September 20, 2009

Matthew 28:20b

You Are Never Alone 

Matthew

Jesus said, "And be sure of this:  I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

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Thoughts...

It's not often I do one liners and seldom have I done that back to back if at all, but this morning seemed to call for it again....this morning ?...the Lord seemed to call it out to me this morning.  In a round about fashion I might add.  I woke up with a song on my heart.  I do that sometimes.  Being a product of the 'music revolution' of the 50's on up, I learned a lot of songs.  I used to sing, too, but do not anymore...well at least not in the way I used to.  The song reminded me of a time when I was a little girl...and I learned...united we stand....he and I.

That Sunday was a holiday celebration.  Easter or Christmas I suppose.  I was about 5, and, I was standing in church as the last one at the end of a procession of children who all had partners except me.  I was anxious, kind of scared, shy, reserved, intimidated.  As I recall, I was looking around for the person that would stand next to me...I remember my fear of being alone.  I didn't want to be alone.  The lady on my left saw my tears, or my fear.  She remarked to the lady on my right about me not having a partner.  The lady on the right said something like, 'Oh, she doesn't mind walking alone", as she turned to me and said, "do you?"  Followed by, "She'll be all right."  She was as focused on me as a nat might be in a windstorm.  The lady on the left felt my pain.  She gave me a hug and told me I would be okay.  She made me feel kind of safe.  But I still felt the tears.  I wanted to be a big girl and not cry.  I remember looking around for my Mom, but it was a very big church...atleast to a very little girl.  And I put my head down and closed my eyes to try and stop the tears, the fears, the pain....the sting.  No, it was more of an ache.   A longing to not be alone in that moment.  And then I heard this voice.  In a gentle, and deeply resounding, loving voice I heard, "Do not be afraid.  You are not alone.  Lo, I will be with you, even 'til the end of time."  I knew it was God.  Like the phrase that says, "I knew in an instant, it must be St. Nick."  I knew, that I knew, that I knew.  I never questioned.  I haven't questioned since.  

There have been many times in my life that I have heard God, Jesus and Holy Spirit.  I hear my Lord daily, within my heart, as I listen.  As I read a few lines of scripture this morning, I was reminded that Jesus would send his comforter, the Holy Spirit, to live in us and with us after he left the earth.  I am conforted indeed to know that all my life I have never been alone, and will never be alone.  You can have that assurance, too.

James Taylor sang, "Just call out my name, and you know wherever I am, I'll come runnin', to see you again.  Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call.  And I'll be there, yes, I will.  You've got a friend.  You've got a friend."  We do have a friend, and he will always be there no matter what our circumstances.  He may not like to find us in some places in life, but he'll be there.  And he calls us to rise above to the new life he has for us...even if rising above means humbling us.  If you will just call out to him and receive him, he will go to you, he will enter your hearts with thanksgiving.  Receive him today, so you will never be alone.  So the road you travel has less potholes, and rough edges.  So you can live in the fruit of life, not the desert.  So you can come off your pedestal, and place him on it instead.   United we stand.  Divided we fall.  Stand tall for him and with him today.     

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Let Us Pray 

Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world.  Have mercy on me, a sinner.  I know you can be there, please will you be there for me?  I believe you died for me and arose for me.  You took on my sins and have offered me eternal life.  Thank you.  I accept you as my Lord and Savior.  I tell you this day, I will earnestly try to obey you, and do more for those around me, as I continue to grow with you daily forever.  Come into my life and make me whole.  Give me a new life in you.  Stand with me, be with me, guide me, direct me.  Let me find you in everything, everywhere, as I look.  And if I don't see you there, help me to share who you are, that you are, and how wonderful you are, so that others can know you, too, and together we will be united...and not fall.   I hear your song...please...hear mine.  I love you.  Amen.

United We Stand*

There's nowhere in the world that I would rather be, than with you my love.

And there's nothing in the world that I would rather see, than your smile, my love.

For united we stand, divided we fall, and if our backs should ever be against the wall,

We'll be together, you and I. 

And if the world around you falls apart my love, then I'll be here.

And if the going gets too hard along the way, just you call, I'll hear.

For united we stand, divided we fall, and if your backs should ever be against the wall, 

We'll be together, you and I.    

As the Deer*

As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after Thee.

You alone are my hearts desire, and I long to worship You.

You alone are my strength, my shield,

To you alone may my spirit yield. 

You alone are my hearts desire, and I long to worship You.

You're my friend and You are my brother, even though You are the King.

I love You more than any other, So much more than any thing.

You alone are my strength, my shield,

 To You alone may my spirit yield.

You alone are my hearts desire, and I long to worship You.    

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 Benediction

Let us hear from Paul as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resouces he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT         

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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rythms of Grace'.

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation.  

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If you feel that the Church of the Holy Spirit has inspired or helped you, we'd like you to prayerfully consider tithing regulary to us or gifting us, so that we can further the work and carry out the will of the Father as proclaimed in Matthew 28:16 NLT

 to

 "Go and make disciples out of all the nations

baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:

I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

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  Our NEW Current Cause

My family and I, and the church, are in crisis and could desperately use your prayers and financial support.  Due to medical concerns, employment crisis, and economic devastation,  I do not have funding to meet everyday expenses right now for the church, or family, and home, nor those necessary to keep this website afloat, for those shut-in or needing spiritual support, nor the ability to help others along the way.  But I am confident that, with your help, balance can be achieved.  As God touches your heart, I hope you will pray earnestly for the church, my family and me, and send any amount of money you can to help.  Please note 'Church and Family' on your check, and, I will see that all funds get divided appropriately.  The church, I and my family, as well as to those to whom we reach out, will be sincerely grateful for anything you can do to help.  

Please accept my sincerest thanks....and may God bless you!

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 Checks can be made out to

Church of the Holy Spirit

and sent to

Church of the Holy Spirit

P.O. Box 86076

Tucson, Arizona

85754-6076

If you have any questions, we can be reached at:

1-866-402-GIFT

10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Mountain Time

As we grow, you will have options for allocating your gifts.

In the meantime, we hope you will trust us to direct them to where the need is the greatest.

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    One last thing....

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rythms of Grace'

 "Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

  Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

And the people said,

"Amen."

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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided.

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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

* United We Stand by The Brotherhood of Man

* As The Deer by Martin Nystrom 

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