Matthew 14 – Jesus the introvert

There is a tiny detail between Jesus feeding the five thousand and walking on water that is incredibly important, but often overlooked.  Immediately after the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus made his disciples get in a boat and sail across the lake, while he went up onto a mountainside to pray.  Jesus took time to be alone with God.

As a guy who straddles the line between introvert and extrovert I appreciate that Jesus spent time teaching and healing and being with the people, but then spent time alone with God.  When I was pastoring the hardest part of the week for me was shaking people hands after the service. 

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A Prayer

God of hope,

Thank you for meeting our needs.  Thank you for caring for your souls.  Thank you for providing amazing opportunities to grow.  Be with us this week as we explore the opportunities that you lay before us.  Help us make the decisions you would have us make.  Help us to know what you are calling us to do.  Guide our thoughts, our actions, our conversations, and our attitudes.  Above all let your will be done.

I am a dense person who can too easily ignore you.  Forgive me.  Overcome my poor vision and make it obvious to me the way you would have me go.  I trust your choices far more than I trust my own, but I doubt my ability to know your choice.  I say this with fear and trepidation, but make it obvious to me God, what you would have me do.

I pray for a marriage.  Wrap your loving arms around this couple and heal them God.  Draw them closer to you so they might be closer to each other.  Use us however you need, but care for this couple.

Lord of all creation
Of water, earth, and sky
The heavens are Your tabernacle
Glory to the Lord on High

God of wonders, beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy, holy

Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of heaven and earth

Early in the morning
I will celebrate the light
And as I stumble through the darkness
I will call Your name by night

God of wonders, beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy, holy

Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth

God of wonders, beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
Precious Lord, reveal Your heart to me
Father holy, holy
The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy, holy, holy, holy

Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of heaven and earth

God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
Precious Lord reveal your heart to me
Father holy, holy
the universe declares your majesty
you are holy, holy, holy, holy

halleluiah to the Lord of heaven and earth
halleluiah to the Lord of heaven and earth
halleluiah to the Lord of heaven and earth

Thank you God, amen.

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