised at the way God finds to answer that prayer.
Love and blessing, Torre
Jesus, you told the Pharisees over and over again that their purity of doctrine was insufficient; please help us in the days ahead to remember to care for the lost and the least and to repent of despising your little ones who have been led astray.
"For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost." (Matthew 18:11)
Jesus, you have come to the right place: the Episcopal Church has lost its way; save us from ourselves.
"What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?" (Matthew 18:12)
Help, Lord, it is the ninety-nine who have gone astray! Help us go after every sheep that has been led astray.
Holy Spirit, thank you for the high honor and calling you have given us: you have placed us in one of the most exciting mission fields in North America, the Episcopal Church. Help us to be faithful in answering your call.
"And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray." (Matthew 18:13)
Father, you have given us the opportunity to bring great joy to you and your son by bringing the ninety-nine back to you. Help us fulfill your joy!
"Even so it is not the will of your father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish." (Matthew 18:14)
Father, as we seek out the lost and the least, we know that we are in the center of your will; help us remain there.
"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother." (Matthew 18:15)
Jesus, brother sinned against brother at the General Convention: all sinned and fell short of your glory; help us go to one another in love.
"But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'" (Matthew 18:16)
Holy Spirit, help us to be faithful witnesses to one another; help us lead and call people back to Jesus.
"And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector." (Matthew 18:17)
Lord, this is from Matthew's gospel and he was a tax collector and you went after him and saved him. Help us remember that you are calling us to seek out the lost both inside and outside the church.
"Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 18:18)
LORD, give us a heart to loose and set the captives free.
"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19)
Holy Spirit, bring us to a quiet common mind in you as we seek the will of Jesus for this diocese and for the Episcopal Church so that the father's will may be done on earth as in heaven.
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)
Thank you, Jesus, for being here among us. Thank you that we are not alone, for you are with us.
A word received: I Am, don't be afraid.
***** Hi,
I spent 5 hours in the ER last evening while they checked out if I had congestive heart failure and/or a "silent" heart attack. Neither was the case! (Thank you, Lord!) While there I got to pray with the other guy in the room and give him a cross. I keep praying for opportunities to give away crosses. I am sometimes surprised at the way God finds to answer that prayer.
Love and blessing, Torre
