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Mini-Worship
February 13-18, 2024
1. Centering Yourself
2. Entering the Presence
(All)To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; (M)Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful. (W) The LORD protects the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. (All) Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. (M) For the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. (W)No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly. (All) O LORD of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.
3. Confession:
Lord of our lives, I confess that my work schedules have kept me so busy and I have not had time for you. Now I come to you. I desire your presence with me. I need your touch. I need your life in me to warm me up, to strengthen my inner being, to cleanse me from the pollution from the world, and to unload the stress from everyday hustles and bustles. Let me find rest in you now. I want to see your holy beauty, to feel your pure love, to breath in your power of life. I want to worship you and to pour my heart and thoughts to you. (personal words…) Lead me in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. I confess.
4. Scripture Reading:
Gospel Matthew 5:13-20
13“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. 17“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
5. Thoughts to share
Religion does not bring in the power to live out a true and righteous life. But the Kingdom of God, which is the very power of God, will bring in the true life and lively life. The Kingdom of God helps us break away the bondage of sin and evil power on one hand, and brings us into the fountain of water of life on the other hand. We are set free to live a clean, pure, right, and lively life. This water of life cleans us, nurtures us, and helps us functional properly. The ten commandments show us what are good to do. The power from the Kingdom of God in us empowers us to keep these commandments easily and joyfully. The kingdom of God comes to us in the person of Jesus Christ. In Christ, we have power to choose and to do good. When we do good, we are like the salt and light to the people around us.
What are you pursuing in your life? Have you invited this Kingdom of God into your pursuits? What is the message or metaphor you intend to send out to the world in your pursuits?
6. Prayer suggestion:
Pray that God will walk in your pursuits and that he will guide you and bless you for His glory and righteousness. You are His servant and representative in the world and in your field. He has shared a part of His talents to you. He has spent time to prepare you for the work that He places before you. He knows the purpose and mission through it. May He guide you through your being and doing.
The Creator and Redeemer of my life, I am still searching for what will be my better style, my higher purpose, and my higher mission. Sometimes, I am not clear about what kind of ethics and standards I should have in my being in this complicated world. I am willing to open to you and allow you work in me and through me as I go on. I love my work/learning. I love my talents. I desire to have a peaceful and proper relationships with the people around me. Help me, teach me, guide me, show me the way to go so that I will find a wholeness in my being and in my living. I will be the light and salt to the people around me. I pray in the name of Jesus.
7. Benedictions
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
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