Spring Cleaning

March 21, 2017

Opening Hymns:
Come, Thou Found of Every Blessing: http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh400.sht

Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 5:8-14
5:8 For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light-

5:9 for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.

5:10 Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.

5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

5:12 For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly;

5:13 but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,

5:14 for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

Message:
It is officially spring now. Last week my husband and I went on a cleaning rampage. We vacuumed, scrubbed, and even dusted. The dust was so thick, there were some spots that probably hadn’t been dusted since I moved in. Even the bathroom fan, which had built up dust and hair was cleaned off. We had let some things go for so long that we didn’t even notice that they were dirty.

Today’s scripture reading invites us to do some spring cleaning for our souls. It is an invitation to look closely at our lives. Are our actions fruitful and pleasing to the Lord, or are there things that we do that we try to keep hidden. Are there areas in our life that we haven’t examined for so long that we’ve forgotten that they’re wrong?

Today reflect on your life, think about all the wonderful things that you do that helps bring light to the world, and dust away the areas in your life that aren’t fruitful or pleasing to our Lord. Allow him to help wash you clean.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for showing us what actions are good and right in Your eyes. Help us be washed clean from our sins, and let us change then dark things in our life into light. Thank you for your forgiving love. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
Jesus Calls Us: http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh398.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.
Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God