In God We Trust

The Liberty Window, Christ Church of Philadelphia

Oh Lord, heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings and Lord of lords, who dolt from thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all the kingdoms, empires and governments; look down in mercy, we beseech Thee, on these America States who have fled to Thee from the rod of the oppressor, and thrown themselves on thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent on only thee; to thee they have appealed for the righteousness of their cause; to thee do they now look up for that countenance and support that only thou alone canst give; take them, therefore, heavenly Father, under thy nurturing care; give them wisdom in council; and valor in the field; defeat the malicious designs of our cruel adversaries; convince them of the unrighteousness of their cause, and if they still persist in their sangiunary purposes, oh, let the voice of thine own unerring justice, sounding in their hearts, constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the day of battle!

Be thou present, O God of wisdom and direct the councils of this honorable assembly: enable them to settle things of the best and surest foundation, that the scene of blood may be speedily closed, that order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst thy people. Preserve the health of their bodies and the vigor of their minds; shower down on them and the millions they here represent, such temporal blessing thou seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come.

All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Saviour.
Amen

Reverend Jacob Duche

Rector of Christ Church Philadelphia, Pennyslvania

September 7, 1774

First prayer of the Continental Congress, 1774

High Places

Only you, Oh LORD, deserve to be exalted!

Perversion...for me to sit in the high place that is reserved for You.

We worm our way to the top, sometimes oblivious of the climb. Self-centered, unaffected by the path of destruction, we simply cannot live out our appointed position. Discontent with humility...unwilling to accept servanthood...exchanging Your plan for a season of glory. Father, guard me from such malady for I fear the long and crippling fall! Quickly open my eyes to the aftermath of elevating myself before You and others.

You, alone, be exalted!

Mother's Day 2010

We will not hide these truths from our children;

we will tell the next generation

about the glorious deeds of the LORD,

about His power and his mighty wonders.

Psalm 78:4 NLT

May is He awareness month

Less of me, more of You...I've been watching life through new lenses. Sadly, I observe a  malignancy attacking Kingdom life. The life-sucking "M" word...Me!  I asked for fresh perspective; not to be disappointed.  New cases of selfishness crop up daily, growing in  epidemic proportion, but the ugliness is overshadowed by promising cure.  One wise woman calls from the wilderness, challenging the sin-sick to shed their self-medicating approach to scripture study, replacing it with intentional search for the One who gives life to the Holy pages. I take the bait and plunge. Genesis: chapter one...His rich character calls from each life altering verse .  Exodus: chapter three and four...an evolving list shatters my complacent spirit.
May births healing from my chronic condition.

                       LORD, eradicate my Me disease! 
               Infuse me with growing   knowledge of only You.      

Physician of my sin-sick soul,

To thee I bring my case;

My raging malady control,

And heal me by thy grace.

John Newton  1779

Crossing

Piercing cry of death...young wife crumples in grief...tears tumble from men folk...
Forty four years cut short by an invasion of germs...a weakened heart ceasing to beat...
I stand at the edge of this unfolding crisis, beginning the dance of indecision. Do I penetrate this circle of love or do I simply retreat, assuming the preferred role of onlooker? My heart is crumbling for a family all too familiar with hardship, but my mind floods with "what if's." What if they reject a love offering? What if the spectators deem it invasive? What if I fumble?
The line is crossed by a force bigger than me, a holy Wind that sweeps me toward the carnage. He sends me to color the dark with His hope, a promise to rescue and restore.
A stranger's arm that wraps...a simple prayer that cries...one insecure soul who is chosen to cross over.

Father, You are faithful in Your love! Today, You will hold a family close. Today, You will spread Your balm over them. Today, You will call me to the edge again and once more, I will ask You to help me cross.

It's Spring!

For, lo, the winter is past,

the rain is over and gone;

The flowers appear on the earth;

the time of the singing of birds is come.

Song of Solomon 2:11-12

I must remember

Crossbeam tearing wounded flesh...hammer striking iron...

  shrieks of unfathomable pain...drops of redemption blood...

wincing with each agonizing breath...

trembling limbs stretched...

startled eyes searching the heavens...haunting thoughts of abandonment and betrayal...

uncontrollable sobs from a grieving mother...

jeers from a lost crowd...repentant cries from a thief...

merciful eyes forgiving humanity...

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,

so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness;

by his wounds you have been healed. I Peter 2:24