Deus Misereatur

  Last Sunday I mentioned a rule of thumb I picked up from Martin Luther: crux probat omnia – the cross is the test of all things. I hope you’ll think that little statement over and ponder its implications and applications on your own, and with your family. If you want a verse to go with it, try Galatians 2:20. Or you can dwell on Colossians 1:12-23 or Philippians 2:1-11.   And here’s an example of how that rule of thumb, crux probat omnia , might look. William Willimon was a bishop in a “mainline” denomination that has been speeding down the dead-end alley of theological, social, and moral compromise. While he was in that position, he wrote a book on preaching titled, “Peculiar Speech.” A delightful book, by the way. And in that little manual he made this observation regarding his compromised denomination: “ Unable to preach Christ and Him crucified, we preach humanity and it improved ” (pg. 9). Ouch!   Now, that project sounds very familiar. “Humanity and it im...

  Mighty God, strong to save, you have willingly accommodated yourself to us by not only speaking the Holy Scriptures, but in sending your Son to us and for us. We pray for your Church and the World. For this congregation (gathered and scattered) we pray. Set captives free, open blind eyes, release prisoners, turn sorrows to gladness, and make our homes places of light, love, harmony and health. We ask your watchful care to be bestowed on your Church throughout the world, including Broadway UMC, Cornerstone, First UMC, Korean First UMC; and especially your people who are being hounded and harmed by predators and persecutors. Forgive us for trying to earn your unearnable love; stir up in us a greater trust and confidence in your Son Jesus Christ and help us to toss away all false doctrine and false living which tarnishes your generous kindness and your glorious majesty. Further, build up the ministry, and supply all the money needed for James Post and the RUF at OU. For all those wh...

  Father, who by your almighty and everywhere present power, upholds – as it were by your hand – heaven, earth, and all creatures, and so governs them that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, food and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, come not by chance but by your fatherly hand: In grateful solace and solicitous gratitude, may we be patient when things go against us, thankful when things go well, and for the future have good confidence in you our faithful God and Father that nothing in creation will separate us from your love; for we are convinced that all creatures are so completely in your hand that without your will they can neither move nor be moved (Heidelberg Catechism 27-28).   We ask you to strengthen those who are fighting against the carnage, inhumanity and evil in their lands. Please stop human trafficking. Please stop the harassment and harming of your Church. May all nations come to bow the knee to the Lord Jesus, and goo...

  Lord God our Father, we long to see your power, justice and majesty flow into every nook and cranny of creation. Therefore, we pray for your Church and your World. For this congregation (both gathered and scattered) we pray: hold us by your hand so that our feet may never slip. Turn our worries, fears, frettings and woes all into faith in you. Be pleased to continue to add to this your flock such as are being saved; and cause our retired guys coffee, Wednesday evening Catechism classes, Thrive!, Music Ministry, women’s Bible study, and Sunday School classes to aid us in glorifying and enjoying you better. Also, be with your Church all over the earth, including Cross Timbers Church, Joy Mennonite, Crown Heights Methodist, Resurrection Free Methodist and Edmond Free Methodist Church; as well as our brothers and sisters covered in persecution, famine, economic collapse and warfare. Oh Lord, strengthen what is pleasing to you, remove what is foul and festering, heal what is hurting, ...

  Praying the Ten Commandments Since righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34), and because our nation is celebrating its 250th Anniversary this year, we earnestly and heartily pray to you, O reigning God, for our country. Reflecting on the Ten Commandments, your law of liberty, we pray first and foremost ( Preface ) that all in this land would come to know that you are the life-giving, liberty-giving God, and that all would be set free and made alive in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. We also pray ( 1 st ) that all of us who are citizens and inhabitants of this land would come to know, trust and have you as the only true and living God. That we would ( 2 nd ) avoid all idolatry and worship you properly, from the State house to our house. That we would ( 3 rd ) treat your name with fear and reverence and honor your Word and works. We also implore you ( 4 th ) to work on our whole population so that on the Sabbath day we would come to happi...

O LORD, who created the heavens (you are God!), who formed the earth and made it (you established it; you did not create it empty, you formed it to be inhabited!), you have spoken and said: “ I am the LORD, and there is no other. I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I the LORD speak the truth; I declare what is right ” (Isaiah 45:18-19). It is to you we come to seek your face and call for help. We pray for this congregation, Messiah Lutheran Church, St. Mark’s, St. Paul’s, Trinity of Edmond, Trinity of OKC and Zion Lutheran, that we all may be united together by your Holy Spirit, in your true Truth, and around your Son Jesus. We additionally pray for all of the congregations in our Hills and Plains Presbytery that you would guide us in truly and humbly serving you in order that your name may be glorified before all people and that we would love truth and peace (Zechariah 8:19). And please, oh please, look on our b...