A PERSONAL PRAYER
God, I thank you for making me who I am. You remind me that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, made with a purpose to give you glory. You tell me that you have planted within me spiritual gifts, awakened by the Holy Spirit at work within me. You have formed and shaped me with relationships and experiences, all with a purpose in mind. But too often, instead of claiming that identity, I try to be someone I am not. I try to be just like people I admire. I twist myself around to be who others want me to be. I work to live out the Christian life like it is a recipe in a cookbook, rather than embodying the Holy Spirit working in me to show how Christ can live and love in and through everything I do.
So, God, I want to do what you call me to do simply by being who I am in Christ. Liberate me, and give me the freedom to live authentically and joyfully, sharing your love with all. Put to death anything in me that is not truly from you. Eliminate any hypocrisy in me. Help me to live the new identity you gave me when you claimed me as your own, open me up to be willing to share that new identity, without reservation, with the world.
We pray in the name of Jesus, whose name shall be lifted up in everything, Amen.
SOME THOUGHTS TO SHARE
OK, I love the Astros. So the first two games did not go as we had hoped, but that is because it makes it so much more fun to come back from behind. Don’t hesitate to wear your Astros support gear this Sunday, October 27. (If you are a Washington Nationals fan, know that Livestream is available.)
We had a wonderful church conference last Sunday afternoon, October 20, with so much enthusiasm about the plans to put more substance to our vision: “A City Transformed by the Love of Jesus.” We voted to appoint a capital campaign committee, chaired by Bruce and Martha Hill Jamison, to make plans for a campaign in the Fall of 2020, and to appoint a building committee, chaired by Tim Hilpert, to design a community center on our Gethsemane campus to house a host of Connect Community and other youth-focused ministries. If you would like to watch a video of the presentations, click here. See the draft proposal here.
Last week was a commitment Sunday, as we rededicated our lives to the ministry of Christ, and made our commitments for our “Giving with Gratitude” generosity campaign to support the ministries of St. Luke’s in 2020. If you have not had the opportunity to make a commitment, you can do so here.
This Sunday, October 27, we will conclude our series on living a High Impact Life this week as we consider the story of the sower and the seed, found in Luke 8:4-15. The title of the message is “Let ‘er Rip.”
Did you miss last week’s message, “Count the Cost” on October 20? Watch it here.
PRAYER CALENDAR
Sunday, October 27
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your written word. Give us the desire to study the Bible and the self-discipline to read your word each day. Open our minds and fill them with your wisdom, and open our hearts and fill them with your love. Amen.
Monday, October 28
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me the gift of employment. I am so grateful to be able to provide for myself and the ones I love. It is so lovely to be reminded that work is a blessing even in the moments it can be difficult. Amen.
Tuesday, October 29
Heavenly Father, we pray for the youth in our Student Ministry. We pray that you would help them come to know you in new and powerful ways. We ask that you would help them to feel your presence in their life each day and to know how much you love them. Amen.
Wednesday, October 30
God of hope, we thank you for caring for us each day, and we thank you for giving us peace and joy that can only come from you. Thank you for always being with us and for never failing us. Thank you for handling all of the things that we cannot. You are our strength and our refuge. Amen.
Thursday, October 31
God of light, we pray that you would draw us closer to you and let your light shine through us. Give us opportunities to share your light with others, to push back the darkness of the world. In Jesus’ powerful name we pray, Amen.
Friday, November 1
Dear Lord, thank you for all of your blessings. Amen.
Saturday, November 2
God of peace, grant each one of us ever-expanding love and grace for our neighbors here in our city. Give us also peaceful and thankful hearts. We love you, Lord, and we thank you for your son, Jesus, our Savior. Amen.
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