Deus Misereatur

A Minister’s Yearning and Congregation’s Reveling: Philippians 1.25-26 I’m taking the adults of our congregation through Philippians over the next several weeks. While reading, meditating, pondering and reflecting on that particular letter, a concept slowly rose up and slid its tentacles around my mind. I find this two-pronged thought needling me day and night. It is related to something I wrote back in July 2014, “A Minister’s Glory and Joy,” [1] but it goes a bit further and maybe a bit deeper. It’s found in the middle Philippians 1.25-26: “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus , because of my coming to you again.” As I stated, it is a two-pronged thought that covers a minister’s yearning and a congregation’s reveling. A Minister’s Yearning  The mission or purpose of every minister of Jesus Christ is to declare the praises and g...

O LORD you are our judge; LORD you are our lawgiver; LORD you are our king; it is you who will save us (Isaiah 33.22). Glory to you, O God, most high; glory to you, Lord God our hope; glory to you, who delights in our prayers. O God you are our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore supply us with such unswerving steadfastness and bolstered belief in you that we will not fear; even though the earth gives way, the mountains are moved into the heart of the sea, the earth’s waters roar and foam, the mountains tremble and swell (Psalm 46.1-3); whether economies collapse, or pandemics erupt; whether ailments assault us personally or calamity crashes into our lives. For we recognize that of all people we should always walk in buoyant conviction because Christ is risen from the dead and that makes us conquerors in all of these circumstances (Romans 8.35-39). O Lord, hear our prayer. We pray for your Church in all places, including Greater Trinity Baptist Church; ...