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When I’m impatient for growth I’m likely to miss what is going on now.

This past week I was listening to a podcast on the Order of the Mustard Seed and was delighted to hear
Nina Schuurman Drenth from Canada talk about following Jesus and becoming comfortable with the space in-between from here to “there.” This is such a great line: “accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
in suspense and incomplete.”

She quoted Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s poem Patient Trust and I was encouraged to keep trusting the Lord for transformation in my own life. I was also drawn to turn it into a prayer for so many of the people who are part of Origin Church. While it feels slow, as we surrender to Christ, we are daily being transformed to be like Jesus!

Here’s the poem.

Patient Trust

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.

And yet it is the law of all progress
that it is made by passing through some stages of instability—
and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you;
your ideas mature gradually—let them grow,
let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don’t try to force them on,
as though you could be today what time
(that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will)
will make of you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming within you will be.
Give Our Lord the benefit of believing
that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
in suspense and incomplete.

—Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ
excerpted from Hearts on Fire

Heavenly Father,

We enter into your communion — the communion of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit — through your amazing grace. Your Son has opened up the way for us through His own obedience, his own life and death, by laying down His own body. Now through his body we enter into the delights of relationship with you.

We know Christ Jesus came down. 

He came down from the throne. Praise you Lord.

He came down as a child. Praise you Lord.

He came down to the feet of sinners. Praise you Lord.

He came down to the cross. Praise you Lord.

He came down to the grave.    Praise you Lord.

Hallelujah. Death could not hold Him!

Oh Lord you lifted Him up and now though we are baptized into His death we are also baptized into His life. You have lifted us up with him. Though sin has brought us down, you have forgiven us and appointed us to your salvation.  Fill us with your new life and transform us through and through.

Lord we grieve for the many precious people who died off the shores of Greece this week as they sought refuge and a new life. Awaken the conscience of our world to the plight of many people on the journey for refuge. Renew our confidence in the abundance of your Creation.

Lord we pray for your peace in Metro Vancouver and particularly in the downtown Eastside of Vancouver. Recent fires and gun violence has set the community on edge. We ask for you to  intervene and to intercept the people who are intent on killing their so-called enemies. Bring justice and mercy to them for the glory of Jesus.

Lord we pray for Canada, where though we in Vancouver get lulled into the common gift of your rain, we know the rest of the ten provinces are in a drought. The fires are evidence of the dryness of the land. But what else is evident Lord? Perhaps the dryness of our souls? Come Lord Jesus and renew our hearts. Surely we do not need rain fires in our forests — we need your fresh fire in our hearts for you and your Kingdom.

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,

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