Author Archive: Craig

Heavenly Father,

You spoke the word that caused our spirits to come alive by the power of your Son Jesus. Thank you for this grace that has given us eyes to see and ears to hear. You have provided the Word 

that delivers us from the evil one, 
that heals our diseases, 
that comforts us in our pain, 
that forgives us of our sin, 
that gives us courage to take a stand, 
that moves us to forgive one another, 
that gives us wisdom when we feel like fools, 
that shows us how to love, 
that transfers us from death to life.
In fact you have raised us from death and ushered us into the new life of your Son. Thank you!

Forgive us for neglecting the true appetite of our soul — for you; too often we attend only to the pressing needs of our tummies or our insatiable desires to be liked, loved, and honoured. Fill us Lord with you. We want more of your Holy Spirit’s wisdom, power, and love to be poured into your church so that we may be like Jesus. Send us into the world as you sent Him into the world.

We lift up the many people who have gathered on the border of the United States and Mexico  who are on a journey for safety and refuge. We acknowledge their pain and their loss. Their situations boggles our minds. These precious people are caught today in the push and pull of violence, injustice, and oppression. Perhaps, Lord, we fear that to sit with their pain and their humanity will mean the dissolution of borders and the loss of our own security. Help us to see as you see and to hear as you hear. Help us to act as citizens of your Kingdom.

Lord we lift up to you the friends who are graduating this year after studying at UBC. We pray that you would be their joy and delight. We pray that you would fill them with your Spirit. We pray that if they move on from this place that they would connect as soon as possible with a congregation of Believers intent on lifting up Jesus together and being a blessing in their city.

As Jesus taught us to pray we plead with you to raise up workers for your harvest in the nations. May our generation surrender ourselves wholly to you. Fill your church with your Spirit and cause us to rise up to announce your Gospel and to demonstrate your peace, joy and righteousness in our lives together. We ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now please join me in praying 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,

We celebrate today as we do on each Sunday, the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. His victory over the violence of people and the powers of the evil one, changes everything for us.

Praise the Lord!
Christ is Risen!
Hallelujah!

Jesus triumphed through the Cross and you have exalted Him above every name and every power. Thank you for this grace to confess that He is Lord. Thank you for the grace of forgiveness. Thank you for the grace that has brought us into your eternal communion, the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We confess that we are dismayed by the troubles of this world and that our joy seems small. Oh Lord some of us are tired. In this world our bodies do betray us, our passions do mislead us, and our thoughts are coloured with arrogance and even lies. 

But what shall we say in light of the resurrection? If you are for us who shall be against us? If you are with us what shall separate us from your love in Christ Jesus for us?

Yet we groan with Creation and Your Spirit, longing for Jesus to be revealed in us. Come Lord Jesus and do your good work. Come Lord Jesus and be revealed through us.

We lift up to you the peoples of Ukraine and Russia and ask for peace. Restrain the pervading madness of violence and uproot the lies that have shaped imperial ambitions. We lift up to you the people of Shanghai and the surrounding communities who are suffering through a pandemic lockdown; empower your church to speak hope to their neighbours and to serve them well. We lift up to you villages in Northern Nigeria who have suffered through terrible violence and loss; Lord bring peace, reveal yourself and change the hearts of those set on destruction as a solution; fortify your church there to love their neighbours well and to share the promise of life in Christ Jesus with everyone.

Lord we need you. You are the living God, and so we pray as Jesus teaches 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.

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, 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.

We cry Hosanna; Lord help!

Grant your church courage today to move with you into the suffering of the world with compassion. Grant us the will to change how we relate to the planet, to our families, to our neighbours, and to our coworkers. 

We lift up to you the people of Shanghai and other cities across China suffering through pandemic lockdowns. Oh Lord comfort them and meet them. We ask you Lord for an end to the ravages of this virus.

We lift up to you the peoples of Ukraine and Russia suffering under the violent will of one set on dominating and destroying another. Lord may your hand bring an end to this war. Lord may your Spirit minister to those who have lost so much. Lord may your church move in the way of Jesus so your light shines.

 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 the grace that has brought us into your Communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ our Lord laid down His life that He might be lifted up for all to see on the Cross for your salvation. His death confounded the powers and authorities and you triumphed over death in His resurrection. You have delivered us from the evil one and have settled the debt of our rebellion.

Now by this gift of faith we are buried with Jesus in baptism and you have raised us into glorious life with Him!

Praise the Lord!

You have forgiven us our sins and free us from the tyranny of shame.

Praise the Lord!

For a time we do not yet see all things under your feet. Yet, we desire that your Spirit would continue to transform our hearts. May our feet and our hands move in accordance with your love. May our voices speak winsomely and boldly of Jesus who fills our hearts.

Oh Lord, teach us your ways. How our hearts are drawn to envy those with more of whatever the lusts of our eyes desire. How easily we are deceived to neglect the weightier matters and  to let our hearts grow cold and hard.

We lift up to you the people of Ukraine and Russia suffering so terribly under the will of those who are set on destruction. Comfort them Lord and bring peace. Empower your church to serve and welcome people in your name with refreshment and with healing.

We lift up to you the people of Shanghai suffering through a pandemic lockdown. Minister to them and meet them in this season of restriction. Across the globe people need healing and an end to the pandemic. We ask for the people of this city that you would reveal the beauty and glory of Jesus to many and call them into the fellowship of your church.P

For ourselves Lord we pray that you would awaken us from dullness and apathy. Help us keep in pace with you. Conform our hearts to yours. Revive us Lord! Revive us — we open our hearts to you and say Come Lord Jesus.

(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, 

We rejoice in you. You have caused the morning sun to rise on us. You have brought us into your communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You have illuminated our lives and encouraged our timid hearts to release the prideful grip we had on false hopes.

Our hope is in you.

You are the satisfaction of our souls. You are the peace for every generation. You are the power that restores the land. 

Now set before us the path we are to take and order our steps according to your purposes. How shall we meet you in the ordinary moments of each day?

Open our eyes that gratitude may flow from our tongues.
Open our ears that obedience may flow from our hands.

Embraced by you we venture into spaces where the shadow of death seems to be ahead of us.  Whether it be in the lab or the classroom, the forest or the cathedral, the office or the caffe — we find ourselves asking, “How long Lord?” Unless your Spirit empowers us Lord we have nothing. Unless your love motivates us we are a sounding gong. Fill us with your love.

We lift up to you the people of Ukraine and Russia. Oh Lord would you stop this madness!? Fortify the hearts of those who are extending refuge and care to people fleeing violence and oppression. We ask for peace and pray that you would multiply the peace makers in this conflict but also for those who oversee borders drawn between Israel and Palestine, and Ethiopia and Tigray.

Lord may your kingdom come.

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.