Offertory Prayer

May 26, 2013 – Trinity Sunday/First Sunday after Pentecost God of Love and grace, you created us at our birth, but you continue to create us in our living. Even in death, the journey will not be complete. As we share our gifts this morning, we strive to grow into sacrificial giving. It is when we are challenged that we are shaped, re-formed by you, into the disciples you long for us to be. May the gifts we give and the lives we live display to the world an endurance that produces character and character that produces hope. For we pray boldly, knowing hope that comes from the Holy Spirit never disappoints! In Christ, we pray. Amen. (Romans 5:1-5)

GBOD continues to deliver the full text of each month's offertory prayers via email. You may also find the Offertory Prayers online at www.GBOD.org



Written by Ken Sloane, Director of Stewardship for GBOD.



Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Not Enough for the Lord, a Reflection on 1 Kings 19:4-8

Although the lectionary has paired this passage with this week's gospel reading in John, and they're both about God's provision of food in the wilderness, they have very different messages.

Elijah has performed great acts and, as a consequence, has angered the queen. She has issued a death sentence. He's fleeing for his life.

And he gives up. He prays to the Lord, "I've had enough. I'm ready to die," and he lies down ready for his prayer to be answered.

Instead, the Lord sends a messenger to him who provides him with food and also encouragement.

Elijah, after this encounter, is able to resume his vocation. (A few verses later, Elijah will hear the word of God.)

1 comment:

John Wesley Leek said...

I found that passage very interesting when I read it last week.

I think that is a feeling a lot of pastors feel after "mountain tops" in their ministry lives.

There's always the let down after a high point. We need to know that that's normal and lift each other up!