Good morning.
Today is Thursday,
March 11th,
2021.
O Lord,
Let my soul rise up to meet you as the day rises to meet the sun.
Glory to God,
The three-in-one,
Creator,
Redeemer,
And Sustainer,
As it was in the beginning,
Is now,
And will be forever.
Amen.
Come,
Let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before the Lord,
Our Maker.
Remind yourself that you are in God's presence.
Notice how God may be speaking to you today.
Let yourself dwell on any word or phrase that catches your attention or moves your heart.
And let your heart simply respond to God in prayer.
Please repeat these words.
Jesus,
You are the light of the world.
Open our eyes that we might see.
Our scripture today is John 8,
Verses 31 through 36.
Jesus said to those who believe in him,
If you live according to my teaching,
You are really my disciples.
Then you'll know the truth,
And the truth will set you free.
We are descendants of Sarah and Abraham,
They replied.
Never have we been the slaves of anyone.
What do you mean by saying you'll be free?
Jesus answered them,
The truth of the matter is,
Everyone who lives in sin is the slave of sin.
Now,
A slave doesn't always remain a part of the household.
An heir,
However,
Is a member of that house forever.
So,
If the heir,
The only begotten,
Makes you free,
You will be free indeed.
Please repeat these words.
Jesus,
You are the light of the world.
Open our eyes that we might see.
On Thursdays,
We pray for our families.
So,
I invite you now to picture your family.
Maybe it's your immediate family.
Maybe it's a family that you have chosen that you weren't born into.
Maybe it's your extended family,
Or even your ancestors who have come before you.
Wherever your mind goes in this space,
Lift your family before God.
Don't worry about diagnosing your family's needs or telling God what to do.
Simply hold your family before the God of creation,
The God of love.
May the love of God go before you and behind you,
Beneath you and above you,
On your right,
On your left,
When you rise and when you lie down.
May the love of God be with you.
May the love of God be in you.
We pray in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray.
Our Father in heaven,
Eternal God,
Earth maker,
Pain bearer,
Life giver,
Source of all that is and all that shall be.
Not only Father,
But Mother of us all,
May the hallowing of your name echo through the universe.
May the way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world.
May your heavenly will be done by all created beings.
May your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today,
Feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another,
Forgive us.
In times of temptation and test,
Strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure,
Spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil,
Free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
Now and forever.
Amen.
Jesus,
You are the light of the world.
Open our eyes that we may see.
Lead us to live according to your teaching and become your disciples,
That we may know the truth and be made free.
Amen.
And now my friends,
May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you wherever he may send you today.
May he guide you through the wilderness,
Protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
Go in peace.
