Salvation

O LORD, you are my God;
I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
you have done marvelous things,
things planned long ago.

In that day they will say,
"Surely this is our God;
we trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the LORD, we trusted in him;
let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation." (Isa. 25 NIV)

This past weekend I traveled out of state to visit my parents, sisters, and their families. In the process of the weekend visit I was thinking about an upcoming worship series at our church that, in part, talks about the end times. And I was grieving for the selfishness and pain and sorrow in our world.

While I know that all these things are the norm in a "bent" world (CS Lewis's term), I also know that they will be eliminated only after Christ's return and the start of the New Heaven and New Earth. In the meantime, there are millions of people languishing in sin, sorrow, selfishness, and without the trust in Christ for their future. Would you join me in praying for their salvation?

God,

O LORD, you are our God; We will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.

You said you want to draw all people to you - that you want all to be saved from eternity without you. We claim that promise for these loved ones and friends that we name now ....

....for my cousin and her family - that they would know Jesus as the Messiah they have awaited

...for my uncle, aunt, and cousin - that they would come back to the Truth, Way, and Life you offer

...for my relative whose "fruit" is destructive in the family - replace that heart of stone with a heart for your love alone and let it then flow out to bless the family

... We pray that your salvation would spring up within them, that they would be drawn by your Spirit into your arms of love. We pray they would accept this gift of grace you offer to them and trust you for their salvation, their purpose, their healing, and their abundant life lived in you. We pray they would then rejoice in their salvation and live lives pleasing and honoring to your Kingdom. Lord Jesus, it's in your name we pray....Amen.

"To the Ends of the Earth"

Love unfailing

Overtaking my heart

You take me in

Finding peace again

Fear is lost in all You are

And I would give the world

To tell Your story

'Cause I know that You've called me

I know that You've called me

I've lost myself for good

Within Your promise

And I won't hide it

I won't hide it

Jesus I believe in You

And I would go

To the ends of the earth

To the ends of the earth

For You alone are the Son of God

And all the world will see

That You are God

That You are God

Tonight's blog/prayer entry is simply based on Isaiah 66:

¹This is what the Lord says:

Heaven is my throne.
The earth is my footstool.
Where can you build a house or resting place for me?
²I have made all these things.
“That is why all these things have come into being,”
declares the Lord.
I will pay attention to those
who are humble and sorry for their sins
and who tremble at my word.

¹⁸Because of their actions and their thoughts,
I am coming to gather the nations of every language.
They will come and see my glory.
They will tell about my glory among the nations.

²²“The new heaven and earth that I am about to make
will continue in my presence,” declares the Lord.
“So your descendants and your name
will also continue in my presence.
²³From one month to the next and from one week to the next
all people will come to worship me,” declares the Lord. (Isa. 66 GW)

Great Big God,

Hear our prayers of confession ... forgive our sins...free us from our sinful nature. We join with all of heaven and believers on Earth in proclaiming your glory, your grace, your salvation. You said you are coming for us, and we believe, Lord! We claim your promises and stand on the truth of your Word. Gather us and all believers in all times and places into unity for your Kingdom. May your children rise up and worship you wholeheartedly. We pray for those in our world who need to come to salvation, who need your healing, your freedom, your love, your power. We pray especially for those who are far, far away from you and pray that by your Spirit you would draw them into your arms, break their hearts of stone, and give them hearts for you alone. Help us to be light-bearers and truth-speakers and love-givers in our local world and in the greater world beyond our community. Give us courage to go to the ends of the earth with the good news of salvation in Jesus. In his name we pray, Amen.

"You Said"

You said

Ask and you will receive

Whatever you need

You said pray and I'll hear from heaven

And I'll heal your land

You said

Your glory will fill the earth

Like water the sea

You said

Lift up your eyes

The harvest is here

The kingdom is here

You said

Ask and I'll give the nations to you

O Lord that's the cry of my heart

Distant shores and the islands

Will see Your light as it rises on us

Oh Lord I ask for the nations...

You Said - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEpaG4VlBcA

© 1998 Hillsong Publishing (Admin. in U.S. & Canada by Integrity's Hosanna! Music)

by Reuben Morgan

To the Ends of the Earth - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPpvuFNoOjQ

- Joel Houston & Marty Sampson 2002 Hillsong Publishing (Admin. in U.S. & Canada by Integrity's Hosanna! Music)

Anointed for ministry

 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, 

       because the LORD has anointed me 

       to preach good news to the poor. 

       He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 

       to proclaim freedom for the captives 

       and release from darkness for the prisoners,

 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor 

       and the day of vengeance of our God, 

       to comfort all who mourn,

 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— 

       to bestow on them a crown of beauty 

       instead of ashes, 

       the oil of gladness 

       instead of mourning, 

       and a garment of praise 

       instead of a spirit of despair. 

       They will be called oaks of righteousness, 

       a planting of the LORD 

       for the display of his splendor.  (Isa. 61 NIV)

Isaiah said this....Jesus claimed it...May God give you the sense of having the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord upon you...And may you know exactly what GOD is calling you to today, this week, and in this season of your life.  May you be a blessing and may you be blessed.  Amen.