MARCH 2017 MBUMC FOCUS PRAYER

MARCH 2017 MBUMC FOCUS PRAYER

            You are invited to join the Prayer Ministry team in praying this prayer.

Jesus said, “The first in importance is, ‘The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.”

Mark 29-31 The Message

Be merciful to me, O God, because of your constant love.   Because of your great mercy, wipe away my sins.  Wash away all my evil and make me clean from my sin!  Generous in love—God, give grace!  Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.

Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry. (Psalm 51:1-2 GNT/MSG)

Help me to speak, Lord, and I will praise you. You do not want sacrifices or I would offer them; you are not pleased with burnt offerings. My sacrifice is a humble spirit, O God; you will not reject a humble and repentant heart.  Unbutton my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise.  Going through the motions doesn’t please you; a flawless performance is nothing to you.  I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered.  Heart shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice. (Psalm 51:15-17 GNT/MSG)

How can I stand up before God and show proper respect to the high God?  Should I bring an armload of offerings . . .yearling calves . . .thousands of rams . . barrels of olive oil?  Would God be moved if I sacrificed my first-born child, to cancel my sin?  But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women.  It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don’t take yourself too seriously—take God seriously. (Micah 6:6-8 MSG)

Merciful and generous God, open our eyes, hearts and minds to see your people both in our church and in our neighborhoods.  Give us wisdom and understanding to love people, not programs.  We have numerous opportunities to provide food for the body and food for the spirit, especially in Cards and Caring Ministries, Grace Group, Missions (food baskets, Mission Bell food pantry), OPUS, Restorative Justice Ministries (Kairos, Angel Tree, reVision Houston), School Ministries (Mentors, Backpack Buddies), Tailgate with a Hero, Vacation Bible School and West Oaks Ministry.  Together, let us encourage and love one another.  All this we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Here I am, Lord.  Is it I, Lord?  
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.  
I will hold your people in my heart.

H593, Here I Am, Lord, refrain, words/music Dan Shutte, 1981.