31.1.09
20.1.09
Rick Warren's Prayer Today at the Inauguration
I thought this was fantastic ... way to go Rick Warren
Almighty God, our Father:
Everything we see, and everything we can’t see, exists because of you alone.
It all comes from you, it all belongs to you, it all exists for your glory.
History is your story.
The Scripture tells us, “Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.
Now today, we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time, we celebrate a hinge point of history with the inauguration of our first African-American president of the United States.
We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where a son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.
Give to our new president, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity.
Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the Cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.
Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans—united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all.
When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you—forgive us.
When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone—forgive us.
When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve—forgive us.
And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes—even when we differ.
Help us to share, to serve, and to seek the common good of all.
May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy, and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet.
And may we never forget that one day, all nations--and all people--will stand accountable before you.
We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle, and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.
I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life—Yeshua, 'Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus—who taught us to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
Almighty God, our Father:
Everything we see, and everything we can’t see, exists because of you alone.
It all comes from you, it all belongs to you, it all exists for your glory.
History is your story.
The Scripture tells us, “Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.
Now today, we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time, we celebrate a hinge point of history with the inauguration of our first African-American president of the United States.
We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where a son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.
Give to our new president, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity.
Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the Cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.
Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans—united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all.
When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you—forgive us.
When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone—forgive us.
When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve—forgive us.
And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes—even when we differ.
Help us to share, to serve, and to seek the common good of all.
May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy, and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet.
And may we never forget that one day, all nations--and all people--will stand accountable before you.
We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle, and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.
I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life—Yeshua, 'Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus—who taught us to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
18.1.09
Today at Connect
I got to preach today at Connect. As I prepared the talk, I had this clear message from God. He wanted me to share a simple truth from Proverbs 3 and Psalm 90. I struggled with it. I had a lot of questions. I just wanted to make sure it was from Him and not from me.
So ... after over two weeks of preparation, I delivered the talk and I believe God was honored. I'm sure I did what He wanted me to do.
I shared truths out of Proverbs like
... do not forget my teaching. I particularly struggled with this part because so many times I forget God's teaching and cram though life on my own teaching. Not what God wants!
... do not let love and faithfulness ever leave you. I told a story about a gang member at Francis Chan's church. I read it this week on the Catalyst filter. It was a moving story about a gang member who got more out of gangs than he did the church. He said that gangs love more than two hours a week.
... trust in the Lord with ALL your heart. What does it look like for a person to trust God with all their heart? I struggled with this one too. I want to trust God with all my heart. I want Connect to trust God that much as well.
... do not be wise in your own eyes. This one was yet another hard phrase to talk about. I mean, we Americans are so guilty of this one! We think we have so many things figured out! Only in God will things ever be right.
... honor God with your wealth. We are so rich! God wants us to honor Him with our wealth. He gave it to us in the first place. He wants us to honor Him with it. What does it really look like to honor God with our wealth?
Speaking in public makes me really nervous. It always has. I have to trust in God to ever get anything said worth saying. It is painfully hard for me to hear God and deliver His message. I hope I did today.
On a personal note ... I love God! I love the way He works. I love His mystery. I love the way He chooses to do things and I love the fact that He doesn't tell us everything He's up to. Praise Him. He is before all things and worthy of my praise forever and ever and ever!!!!!!
So ... after over two weeks of preparation, I delivered the talk and I believe God was honored. I'm sure I did what He wanted me to do.
I shared truths out of Proverbs like
... do not forget my teaching. I particularly struggled with this part because so many times I forget God's teaching and cram though life on my own teaching. Not what God wants!
... do not let love and faithfulness ever leave you. I told a story about a gang member at Francis Chan's church. I read it this week on the Catalyst filter. It was a moving story about a gang member who got more out of gangs than he did the church. He said that gangs love more than two hours a week.
... trust in the Lord with ALL your heart. What does it look like for a person to trust God with all their heart? I struggled with this one too. I want to trust God with all my heart. I want Connect to trust God that much as well.
... do not be wise in your own eyes. This one was yet another hard phrase to talk about. I mean, we Americans are so guilty of this one! We think we have so many things figured out! Only in God will things ever be right.
... honor God with your wealth. We are so rich! God wants us to honor Him with our wealth. He gave it to us in the first place. He wants us to honor Him with it. What does it really look like to honor God with our wealth?
Speaking in public makes me really nervous. It always has. I have to trust in God to ever get anything said worth saying. It is painfully hard for me to hear God and deliver His message. I hope I did today.
On a personal note ... I love God! I love the way He works. I love His mystery. I love the way He chooses to do things and I love the fact that He doesn't tell us everything He's up to. Praise Him. He is before all things and worthy of my praise forever and ever and ever!!!!!!
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