"We Praise Thee, O God, Our Redeemer, Creator" - 22 November 2015 AM and PM

Sunday morning:

We praise Thee, O God, our Redeemer, Creator, In grateful devotion our tribute we bring; We lay it before Thee, we kneel and adore Thee, We bless Thy holy Name, glad praises we sing.

As your congregation, we give thanks to you, O God, because you give us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ‘s death and resurrection. Therefore, aid us that we may be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord Jesus, knowing that our labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15.57-58).  And similarly, give us the strength and self-control to never repay evil for evil, but to always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. To rejoice always, pray with ceasing and give thanks in all circumstances for this is your will for us in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5.15-18).

For your Church throughout the world, The Christian Reformed Church; United Reformed Church of North America; Reformed Church U.S.; Netherlands Reformed Church; the Evangelical Presbyterian Church; The PCA; the United Church of Canada; and the Association of Independent Methodists: that together we would lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and we would run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of your throne, O God. And that we would consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that we may not grow weary or fainthearted (Hebrews 12.1-3).

We intercede for brothers and sister, friends and foes. O Lord God, provide shelter and safe haven for those in the thick of life’s storms – whether its disease or bodily ailments…family or vocational jeopardy….financial or emotional woes….

Guide the leaders of every nation, especially in battle-weary lands, ravished and wrecked regions: for the sake of your Church, the honor of your name, and the good of many, bring sensible resolutions that will further safety and security, peace and prosperity, goodness and gallantry, compassion and courtesy, education and medicine, fresh water and full bellies.

Finally, God of merciful kindness, who does not desire the death of the sinner, but that they should turn and live (Ezekiel 18.23): For our friends, family members, neighbors, antagonists, leaders, magistrates and public servants who have turned their backs to you and not their faces (Jeremiah 2.27)……, cause them to recognize their perilous position, grant them repentance and lead them to a knowledge of the truth that they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been captured by him to do his will (2 Timothy 2.25-26).

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Sunday evening:

“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old” (Micah 7.18-20). Glory to you, Lord God, Most High!

LORD God, we pray for your one, holy, catholic and apostolic church in all places, to include Faith Fellowship Church; Faith Tabernacle; New Beginning Fellowship; Oklahoma City Family Church; Restoration Community Church; and Shekinah Fellowship. Since “whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully,” make us cheerful givers, and make all grace abound to us, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, we may abound in every good work. And you who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply our seed for sowing and increase the harvest of our righteousness (2 Corinthians 9.6-8, 10). O Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord God, we have so many reasons to give you thanks. As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday may gratitude and gratefulness swell in our hearts and from our lips, and ungratefulness and unthankfulness wither away. Favorably overshadow our time with family and friends during this season that our festivities may be fortunate and fitting. And may this be a season when many who may not be in the habit, will turn to you and voice your praise. O Lord, hear our prayer.

Father, who has given us parents to honor; guide the children of this congregation to obey their parents in the Lord because this is right. For the first commandment you gave with a promise is “Honor you father and mother that it may be well with you and that you may live long (Ephesians 6.1-3). Also, Father, guide the grown children who have struck out on their own now, launched their careers and begun their own families, to remember to honor their parents with respect and thankfulness, courteously receiving whatever godly counsel and advice their mothers and fathers extend to them. And Father, guide the adult children of this church to honorably care for, and wisely attend to, their aging parents in ways that show love, appreciation, respect; in ways that will be best. O Lord, hear our prayer.