Prayers
Scripture
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
What do you do
When you've done all you can and it seems like its never enough?
And what do you say when your friends turn away and you're all alone?
Tell me what do you give
When you've given your all and it seems like you can't make it through ?
Well you just stand when there's nothing left to do;
You just stand watch the Lord see you through.
Yes after you've done all you can, you just stand.
Tell me how do you handle the guilt of your past?
Tell me how do you deal with the strain?
And how can you smile when your heart has been broken and filled with pain?
Tell me what do you give
When you've given your all and it seems like you can't make it through?
Child, you just stand, when there's nothing left to do;
You just stand watch the Lord see you through.
Yes after you've done all you can, you just stand, stand and be sure.
Be not entangled in that bondage, oh you just stand and endure;
God has a purpose, yes God has a plan
Tell me what do you do
When you've done all you can and seems like you can't make it through?
Child, you just stand, stand, you just stand, stand, stand, stand,
Through the storm, stand, stand through the rain.
Stand, through the hurt, stand, yeah through the pain, you just
Don't you stop, stand, and don't you bend, stand, don't give up.
Stand, no don't give in, you just
Hold on, stand, just be strong, stand.
God will step in, stand, and it won't be long, you just
After you've done all you can.
Music and Lyrics by Sylvester Stewart
Redeem Me
No one can put together what has crumbled into dust, but You, Mighty God, can restore even a conscience turned to ashes. You, and You alone, can restore a soul lost and without hope to its former beauty. You are my creator and my redeemer. You are love. I praise You with all my heart for your power and mercy.
I remember the fall of Lucifer, full of pride, and I pray that You will protect me from his fate. Keep me safe with the power of Your grace; save me from falling away from You. Save me from doubt. Incline my heart to hear Your mysterious voice and to call upon Your power, every moment of my life. For you are present in everything, always.
For Married Persons
Father God, you have consecrated the state of matrimony between men and women to represent the spiritual marriage and unity between Christ and his church. Look with mercy, I pray you, upon those who are married, that they may love, honor, and cherish each other, and so live together in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing and of peace for them. Let your Holy Spirit dwell with them, and guide them from pride and selfishness, and into the spirit of service for one another, and any children they might care for, as Christ humbled himself to serve us. This I ask in Jesus’ name,
Meditation
[What happens in a marriage when both husband and wife see themselves as servants?]
Benediction
The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant; Make me perfect in every good work to do your will, working in me that which is well pleasing in your sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Think of the day ahead in terms of God with you, and visualize health, strength, guidance, purity, calm confidence, and victory as the gifts of His presence.
John 2:1-5 (NASB)
n the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”
And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
Notes on the Scripture
Implicit in Mary's statement, that the wine has run out, is a request or suggestion that Jesus do something about it. But he seems to refuse. The meaning of the famous line, “My hour (or my time) has not yet come,” is well-understood today, although Mary must have been puzzled. The time for his glory — his becoming known as the son of God to the general public, and the tumultuous events leading to his crucifixion — has not arrived. It is too early for him to be working public miracles.
But we know he is about to turn jugs of water into wine; how can this be reconciled with his statement that His “hour has not yet come”? We learn that he isn't refusing to help out the wedding party; he just wants to control the timing. He wants to keep it low-key, for the time being. As we have seen in our study of 1 Samuel, God works on His own schedule. He takes His time, and His timing, like His wisdom, is perfect, even though it is often beyond human understanding.
John gives the miracles of Jesus a different emphasis than the other Gospels. He stresses their function as signs that Jesus is the Christ, as proof of divine intervention. So, Christ is controlling the speed with which knowledge is spread, that He is the Christ.
The wedding itself is symbolic of our relationship with Christ. All four Gospels liken Christ to a bridegroom. Most authorities believe that the “bride” is the church (e.g. Mark 2:19).
Note that Mary does not say “they have run out of wine,” but rather, “they do not have wine.” Since the guests are already somewhat inebriated, as will be seen in the following verse, we are forced to see “wine” as a metaphor of redemption. Only Christ, by divine power, can bring wine to the wedding. The metaphor of wine as the means of redemption—the “blood of Christ”—will be powerfully reinforced, by a literal sacrament, when John describes the Last Supper. We drink wine (or grape juice) to physically depict our saved relationship with God the Father through His Son.
(I did a detailed analysis of the language of this passage in the course of comparing five versions of the Bible: Comparison of Different Bible Translations for Accuracy — The Wedding at Cana. I think it’s interesting . . . but then, I’m biased!)
