"May the God of All Grace..."

As I prayed the Benediction at the close of our 10:30 a.m. worship service this past Sunday, these words of blessing just spontaneously came to my mind and out of my mouth. May it also be a blessing to you today.

"May the God of all grace, the God Who sent His Son to take your place...

May the God Who knows your every care... meet you this week every day and everywhere.

May you know the peace that only Heaven gives, and during your days may you proclaim: "HE LIVES!"

In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Go in Peace.

You are Loved."

Grateful

"Guidance" -- A Poem to Pray

A young mother, Jen, shared with me a poem written by her great-grandmother and passed down to her. I shared it as the benediction for our Sunday worship services yesterday. It was obvious to see that the "poem to pray" deeply touched everyone present. Pray it with me now:

Guidance

Help us Lord in this depressing time.
To live and be wholly Thine.
To lead us by Thy guiding hand,
Through all the unrest of this land.
May we trust Thee as our friend, When us to Thy will doth bend.

Fill us with Thy love so great,
That leaves no room for strife or hat,
That we will serve Thee with our hearts,
And never from Thy ways depart.
Give us wisdom that we know,
How to deal with friend or foe.

Then let us serve thee in Thy way,
Se we can face Thee on that day.
Help us not Thy work to shun,
But hear Thee say, "Well done," 
And, we, through they matchless love,
Will then receive a crown above.
-- Mrs. W.L. Zembower

Deo Volente -- Whatever God Wants!
Grateful

All Your Plans

Author Henri Nouwen's mentor, Jean Vanier—who founded the L'Arch Communities for those with mental and physically handicaps and disabilities—gave this benediction blessing over Nouwen at his ordination service:

May all your expectations be frustrated.
May all your plans be thwarted.
May all your desires be withered into nothingness,
That you may experience the powerlessness and poverty of a child
and sing and dance in the love of God the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Amen and Amen.

Lord, in our dreams may Your dreams come true.
Grateful

Today I Must Sing A Blessing Over Your Life!

On my way to the airport in route to preach at a season of revival services in Wisconsin, an original benediction came to my mind so clearly that I just had to write the words down on a note pad. It was almost like a song, so much so, that I sang it loudly over and over in the cab of my Ford as I traveled west on Interstate 66 towards Washingtoin, D.C. It was so refreshing to my own soul, that today I just must sing it as a blessing over your life:

Grace, Peace and Godspeed to you!
May your life be totally full...
of His Spirit and His Love,
and All Joy from above.
Grace, Peace and Godspeed to you!

The LORD your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and He will refresh your life with His love. -- Zephaniah 3:17 (CEV)

God is Love and You Are Loved!
Grateful