Prayful Thursday

People at the Brandon Armoury amaze me.   Pedro,  the Cleaner, works at Maple Leaf (pork plant) as well as part time at the Armoury.   Yesterday he was looking especially tired.  When asked he said he was tired but it was a joyous tired as he is saving money so that his wife can take more English lessons as well as take his in-laws and family to Banff in July for a holiday.   A joyous tired.   Pedro is looking ahead to the joy that his extra work will bring.   Amazing!    Most of us would whine and grumble about having to work two jobs.   When one has a positive attitude,  it is amazing what can be accomplished.     Looking ahead and preparing the way are very similar.

How do we as a Church look ahead?  Or do we?  Or would we rather sit in the same place and remember the good ol' year(s)?    Keeping ourselves in the same place leads to stagnation and dispare.

Today,  think of ways the Church you belong to can move forward in sharing the Good News of Jesus with the community.  And yes,  we will all be tired from the work.... but it will be a joyous tired.

Please continue to keep Old Son in your prayers.   We will find out the results from all his medical tests tomorrow.

Please keep in your prayers Virden Cadet MCpl Coulter and his family.  MCpl Coulter died last Thursday from a dirt bike accident.  His Celebration of Resurrection will be Friday in Virden.

Thursday Retreat.....

Prayer:  Dear Jesus, I long for Your presence this day.   I come before You now  to clear my mind of all the things that battle for my attention. I humbly sit at Your feet asking You to minister to me through Your word.  Amen.

Read St. Matthew  17:  9 – 13

Coming down the mountain,  Jesus asks the three disciples to keep what happened up on the mountain,  to stay on the mountain.     After Jesus is raised from the dead,  they can tell anyone they want.

The disciples then asks Jesus  why the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first.    The answer is it was foretold in the scriptures that Elijah would return as the forerunner of the Messianic age  (Malachi 4: 5).  

Suddenly a light bulb goes on in the minds of the Disciples.   A great prophet did appear  and it was the prophet of John the Baptist.     John the Baptist who is also called the Forerunner of the Messiah.

Today ask yourself how you can be a John the Baptist and prepare the way for God to come into people’s hearts and lives.

Prayer:  Blessed are You, gracious God.  You have given us life,   You have called us into wholeness and You refuse to let us go.  Draw us closer to You that we might experience Your healing presence and know Your faith love.  Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

(PCC The Book of Common Worship)

Many blessings!