Skip to main content

December 2017 Prayer Column: Envelope time

Image
By

Envelopes are in season once more, or soon will be, as we dig out and revise our last year’s Christmas lists and think rather dismally about the cost of stamps. We may sometimes feel envelopes are an awful waste of paper as we fling out the empties, but they do serve very useful functions, especially when sealed – here are three. They keep their contents safe, as cards or letters can’t fall out and get lost. Privacy is protected: nosey parkers can’t pry. And third, properly addressed they ensure safe delivery to the right house, avoiding much disappointment.

I know, I know, it’s all such obvious stuff! Have I nothing better to write? Well, yes, I was going on to comment on the possible parallels with being sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13). He keeps us spiritually safe – that we may lose nothing of what has been entrusted to us. And he ensures utter privacy, so our walk with the Lord and our prayers to the Father can be as intimate as we like. And delivery to the right address is the work of the Spirit too: it would not be nice to get to the pearly gates and have to be returned, rejected – “Not known at this address.” So it’s important to pray to be filled and sealed with the Holy Spirit at all times.

Roy LS

A prayer for each week

  • Heavenly Father, who sent Jesus to make us your children, please deliver us by your Holy Spirit – safe from all harm and hindrance – registered in your book of life. Amen.
  • Lord God of all things, Message, Messenger and Means of Delivery, please help us grasp the content and import of all you say to us, that we in our turn may run with it. Amen.
  • Lord of ultimate and everlasting security, holding all that is of true value for us in your heavenly safe box, please guard us during all our time of transit on earth. Amen.
  • Lord God who knows all things everywhere, you see the content of my inner heart and how I struggle in faith: please, by your Holy Spirit, hold me in your integrity. Amen.
  • Lord of all our destinies and destinations, as we come to you please keep us on course and intact, ridding us of all that distorts or denies the stamp of Jesus upon us. Amen.

Your own prayers
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Soupermums! Wilsden Trinity Church

By
Do you have a young baby? Looking for something to do? If the answer is yes then Soupermums is for you. We're here from 11 until 1 every Monday, Mums (and dads) have a rest and the babies can play. Have a lovely sit down whilst you sip on a brew. Enjoy having someone else make lunch for you! Come along to Wilsden Church, meet the rest of the group. Lovely ladies cuddle the babies, whilst you eat your soup. Chat with the mums, new friends you will make. Swap tips and advice over a slice or two of cake. So what are you waiting for? come on along, For homemade treats, good company and if you're lucky a song. We're looking forward to meeting you, please come take a peek, 11-1 at Wilsden Trinity, we're here every week! Celine V  (a Soupermum!) Where can new mums go, to have lunch where it’s warm and safe and you get to eat fresh soup and homemade cakes, while someone holds your baby? Too big an ask? Not at Wilsden Trinity! Every Mond
Post a Comment
Read more

A year in the life of Baildon Methodist Church

By
The snippets below are taken from Baildon Methodist Church report to the Charity Commissioners for the year ending August 2017. Church membership increased to 187 by the end of the year. As a further development of the Jesus Shaped People programme, which we found so inspiring, (https://www.jesusshapedpeople.net/) a five-week teaching programme entitled ‘Parables For Baildon’ again took place in the New Year, studying the relevance of the Parables in relation to living today. A ‘Family Focus’ leaflet, updated seasonally, was produced listing all activities and events available at Baildon Methodist Church for children and young families. Events during the year included a harvest supper and entertainment, a Gilbert & Sullivan evening, a comedy night, a Church Anniversary social, Action For Children Christmas Fayre and concerts by Village Voices, Aire Valley Male Voice choir and Woodhouse Grove School. In the autumn, the Church hosted a visit by a group of young Palestinian dan
Post a Comment
Read more

Message from the Ministry Team

By
Dear friends By the time you read this, we will already be a month through this new year. Where does the time go? It really does seem to go by ever more quickly, as each year passes. For children who have returned to school after the Christmas and New Year break, next Christmas will seem an age away. When I started secondary school, I couldn’t imagine getting to the end of school at 18. I worked out that I would be 35 at the turn of the century, but that seemed impossibly far away. So what makes time seem to pass quickly? After all, each week is made up of seven days and each day has 24 hours, whatever our age or stage in life. Responsibilities play a part: there are things we need to do at certain times, and any deadline always makes us aware of time ticking away as we approach it. We accrue responsibilities as we grow older and take on more senior positions at work, or have a family to look after. At church, we ta
Post a Comment
Read more