14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.     Ephesians 3:14-19   NIV
 
This section in his letter is entitled Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians, for that is exactly what it is – his prayer to God on behalf of the Christians in Ephesus. It is a form of appeal to the LORD for strength and endurance from God for them. Paul is asking God to help the citizens show a type of “faith in action “ as it were – if they have the knowledge of the doctrine being taught to them, then it is important for them ( as it also is for us) to be able to put it into action, to apply it in their daily living.
 
Let us pray, please – Great Teacher of us all – Help us all, as You did back in the early days of our church, to not only learn and understand Your Word , but to then take that knowledge and move forward into this world, living it out in our lives, so that we can bear witness to Your power and love for the world. Guide us each day to be the very best we can be, for You, Abba, and for Your Son Jesus, in whose name we pray.  Amen
 
Yours in Christ  ,  Rollie
​

7 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. 3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying,
“He is good;
    his love endures forever.”      2 Chronicles 7:1-3
 
In today’s reading, we see how the LORD God answered the prayer of Solomon, by coming down as a fire from the heavens, consuming the sacrifice. The fire did not come down responding to the fact that a sacrifice was presented at the altar, it was in response to the praying of that prayer. And those who were gathered in the temple courtyard did not run away in fear ; they instead showed their adoration and worshipped God.
 
Let us pray – God of Fire, Power and Great Strength , accept our worship and adoration to You and You alone, for You are Jehovah , Mighty God !!  We pray, LORD, that You keep Your arms of protection and guidance around us all each and every day. With You right beside us, who can possibly be against us ?   We pray all through Jesus……  Amen.
 
Yours in Christ  ,  Rollie
​

10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.    1 Corinthians 3:10-15
 
In today’s reading, Paul points out that he has laid the “foundation” of the building in Corinth (i.e., the church) – that foundation being Jesus Christ. He is telling the citizens to take care in how they continue to build upon it. These people need to continue to put aside their secular ways and their squabbling amongst each other, and use God given ideals such as wisdom, truth and love for each other and to those who they come in contact with. This way, the building will be strong !
 
Let us pray please – Holy and Eternal God, as we continue this work of building that was started so long ago, help us to be good builders, as Paul exhorted the people back then. Guide us so that we can be strong, faithful witnesses in this troubled world. We want to be good teachers and preachers of Your Word to all who will listen. We pray all this in Jesus’ name.  Amen.
 
Yours in Christ  ,  Rollie
 

5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll    and to open its seals, because you were slain,
    and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,  and they will reign on the earth.”11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
    to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
    and honor and glory and praise!”13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.      Revelations 5:1-14  NIV
 
The word revelation means to disclose or unveil something. In this chapter of John’s Revelation, it focuses on a scroll containing God's judgments on sin, and a search for someone to open it. Only Jesus is worthy to open it. When Jesus receives the scroll from God, He receives praise from every creature in heaven and on earth.  Jesus is described by John as “The Lion of the tribe of Judah” and the “Root of David” – He is also further described as a lamb that had been slaughtered. What follows the opening of the scrolls is a time of worship and praise from all the inhabitants of the earth.
 
 
Let us pray please :God of all creation and Love – these are accurate descriptions , no doubt, of our Savior. He was The Lamb of God who bore the sins of the world. These are indeed all of our sins. Jesus’ sacrifice makes it possible to us to have eternal life in Your Kingdom. Thank you God for bringing Jesus to this world, for rescuing us all !!!  It is in The Savior’s glorious name we pray.  Amen

Yours in Christ  ,  Rollie
 

See here: A king rules to promote righteousness; rulers govern to promote justice,
2     each like a shelter from the wind  and a refuge from a storm,
    like streams of water in a wasteland,  like the shade of a massive cliff in a worn-out land.
3 Then the eyes of those who can see will no longer be blind, the ears of those who can hear will listen,4     the minds of the rash will know and comprehend, and the tongues of those who stammer will speak fluently and plainly.5 Then a fool will no longer be called honorable,
    nor a villain considered respectable.6 Fools speak folly;  their minds devise wickedness,
    acting irreverently,  speaking falsely of the Lord, leaving the hungry empty,
    and depriving the thirsty of drink.7 As for the villain, his villainies are evil.
    He plans schemes to destroy the poor with lying words,  even when the needy speak justly.
8 But an honorable person plans honorable things    and stands up for what is honorable.   Isaiah 32:1-8
 
In this reading of prophesy from Isaiah, the “king” and “princes” referred to are quite evidently Jesus, and the disciples , apostles and preachers who began the needed work on earth of establishing His church. He is the “refuge from the storm” ( that storm being the weight of sin and final death, as He took all that on Himself). Because of what Jesus did and His purpose, our hearts can be freed from selfishness, greed, material desires, etc.
 
Let us pray please – Abba, Father……. We pray for wisdom and discernment during these volatile times, help us to stay close to Your side, hear feel Your loving hand guide us, to hear Your words encouraging us to continue the good fight – battling liars and schemers with The Truth , The Way, which is Jesus. We ask for Your continuing blessings on this land, that we will see more love, less hatred ; more kindness and compassion, less anger ; words of love and forgiveness, less arguing. We pray all this through Your Son, our Savior.    Amen.
 
Yours in Christ  ,  Rollie

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[a] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.      Colossians 1:15-23   NIV
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.    John 1:12-14
 
In today’s reading in Colossians, an important point to think about is that we are reconciled back to God, not the other way around. That is because we have “departed” God with our sinful ways, and need to be brought back to Him. In Christ’s death on the cross, we are both redeemed ( released from the slavery of sin) and we are able now to be saved ( reconciled) once and for all !!  Indeed , this is The Good News !!    The second reading, from John’s Gospel, is a very poetic introduction, if you will, of Jesus Christ. V.14 is one of the more famous verses in God’s Word.
 
Let us pray please - Let us pray together – God of our fathers, when we were apart from You, we struggled so much. And You knew this. Thank you that Your love was so broad and amazing that You brought Your Son, Jesus, into this world , to pay our debt, to save us from our sinful ways , rescuing us from certain death. Help us, Dear LORD, to never, ever forget what You did for us. We pray all through our Redeemer, Christ Jesus.    Amen.
 
Yours in Christ , Rollie

3 You who have been demanding proof that Christ speaks through me will get more than you bargained for. You'll get the full force of Christ, don't think you won't. 
4 He was sheer weakness and humiliation when he was killed on the Cross, but oh, he's alive now - in the mighty power of God! We weren't much to look at, either, when we were humiliated among you, but when we deal with you this next time, we'll be alive in Christ, strengthened by God. 
5 Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it. 6 I hope the test won't show that we have failed. 7 But if it comes to that, we'd rather the test showed our failure than yours. 8 We're rooting for the truth to win out in you. 9 We couldn't possibly do otherwise. We don't just put up with our limitations; we celebrate them, and then go on to celebrate every strength, every triumph of the truth in you. We pray hard that it will all come together in your lives. 
10 I'm writing this to you now so that when I come I won't have to say another word on the subject. The authority the Master gave me is for putting people together, not taking them apart. I want to get on with it, and not have to spend time on reprimands.              2 Corinthians 13:3-10
 
 
In today’s reading, Paul is giving a warning to the citizens : repent from their sinful ways before he comes to visit. He tells them for those who remain unrepentant, the price will be steep. Paul is urging them to pray and look into their souls, examine their hearts to see if Christ truly dwells there. Paul fully understands that he has God-given power to represent Christ, but he hopes that he will not have to do so in a severe , strongly-worded way when he arrives to visit them.
 
 
Let us pray please :  Holy and Eternal God , what Paul says to the Corinthians are words that all of us today need not only to listen to, but to heed. Our sinful ways are not the way to go, no. The way for us to go is to believe in You – Your power, Your love for us, and to believe in Your Son, our Savior Jesus , and to be witnesses here on earth to all that You have done for us, and will continue to do. Indeed we pray all this through Jesus.  Amen.
 
Yours in Christ  ,  Rollie

5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,6 who, though he was in the form of God,    did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself,    taking the form of a slave,    being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,    he humbled himself
    and became obedient to the point of death—    even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him  and gave him the name
    that is above every name,10 so that at the name of Jesus
    every knee should bend,  in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess   that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.   12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;       Philippians 2:5-12
 
 
Paul tells his readers that the example of Jesus is set up before us. His existence was divine, but still, He humbled himself to a more human-like state, a lowly one at that. And He endured the pain and upset of dying on the cross, surrounded by upset and scorn from others. By confessing with our hearts, minds and mouths that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, we can bring glory to God the Father for the work He has done – death and sin are conquered, once and for all !
 
Let us pray together :  Eternal and Giving God , we worship You as the one True God of our lives , You are the source of all true and lasting joy. As we read and contemplate Your Word, we pray that we will hear Your voice of instruction, of compassion to us all.
Lord Jesus, You are the resurrection and the life, the door where we may enter into Your Father’s presence. We, the church, are Your body here in this world. Help us to be strong, be vigilant for what is right and true. All these things we pray in Your Blessed Name.   Amen.
 
Yours in Christ  ,  Rollie