Author Archive: Craig

Heavenly Father,

You have made it possible for us to live in your kingdom now as brothers and sisters drawn together through our confession of Jesus, “He is Lord!” How is it that we share in your communion except by grace? Thank you for doing everything necessary for us to enjoy your communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Help us Lord.

As you have forgiven us may we also forgive one another.
As you have accepted us may we also accept one another.
As you have mercy-ed us may we also grant mercy to one another.
As you have spoken truth to us may we also speak sincerely to one another.
As you have loved us may we also love one another from the heart.
Come Lord Jesus.
May the prevailing ministry of your Spirit continue to free us from the grip of sin and our old deathly habits. Transform us Lord according to your will and your Word. May we become more like Jesus together.

Oh Lord, we lift up to you our government leaders and representatives in this region and country; please grant them wisdom from heaven. Turn good ideals for service into reality.

We lift up to you city-planners, social workers, police, fire and ambulance service providers, medical providers, and teachers and staff at our schools. We pray that you would fill them with a vision of your love, a delight in the truth, and a persistent hope that makes them aware of your nearness and therefore fills them with gentleness. 

We lift up to you our work-places and pray that you would fortify us with grace and wisdom to do good work and to be steady, watchful, servants in your Name and for your Kingdom.

We lift up our friends on retreat this morning with Origin and pray that you would continue to give them rest and restoration. May your word, like seeds of grace and truth take deep root in them and bear the fruit that you desire.

Oh Lord we need you and so we pray…

(Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer.)

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one;
for yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, 
forever. 
Amen.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for bringing us into your communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This costly grace formed in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus has granted us the faith in which we stand and has changed our lives forever. Thank you!

In Christ Jesus you have radically altered our past, present, and future.

You have forgiven us of our sins.
You have wiped the slate clean.
You have loved us.
You have brought us out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of Your Son.
You have given us a new heart.
You have filled us with your Spirit.
You are making us new.
You are renewing our minds.
You are transforming our attitudes and actions.
You are giving us new desires.
You are fulfilling your word.
You are pouring your love into our lives.
You will cause every promise in Christ to be a Yes.
You will return to set all things right.
You will redeem our lives.
You will be praised forever!

Oh Spirit, Come— Gather the Church of Jesus into praise and into intercession with you.
We long for every tear to be tenderly wiped from our faces.
We long for our faith to be sight. But even now Lord fortify us with the disciplines and rhythms that tap deeply into your life and your Word.

Oh Lord, we set before you peoples who feel forgotten and crushed by greed and poverty. We plead with you for healing across the whole planet. We seek You for peace in homes and the transformation of relationships fractured by neglect or even violence. We pray that the love of Jesus would abound so that our neighbours experience love and not accusation, hate or violence. May your grace bring more us into your joyful communion.

We seek You & your Kingdom so we pray as Jesus taught us:

(Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer)
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one;
for yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, 
forever. 
Amen

We begin the New Year in 2023 with a reflection on the name of Jesus. It’s name day in our celebration of Christmas.

“On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.” Luke 1:21 

When the angel appeared to Mary, he told her that the child to be formed by the Holy Spirit within her womb would be called “Jesus.” The name “Yeshua,” like Joshua in the Old Testament, means “Yahweh saves.” The name given to this body formed in mystery is the revelation of God’s salvation to us. Indeed, the apostles would speak of Jesus the Messiah, saying, “Salvation is found in no one else. There is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 

On his name day, a new day of creation, Jesus enters into the covenant of Israel through circumcision. He not only becomes a participant in God’s promises to Abraham and Israel, Jesus also now embodies this promise. He would later say of his blood when sharing the cup with his disciples, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:27-28

The early church honoured the name of Jesus in the hymn written by the Apostle Paul in the Letter to the Philippians. … Christ Jesus

Who being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God 
something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a 
servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a
man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Therefore, God exalted him to the
highest place
and gave him the name that is above 
every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under
the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11

At the name of Jesus every knee should bow. At the name of Jesus — On this first day of the year and for every day of this year, may the name of Jesus be on your tongue. May we live yielded and surrendered to Jesus our Lord. May we speak the name of Jesus over all who need healing, comfort, and grace. May we lift up the name of Jesus in conversation with all those who seek truth. May we praise the name of Jesus with all his people.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.