Verse of the Day - weekend 9/26

Through the Bible - Isaiah 10 - 14, Ephesians 1-2   Good morning,  I'm sure that you've read some books that you felt like you couldn't put it down.  I have recently been reading a book that I've referenced, "Our Heavenly Father" that I had to put down.  I couldn't keep reading, I had to stop often to consider again, sometimes for extended periods, what I had just read. Thielicke tells of how God is always there first when we pray, He is prompting us to pray. He writes, "God is always there first, and therefore is always only an answer to this simple given fact.  Take Bethlehem and Golgotha out of the world, and the cry of God will be silenced and praying becomes meaningless.  Then every one of us and our children and children's children are doomed all our lives to be lonely sentries in the lonely night, listening to furtive, disquieting footsteps, and never finding out who it is, and therefore obliged  to cry out desparately "Who's there? but never receiving an answer, finally to grow weary, return to our little sentry boxes to sleep the rest of our lives the sleep of the hopeless, and drop the whole business of listening and calling."   Isa 53:12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.   NKJV Thankfully we have Bethlehem and Golgotha, and an empty tomb.  And because Jesus lives,  whave someone who speaks on our behalf, interceeding for us.   Heb 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.   NKJV The theme this year for our Jr. High and High School youth group is WE..  The point is stressed that "we" are not meant to be alone.  All of us are encouraged to reach out, to make sure that no one is or feels alone.  The most important point is to make it known that we are never alone if we are in Christ.  He is always there and we should communicate with Him.   When we feel alone, we should call upon the the Father, because your Father knows what we need.   Thielicke continues, "The main thing in prayer is really not that we present particular petitions but that we enter into communion, into a personal relationship with the Father.  If I do nothing else but say from the bottom of my heart, "Dear heavenly Father," the main thing has already happened. This weekend's verse begins the Lord's Prayer. Matt 6:9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. NKJV  May He hear our prayers this weekend.   In Chirst, Mike Matt 6:5-16 The Model Prayer (Luke 11:2-4) 5 "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.   7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.  9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.  14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. NKJV