2023 July

 

Christ Calls Disciples Everywhere

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/1/23

 

Christ calls disciples everywhere,

To be of one heart and mind,

To go out into the world to share,

With all of humankind.

 

Today listen for the Lord's call,

Upon your very heart.

You’ll not be called to do it all,

But simply do your part.

 

When all the parts together come,

The body will be whole.

We'll see what Christ’s church can become,

When we each play our role.

 

We may not see it here on earth,

But in the by and by.

We will see each part for what it's worth,

When Christ’s church is raised on high.

 

We’re Called

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/2/23

 

We’re called to love all our neighbors,

And treat them all the same.

We’re called to welcome everyone,

In the Lord Jesus’ name.

 

We're called to faithfully follow,

Wherever Jesus leads.

We're called to use all of our gifts,

To help meet our neighbors’ needs.

 

We’re called to let our own light shine,

And not hide it away.

We’re called to show others our faith,

And always live that way.

 

We’re called to learn what Jesus said,

And thus grow by God's grace.

We’ll be called to journey home one day,

To see Jesus, face to face.

 

We Rise and Sing

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/3/23

 

We rise and sing our praise to God,

Give thanks unto the Lord.

By God's grace and mercy we are blessed,

Upon us love is poured.

 

Throughout this day let us share Good News,

Of what God's done for us.

For from our sins, we've all been saved,

We’ve received forgiveness.

 

That forgiveness came through Jesus Christ,

Who died and rose again.

We too can die to sin and live.

Give thanks to the Lord. Amen.

 

In the World There Are Opportunities

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/5/23

 

In the world there are opportunities,

The love of Christ to share.

With spiritual ears listen for pleas,

When called upon just be there.

 

Each day there are things we might do,

To make a difference somewhere.

With the gifts the Spirit’s given you,

Be the answer to someone's prayer.

 

Give thanks for each opportunity,

That God today gives you.

In each situation you can see,

God at work in all you do.

 

At the day's end reflect upon,

What difference did you make?

You were there when needed by someone,

And you did it for Jesus’ sake.

 

God Gives to Us

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/6/23

 

God gives to us life-giving breath.

Celebrate being alive.

Christ gives power to overcome death.

All this we do believe.

 

God gives to us the gift of love,

With thanks God's love receive.

Love everyone whom you can think of,

All this we do believe.

 

The most precious gift God gives to us,

That sin, by grace relieve.

Forgiveness through our Lord Jesus,

All this we do believe.

 

There Come those Times When We’re in Need

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/8/23

 

There come those times, when we're in need,

When we’re at our wits’ end.

God hears us and then with God-speed,

Answers to prayers God will send.

 

When you're at the end of the rope,

And don't know what to do,

Pray that God will give both strength and hope,

That Christ will see you through.

 

With faith and hope in Christ be bold,

In Christ you can do all things.

In the end when your story is told,

All glory to God it brings.

 

O God, We Pray

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/10/23

 

O God, we pray, “thy kingdom come.”

Right here upon the earth.

Help us to see that it’s in us,

And see our sacred worth.

 

Jesus talked of the mustard seed,

A little, tiny thing.

A little yeast within the dough,

Lifts all with its rising.

 

In us, Lord, may your kingdom come.

We are your harvest field.

May your seed of faith in us grow,

When to you, O Lord, we yield.

 

May we see you whenever we,

Look on each other's face,

And spread your kingdom wherever,

We go out from this place. 

 

Lord, Help Us Share Our Faith in You

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/11/23

 

Lord, help us share our faith in you,

By what we do and say,

And may your love come shining through,

By how we live each day.

 

For there are those who don't know you,

But we know they know us.

Through loving actions that we do,

May we show them Jesus.

 

Give us the courage to proclaim,

Good News to all the earth.

We do this all in Jesus’ name,

Who's given us rebirth.

 

Through grace, forgiveness we've received,

By grace may we forgive.

Our lives were changed once we believed,

For you we daily live.

 

We Celebrate that God Is Near

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/13/23

 

We celebrate that God is near,

Whenever we're in need.

And there is nothing that we fear,

When God is here indeed.

 

Give thanks and praise to God above.

Give glory to God's name.

God watches us with eyes of love,

Not with judgment or blame.

 

For in a world of guilt and sin,

God sent to us Jesus,

That inner peace might dwell within,

The hearts of all of us.

 

Take time today to praise the Lord,

For all that God has done.

For you are loved and are adored.

You are God's precious one.

 

Lord, You Spoke of a Mustard Seed

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/14/23

 

Lord, you spoke of a mustard seed,

That turned into a bush.

Help us reach out to meet a need,

Give us a holy push.

 

You have given a metaphor,

That your will we might know.

In your image you made us, for,

In you we're meant to grow.

 

Every day help us strive to be,

What you have made us for.

Help us to glimpse eternity,

With you forever more.

 

Down here on earth we're practicing,

For what is yet to come.

Eternal praises we will sing,

In your heavenly kingdom.

 

We Are Blessed

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/16/23

 

We are blessed by the love of God,

Who takes away our sin.

We are blessed by the Holy Spirit,

Whose power dwells within.

 

We are blessed by the Lord Jesus,

Who died and rose again.

We are blessed by Christ’s holy church,

For this we say, Amen.

 

We are blessed by the things in life,

That glimpses of God show.

We are blessed by the challenges,

That help us all to grow.

 

We are blessed by God every day.

To God give thanks and praise.

We are blessed by God every way,

When we walk God's pathways.

 

We Come before the Lord Above

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/18/23

 

We come before the Lord above,

Whene’er we stop and pray,

And we are blessed by the Lord's love,

And called to live that way.

 

Upon our hearts there are concerns,

That to the Lord we bring.

For grace and mercy our heart yearns,

The Lord hears everything.

 

And there are joys upon our hearts,

Which to the Lord we bring.

For all of life and all its parts,

We share with thanksgiving.

 

When Trouble Comes into Our Life

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/19/23

 

When trouble comes into our life,

We know that people care.

When we are weighed down by stress or strife,

Pray-ers lift us in prayer.

 

There have been times when we have prayed,

Unsure of what to say.

Or what difference our prayers have made,

Still to the Lord we pray.

 

Differences are made in us,

Who turn to God in prayer.

Praying in the name of Jesus,

Invokes God's loving care.

 

Jesus taught us how we should pray,

Modeled in the Lord's prayer.

Converse with God throughout the day,

Each joy and sorrow share.

 

What Is Your Most Precious Treasure

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/20/23

 

What is your most precious treasure?

What to you has great value?

How does eternal life measure,

When compared to that for you?

 

Buried treasure in a field,

For one it was that one thing.

To buy it and have the deal sealed,

He went and sold everything.

 

How about the merchant of pearls,

Who found the most precious one?

On seeing that one his head whirls.

He had to have it, bar none.

 

Today take the time to reflect,

On what's most precious to you.

Search your soul, and I do suspect,

You'll do what you need to do.

 

Going about the coming days,

Go and figure this all out.

Then change your life and change your ways,

Heaven’s what it's all about.

 

We Are Blessed by the Fellowship

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/21/23

 

We are blessed by the fellowship,

The church to all extends.

It extends to eternity,

For Christ’s love never ends.

 

We have been drawn into the fold,

Enfolded by Christ’s love.

We have been nurtured in the faith,

And blessed by God above.

 

Today we are called to go and reach,

All those who feel left out.

And draw them in, that they might know,

God loves them. There is no doubt.

 

There Are Some People

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/22/23

 

There are some people in our lives,

Who are blessings to us,

Like aunts, uncles, husbands, or wives,

But none more so than Jesus.

 

Jesus not only talks the talk,

And tells us how to live,

But shows us as he walks the walk.

Of himself he freely gives.

 

Jesus Said, Give Them Something

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/25/23

 

Jesus said, “give them something,”

When the large crowd was hungry.

The disciples said they had nothing,

To this they'd all agree.

 

But Jesus had a plan,

To model problem solving.

If each were to do as each one can,

They all receive God's blessing.

 

God's help is not always given,

To those who help themselves.

God helps those who make the decision,

To give their very best selves.

 

Miracles there will be,

Don't wait first they may seem strange.

Believers become a community,

When perspectives start to change.

 

Jesus Fed a Large Crowd

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/26/23

 

Jesus fed a large crowd,

With a few fish and bread.

Miracles happen in Jesus’ name.

Hungry people are fed.

 

Jesus came to teach us,

All problems can be solved.

With Jesus 's help all things can be done,

By faith, if we’re so resolved.

 

Reflect on all you've learned,

And the things you’ve learned to do.

Give thanks and praise to God above,

For God will see you through.

 

We Praise the Lord Our God

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/27/23

 

We praise the Lord our God,

For all the Lord has done.

We lift our hearts to God in praise.

Praise to the holy one.

 

We are here because of God,

In whose image we are made.

God calls us to be what we can be,

And not to be afraid.

 

We praise the Lord our God,

For all the Lord has done.

Throughout our days God is with us,

God bless us everyone.

 

Jesus Had Compassion

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/28/23

 

Jesus had compassion,

He fed all who were hungry.

He healed the sick and raised the dead,

That believers we might be.

 

Today what are your needs?

Bring each one to the Lord.

God wants to hear what's hurting you,

That all things may be restored.

 

Today what are your joys?

For each one sing God's praise.

As God answers each of our prayers,

May we thank God always.

 

Sing Your Praise to Jesus

                        Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs 7/29/23

 

Sing your praise to Jesus,

For all he has done.

The Word at creation,

When all was begun.

The Word became human,

Born in Bethlehem.

Shepherds came to bless him,

Angels had told them.

Refrain:

Sing your praise to Jesus,

For all he has done.

He came down to bless us,

Bless us everyone.

 

Sing your praise to Jesus,

Who called fishermen,

To come to learn to fish,

For men and women,

How to spread the Good News,

Here and everywhere.

Lives would thus be transformed,

As God's love they'd share.

Refrain:

 

Sing your praise to Jesus,

Parables he told,

Showing the disciples,

God's realm to behold.

He spoke of seeds and soil,

God’s salvation plan,

Finding lost sheep and the,

Good Samaritan.

Refrain:

 

Sing your praise to Jesus,

Whom Peter denied.

Judas had betrayed him,

On the cross he died.

But then three days later,

He rose from the grave,

Offering us new life,

By him we are saved.

Refrain: