Fruit of Gratitude

Gratitude returns love. It is the source of joy. Gratitude brings peace, develops patience and encourages kindness. Gratitude creates goodness and strengthens faithfulness. Gratitude makes a man gentle and it even produces self-control.

You may have noticed that this is the fruit of the Spirit. A spirit-filled man is a grateful man. He knows that all that he possesses, from Jesus Christ to his spouse and children, his home, his car, and his job is all gift. Let us remember this on this Christmas Day and remind ourselves daily about the life altering power of gratitude.

Communion Preparation

Father, we break bread after giving thanks. Thus, we recognize that this bread of life that we share is a gift from You. We acknowledge our need of the Savior Jesus. We gladly submit to Him and ask that as we eat this bread and drink this wine, that You would work in us by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Grant us Your grace and grant that we would learn this graciousness and give it to others, forgiving sins and seeking peace and reconciliation, just as You have made peace with us and reconciled us through Your Holy Son, Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Thanks

Father of lights, in whom there is no variation or shadow, all good things have come down from above, out of Your abundant grace and mercy. Shine down upon us. Illuminate us with the presence of Your glory. Emmanuel, we give You thanks for dwelling with us as a man. Holy Comforter, we praise You for dwelling with us even unto the end of the age. Amen.

Better Than Expected

Here we are on Christmas and we celebrate the arrival of the Lord Jesus. He is the Savior of the World. We are most glad that the arrival of Jesus means the casting down of every loft thought raised up against God. Furthermore, the nations and all enemies will submit to Jesus. Of His government there shall be no end. This is the long expected Messiah.

And it gets even better. The world could be saved by Jesus and you could still be lost in your sins. Every knee will bow but those who bow in humility and honest worship receive a great reward. Whatever you have done, said, or thought is washed clean in Jesus Christ. We are not only saved, but cleansed, made whole, healed, received by God, reckoned as righteous, made holy in Christ, reconciled, delivered, and filled with the Holy Spirit. All of this to the glory of God, resulting in great joy to us, to you. This is even better than we expected.

Confession

Our Father, we confess that we are sinners in need of a Savior. We sin in many ways. We say things we ought not to say, hold grudges, find fault, gossip, and many such sins that divide Your people. Forgive us, O Lord, and grant us the grace of Your Holy Spirit to repent of these sins and turn to our Savior Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Praise

Our Father in Heaven, only You could devise the miracle that is Jesus born of a Virgin. With the angels and archangels, and the shepherds watching over their flocks by night, we praise and magnify Your holy name. Jesus is with us and we praise You for Him. We pray to be changed from glory to glory into His image. Grant that we might know Him more fully so that all that we do, say, and think will redound to Your glory, through the agency of Your Holy Spirit, and in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.