How have you been celebrating Independence Day this year? Has it been different from years past? Perhaps there is sadness, grief, or even anger. I hope that hard days are few for you and that you have peace, hope and gratitude even in these circumstances. We began our holiday weekend with a long-awaited visit from our son and daughter-in-law. They drove two hours to sit on our deck, share a meal and conversation, enjoy summer weather and time together, then drive back to Columbus. We respected the coronavirus threat by keeping our distance and were able to pray with thanksgiving to our Father God who provides for us, knowing that He has this day and the future in His hands. On the 4th, we celebrated by taking some watermelon to a neighbor who lives alone, by watching a holiday car parade from our porch, by sitting outside as the sun set, watching fireflies and fireworks in the distance, anticipating Sunday morning worship shared over the internet.
Kyle, Dave and Lisa with Eric and wife Amanda on July 2, 2020
For the 16th Sunday, please pray with me.
Our Gracious God, Giver of all Good Things, we praise you for your perfect ways and your unconditional love, love poured out on the world through Jesus Christ. We love because you first loved us. Our love sometimes fails, but yours never does. Help us to be truly grateful for all the blessings you have poured out on us and to truly love our neighbors as ourselves.
We are grateful for the sacrifices made by our ancestors through the years. They left their homelands to come to America, seeking to find a place of opportunity to raise their families. Some fought and died to win the freedoms we enjoy and often take for granted. They built homes, towns, churches, farms, and businesses, working with their hands and helping their neighbors. They were here in the time and place you set for them, and so are we.
Lord, help us to humble ourselves before you, to allow you to search our hearts and reveal attitudes that are not right in your eyes. May we open our minds to the truths you want to teach us from your Word, while recognizing and rejecting lies that we have believed about our ourselves or our past. May we honor men and women who have gone before, people who were created in your image, people who were sinners in need of a savior, just as we are.
As we look around, watch or read the news, have conversations, may your Holy Spirit shed light on the purpose you have given us in this time, in this place. May we appreciate every good gift from you and look for ways to share those gifts where they are needed. If we have food and clothing in abundance, do not let us turn away from the hungry and poor. If we have faith and hope, may we use every opportunity to share the reason with those who are searching.
If we have peace, help us to fight against discord and division, to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Like Jesus, help us to see how we can lay down our lives for our friends and how we can love even our enemies until your kingdom comes and your will is done on Earth as it is in Heaven. God, please bless America with an outpouring of your Spirit. Amen.
Isaiah 58:6-7
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?