Reflections of Refinement: of communion.

Sunday, February 13, 2005

of communion.

I realized today that communion is much more meaningful for me since coming to Japan. Since I worship every week in a language I don't understand, I loose a lot of "meaningfulness" from worship sometimes. But today, as I went forward with fellow believers to receive the body and blood of my Savior, I realized that it doesn't matter what language I worship in. It doesn't matter if I can understand everything that goes on. What matters is that I am still a part of the Church Body. No language barrier can blockade this gift from heaven. How amazing is that? I think I am one step closer to understanding and appreciating this whole communion thing. (took going to a different country, but hey, the good news is that I am learning!)

God is good.

I had more things to say, but I have forgotten them, so enjoy a short post for once. :-)

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I ask you to PRAY

Finally brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.

2 Thessalonians 3:1

Prayers for us and the Japanese people:

That we may

*be given the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of Christ
*have our eyes be enlightened with His presence
*know the Hope of His calling
*understand the greatness of His power toward us
*have our hearts strengthened
*have Christ dwelling in our hearts
*be rooted and grounded in love
*able to comprehend the width and length depth and height of the love of Christ
*be filled with the fullness of Christ
*have love that abounds more and more in knowledge and discernment
*be sincere and without offense until the day of Christ
*be filled with the fruits of righteousness
*be filled with the knowledge of His Will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding
*have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God
*be strengthened with all Might, according to His power
*have patience and longsuffering with joy and thanksgiving
*be like-minded toward one another so that we may Glorify Christ with one mind and one mouth
*be filled with all joy and peace in believing, so that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit
*be enriched in everything so that we come short in no spiritual gift and that we may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ
*have what is lacking in our faith perfected
*be made to increase and abound in love to one another and overflow to all
*have our hearts established as blameless before God at the coming of Christ
*be counted worthy of His calling and fulfill all good works He has planned for us
*be glorified in the name of Jesus, and He in us, according to Grace
*be living fully in the love of God and the patience of Christ

(prayer requests taken from the various Apostolic prayers)