Oh, come O Rod of Jesse’s stem,
From ev’ry foe deliver them
That trust your mighty pow’r to save;
Bring them in vict’ry through the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Oh, Come, Oh, Come Emmanuel
Translated: John Neal, 1818-66
Heavenly Father,
My heart is heavy knowing so many who do not trust in Your mighty power to save. I cling to the knowledge that You do care for the unbelievers — that you seek those lost sheep. I pray for hearts to be open to hearing Your call. May the barriers to faith be removed. May there be a growing self-awareness of the need for Your Son, the Savior. Thank You for providing The Way, The Truth, and The Life in Jesus!
3 … he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. [Luke 15:3-7, ESV]
Come, Lord Jesus!
Liz
prayerpointsbyliz 
Years ago I worked at a Catholic hospital. Father Oliver was the chaplain and I learned alot working with him. I saw the best and worst of people ,because I worked in the Emergency Department. Father Oliver always helped out whenever we called him as well as his associate Father Joe. Between them I learned how to react towards people who were bent on self destruction or on harming others, including me. I have been struck, kicked,cursed at and was not supposed to react “Negatively”. I wasn’t supposed to “judge ” per administration. According to Fathers Oliver and Joe these people were acting out and it was our job to set a good example, if we could get their attention. I learned that most of these people were not going to listen to any help until there was a uniformed officer with a gun on his or her belt standing over them, even then the behavior was tense. I began to wonder if these people ever heard of Jesus? Were they so far out of reality that they felt that they were the only people who existed? Was it okay for them to try to destroy me? I watched in awe as these priests came to our aid and tried by example to show them the forgiveness of Christ’s message. It was patience beyond comparison. Now, I see the same behavior in everyday life and know these people don’t know who God is, never heard of Jesus, His message nor His Sacrifice. Often they are bent on the same self destructive pathway. I shudder, am I perfect? Hardly. But I do know God, do know of Jesus’s message and sacrifice. I also remember the lessons learned from the priests. Patience and a firm hand to set down boundaries against destructive behavior never raising a voice in anger, but not allowing destructive behavior around me. I have found that here is a lot of ridicule against a person who chooses the” Jesus path” but I care. It is my joy to follow Jesus, it is my life, now and into eternity. Can i lead by example? I always remember what Father Oliver said, “Some people never learn to look up until they hit rock bottom , be the shining example of God’s love that they see.” Terrific words from a terrific person, I have to work hard at this, but I work. I don’t know who has hit rock bottom, I know I have , several times.
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