W E E K O F W O R S H I Pjuly 15th - 22nd

D A I L Y D E V O T I O N A L C A R D S

Welcome to your ‘take home’ pack for Week of Worship 2012. In here you will find a set of 8 wonderfully illustrated cards, you might even

find a teabag or two. The idea behind WOW is to give opportunity to set aside time for you and the Father. Practicing being in His presence, and reflecting on what it means

to have a ‘heart of worship’. This pack includes one card for each day of the week of worship from

Sunday 15th through to Sunday 22nd. Each day has a different word for you to pause and reflect upon as a family, individual or small group. We are excited at the

possibilities of the conversations that might transpire through this process, not only between you and others but the special sacred words whispered

between you and God.Sunday - Prepare

Monday - RememberTuesday - Awake

Wednesday - FocusThursday - Table

Friday - SoakSaturday - Whanau

Sunday – BlessEach card has an interactive element to it. It might be to download and listen to

a song, or a little movie clip to watch together as a family, or even some baking to be done together and shared.

We really encourage you to visit the Gateway website each day to explore the links provided, they can be found under the NEWS tab of the website, (which is

on the front page of the site, or go to www.gatewaychurch.org.nz/news) however if you’re without internet access, don’t fret! The message of each days devotion

won’t be lost. You are invited to also join us in the evenings this week for a time of worship,

some interactive stations and a café. These will all be happening Monday to Friday from 8 pm -9 pm in the Auditorium, with a special family service on Saturday

from 4 pm - 5 pm. We would love to have you be a part of WOW in this way.So, put the cards on your fridge, mantelpiece or even the dining room table.

Somewhere everyone in the household can read them, and share them with one another. May this week be a chance to refresh, refill, respond and restore.

Nau mai haere mai whanau.

take me home...

Father, we come…expectingWe come to you because you first came to us Make us ready Prepare our eyes to see Our ears to hear Our minds to know Our hearts to feel Our lives to change Our feet to go

Read: Psalm 51:10, Mark 1:3

PREPAREPREPARE

As a community, we have set aside this coming week; a week to focus on honouring our God. Simply who He is, is reason enough to worship. Today is a day to prepare our hearts for His honour, His presence, and

His transforming power. As a child anticipates the joy of giving a gift, we look forward with anticipation to blessing the heart of our God.

And we try, as best as we know how, to have a heart attitude of being soft and available for Him.

Make us ready. . . We come broken Distracted Stressed Worried Hurt Tired… and we praise you because you meet us there

Make us ready… to go from where we are to where you want us Free us from the things that hold us back Still our hearts Quiet us with your love Make us ready

Pray: Read through this prayerfully.

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Do: Ponder how you can personally record God’s blessings and words. How would a meaningful “Altar” look in your home? Spend time

gratefully recording His acts of love in a way that will last.

Ideas: A box with memories written on pieces of paper inside.

A structure of rocks/bricks in the garden.A piece of art.

A list on the fridge…

Read: Joshua chapter 4 (whole chapter)Joshua 4:6 – ‘That this may be a sign among you when your children

ask in time to come, What do these stones mean to you?’

R E M E M B E RR E M E M B E R

What has God said and done for you in the past? Has he spoken about your future? God commanded the Israelites to build an altar to remember His

protection, His words, His miracles. As they saw the structures they would remember, thank God, and take heart. God is the same yesterday, today and

forever (Hebrews 13:8). His words will not return void (Isaiah 55:11).

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Read: Numbers 22:22-34 (NKJV)A W A K EA W A K E

Sometimes it’s as if we’re wandering around blindly not knowing our left from our right. We attempt to pursue the things of God, and we really do desire to for Christ to be at the centre of our lives, in the drivers seat as we navigate our way through the twists and turns that life throws at us. But sometimes our eyes grow dim, our ability to perceive and understand diminishes, and we fall asleep at the wheel. It can be hard circumstances or poor decisions that get us in that slumber, but one thing we know is that the devil is happy with our numbness. For Balaam to actually awaken to the reality that was in front of him, it took a donkey to open its mouth and speak. Maybe it’s not so hard to imagine a talking donkey now that we live in the age of Shreck, waffles and pancakes, but this was an ‘alternative sound’ that led to an awakening for Balaam. Without this he wouldn’t have stopped long enough for the next miracle to happen. God opened His eyes, and it led to repentance and facedown worship. There is a link between our seeing and our singing, revelation leads to response. Christ is in the business of opening blind eyes and awakening us from our

comfortable numbness. It is easy for us to blindly wander along paths that lead away from the ‘call’ Jesus has for us. We live in an age of over stimulation that has often caused us to be dead (asleep) to the reality around us. Could it be that our ‘trusted donkeys’ are speaking, warning, trying to get our attention and instead of listening we are inconvenienced and respond with brutality, ignorant of the love they

have for us. In Psalm 146 the Psalmist says, ‘the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down …’ There is something in our willingness to bow, to take on an attitude of humility, that is related to the revelation we are open to. Could it be there is a ‘sound’ that you need to hear, a sound that will awaken

you to the reality of God’s nearness and involvement in your life?

PonderPause and listen for an alternative sound, a sound you do not usually hear

(or at least take note of), begin to pray and ask God to speak in the midst of it. Allow for this alternative sound to bring something to life within you.

This could be – birds singing, hearts beating, bike bells ringing, wind whistling, Have you allowed your ears to ignore God’s loving instruction?

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Who, or what, sits on the seat of power in your heart? Well meaning gifts of service? Counterfiets? (There is only room for one). How does it show?

Read: Deut 6:4-5; Exodus 20:4

Rev 4:2 – ‘Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.’

FOCUSFOCUS

A throne room has only room for one King. It is absurd to imagine a King teetering on the edge of a golden arm, crowded out by gifts or noisy dogs, they belong at his feet. It is also crazy to think of a king

waiting silently beside while a child lounges on the chair, playing with his crown and imitating him. A king should sit alone on his throne.

When the king is on the throne, everything else is put in it’s place. There are many reasons for what we think is important. The loudest thing, the most fun, the most urgent, the most logical, the right thing.

Reassessing priorities is a good practice; it is not the core issue. The base of what is important for us lies in our focus. Our main reason.

When we are clear about what our life is focused on, actions and thoughts must submit to it.

Ponder:

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Do: Find some old scratched up sunglasses (if you can) or somebody elses

prescription glasses (ask nicely) and stick them on your face. Consider how these lenses affect your ability to view the world. Some lenses help you see

better, and some lenses hurt your eyes. What is impacting your vision these days? Are the ‘lenses’ (circumstances)

you’re wearing helping or hindering your ability to see clearly?Remember His eyes see us clearly without a single blemish, will you allow

your life to be under the focus of His eye?

T A B L ET A B L E

We are invited to a table, and it’s not just any old table. This table, although filled with ordinary bread and ordinary wine, speaks powerful

about a love so strong that the grave could not put it to death. Jesus Christ, King of all creation, humbled Himself to human flesh, moved into our neighbourhood, and in the ultimate act of servant-

hood endured the cross, buying us back and setting us free from the curse of death (Phil 2:5-11).

In worship we come to a table, a table prepared for us, with a meal we are invited to be partakers of. We eat and drink in remembrance

allowing the body of Christ to nourish and make us whole, and allowing the blood to cleanse and wash us. It is a time for remembering the love manifest on that cross, but also a time to anticipate the power of that

sacrificial act in our day and in the age to come. Death is swallowed up in victory. Death no longer has the final say. The Risen King is coming

again for a Bride and as we eat and drink we anticipate another table at which we will eat in celebration (Rev 19).

And all this because the very character of our Creator God is that of a servant. Prompted by love He did not withhold from us Himself,

but instead gave up His life for our salvation. It is in keeping with this character then, that Jesus the night before His death chose to take off His robe, wrap a towel around his waist, pour a bowl of water,

and begin to wash the feet of His disciples. His words to us were an exhortation to do as He did, to be servant of all, to take on the lowly

position of slave (John 13).

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Do: Inside your pack you will find an extra card with two prayers written on it, a prayer for a meal and a prayer for communion.

Gather your whanau, small group, friends, call over a neighbour.Take some bread, break it, serve one another.

Take some wine/juice, serve one another.Pause, reflect, give thanks

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Prayer for Communion / Eucharist

One:The table of bread is now to be made ready.

It is the table of company with Jesus,and all who love him.

It is the table of sharing with the poor of the world,with whom Jesus identified himself.

It is the table of communion with the earth, in which Christ became incarnate.

So come to this table, You who have much faith

and you who would like to have more;you who have been here often

and you have who have not been for a long time; you who have tried to follow Jesus,

and you who have failed;come.

It is Christ who invites us to meet him here.

All:Loving God,

Through your goodnesswe have this bread and wine / grape juice to offer,

which has come forth from the earthand human hands have made.May we know your presence

In the sharing,so that we may know your touch

and presence in all things.We celebrate the life that Jesus has shared

among his community through the centuries, and shares with us now.

Made one in Christand one with each other,

we offer these gifts and with them ourselves,a single, living act of praise.

Amen

Before or After a MealLord God, Creator of all,

In your wisdom,You have bound us together so that we must depend on others

for the food we eat,the resources we use,

the gifts of your creation that bring life, health, and joy.

Creator God, we give thanks.

Holy be the hands that sew our clothes so that we might not have to go naked; sacred be the hands that build our homes so that we do not have to be cold;blessed be the hands that work the land so that we do not have to go hungry.

Creator God we give thanks.

Holy be the feet of all who labor so that we might have rest;sacred be the feet of all who run swiftly to stand with the oppressed;

blessed be the feet of all whose bodies are too broken or weary to stand.

Creator God we give thanks.

Holy be the sound of children laughing to take away our sorrow;sacred be the sound of water falling to take away our thirst;

blessed be the sound of your people singing to heal our troubled hearts

Creator God we give you thanks.

Holy be the bodies of those who know hunger;sacred be the bodies of those who are broken;

blessed be the bodies of those who suffer.In your mercy and grace,

soften our callous hearts and fill us with gratitude for all the gifts you have given us.

In your love,break down the walls that separate usand guide us along your path of peace,

that we might humbly worship you in Spirit and in truth

Amen.

To Do:

Make a cup of tea.

(there’s a teabag included in your pack)

Sit.

Watch the flavour infuse into the water.

Sip.

Enjoy.

While you do, consider your need to soak in God’s presence.

The sheer peace and joy of his presence permeating through your mind, body and soul. Nothing is more refreshing.

Read: Matthew 5:15, Matthew 13:21, Psalm 73:17 – ‘… Until I entered the sanctuary of God.

Then I saw the whole picture …’

S O A KS O A K

I am a shocker when it comes to making tea. In goes the bag, and the boiled water is chucked over it at the same time as too much milk.

A few wiggles and the bag is dropped into the bin. I wander off sipping my tea scented water with distaste. Not satisfied, not refreshed.

Good tea needs time for the flavours to infuse. The longer the soak, the stronger the flavour. There is nothing clever the water needs to do

particularly, just sit, and soak, letting the flavour swirl where it may.

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Read: Matthew 10:42; Matthew 25:31-46, Psalm 68:5-6

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W H A N A UW H A N A U

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. What is the most important thing? It is people, it is people, it is people.

Who could God be asking you to show kindness to? To share life with? Who is in your “family”?

Loving God’s precious creations should naturally flow from loving and being loved by God. Let’s worship him today by blessing those he loves.

3 cups Edmonds standard plain flour / 6 teaspoons Edmonds baking powder / ¼ teaspoon salt / 75g butter / 1 - 1½ cups milk, approximately

/ extra milk for glazing

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 220oC. Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Cut butter in until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

2. Add 1 cup milk and mix quickly with a knife to a soft dough, adding more milk if needed. Knead a few times.

3. Lightly dust an oven tray with flour. Press scone mix out on floured bench or tray, cut into 12 even-sized pieces. Place on oven tray, brush tops with milk and

place in top half of oven to bake

4. Bake scones for about 10 minutes or until golden brown. Once golden brown with crisp crusts, remove from the oven to cool. Cooling on a rack will give you crisp crusts, while covering them with a clean tea towel will give a soft scone.

Do: Make a batch of scones and share them with someone. This could be friends, neighbours, the other parents on the sidelines of

your children’s soccer game...use your imagination.

As God is present to us may you be present with your people - by listening, loving, and sharing life. Haere Mai Whanau!

B L E S S E D A R E T H O S E W H O D W E L L I N Y O U R H O U S E

F O R T H E Y A R E E V E R P R A I S I N G Y O U

P S A L M 8 4 : 4

A5 BLESS Card.indd 1 5/07/12 12:00 PM

May the Lord Bless you and keep you.May the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.May the Lord lift up his countenace on you and give you peace.

May the Love of God our Father, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit be with you,

today and always, Amen

B L E S SB L E S S

There is nothing more valuable to any human being than being blessed by our Creator God.

“This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel...” This is the plain and simple introduction to the potent words of blessing we find at the end of Numbers 6. God gives to Israel’s leaders the very words they regularly need to speak over the people. They capture the essence of

what a blessing is all about.

“The Lord bless you...” It is His blessing alone that makes our lives what they were meant to be.

“And keep you...” The Lord desires to keep us in His care as a special and unique treasure.

“Make His face shine on you...” His smile dispels the darkest gloom.

“Be gracious to you...” God’s grace is on us because of Jesus.

“Lift up His countenance on you...” implies a nearness and connection – it is ‘eye contact.’

“Give you peace...” His ‘Shalom,’ His flourishing is to be on every part of our lives.

The Aaronic Blessing

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