A Prayer Song from Scripture - “Psalm 62” by Aaron Keyes and Stuart Townend

Let this song guide and encourage you today. It is good to pray for others, certainly, but we should also pray for ourselves, as we struggle in the world. So today, pray that your soul can rest in God, no matter what happens.

“Psalm 62” by Aaron Keyes and Stuart Townend
 
My soul finds rest in God alone, my rock and my salvation.
A fortress strong against my foes and I will not be shaken.
Though lips may bless and hearts may curse,
And lies like arrows pierce me,
I'll fix my heart on righteousness, I'll look to Him who hears me.
 
chorus:
O praise Him, Hallelujah, my Delight and my Reward.
Everlasting, never failing, my Redeemer, my God.
 
Find rest, my soul, in God alone amid the world's temptations.
When evil seeks to take a hold I'll cling to my salvation.
Though riches come and riches go, don't set your heart upon them.
The fields of hope in which I sow are harvested in heaven.
 
[chorus]
 
I'll set my gaze on God alone and trust in Him completely.
With every day pour out my soul and He will prove His mercy.
Though life is but a fleeting breath, a sigh too brief to measure,
My King has crushed the curse of death and I am His forever.
 
[chorus]

A Song to Hear as You Pray - “Surely We Can Change” by the David Crowder Band

Let this song be part of your prayer today--as you pray for others, and as you pray for yourself.

“Surely We Can Change” by the David Crowder Band
 
And the problem is this, we were bought with a kiss.
But the cheek still turned, even when it wasn't hit.
 
And I don't know, what to do with a love like that.
And I don't know, how to be a love like that.
 
When all the love in the world, is right here among us.
And hatred too.
And so we must choose what our hands will do.
 
Where there is pain, let there be grace.
Where there is suffering, bring serenity.
For those afraid, help them be brave.
Where there is misery, bring expectancy.
And surely we can change.
Surely we can change, something.
 
And the problem it seems, is with you and me.
Not the Love who came to repair everything.
 
[repeat]
 
Oh, the world's about to change.
The whole world's about to change.

A Song to Inspire

Here’s a great song to hear these days. Maybe every morning when you’re preparing to face the day. Even though it has some Christmas themes, the presence of Christ is something we can be inspired by everyday. And the peace of Christ that we pray for, let it start in us. Let us be the planters, spreaders, and builders of Christ’s peace. Our world needs actual Christ-followers and peace builders now more than ever.

“Glory (Let There Be Peace)” by Matt Maher

One star burns in the darkness, shines with the promise Emmanuel.
One child born in the stillness, living within us Emmanuel.
We're singing glory, glory. Let there be peace, let there be peace.
Singing glory, glory. Let there be peace, let it start in me.
 
One voice speak for the voiceless, hope for the hopeless Emmanuel.
One love brings us together, now and forever Emmanuel.
We're singing glory, glory. Let there be peace, let there be peace.
Singing glory, glory. Let there be peace, let it start in me.
 
Do not be afraid, his love is strong enough to save us.
Nothing stands in the way, his love is strong enough to lead us.
 
We sing glory (oh we sing glory), glory (the angels sing glory)
Let there be peace (let there be peace), let there be peace (let there be peace).
Singing glory, glory. Let there be peace, let it start in me.

Need a good book? - Staff picks, Jane

Sing!, by Keith and Kristyn Getty

Sing! is an inspiring look at congregational singing as a witness to the transforming power of Jesus Christ in our lives. Authors Keith and Kristyn Getty are leading a movement to encourage new, theologically-rich hymn singing. Their best known hymn “In Christ Alone” is one of our favorites! They also hold large gatherings of church musicians around the world to teach the importance of the revival of hymn singing in our churches. 

Our Adult Choir used this book as our devotional for our Fall Retreat last year and was blessed by its insights. Choir members and ALL church members, check this out for a deeper understanding of the privilege and responsibility we have as believers of singing our faith.

Need a good book? - Staff picks, Regina

The Shack, by William Paul Young 

The Shack is a fictional book, but it spoke truth to my heart and is a treasured favorite of mine. It is the story of a man named Mack that spends a weekend with God in a shack. Mack gets to do what we all crave to do: he gets to spend time with God and ask God all the questions on his heart. In the first few chapters Mack and his family experience a tremendous loss. His youngest child is kidnapped and murdered. God invites Mack to meet at the place that holds his greatest loss and pain. There he encounters God in triune form. Although Mack's family refers to God as "Papa," God the Father appears to him as a loving black woman that is more of a mother figure. This makes sense because Mack had a difficult relationship with his earthly father and he cannot see God as father or papa when he first meets God. The Holy Spirit appears as an Asian woman that loves to garden, and Jesus (as one would expect) shows up as a man of Middle Eastern descent. He is a carpenter and a fisherman. Later he even gets to meet Sophia, the manifestation of God's wisdom. It is an incredible story and one that can only be understood when read and experienced for oneself. I highly encourage you to read it if you haven't already. 

Need a good book? - Staff picks, Joy

A Whole New World: Life after Bethany, by Jan & Tony Cartledge

This is a book about life and loss. It begins with a personal account of a parent’s worst nightmare. Well-known ministers Jan and Tony Cartledge lost their seven-year-old daughter, Bethany, in an automobile accident. As you read their story, you will walk with them as they journey through the shock of Bethany’s death, the first year without her, and the healing process of the years that followed. Their story will touch your heart, mind, and spirit.

Wise Words from Mr. Rogers

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'

"As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has--or ever will have--something inside that is unique to all time. It's our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and to provide ways of developing its expression."

Powerful words from Billy Graham

Below are portions of an article he wrote in 1993 (!). And there’s also a powerful story in this article.

"Racism is a sin precisely because it keeps us from obeying God’s command to love our neighbor, and because it has its roots in pride and arrogance. Christians who harbor racism in their attitudes or actions are not following their Lord at this point, for Christ came to bring reconciliation—reconciliation between us and God, and reconciliation between each other. He came to accept us as we are, whoever we are,
'from every tribe and language and people and nation' (Rev. 5:9).

"Tragically, too often in the past evangelical Christians have turned a blind eye to racism or have been willing to stand aside while others take the lead in racial reconciliation, saying it was not our responsibility. (I admit I share in that blame.) As a result, many efforts toward reconciliation in America have lacked a Christian foundation. Our consciences should be stirred to repentance by how far we have fallen short of what God asks us to be as his agents of reconciliation. Of all people, Christians should be the most active in reaching out to those of other races, instead of accepting the status quo of division and animosity.

"The issues that face us are complex and enormous, and simply wishing they would go away will not solve them. I do not pretend to know the full answer. But let those of us who claim the name of Christ report of our past failures and relying on the Holy Spirit, demonstrate to a weary and frightened world that Christ indeed 'has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility...through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility' (Eph. 2:14-15)."