“I am no longer a slave to fear. I am a child of God”
~ No Longer Slaves
I AM
I AM WHO I AM
The name of God given to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14)
I AM
The name so often used by Jesus
“I AM the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51)
“I AM the light of the world.” (John 8:12)
“I AM the gate.” (John 10:7,9)
“I AM the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)
“I AM the good shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14)
“I AM the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
“I AM the true vine.” (John 15:1, 5)
I AM
The name of the Victorious Christ
I AM the Alpha and the Omega
Who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty
The Beginning and the End
The First and the Last (Revelation 1:8, 21:6, 22:13)
I AM reveals who I am
Loves who I am
Empowers who I am
Reminds me who I am
I am a child of God
Finish the sentence
I am no longer…
I am a …
I AM, Your naming and claiming are stronger than anything we face during these disrupting days
Your naming and claiming are for us and for all.
Your naming and claiming are forever and for always.
Glory to your Holy Name.
We are thankful.
We are humble.
We are grateful for your great grace and your great hope.
We remember all those don’t know they’re your children.
Who don’t know they are found.
We remember those who feel unworthy of you.
Those who think they do not need you.
Those who do not know you exist.
We remember all who are overwhelmed by news and need
Break through our great need and isolation
Help us connect to one another
Help us help others connect to you.
Name those you long to come to faith…
Thank you for hearing our prayer.
You desire none should be lost.
I am grateful for the writer of Psalm 36, one of my favorite bands- Third Day, and Daniel Bonnell for his powerful work The Baptism of the Christ, for helping me home to Christ today.
Psalm 36:5-7 (NRSV) Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
Your faithfulness to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
Your judgments are like the great deep;
You save humans and animals alike, O Lord.
How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
Your Love, oh Lord by Third Day
Your love, oh Lord, reaches to the heavens
Your faithfulness stretches to the sky
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains
Your justice flows like the ocean’s tide
I will lift my voice to worship You, my King
I will find my strength in the shadow of your wings
Baptism of the Christ by Daniel Bonnell
In Bonnell’s piece, Christ’s arms are extended in an explosion of color and welcome. One is raised in victory over sin and death. One is lowered in suffering, the price of our salvation. Christ’s body mirrors the shape of the Holy Spirit Dove, for he is the very image of God, the grace and truth of God made flesh. Christ’s body mirrors the shape of his crucifixion. His arms take the shape of wings because it is only within Christ’s embrace that we can find lasting shelter and safety.
What do you see in the painting? Leave a comment below.
Christ is bathed in light; let us also be bathed in light.
Christ is baptized; let us also go down with him, and rise with him.
-Gregory of Nazianzus
Psalm 33:11 (NRSV)
But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.
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For more information on the scripture translation, art and the use of this resource in other settings, please leave a comment.
This prayer was adapted with permission from a post by Steve Garnaas Holmes on his wonderful site, Unfolding Light. A single voice reads the regular print while all present read the bold print. (2 Timothy 1:6) Consider following this liturgy with each person lighting a candle or striking a match. – Lisa <><
You have a treasure in you,
a seed of glory planted from stars,
a song written for only you to sing.
You have gifts to give.
The treasure is buried,
and it may take some digging to recover.
The song is forgotten,
but still hidden in your bones.
Rekindle the gift of God that is within you.
Nothing that happens to you
can remove it, no fear or shame
destroy it, no failure ruin it.
It is who you are.
Rekindle the gift.
Listen for the quiet voice,
the Spirit of Life
singing in you.
Rekindle the gift of God that is within you.
Listen… and sing.
Tune your life to its melody.
Let it sing in you,
let it sing you into life.
Rekindle the gift
that is God within you.
Give God this joy— for it is
God who is singing.
Rekindle the gift of God that is within you.
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Be sure to check out another wonderful prayer by Steve Garnaas Holmes on the theme of spiritual gifts entitled Not Lacking based on 1 Corinthians 1:4-7.
Sermon Series: Pursuing Peace Message 4 of 4: Helping Things Go Right
Scripture: 1 Samuel 24:8-22
These are the notes from a message offered 10/7/18, at Trinity United Methodist Church, Sarasota Florida. This is the last post in the series. I pray they’ve empowered and inspired you to be a peacemaker.
Psalm 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Can you have a heart of peace in the midst of violence?
Can a soldier have a heart of peace? War is part of the job
Can a survivor of violence have a heart of peace toward their attacker? It’s complicated. There are issues of safety and justice.
The short answer is “yes.” David shows us it’s possible. Here’s the way he did it.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DAVID AND KING SAUL
After David killed Goliath, King Saul puts him in charge of his army.
David wins many battles, and he becomes well known and popular
Whenever David comes home from war, the women would come out dancing and singing: “Saul has struck down thousands, and David has struck down tens of thousands!”
If King Saul had a heart of peace how would he respond when he heard this?
Celebrate along with the others
Praise God for sending a person with such bravery, faith, and skill
But, King Saul has a heart of war
Furious, suspicious, jealous of David. So jealous he wants David dead.
A Heart of War puts us in the box. We are imprisoned by our wounds and sinful desires.
I’m better than David, I’m the anointed king
Maybe I’m actually worse than David. Is he a better leader? A better warrior? More beloved of God?
But, I deserve to be honored more than David. I’m the king.
And it’s important that I’m seen as the one in charge. I must be seen as the king.
As a result of his heart of war,
King Saul is more and more troubled in his mind and spirit so David would be summoned to play his harp to soothe the king. One day while David was playing the harp for King Saul, the king hurls his spear at him. David dodges it just in time, and the spear shot into the wall. Saul throws another spear; David dodges that one, too
King Saul sends David again and again into incredibly dangerous battle situations. David is victorious.
King Saul then starts sending people to kill David
In 2 chapters, 1 Samuel 18 and 19, Saul tries to kill David 12 times. David runs away and hides in the desert
Finally, King Saul decides to go after David himself, taking 3000 men with him.
They come across a cave, so King Saul dismounts and heads into the cave to relieve himself (verse 3, yes it means what you think it means). What the king doesn’t know is that David and his men are sitting deeper in the cave
David’s men start encouraging David to kill the king. Then they volunteer to kill the king for David.
Here’s what David does
He sneaks up behind the king and cuts off a corner of his cloak lets him leave unharmed.
Then David scolds his men for wanting to attack the king. David has a heart of peace.
I Samuel 24:8 Afterwards, David also rose up and went out of the cave and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.
David initiates a conversation rather than letting Saul just leave
David approaches with no weapon and bows exposing his neck to the king
David shows respect for Saul’s position as King and respect for him as a human being.
1 Samuel 24:9 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of those who say, ‘David seeks to do you harm’? 10 This very day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you into my hand in the cave, and some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not raise my hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed.’
We have the power to choose how we respond. We call on the Holy Spirit to help us choose well. David was a man after God’s heart, consistently seeking God’s strength and guidance.
David chooses to break the cycle of conflict. The war stops with me.
1 Samuel 24:11 See, my father, see the corner of your cloak in my hand; for by the fact that I cut off the corner of your cloak, and did not kill you, you may know for certain that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you are hunting me to take my life. 12 May the Lord judge between me and you! May the Lord avenge me on you, but my hand shall not be against you. 13 As the ancient proverb says, ‘Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you. 14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A single flea? 15 May the Lord, therefore, be judge and give sentence between me and you. May he see to it, and plead my cause, and vindicate me against you.”
David reminds Saul of their relationship- Saul had been like a Father to David. Saul’s son Jonathan was David’s best friend. David was married to Saul’s daughter Michal.
Another reminder of relationship- Saul is a powerful king and David is his loyal servant (a dead dog, a flea).
David reminds us how to help things go right. He starts by cultivating his own heart of peace. He builds a relationship and reminds Saul of their relationship professionally and personally. It’s not hard to imagine David listening to Saul poor out his anguish as he played the harp for him. This built empathy within David for Saul. David communicates with Saul when he didn’t have to. David speaks the truth about how his actions show he is not at war with Saul.
Jesus does the same. Come to us with a heart of peace. Reaching out to us to establish and build a relationship. Jesus understands our deepest dreams, needs, pains, and hope. Jesus listens and empathizes. Jesus is compassionate toward us. Jesus communicates with us, revealing the truth of who he is and who we are and who we can be when we are reconciled to one another.
1 Samuel 24:16-22 16 When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. 18 Today you have explained how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. 19 For who has ever found an enemy, and sent the enemy safely away? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. 20 Now I know that you shall surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 21 Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not wipe out my name from my father’s house.” 22 So David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold
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I’m excited to now offer mp3’s of my Sunday messages. A huge thank you to Mark and my brothers and sisters at Trinity United Methodist Church, Sarasota for all their help in making this possible. If you’re ever in Sarasota, please drop by for worship Sundays at 9:00 am or 10:30 am, or join us live on our Facebook page at 9:00 am Sundays or drop by during the week for a chat or small group. You and those you love are always welcome.
We are thankful.
This prayer was adapted with permission from a 
