Acts 1:7-8

Good Morning Father

Thank you for the warmth of your love today. Thank you for the wealth of your caring, and thank You for hope You have placed inside us.

Father, we look around at our circumstances. We see layoffs, we see downsizing, we see unemployment, we see pay cuts, we see 30% of children in Multnomah County in need of food and we can be filled with fear at the sights and activities around us. Remind us of your followers at the crucifixion. As Max Lucado says, they ran, scared as cats in a dog pound. But when we fast forward just 40 short days, Peter is preaching in the same area where Jesus was arrested. Your frightened followers defy your enemies through the power of your Holy Spirit.

Through the resurrected Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, your followers were empowered with courage that was forged in the fire of the empty tomb.

You are offering us that same power, that same courage today. You have plan for us to accomplish. Today we surrender to your will, we seek and accept the Holy Spirit and His power and the same courage that you gave to Peter. You may have one for us to reach or 100, but whatever it is, we will go forth in the power of Your Holy Spirit. And for that we give you thanks and praise.

Be blessed as we praise, be honored as we worship and let Your Kingdom Come and Your will be done in this place, just as it is in Heaven. In the name of Jesus we pray.

Amen.