jeff's blog

As you approach the throne of God,
may you open your heart to the Lord,
not thinking of yourself more highly than you ought,
not seeking to cover your transgressions
from the one who knows all things.

May you treat every person with grace
knowing at one time we all lived
under the dominion of sin.

And may you remember the Lord Jesus Christ,
born of the Virgin Mary,
who entered into the world of suffering,
whose death and resurrection declares to all creation
that suffering will not be the last word.

May you walk in the paths of righteousness,
may you stand in the truth of the Word,
may you dwell in the house of the Lord.

May you know God,
not by his title,
but by his name,
the I will be who I will be,
the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

And may he also be your God
watching over your ways
as you walk in his footsteps.

May you live a life of integrity
careful to walk a blameless path
in the sight of God.

May you sing of God’s love and justice,
a messenger of the stories
of his deliverance in your life.

And may you search for faithful companions
as you journey through life
partners in joy and sorrow
blessings from God
for those who trust in Him.

May you trust in God’s promises to his people
peace
security
blessing
even when they are difficult to believe.

May you know that God’s news is good news,
nourishing
true
even when people tell you it is not.

And when you encounter doubt,
may you strengthen your belief
guiding you in his perfect wisdom and counsel.

May you serve God freely
for no reward
simply because He is the Lord.

May you walk with Him
speak with him
share your life and soul with Him
as a friend speaks with a friend.

And may you cling tightly to God
serving him both through good times and bad
giving him your joys and sorrows
opening your heart and mind
to the one who holds you in his hand.

May you approach the throne of God with humility,
trusting not in your own righteousness
but in the power of a mighty God.

And may you find the mercy and grace of Christ
delivered to you
given freely to those who earnestly seek him.

May you seek the justice of the Lord
with passion and persistence
trusting his ability to render a fair verdict
in all things.

May you be a voice of change
crying in the desert
speaking for those who have no voice.

And though there are no grapes on the vines
and no cattle in the fields
may we be a people
who beat swords to plowshares
who rejoice in the Lord
who are joyful in the God of salvation.

May you accept with grace the blessings of Christ.

May he heal you -
restore your sight,
cure your sores
soothe your soul.

And as you encounter Jesus,
may your life be transformed
by his healing power -
a new creation in the service of heaven.

John the Baptist sent disciples to Jesus and asked him
“Are you the one we’re expecting
or should we wait for someone else?”

And Jesus said to them:

Go back and tell John what you see:
the blind see
the lepers are cured
the deaf hear
the dead are raised to life
and the good news is preached to the poor.

May the deeds of your hands,
and the words of your mouth,
and the meditations of your heart
be pleasing in the sight of God.

May you receive and extend the blessing of the Lord.
May you be faithful and trustworthy in all things.
And may you serve with full devotion the God of All things,
His hands and feet in a world of desperate need.

There is a new day coming, says the Lord. A day when I will make a new covenant with my people. I will put my insturctions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors or their relatives saying “You should know the Lord!” Everyone, from the least to the greatest, will already know me. And I will forgive their wickedness, and remember their sin no more.

May the unending and unfailing Love of God recklessly pursue you all the days of your life,
that you may dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

May you be consumed by the love of Christ:
infinite, unchanging,
full of transforming power,
sustaining life,
giving grace to both the righteous and wicked.

And may you embrace the Holiness of God
believing His promises of peace and joy
placing your hope fully
in the one who demands all
but gives all
rewarding those who earnestly seek Him.

May you humble yourself before the Almighty God,
listening to his voice,
accepting his counsel,
seeking his ways.

May you wait patiently on the Lord,
trusting his promises of
justice,
mercy,
peace.

And may your identity be found in Christ
and Christ alone:
Redeemer,
Savior,
Creator,
Glorious King.

May the peace of the Lord be with you
sent as an apostle
of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Bless the people you meet.
Strengthen the communities you join.
Challenge those around you to lead a Godly life.

And may you never stop growing
each day a new adventure
each moment united with Christ
a new creation
made and remade
into the image of a perfect God.

May you hear the commands of the Lord -
signposts to guide you on life’s uncertain journey.

May you fear the Lord-
the beginning of wisdom,
the origin of understanding.

And may you live your life liberated -
resting in God’s sovereign power,
protected and completed
by the one who gives meaning to all things.