EChurch@Wartburg – 6.4.17

Welcome to a Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg

http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=25222&picture=arch-bridgeArch Bridge

Here Is Our Order of Worship

A Call to Worship link

God of Hope,
we come into your presence this morning
with confidence that you will meet us here.
Where there is sadness, bring joy;
Where there is tiredness, bring refreshment;
Where there is despair, bring a renewed sense of hope.
Let this place be a sanctuary,
a safe haven for us,
a home for holy words and songs and prayers
as we devote ourselves to you.
We pray this in Jesus’ name
Amen

A Prayer of Confession link

I confess to You, Lord, what I am: I am not the person I like others to think I am;
I am afraid to admit even to myself what lies in the depths of my soul.

But I do not want to hide my true self from You. 
I believe that You know me as I am, yet You love me.
Help me not to shrink from self-knowledge; teach me to respect myself for your sake;
give me the courage to put my trust in Your guidance and power.

I come with open hands and a receptive mind and heart today,
letting go of my fears, my need for control & my sin.
I trust you to know best. To keep my life in the light and bring it to completion as you see fit.

I trust you to shape me, see me, steer me, stir me, sustain me and sanctify me
as I seek to be available to do your will and be your child.
I pray this in the name of my Perfect Providing Father,
my Forgiving Savior, my Loving Lord and my Sanctifying Spirit, 

Amen.

Scripture Reading: Luke 17:1-10 (NASB Bible Gateway)

He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come!  It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 [c]Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ [d]forgive him.”

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.

“Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’? But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’? He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’”

Prayer for Forgiving Others link

Dear Merciful Lord,

Thank you for your gift of forgiveness. Your only Son loved me enough to come to earth and experience the worst pain imaginable so I could be forgiven. Your mercy flows to me in spite of my faults and failures. Your Word says to “clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.” (Col. 3:14) Help me demonstrate unconditional love today, even to those who hurt me. 

I understand that even though I feel scarred, my emotions don’t have to control my actions. Father, may Your sweet words saturate my mind and direct my thoughts. Help me release the hurt and begin to love as Jesus loves. I want to see my offender through my Savior’s eyes. If I can be forgiven, so can he. I understand there are no levels to your love. We are all your children, and your desire is that none of us should perish.

You teach us to “let the peace that comes from Christ rule in our hearts.” (Col. 3:15) When I forgive in words, allow your Holy Spirit to fill my heart with peace. I pray this peace that only comes from Jesus will rule in my heart, keeping out doubt and questions. And above all, I am thankful. Not just today, not just this week, but always. Thank you for the reminder, “Always be thankful.” (Col. 3:15) With gratitude I can draw closer to you and let go of unforgiveness. With gratitude I can see the person who caused my pain as a child of the Most High God. Loved and accepted. Help me find the compassion that comes with true forgiveness.

And when I see the person who hurt me, bring this prayer back to my remembrance, so I can take any ungodly thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5) And may the confidence of Christ in my heart guide me into the freedom of forgiveness. I praise you for the work you are doing in my life, teaching and perfecting my faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

– Kristine Brown

Benediction

The LORD bless you, and keep you;

The LORD make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.’

Numbers 6:24-26 (NASB)

Comments

EChurch@Wartburg – 6.4.17 — 18 Comments


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    1st


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    drstevej wrote:

    1st

    Gold!


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    Praying for more victims of terrorist attacks in London. πŸ™


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    Deb wrote:

    Praying for more victims of terrorist attacks in London.

    When will it stop.


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    @ Deb:
    yes


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    @ Velour:
    Thank you for this, VELOUR.
    God Bless!


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    Christiane wrote:

    @ Velour:
    Thank you for this, VELOUR.
    God Bless!

    Welcome, CHRISTIANE.

    God Bless you right back! Thank you, friend, for faithfully praying.


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    I loved the sermon on forgiveness. I have learned so much from the examples of forgiveness where people have been so hurt and yet have been ‘enabled’ by God to forgive ….

    I think of Corrie ten Boom’s story of forgiving her former jailer. So powerful this story:
    https://www.guideposts.org/better-living/positive-living/guideposts-classics-corrie-ten-boom-on-forgiveness

    And the story of Amish grace after the massacre of their children at Nickel Mines …. how can people be so enabled to forgive in this way without grace from God? If anything witnesses to me of God’s grace, it is how these gentle people were so quick to reach out the to family of the murderer of their own children …. this miracle in our time bears so much witness to the power of God’s grace, when all else fails, and we learn of God’s great power from these gentle souls, yes
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEiRZZtVcjY

    when our faith is tested and we cannot see the way forward, the examples of those who forgive in the way of Corrie ten Boom and also of the Amish at Nickel Mines ….. their examples point us to the Source of all peace and healing and we are dazzled by their witness and deeply thankful to God


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    Velour wrote:

    When will it stop.

    When will it stop? When the West overcomes its squeamishness about adopting the ways of the Israeli Mossad in gathering intel and hunting down Islamic extremists before they can carry out their crimes.


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    Well, I started college this week, it went well, and I am loving it!

    And, I am looking forward to the series on relationships!


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    Surgery tomorrow. Silly me, am a little bit anxious; but in good spirits otherwise and very, very grateful for the medical help….(partial corneal transplant, left eye)
    If you think of it and have time, a prayer would be appreciated so much. And thanks. Love to all. πŸ™‚


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    @ Christiane:
    Praying for you!


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    @ Deb:
    Thanks, DEB


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    Christiane wrote:

    Surgery tomorrow. Silly me, am a little bit anxious; but in good spirits otherwise and very, very grateful for the medical help….(partial corneal transplant, left eye)
    If you think of it and have time, a prayer would be appreciated so much. And thanks. Love to all.

    Praying for you, CHRISTIANE. What time is your surgery tomorrow?


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    Seekeroftruthweb wrote:

    Well, I started college this week, it went well, and I am loving it!
    And, I am looking forward to the series on relationships!

    Woo hoo! That’s wonderful!!


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    @ Velour:
    Thanks, Velour

    I’m to be at the surgery center by 10:30 am, but I don’t know how they have me lined up ordinally on the patient ‘conveyor belt’ πŸ™‚

    I’ve got a great eye surgeon and I’m lucky to get this work done, I know. Thanks for prayer, dear one.


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    @ Christiane:

    OK, sweet CHRISTIANE.

    Praying for you at tomorrow morning and for the surgery starting sometime after 10:30 a.m.