“To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:
Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.”
Jude 1:1b-2
Tag: mercy
A Prayer to the Lord of the Harvest
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.’”
Matthew 9:35-38
Dear Heavenly Father,
We praise you, Lord, that you are a God of compassion. Your compassion for the world caused you to send your Son to die on the cross for our sins. Then it was your compassion for each one of us that caused you to draw us out of the world to Yourself that we might live as your children, reflecting your bright light of love and truth to those around us.
Lord of the harvest, we ask you to send out workers into Your harvest field. As the world grows darker and evil becomes more apparent every day, we pray you would equip us with your eyes of compassion that we might see people around us as you see them: lost and in need of a Shepherd. Give us your heart of love, grace, and mercy, and let our words be the words of your Holy Spirit, filled with His power to soften hearts and open eyes to the truth so that there will be a harvest of righteousness in abundance.
Give us wisdom, discernment, and boldness as we walk in faith to whatever harvest field you call us, whether it’s to our next door neighbors, our friends, our family, across town or across the world, to share your truth in love with anyone you would have us. Prepare their hearts, Lord, and ours.
May you bind the work of the enemy, and keep us in prayer, as you open eyes, hearts, and doors for us, Lord, and give us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
In His mighty name we pray, amen.
Diamonds in the Darkness
I looked down and it was gone. I had no idea when or where, if I’d been at home or out in the great big world, but the diamond from my wedding ring was gone. Had it been sucked up by the vacuum? Had a bird snatched it from the lawn? Had it been kicked under shelving at the grocery? Only God knew.
I walked around the house, searching with laser-like vision.
Nothing.
I asked a few friends if they would pray for me, with me, that the Lord would lead me to it. And for the next number of weeks my normal walking position became with my head down, eyes furiously scouring every inch.
Still nothing.
I started to think I might have to get a new diamond.
Then one Wednesday night I walked into the darkened garage to go to the mid-week service, opened the car door which turned on the dome light, and started to slide into the driver’s seat. I looked down to make sure where I was placing my foot, and I saw something glimmer.
Could it be?
I moved my foot, reached down and picked up the shiny object.
It was.
My diamond had been resting on the dirty floor of the car all that time. Who knows how many miles it had languished there, how many times my foot had stepped there, but God knew.
I’ve had the prongs checked and tightened a couple of times (and once replaced) in the years since.
And I’ve thought about the allegory it represents for all of us in Christ.
Yes, we were all lost until Christ called us found.
And because of Him, by Him, through Him, we were made into precious gems. And still, He is constantly fashioning in us, by the chiseling of our trials, even more facets to reflect His beautiful light. And while we always shine, we reflect Him best in the darkness.
“You are the light (phōs) of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16
That Greek word phōs means to shine, or make manifest, especially by rays; luminousness, fire, light.
The more Jesus becomes our passion, the more our hearts are on fire for Him and Him alone, the more we’re going to shine with the eternal Light the world needs and is desperately searching for.
As dusk turns into night on this world, we can shine brightly for Him on the stand He’s given us.
Wherever He takes us, whomever He gives us, with whatever gifts He’s given us, may we shine.
Through our works, our speech, our fruit, may we shine.
With His triumphant truth, His compassion, His gentleness, His kindness, His forgiveness, His sacrificial, all-encompassing, grace- and mercy-filled love, may we shine like the Son.
Heavenly Father, may we shine with the Light of your Son through the power of your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Do You Believe This?
“Jesus said… ‘I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies;
and whoever lives and believes in Me
will never die.
Do you believe this?'”
John 11:25-26
Heavenly Father, we are in awe of the love, grace, and mercy you’ve shown to us through Christ’s death and resurrection, His victory over death, and ours. May we fix our eyes on you each day that we may know the power of Christ’s resurrection living and working in us, sustaining us, sanctifying us, transforming us into His glorious image. May we overflow every day with the same joy that filled the disciples that glorious, triumphant morning. In Christ’s precious name we pray, amen.
Happy Resurrection Day!
If you’re reading this and you haven’t yet believed that Jesus is who He said He is-the Messiah, the Savior, the Son of God sent to die as payment for your sins, that He is indeed God, and you have questions, please feel free to email me or message me on my Facebook page at the links to the right or at the bottom (depending on how you’re viewing this).
In Christ’s love,
Dorci
Putting Aside the Hard Shell
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV
Unclean Hands
I love court shows. Well, not all of them, but there are a couple I like to watch. Every once in a while one judge in particular will bring up the concept in the law of unclean hands. That is when a someone sues another person, but they themselves acted illegally, unethically or in bad faith.
This judge will usually explain it by using an example like this: let’s say someone sold another person illegal drugs and the buyer didn’t pay the seller the amount they agreed so the seller is suing for the money. The judge will explain that the courts can’t do that. They can’t make fair or right something that’s illegal.
We love justice. God built into us a sense of fairness, of right and wrong. That’s why people protest, why people speak out, why people love court shows.
The problem, though, is sometimes we’re all too willing to overlook our own sin.
There are times we stand in prayer before the Father, the ultimate Judge, with “unclean hands.” We’ve chosen to repeatedly walk a sinful path, to hold onto some sinful attitude, like not forgiving someone for the sin they’ve committed against us when God’s forgiven us for a lifetime of sin, and then ask Him to bless us.
Yes, we ask for forgiveness, and in Christ we are forgiven and won’t face eternal punishment for our sins, but when we’ve chosen sin we can’t expect God to bless us or protect us from the consequences of that sin.
Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Psalm 5:12
In Christ, God’s called us to a holy life, a life different than the world, a life of death to self’s indulgence to sin, not only to glorify Him but because He desires to protect us from the consequences that sin brings – the pain and suffering, the lack of peace, sometimes even an early death.
Our God is more gracious and merciful than any earthly judge, and for a time He may warn us to stop, but if we don’t heed His warning, He’ll give us over to sin’s consequences to teach us so we’ll stop sinning.
Or, every day, over and over, we can choose to take up our cross, die to ourselves and follow Christ who gave up His life for us. We can choose to be transformed by the renewing of our minds by the work of the Holy Spirit in us, knowing our righteous Father will bless us with His favor – His delight and good pleasure.
Course that doesn’t mean that by living righteously we’ll never suffer and it doesn’t mean every time there’s a trial in our lives we’ve done something wrong. It just means we live in a sin-filled world.
Someday all sin will be judged and the new world will be perfect the way God intended it to be in the beginning.
Until then, in the power of the Holy Spirit, we can choose to walk uprightly, glorifying our Heavenly Father, receive His blessings, and rest in His peace.
* * *
Heavenly Father, we ask not only for forgiveness for our sins, but from the heart we repent of them and turn from them. In your strength may we daily walk the narrow road and have eyes only for You. Thank you for the amazing grace and mercy we know we don’t deserve but that you’ve shown us over and over. May we never take it for granted nor abuse it. Out of our love for You and our gratitude, may we always choose to live righteously, giving our bodies to You as living sacrifices. In Jesus’ precious name, amen.
Saturday Song – I Will Carry You
Much of my life I seemed to walk alone. Or so I thought. Through more difficult days I can count, more trials, more stumbling and reaching out in the darkness for someone to help me up and thinking no one was there, now I see Jesus was.
It was He who led me, He who protected me, He who lifted me up again and again, and He who loved me through it all, and I know He always will.
I pray you know He’s there for you, too. I pray you know He carried your sins on the cross, even when He knew the sins that would stumble you, and He loved you still.
I pray you know when you’re in need He’ll provide for you; when you fall He’ll pick you up; when you’re empty He’ll fill you; when you’re lost He’ll come after you; when you’re broken He’ll weep with you, and then He’ll heal your heart, as many times as it takes.
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31
I Will Carry You
by Ellie Holcomb
by Ellie Holcomb
I know you’re tired, I see it in your eyesAll that anxiety that rules your mindI’ll be your shield when you don’t feel likeYou’ve got strength enough to fightI’ll stand by your side
I will carry youThrough your darkest nightWhen you’re terrifiedI will carry youWhen the waters riseWhen your hope runs dryI will carry you
You are not the sum of your mistakesYou don’t have to hide the parts of you that acheI choose you as you are a million times‘Cause I am not ashamed of youI won’t walk away from you
I will carry youThrough your darkest nightWhen you’re terrifiedI will carry youWhen the waters riseWhen your hope runs dryI will carry you
Up and over the mountainsValley deep as the oceanWhen you can’t keep goingI will shoulder your burdensUp and over the mountainsValley deep as the oceanWhen you can’t keep goingI will shoulder your burdens
I will carry youThrough your darkest nightWhen you’re terrifiedI will carry you (carry you)When the waters riseWhen your hope runs dryI will carry you
I will carry you, carry youThrough the darkest night (you)When you’re terrified(I will shoulder your burdens)I will carry you, carry youWhen the waters rise (you)I will carry you
2022 National Day of Prayer
“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord,
so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted
and now being built up in Him
and established in your faith, just as you were instructed,
and overflowing with gratitude.”
Colossians 2:6-7 NASB
Thursday, May 5 is this year’s National Day of Prayer, and boy do we need it. The date has come in the middle of this nation’s war, quite literally, between life and death.
The theme given for this year is ‘Exalt the Lord, who has established us,’ which is based on Colossians 2:6-7.
The Hebrew word for exalt, when exalting the LORD, means “to be high actively, to rise or raise, to lift up.
In our dictionary exalt means to raise in rank, honor, power, character, quality, to elevate.
To praise.
It is to see God and acknowledge Him for who He is: the Righteous One who judges all and through Christ shows mercy. To humble ourselves before Him, elevating Him in our hearts, minds and souls, praising Him as the King of kings and Lord of lords, seeking Him to do His will on earth as it is in heaven, to do in His strength what we can never do alone.
Let’s lift our voices together, coming to the throne room of God to praise Him and to seek His mercy.
Heavenly Father, the Holy and Exalted One, the One worthy to be praised and glorified forever and ever, our Creator, our Giver of Life, and Redeemer, we lift you up as our Lord and King.
We humbly come before you on behalf of this nation that has been ravaged by the evil one and has turned away from you and your truth and believed lies.
Father, we ask for the merciful pouring out of your Holy Spirit to give people eyes to see and ears to hear the truth, to believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior, the one who bore all our sins on the cross that we might be forgiven of all our sins and have life with you now and forever.
We pray you would pull the spiritually lost and blinded back from the brink of hell.
Father, we pray, though, that those who have yet to know you, who are believing and proclaiming and fighting for lies, would see your love in us.
Help us remember that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12)
Though we are angry at the sin because it destroys the sinner, may we be your lights, shining your love and grace and mercy to all those whose hearts will receive you.
May you grant repentance, LORD, and freedom for the captives.
We are humbled and blessed beyond comprehension that you know us, and have opened our eyes and hearts to know you. Thank you for revealing yourself to us in the pages of your Word. May our love for you and our faith in you grow more passionate every day. We pray in the precious name of Yeshuah Hamashiach, Jesus the Messiah, the Anointed One, the One who was, Who is, and is to come. Amen.
Walking Through Holy Week – 1
“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist.
After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.”
John 13:1-5
Sunday Praise and a Prayer As We Look Forward
“{The disciples} brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’
‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’
‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!'”
Matthew 21:7-9
***
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
And they cried out in a loud voice:
‘Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.’”
Revelation 7:9-10
Dear Heavenly Father, we praise you today and every day as we remember what you’ve done through your Son, and what you have prepared for our future.
Christ’s triumphal entry was but a small foretaste of the victorious never-ending glory we’ll revel in while in the presence of our Savior and King.
Thank you, Holy Father, for your immeasurable grace and mercy. Through all we must endure here, we look forward to this most joyful time, celebrating with You and one another the victory you’ve won for us.
In Jesus’ most holy and precious name we pray, amen.