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Thoughts Archived > How Do I Love Thee.....


6 Nov 2011

                                 

 

November 6, 2011

How Do I Love Thee....

John 17

 

 

John

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the time has come to Glorify your Son, so he can give glory back to you.  For you have given him authority over everyone in all the earth.  He gives eternal life to each one you have given him.  And this is the way to have eternal life - to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.  I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to do.  And now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.

"I have told these men about you.  They were in the world, but then you gave them to me.  Actually, they were always yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.  Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the words you gave me; and they accepted them and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.

"My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you.  And all of them, since they are mine, belong to you; and you have given them back to me, so they are my glory!  Now I am departing the world;  I am leaving them behind and coming to you.  Holy Father, keep them and care for them - all those you have given me - so that they will be united just as we are.  During my time here, I have kept them safe.  I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.

"And now I am coming to you.  I have told them many things while I was with them so they would be filled with my joy.  I have given them your word.  And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not.  I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.  They are not part of this world any more than I am.  Make them pure and holy be teaching them your words of truth.  As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.  And I give myself entirely to you so they also might be entirely yours.

"I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony.  My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father - that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.   

"I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are - I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one.  Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me.  Father, I want these whom you've given me to be with me, so they can see my glory.  You gave me the glory because you loved me even before the world began!

"O righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me.  And I have revealed you to them and will keep on revealing you.  I will do this so that your love for me may be in them and I in them."

 

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Thoughts.....

 

"Love him, love him, all ye little children.  God is love....God is love."

How can you not love someone who loves you this much?  He stretched out his arms and was nailed on a cross for you. 

He loves you so much....enough to give his life for you. 

Love him.

You must love him.

 

Consider reading the above scripture again.  Feel the embrace.  The enormity of God's and Jesus' love for you.

For your life.   

Receive him into your heart today.                                         

    

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Let Us Pray

 

The following prayers for Communion or The Lord's Supper are taken from The Book of Common Prayer*.  I generally use water, or cranberry juice, and a torn piece of tortilla....unleavened bread.  You may use grape juice, any other juice, or water, and bread.  Or you may just choose to pray the prayers without partaking of the symbolism.  

Pray:

Most merciful God, I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone.  I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbor as myself.  I am truly sorry and I humbly repent.  For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me; that I may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name.  Amen.

May the peace of the Lord be always with me.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Therefore I praise you, joining my voice with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest.

Holy and gracious Father:  In your infinite love you made me for yourself; and, when I had fallen into sin, and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share my human nature, to live and die as me, to reconcile me to you, the God and Father of all.

He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat:  This is my Body, which is given for you.  Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you:  This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.  Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died.  Christ is risen.  Christ will come again.

I celebrate the memorial of my redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.  I recall his death, resurrection, and ascension.

May I have unending life in him.  Sanctify me also that I may faithfully receive him, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day, may I be brought with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

All this I ask through your Son Jesus Christ.  By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.

And now, as my Savior Christ has taught me, I am bold to say,

My Father, you are in heaven.  I revere and honor your name.  May your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth, and in my life, as it is in heaven.  Give me this day my daily bread.....Jesus.  Please forgive me of my sins, as I forgive those who have sinned against me.  Please do not let me be led into temptation, and please deliver me from evil.  For you are the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.  Amen. 

Alleluia!  Christ has been sacrificed for me;  Therefore let me keep the feast.  Alleluia!  

I receive these gifts you have given me....Jesus and his salvation.  I accept them in remembrance that Christ died for me, and I will feed on him in my heart by faith, with thanksgiving. 

The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven. (Here, if you choose, eat the bread.)

The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.  (Here, if you choose, drink the juice or water.)  

Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted me as a living member of your Son my Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed me with spiritual food, in the sacrament of his Body and Blood.  Send me now into the world in peace, and grant me strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ my Lord. Amen.  

May I always go in peace with love to love and serve the Lord.  Thanks be to God. 

And may I share you with the world forever.  Amen. 

 

*Some verbiage has been modified to the singular, and for todays everyday language, as in the case of what is commonly referred to "The Lord's Prayer".

   

Lord,LordJesJeJeJJjEJJJ     JJThe LORD is king!  Let the nations tremble!  T***

 

More love.... 

  Benediction...Blessing

 

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 resources 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 Rhythms 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. 

It is not how we worship, but that we worship....the Trinity!   

 

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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 regularly to us or gifting us, so that we can further the work and carry out the will of the Father as proclaimed in Matthew 28:19-20 NLT

 to

 "Go and make disciples out of all the nations

baptizing 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 Current Cause

 

It is time to reach into the community and the world around you to see wherein lies the greatest need.  As you choose to focus on these areas, do so with a servant's heart.  Whether the need is for children, adults, or animals, or any cause in between that will help those in need, ask God how you can best serve his needs, what path you must take, and how long you should persevere.  Sometimes we are to be in the lives of others merely as stepping stones.  Sometimes we are to touch those lives forever.  Whatever journey you are called to take, whatever team you will be a member, know this:  God is with you always...even til the end of time.  He loves you, is grateful for you, and will help you along life's way, especially if you are helping others along theirs, persevering with a servant's heart. 

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

 

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

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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 Rhythms 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.

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Bible Authors and Minister