Lord, nothing important will happen here this morning unless you are present . Holy Spirit, we cannot worship unless you make us able to worship. Our attempts at worship will be counterfeit unless you inhabit our worship in purposefulness and power. I ask, on behalf of my people for your directing, empowering presence. Grant that … Continue reading Prayer Note #33 — A Pastor’s Sunday Morning Prayer
Tag: Gary Chorpenning
Bible Note #12 — Exodus 25:1-9
In this passage (Exodus 25:1-9), God calls on Moses to receive an offering from the people for the purpose of building and furnishing the tabernacle. He emphasizes that the offering is to be strictly voluntary -- "from everyone whose heart stirs him to give." (v. 2; HCSB) What follows then is a list of the … Continue reading Bible Note #12 — Exodus 25:1-9
Bible Note #11 — Exodus 3: The Call of Moses
God routinely goes out of his way to incorporate human partnership in the accomplishing of his purposes in the world. The fact is so plain that it is regularly overlooked by most of us as we read Bible stories about God's dealing with human beings. Here in Exodus 3 in the story of God's calling … Continue reading Bible Note #11 — Exodus 3: The Call of Moses
Pastor Note #33 — Kindness and the Gospel in a Broken World
A common feature of the pastoral life that I've lived for the past twenty-nine years has been that strangers to me will regularly come the church door and ask for me. These are typically people faced with some sort of difficult personal and/or financial problem. They come to me looking for help. Sometimes I've been … Continue reading Pastor Note #33 — Kindness and the Gospel in a Broken World
Prayer Note #32 — A Prayer for a Day of Fasting for Guidance
A Prayer for a Day of Fasting O Lord, you are my Lord. To you I say and an unconditional "Yes." To myself and the world and the devil, I say an unwavering "No." Grant me ears to hear you today. Grant me discernment beyond mere human wisdom. Grant me utter submission to your kingship … Continue reading Prayer Note #32 — A Prayer for a Day of Fasting for Guidance
Prayer Note #31 — For the Day’s Living and Working
My Lord, I want to devote everything I do today to your service to the advance of your kingdom. I don't want merely to go through the motions, to get to the end of the day having checked off everything on my "to do" list but having done it in my sleep with no thought … Continue reading Prayer Note #31 — For the Day’s Living and Working
Prayer Note #30 — On Depression
[from my prayer journal, January 9, 2009] I'm very tired this morning, Lord. I have been for most of the week. I've been back to swimming for exercise after a bit of a lay-off. So, I suppose the physical tiredness that I feel is partly to do with that. But, Lord, my tiredness seems to … Continue reading Prayer Note #30 — On Depression
Bible Note #10 — 1 John 1:5-10 — Light & Darkness, Truth & Deception
1 John 1:5-10 "Light" and "darkness" are paralleled by "truth" and "lying or deception" in this passage. The truth as a concept here is multi-layered It is in some places the truth about God. In other places it is truth about ourselves. Ironically, we ourselves are often both the deceived and the deceiver at the … Continue reading Bible Note #10 — 1 John 1:5-10 — Light & Darkness, Truth & Deception
Pastor Note #32 — “Forgive Me!”
Forgive Me! Forgiving is not one of the easier parts of the Christian faith. In fact, it’s something that I myself struggle with from time to time. I know, I know. You’re saying, “Not you! Surely not you! You are such a nice guy, such a nice, easy-tempered guy. I simply can’t believe … Continue reading Pastor Note #32 — “Forgive Me!”
Prayer Note #29 — “Thanks You, Heavenly Father” — a Communion Hymn
Thank You, Heavenly Father Gary A. Chorpenning Thank you, Heav’nly Father, for this meal, broken body of your Son our Lord. Thank you, Holy God, for wine poured out, blood of Jesus spilled for our foul sins. Refrain: Life out of death, hope from despair, sacrificial cross to throne of grace, Bread of his … Continue reading Prayer Note #29 — “Thanks You, Heavenly Father” — a Communion Hymn
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 