We begin our prayer time in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. + Amen.
“I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.” Martin Luther
‘Adoration’
1 Kings 8:22-24; “Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven and said: “Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below; you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it; as it is today.”
From where I am sitting in my Assisted Living facility here in Bloomington, IL today, looking out my bedroom window to the East; it looks a lot like last month except the trees are showing more shades of green. The learned worldly voices talking about global shifting of this and that really need to hear something that they have either forgot or choose not to follow. Listen to the birds singing and the squirrels chirping. God is in Control. For many of us in the Midwest, this past winter was challenging, gray, windy, cold and brutal. And we have also weathered a few tornado warnings and violent storms. God is still in Control. Today, several weeks after Easter, the color of green is everywhere in the grass, flowers are blooming and leaves are beautifully filling out tree branches. God is in Control. Thank heavens…God is in Control. As we see life sprouting up around us, we are reminded of our Lord’s resurrection from the tomb and our hearts, mouths and senses give praise to our Heavenly Father for all that He has done in this planet since Creation.
A time of ‘Adoration’ to our Heavenly Father.
· Please take time to sit quietly and gaze at His creation and feel His presence in your life.
· Think about the provisions, protection, hope and love that surround you because of His unfailing love for you.
· Give thanks for where God has placed you and the gifts that you were given to use for Him along your journey.
‘Confession’
Acts 3:19-20; “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you; even Jesus.”
We were born, sinful and unclean, through no fault of our own, but because of the sins of our parents, grandparents…Adam and Eve.
God sent His only Son to die for our sins. Jesus did everything right while he was here on this earth. He loves you with a love that cannot be measured. He gave to the world when no thanks were returned to Him. He healed when there was no hope, and He died without complaint. Jesus did nothing wrong and everything right; all this for you. He lived for you and died for you. Our sins nailed Him to the cross on Calvary and kept Him there until His life on earth had ended.
· A time of personal confession.
Our sins are placed at the base of the Calvary cross...His cross, and we give thanks that the times we have fallen short in the eyes of our Heavenly Father have been washed clean and we have been forgiven through the Blood of our Risen Savior Jesus Christ.
‘Thanksgiving’
Another year since last June and the people of Haiti are still experiencing severe challenges from gangs within their country. The Government has once again extended the last day of this school year into July due to disruptions caused by gangs. There have been severe challenges within Port-au-Prince and they have multiplied and spilled into towns throughout Haiti. There is much to give thanks for because so many schools are still in session despite these challenges; children are being brought closer to Jesus and they continue to be fed. Over 65,000 Haitian school children are being fed through a Trinity HOPE feeding program in 301 schools. Much to be thankful for; the lives of the 65,000 children and their parents are prayerfully strong and are sharing the reason for their Hope that is found only in Jesus Christ with others; believers and un-believers, within their family and throughout neighborhoods.
Psalm 30:10-12; “Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; Lord, be my help.” You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.”
Heavenly Father, we come to You now with hearts, minds and words filled with ‘Thanksgiving’.”
· We give thanks for our Creator, Redeemer and Holy Spirit.
· We give thanks for having a Savior who gave His life for our sinfulness; “your sins are forgiven”. HE is Risen!
· We give thanks our providence; monetary, food, clothing, timely moisture and shelter. As we give of our first fruits may we also give a portion of our best to His children in Haiti who need the assistance we can provide because of You.
· We give You thanks for protecting the children, teachers and students in their schools.
· We give thanks for parents and many neighbors who are standing together to confront gang members who come to cause disruptions to schools.
· We give thanks for many new schools now having Trinity HOPE feeding programs.
‘Supplications’
Ephesians 6:18-20; “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”
We give thanks for blessings and we reach out for help, wisdom, guidance and deliverance. We need to continue to pray for a peace to descend upon Haiti and that ALL the people living there would turn to the Cross of Christ. We pray that young men would depart their gangs and unscrupulous behavior and turn away from satan. Repent and accept Jesus as Lord of their lives and turn away from vodou, gangs and self-promotion. And when that comes to pass, may a new wave of Christian leaders fill seats in the Haitian government and may they seek our Heavenly Father’s direction and follow it and cease the corruption that has for too long crippled their country that for too long has been labeled ‘third world’. Come Lord Jesus, come. Bring peace and a country wide celebration for a new beginning with a closer fellowship with Jesus Christ. Come Lord Jesus…come.
Heavenly Father, we bring our supplications before You;
· Heavenly Father, please continue to lead and bless Trinity HOPE with Your loving hand; may the number of children increase and may we always strive to accomplish Your will in helping to prepare them for Your work.
· Father, please watch over and bless the efforts of fundraising work in our country so that more children can be fed.
· Lord of the Harvest, please bless the efforts of the Haitian farmers as they plant their gardens that provide for their families; nutritionally and financially.
· Heavenly Father, please bind the evil foe that brings challenges in the forms of inflation, vodou and gangs. Protect Your people living in Haiti.
Lord God, bless Your Word wherever it is proclaimed. Make it a Word of power and peace to convert those not yet Your own and to confirm those who have come to saving faith. May Your Word pass from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the lip and from the lip to the life that, as You have promised, Your Word may achieve the purpose for which You sent it; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:11-14; “Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints send their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
“I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.” Martin Luther
May God go before you to guide you; may His arms be beneath you to support you, around you to protect you and above you to bless you. And may the blessings of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you always dear sister and brother in Christ,
In His love, Jay Brinkmeyer