Mike Fisk & Built with Grace

That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise to the Lord in this manner: Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

Prayer: Father, there are times when I get so distracted by my needs and wants that I forget to thank you for all you have done for me. I’m in awe when I think of your mighty acts, both those I have seen and the things you have done for me that I don’ t even know about. In the midst of my…

The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Prayer: Father God it seems like there is nothing stable anymore. Families seem to split up at the drop of a hat. Businesses that existed for decades fail. Health issues always seem to loom in the shadows. Careers once thought stable have all but disappeared. Yet because of you we are part of a Kingdom that is unshakeable. We praise you for the fact that even though all we depend on in this life may pass away, we know we have a solid foundation in you. We worship you for your steadfast faithfulness. Amen.

You can…

This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down. Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, 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.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we remember when you walked on this earth with your disciples. We are reminded of the constant bickering among the 12. The constant striving to determine who was greatest among them and who would be greatest in your kingdom. We confess to you that it’s been over 2000 years and we haven’t gotten much better! As the Apostle James wrote, we don’t see victory because…

In that day you will say: “I will praise you, Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me.  Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.  In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, 

This week the Springfield community desperately seeks to get our hearts and minds around the fact that one of our own neighbors decided to extinguish the vibrant life of an innocent ten-year-old. These neighbor-to-neighbor conversations have taken place all over the region in churches, workplaces, gyms, retail stores, sports practices, classrooms, and so many other places. Hard questions, tender questions, poignant questions, whispered questions, tearful questions, just questions. No one is immune to the heartache and sadness of these events. All of us wonder how best to respond to this atrocity.

So we respond. Porch lights all over the world burn bright in Hailey’s memory. An entire region dresses in pink and purple to show solidarity with each other and her family. Memorial funds bulge with individual contributions in an effort to ease the family’s pain. Restaurants offer special meal deals in an effort to raise gifts for the Owen…