Evensong

Day 18: The Grand Designer

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Psalm 139

“For You formed my inward parts;

You wove me in my mother’s womb.

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Wonderful are Your works,

And my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;

Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;

And in Your book were all written

The days that were ordained for me,

When as yet there was not one of them.”

For years I did not fully appreciate how God had created me, but in my thirties I was finally able to count as blessings all of my less-than-perfect physical attributes, and to even thank the Lord for the way I was fearfully and wonderfully made. The Grand Designer chose my eye, hair, and skin color; He chose my gender and size and frame. From the inside out He knitted me together to be the exact human being He desired me to be—all for His purposes—created and chosen to be His. My imperfections were created by a perfect God Who has never made a mistake with in how He has created us. No matter the many flaws, inside and out, how can I not thank my heavenly Father for the blessing of creating me the way He ordained?

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Tomorrow is the official day set aside as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. This year’s March for Life on January 24 marks fifty-two years of holding to this tradition when tens of thousands of folks are willing to brave the cold—and even snow—to take a stand and march for the lives of the unborn. Many will undoubtedly speak of the hope that was finally realized with the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision being reversed two years ago. Even still, the lives of the unborn are threatened and need to be protected.

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Each precious life, as an “unformed substance,” is seen by a holy God, and every day is ordained for them, with a specific plan and purpose. The Lord bestows His blessing on every created life before they are even born! There may be some who are uncertain and even fearful about bringing a child into today’s world. God’s blessed plan hasn’t changed through the ages…each human being is created by God’s will, His magnificent purpose, divine design, and glorious grace! Let us thank Him for creating us for His pleasure and purpose and make the commitment to live for His praise!

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Dear heavenly Father, we praise You that You are the Grand Designer, that each one of us is fearfully and wonderfully made by You for your specific purposes. Forgive us, Lord, when we question Your design and complain about the things we don’t like. More importantly, dear God, forgive us, we pray, for thinking and even acting upon the assumption that each human life is not precious to You, that we have the choice to destroy Your creation. How grieved you must be, O Father. Have mercy on us, we beg. In the Holy name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Evensong

Today's Scripture

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

1 John 4:4

If we’re going to be overcoming, triumphant believers, it’s time we rediscover our true identity. The way we triumph is not through force but with the power of God’s love through Jesus Christ. That kind of triumph comes from the God who is greater, and He placed that greatness in you. For greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world!

Our God is greater than every enemy because He took your enemies to a place called Calvary and conquered them there. He is greater than every sickness because He bore your sickness upon His back, and by His stripes you are healed. He is greater than every need because He will supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory. He is greater than every bondage and addiction for He is the Anointed One who breaks the yoke of bondage and sets captives free, and whom the Son sets free is free indeed. He is the God who is greater than every mountain that you’re climbing because He can take that mountain and cast it into the sea. He’s greater than every sorrow because in His presence is the fullness of joy.

Don’t let the world weigh you down today. Our God is greater!

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Blessing

Father, we thank You that we are triumphant through You. Now Lord, bless us with victory in our personal lives, in our relationships, in our churches, in this community. Bless us with goodness and grace and mercy and peace and Your favor in all things that as we march in triumph, those who are walking in darkness will recognize that the Light of the world lives in us, and they’ll be drawn to You, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Let every life be blessed beyond measure this week because they live to give You the glory. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray and say and receive this blessing, Amen and Amen.

Today's Bible Reading:?

Old Testament

New Testament?

Psalms & Proverbs