Пълният препис на Keep Reaching

WEBVTT 00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:34.079 Every day brings opportunities to see life a little differently. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:41.359 Sometimes all it takes is an unexpected encounter or a moment that changes our perspective. 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:43.280 Prayer can do that. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:50.880 It invites us to see beyond what's right in front of us and discover how God is at work in our lives. 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:56.320 So let's give him these next few minutes and see where he leads us. 00:00:57.600 --> 00:00:59.119 Let us pray. 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:05.120 In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:05.760 Amen. 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:09.599 O Lord, open my lips. 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:12.799 And my mouth shall declare your praise. 00:01:15.519 --> 00:01:17.120 Psalm 83. 00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:19.920 Clothe us in peace. 00:01:23.439 --> 00:01:30.079 Cloth us in the dress of your peace, O Lord, and the stronghold of your mercy. 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:36.400 Let us walk and choose integrity and put on the mantle of truth. 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:55.840 Let us shed the tatters of envy and fear, the rags of anger and greed, and say, We shall seek only the truth, the truth that will set us free. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:15.120 O God, let all that is unholy within us be cleansed, erased as chalk from a slate, as fire consumes the forest, as the flame reaches up to the heavens. 00:02:19.280 --> 00:02:26.319 Let the refining fire of your love reach into the hidden places within our hearts. 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:34.800 Forgive us, and let the deep regret of our souls rise up as contrite offerings. 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:45.280 Let the people seek your word, let the nations turn from violence and destruction. 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:53.919 Let them know that you alone, you who reign with love, are the most high over all the earth. 00:02:56.000 --> 00:02:59.680 Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:04.560 As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:05.520 Amen. 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:37.599 Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, soar on eagle's wings, run and not grow weary, and walk and not grow faint. 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:40.639 The word of the Lord. 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:50.879 There is something about this scripture that brings me a deep sense of peace. 00:03:51.599 --> 00:03:56.400 I think it's because I know from personal experience that it's true. 00:03:57.520 --> 00:04:06.719 When we place our hope in the Lord, especially during difficult times, he gives us a strength that we sometimes don't even know we have. 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:12.479 I learned this in a very personal way through my daughter Kelsey. 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:16.959 When Kelsey was 19, she became very sick. 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:21.199 For four years, she was in and out of hospitals. 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:30.560 I watched my young, active daughter become so weak that she eventually lost her ability to walk on her own. 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:36.079 There were mornings when she couldn't bend her knees without help. 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:40.160 She was so weak she couldn't lift a glass to her mouth. 00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:45.360 As a mother, it was heartbreaking to watch her suffer. 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:47.519 So we prayed. 00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:51.199 And we invited many others to pray with us. 00:04:52.480 --> 00:05:03.680 Kelsey was always a very spiritual person, and even during those difficult years, she told me, I will never lose hope. 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:10.079 One day I asked her, How do you hold on to hope when you're hurting so badly? 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:14.560 Her answer has stayed with me ever since. 00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:29.680 She said, In the darkest moments when I see no end in sight, I see myself reaching for God, and I imagine his hand reaching down and grabbing mine. 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:36.079 Then I realize that I'm not alone in my suffering and I don't let go. 00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:44.160 In her suffering, she taught me about faith and hope. 00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:51.439 Sometimes faith isn't about understanding why something is happening. 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:58.639 Sometimes faith is simply reaching out your hand and trusting that God is reaching back. 00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:10.079 It's knowing that as we physically and emotionally grow weaker, God does not grow weary and He gives us all that we need. 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:18.000 Against all odds, Kelsey got healthy, got married, and has a healthy baby girl. 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:24.079 Today she shares her faith with young people and teaches them about God. 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:29.920 When I look at Kelsey's journey, I think about those words from Isaiah. 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:39.199 Kelsey couldn't see what the future would hold, neither could I. 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:44.480 But she kept reaching for God, and God kept holding on to her. 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:48.000 I think that's true for all of us. 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:53.360 There will be times when we are tired, frightened, or discouraged. 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:57.199 There may be moments when we cannot see a way forward. 00:06:58.160 --> 00:07:02.720 And sometimes the path God gives us is not the path that we would have chosen. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:07.519 But God promises that we will never walk it alone. 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:11.279 Sometimes He gives us the strength to soar. 00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:17.040 And sometimes he simply gives us the strength to take one more step. 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:27.120 So if you're going through something difficult today, keep reaching for God. 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:37.920 Keep praying, keep hoping, because He is always reaching for you, and He will renew your strength. 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:10.160 Place it before the Lord now. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:17.120 With confidence we pray. 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:41.759 Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:42.720 Amen. 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:46.879 Let us pray. 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:57.200 Lord of unfailing strength, you know the weight of every sorrow and the prayers whispered through tears. 00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:07.840 When our strength is spent and tomorrow lies hidden from view, let us feel the gentle touch of your peace. 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:18.559 May your grace lift what we cannot carry, and may the promise of your presence give us courage for the journey ahead. 00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:22.399 We ask this through Christ our Lord. 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:23.360 Amen. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:28.240 And now we pray. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:31.279 To you do I belong, O God. 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:34.960 Into your hands I surrender my life. 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:45.440 Pour out your Spirit upon me, that I may love you perfectly and serve you faithfully until my soul rests in you. 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:50.240 Thank you for praying with us today. 00:09:50.480 --> 00:10:00.000 Whatever the day ahead brings, may you find little reminders that God's love is closer than you think, especially when you need it most. 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:06.720 And may God bless us in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:07.759 Amen. 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:13.840 Look for Christ in the small things until we pray again tomorrow.