Author Archive: Craig

DR: Who are you waiting on?

July 27, 2022 0 Comments

Read Luke 2:25-35

“For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.” v. 30-32

Simeon was responsive to the Holy Spirit and moved when prompted to recognize Jesus — He was waiting for “the consolation of Israel.”

Lord I’m thankful for the grace of knowing you. Give me more grace that I may I recognize you in the comings and goings of my day. Move me by your Spirit as you moved Simeon.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

Daily Readings, Discipleship

Prayer of the People, 24 July 2022

July 25, 2022 0 Comments

Heavenly Father, We praise you the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. You have never abandoned your Creation. You have set your plans and purposes in place from the beginning. You have persisted in the revelation of your glory. You are the origin of all life, all truth, and all love. Thank you for the grace that has brought us into your communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Thank you for revealing your life and love in Jesus Christ your Son. 

He is before us and so we praise you.
He is after us and so we aim our lives at Him. We know every knee shall bow and every tongue  confess that He is Lord to your glory forever and ever.

You are also present with us: Our good shepherd, the lover of our souls, the author and perfecter of our faith, the God who sees us and the God who saves us.

You are with us in our tears. We have lost the illusion of invincibility.
You are with us in our fears. We have lost the thin promises of our self-designed security.

O Immanuel — God with us. Our only assurance — you are behind us and before us and above and below us all the days of our lives. You are our hope.

Grant your church courage today to rumble with the offences carried out by those who draped themselves in the banner of Jesus. Grant us wisdom to acknowledge our own weakness, to mourn with those who mourn and to hear the account of misapplied power and position from those who survived. 

Lord we lift up your servants serving in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. We pray that you would grant them joy in their life with you and with your people. Sustain them Lord, in this seemingly never-ending press against the powers and principalities sucking the life out of people. These are our sons and daughters, parents and elders who suffer so but there are also glimpses of your Spirit there and we pray that the beauty and glory of Jesus Christ would shining through.

And so we pray together in Jesus Name as He 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.

Prayer

,

Prayer of th People, 17 July 2022

July 19, 2022 0 Comments

The Prayer of the People  —  17 July 2022

Heavenly Father, you have the Words of Life so we come to you. You have shown us your Son Jesus who came as the Bread of Heaven with Life for all. Thank you for preparing a heavenly banquet table for us and bringing us into your communion, the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

Even now we rejoice in the truth and those who tell it. Jesus your Son has become our Saviour. He has set us free. We are grateful for the gift of your Holy Spirit who has made us alive to you. We are a new creation, brought into your communion; you are making all things new and beautiful on your schedule.

We praise you for this grace in which we live!

Our prayer echos the ancient question, “How long?” How long Lord will we groan for the revealing of who we are in Christ? How long will people groan under the oppression of the evil one? How long will you be patient? People are set against each other and in many places the land groans withholding a harvest. 

We yearn for you. Your Spirit from the beginning has hovered over the deep, bringing gracious order to chaos. Bring your beauty and abundance into our lives.

We yearn for you to be revealed in Sudan, Syria, and Ukraine. We ask Lord, that your peace and justice will prevail. We seek you for blessings in these countries. We ask you to comfort those who have lost so much and are seeking a place to live and thrive.

We thank you for the provisions that we enjoy here. Grant us eyes to see people as you do and hearts open to share generously the abundance we currently enjoy. 

Lord reveal yourself on our campus. Fill the hearts of people emptied by anxiety, Life up those who are weighed down by selfish ambitions. Bring light to those darkened by unbelief. You have promised your satisfying presence in the life of all who believe you. Oh Lord, may all who hunger for your righteousness be filled.

Thank you Father for hearing our prayer in the name and grace of Jesus Christ our Lord, so we pray as He taught us… Please Join me now 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.

Prayer

Prayer of the People, 19 June 2022

June 22, 2022 0 Comments

Heavenly Father,

We praise you and rejoice in your communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Your delight and joy is evident in the beauty of your creation. We see your mystery and majesty expressed in the glories of the night sky and in the wonder of energy passing from  neurone to neurone between synapses. 

There is no space that has kept you from your Creation. We believe for you have revealed yourself. You have made yourself known. You have not left yourself without a witness. 

Even our sin has not kept you from us. Though it ruined our view, though it kept us in darkness, you have ripped the dividing veil through the obedience of Jesus Christ and have given us grace to receive you through your Spirit.


You have triumphed over rebellion.
You have triumphed over pride.
You have triumphed over sorrow.
You have triumphed over despair.
You have triumphed over apathy
You have triumphed over death..

At the Cross it looked like you got tripped up by death. But we are reminded that You laid down your life — for you gave Jesus authority to lay down His life and to take it up again. And so He did! And you have given us grace to call Him Lord.

Hallelujah! Oh what love! We live in the glory of your resurrection, Now what shall we say? If you are for us, who can be against us? So, how long Lord? How long shall we wait?


As we wait Lord, your children are calling out to you in our struggles. We intercede today for the dear people of Sudan, Yemen, Columbia, and Ukraine. Bring peace Oh Lord, and raise up witnesses for your Son among them.

We intercede Oh Lord for our brothers and sisters who living, serving, and pouring out their lives in the neighbourhood around Hastings Street here in Vancouver . We ask you for the grace to love neighours well. May your Spirit bring more life.

We intercede for the dear student families we met during the Acadia Food Hub who reside in the space between what they know and the One they don’t yet know. We ask that you would give them light and wisdom to see and to be embraced by You.

We ask this in the Name of Jesus and we pray as He taught us… ( 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. 

Prayer

,

Prayer of the People, 5 June 2022

June 9, 2022 0 Comments

Heavenly Father,

By Your costly grace we have been drawn into your communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Our faith has found a resting place. We rest in you. In you we are restored and refreshed.

In you we have received a new vision for life and godliness.

Yet, we must not close our eyes like Jonah on the boat to Tarshish. You keep inviting us to see with you, and join you in the realities of life. Though we may run from You, You can locate us. Where can we go from your Spirit? Though we close our eyes you can wake us. Though we speak with guile in our hearts you can accomplish your Word.

Oh, Christ Jesus, we gladly surrender ourselves to your sovereignty. Your Spirit keeps pouring His love into us and so in the fierceness of your love and justice we will live. We have set our faces with Jesus towards the cities of your calling and our cross.

Fortify our hearts with your love. Establish the work of our hands Oh Lord. By your Spirit we join in the common struggle of following Jesus and being His people in a world that does not yet welcome your Kingdom.

We lift up to you our friends at the Athens Ministry Centre in Greece. Encourage them as they create a lighthouse of love for people on the journey for refuge.

We lift up to you our friends in the Association of Christian Clubs here at UBC. Deepen the conviction of students for the brilliance of Jesus and grant them courage for trusting you in every good work. Let us enjoy the unity of your Spirit in this community.

We lift up to you our friends in 24-7 Prayer in Vancouver and across Canada. Thank you for those who keep watch in the night and in places overlooked by most of us in order to minister in your name. Supply their need and strengthen them with your love so they may persevere.

Oh Lord we love you and ask you to give us wisdom. We open our lives to you and welcome your Spirit to breathe new life, peace and joy into us. Fill us with your Spirit. Fill us with your Word. Fill us with your songs!

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.

Prayer

, , ,