Shades of Green – Signs of Life
The sky is blue as azure. Pure white cotton puff clouds drift gracefully across the azure sky. Various shades of green complete a vista opening before our very eyes. The bountiful forests and valleys encompass myriad shades of green, the color of life. Each subtle shade and hue speaks to the magnificence of God and Him manifest in His creation before us. These shades of green evoke thoughts of peoples in many lands who receive life from the Word made flesh. In God’s Word He tells us of life in many shades of green – the color of life. “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.” John 1:4.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:15. Dear Lord, We PRAY that men at the Seminary’s Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology and its Center for Hispanic Studies are raised up to speak the words of eternal life to God’s children in of in various cross-cultural and ethnic populations in our district.
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John 4:13-14. Dear Lord, We PRAY for students at the Lutheran Hispanic Missionary Institute to boldly proclaim Jesus as the Life-giving water to God’s people in the El Paso/Juarez area. Be present in the studies of those in other countries studying on line.
“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. “ John 5:21. Dear Lord, We PRAY for the training and Development of Religious Life Curriculum for God’s People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities be directed by the Holy Spirit. May the knowledge and wisdom of the writers be imparted to students of Bethesda’s ministry.
“Do not work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” John 6:27. Dear Lord, We PRAY for those training national pastors in South Africa and Togo so native pastors who proclaim the Triune God in Africa may use their gifts to bring the word of salvation.
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread that came down from heaven, he will live forever.” John 6:43. Dear Lord, We PRAY that at Lutheran Valley Retreat young men are reached with the bread of life through King’s Camp. May the experience be life changing for these children of God.
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12.
Dear Lord, We PRAY for the Outreach Center in Ft. Collins, CO Lutheran Blind Mission so many who are physically blind may spiritually see through the eyes of Jesus Christ.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10. Dear Lord, We PRAY for the outreach to our LCMS Pastors through Debt Assistance that they may be freed from concerns of debt to joyfully preach the Word to God’s people that all may have life to the full.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25. Dear Lord, We PRAY for the Veterans of the Cross Program which touches retired called church workers to give aid and hope to those who have given selflessly throughout their years of ministry.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 . Dear Lord, We PRAY for Lutheran Bible Translators that translations may be inspired as accurate and understandable languages for those who need the saving message of salvation.
“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3. Dear Lord, We PRAY for Trinity/Hope Haiti that the light of life destroys the darkness of voodoo and animistic religions in the hearts of the people, illuminating them with new life in Christ.
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35. Dear Lord, We PRAY for Mission Outreach to Immigrants from Ethiopia, that providing Christ-centered daycare eases the burden on the parents which leads them to faith in the one true God.
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:68. Dear Lord, We PRAY for University Lutheran Chapel, Boulder, CO as they continue to encourage and assist those who are unchurched and in need of the Savior.
In Jesus’ Name we ask it,
Amen
Conclude by Singing Hymn # 420 LBW: Christ, the Life of All the Living
Shades of green: emerald, seafoam, olive, apple, mint, forest, spring, lime, Kelly, pine, moss, jade and sage all shades and hues of the color of life – these shades of green, represent the many peoples and countries where our mites bring the Word of God to His children so the Holy Spirit may bring forth life blending us together to Praise the Lord with gladness.
Judy Piepkorn,
September 2011