Plenty of opportunity for you...

 Verse for the week: “Unless the Lord builds the house,

    those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the watchman stays awake in vain.” Psalm 127

Prayer for the week: O Lord, do not keep silent. Speak to deliver us from the peril of our vain building. Hallow your name among us that our households may be set on the solid rock who is Christ and built by your strong word for us; through the same Jesus Christ, your Son , our Lord. Amen.  

Bible reading for the day: Galatians 6.6-10 (note: As he closes the letter to the congregation in Galatia, Paul articulates what our Christian freedom is for.)
Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. ⁷ Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸ For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. ¹⁰ So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.  

Prayer (based on the TRIP* method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you that we are put right with you and our neighbors not by what we do but by what Christ has done for us on the cross. Thank you! Again today, put to death my old, fleshy will that is so impressed with itself… and use me to do some good for my neighbor. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.  

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMY3ivdNzwE  

“I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord…”

What does this mean?  I believe that Jesus Christ — true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary — is my Lord. He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, and has freed me from sin, death, and the power of the devil, not with silver and gold, but with his holy and precious blood and his innocent suffering and death. He has done all this in order that I might be his own, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as he is risen from the dead and lives and reigns for all eternity. This is most certainly true! (from "The Small Catechism," by Martin Luther)  

benediction: The peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.  (Philippians 4.7) 

 

*The T.R.I.P. approach to prayer is based on the way Martin Luther prayed and taught others to pray.  It was later developed by Walter and Ingrid Trobisch and then adapted by Mount Carmel Ministries (Alexandria, MN www.dailytext.com).  The method is founded on scripture and easy to remember:

T: thanksgiving

                                                            R: regret (repentance)

                                                            I: intercession (asking God to take a specific action)

                                                            P: plan or purpose

Reading a biblical text and then applying this method gives one a sound, simple way to form one’s prayers...not to mention that it helps one learn how to faithfully reflect on God’s Word and talk to God.