Deuteronomy 24:19-22
19When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be left for the alien, the orphan, and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all your undertakings. 20When you beat your olive trees, do not strip what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow. 21When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, do not glean what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow. 22Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I am commanding you to do this.
Leviticus 19:9-10
9When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the Lord your God
Join with me as we calm our minds and prepare our hearts to come before our Lord.
Father, we come to you knowing you are the God of all things. We are humbled by the love you have shown your people.
You have called us to demonstrate the life of your Son, Jesus Christ. He served without judging, loved without condemning, gave without taking. He sacrificed his own life so that we may have eternal life with you.
Prepare our hearts for this Lenten season and bring us together so that we may be united as one body as we reach out to the world and be a manifestation of the love you have for each of us.
Help us to serve a world that is hungry.
Father, give us the hands to feed the hungry, the weak, the poor, and the lost. We pray that our service can prevent one person from going to bed hungry. May we fill their stomachs as you fill their hearts.
Father, give us the heart to love the hungry, the weak, the poor and the lost. Allow us to love without judging. Enable us to prevent just one person from going to bed still hurting. May we fill their hearts as you fill their life.
Father, give us the feet to go out into the community and be your hands and heart. Do not allow us to become complacent in the many blessing you’ve given us. Give us a hunger to give shelter to the homeless, food to the hungry, clothing to the naked.
Father, give us the ears and eyes to see and hear the needs of your people. We pray that we will not be so focused on our own cries that we will not hear the cries of others. Do not allow us to be blind to the needs of the world. We are your children! You have commanded us to join as brothers and sisters in Christ to stand up, and speak out for the oppressed and disenfranchised.
Father we pray that our church will rise up as one body in Christ, united in service to you. We pray that we can set aside our differences and join together as you call us to reach out and serve our community. Make us sensitive to each other’s needs, meeting resistance with open hearts, and hurt feelings with open minds, so that our doors may be opened to a world seeking your love.
Empty us of ourselves that we may be filled with you. Fill us with a burning desire to demonstrate your love throughout the world. You are endless and unfailing. The more of you that we pour out, the more you fill us.
We ask these in the name of your son, Jesus Christ.
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