Sunday, May 30, 2010
Due to various providences CRF has closed. However, the pastor and some of the members still meet together on a weekly basis. If you would like to fellowship with other committed Christians and study the Bible, please feel free to join us. Contact Pastor Matt for more information. We also welcome you to join us as we worship with the people of Providence Church in Mifflin, OH.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Combined Service Announced
Please Note:
On April 25th CRF will have a combined service with the members of Providence church in Mifflin. Please feel free to join us. Worship is from 10:30-12:00 and Rev. Timmons will be preaching. Providence meets in the Community Center (Lions Club Building) on State Route 603 in the center of Mifflin across from The Mifflin Trading Post. (Map).
On April 25th CRF will have a combined service with the members of Providence church in Mifflin. Please feel free to join us. Worship is from 10:30-12:00 and Rev. Timmons will be preaching. Providence meets in the Community Center (Lions Club Building) on State Route 603 in the center of Mifflin across from The Mifflin Trading Post. (Map).
Resurrection Praise
The rock trembled before you and the mighty soldiers became paralyzed with fear. The earth heaved and the grave did give up its possession. Christ our King walked forth victoriously. None could stop his conquest.
So we shout this morning with songs of praise to our mighty Deliverer. We rejoice in his redemption. While others wallow under the grip of death, we sing songs of gladness and joy. For a door has been opened to us and heaven’s gates cannot be closed to the chosen of God.
Therefore we confess the Day of the Lord. This day is yours. You have set it apart for yourself and you sanctified it with the resurrection of Your Son.
So let a resurrection occur today. May the deadness of our sin be continually overcome and may we rise with new obedience because your life giving Word has come to rest in our hearts.
So we shout this morning with songs of praise to our mighty Deliverer. We rejoice in his redemption. While others wallow under the grip of death, we sing songs of gladness and joy. For a door has been opened to us and heaven’s gates cannot be closed to the chosen of God.
Therefore we confess the Day of the Lord. This day is yours. You have set it apart for yourself and you sanctified it with the resurrection of Your Son.
So let a resurrection occur today. May the deadness of our sin be continually overcome and may we rise with new obedience because your life giving Word has come to rest in our hearts.
Spiritual Traitors
Blessed God,
How shall we express the depth of depravity and the sorrow we feel for it. You have raised us from the dead and promised us everlasting life, but we have seen fit to dwell in the tomb and we have chosen to wear the rags of death and folly.
Forgive us, O God, for not hastening on in the faith. Forgive us for not pressing the victory of Christ to the very end. We admit before you that we have not sought to resist temptation like we should and we have often become the enemy’s friend.
Such a traitorous spirit deserves a terrible end. We know that treason is punishable by death.
But we come to you, O God, looking for your mercy and forgiveness. We pray moreover that you would bind our hearts and fetter our wayward spirits. God, how we wish we had never left your ranks and would never desire to turn from your way.
Though we have been slow to do battle against the flesh and have often given the enemy a foothold over us, do forgive us. And may you loosen the chains that do bind now bind us so that we can walk in the way that we ought.
For we ask this in the strong Name of our Risen Savior. Amen.
How shall we express the depth of depravity and the sorrow we feel for it. You have raised us from the dead and promised us everlasting life, but we have seen fit to dwell in the tomb and we have chosen to wear the rags of death and folly.
Forgive us, O God, for not hastening on in the faith. Forgive us for not pressing the victory of Christ to the very end. We admit before you that we have not sought to resist temptation like we should and we have often become the enemy’s friend.
Such a traitorous spirit deserves a terrible end. We know that treason is punishable by death.
But we come to you, O God, looking for your mercy and forgiveness. We pray moreover that you would bind our hearts and fetter our wayward spirits. God, how we wish we had never left your ranks and would never desire to turn from your way.
Though we have been slow to do battle against the flesh and have often given the enemy a foothold over us, do forgive us. And may you loosen the chains that do bind now bind us so that we can walk in the way that we ought.
For we ask this in the strong Name of our Risen Savior. Amen.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
A Symphony of Praise
God Almighty,
We are gathered here today to proclaim your praises and to honor your name. Truly you are deserving. And we acknowledge that You have become our Redeemer. We have the privilege of standing here today because you have drawn us into your love and made us to abide in Christ.
Now O God, we pray that you would have your fill. We ask that our mouths would be opened and our hearts would burst forth with streams of praise. You have the power to make stones cry out in worship, and we ask that our hearts of stone would be made pour forth honor and exalt your holy name.
Let there be a chorus among us today. May our voices and our meditations be a sweet symphony to your ears. And may you be pleased to draw near to us as we sanctify this day and set this most holy time apart to you.
We are gathered here today to proclaim your praises and to honor your name. Truly you are deserving. And we acknowledge that You have become our Redeemer. We have the privilege of standing here today because you have drawn us into your love and made us to abide in Christ.
Now O God, we pray that you would have your fill. We ask that our mouths would be opened and our hearts would burst forth with streams of praise. You have the power to make stones cry out in worship, and we ask that our hearts of stone would be made pour forth honor and exalt your holy name.
Let there be a chorus among us today. May our voices and our meditations be a sweet symphony to your ears. And may you be pleased to draw near to us as we sanctify this day and set this most holy time apart to you.
Sick with Sin
Almighty God,
Our mouths are feeble and our hearts are frail. We are so sick with sin that all that we do is polluted with its loathsome presence. Even our worship is besmirched with all kinds of awful sins. Yet we come as beggars, knowing that our petty offerings are as rubbish in and of themselves.
And we pray that your grace and mercy would cover all our iniquities. Lord, we know that we ought to be condemned for defiling your worship and for having lived in opposition to you each day up to now. But we ask, O God, that you would have mercy on us. Look upon us with the eyes of compassion, rather than the eyes of justice. And let us have the joy of knowing your forgiveness and love.
Lord, we have no hope of salvation, save in the Name of your dear Son. We cling to him and recognize that his passion is our only means of eternal life.
We praise you for offering him up for sinners like us. And we thank you that he was willing to die in our place. And now we ask that the unthinkable would be done. We ask that our sins would be exchanged for his obedience. Let our fiendish ways die with him on the cross and may seeds of new obedience begin to take root within us.
Our mouths are feeble and our hearts are frail. We are so sick with sin that all that we do is polluted with its loathsome presence. Even our worship is besmirched with all kinds of awful sins. Yet we come as beggars, knowing that our petty offerings are as rubbish in and of themselves.
And we pray that your grace and mercy would cover all our iniquities. Lord, we know that we ought to be condemned for defiling your worship and for having lived in opposition to you each day up to now. But we ask, O God, that you would have mercy on us. Look upon us with the eyes of compassion, rather than the eyes of justice. And let us have the joy of knowing your forgiveness and love.
Lord, we have no hope of salvation, save in the Name of your dear Son. We cling to him and recognize that his passion is our only means of eternal life.
We praise you for offering him up for sinners like us. And we thank you that he was willing to die in our place. And now we ask that the unthinkable would be done. We ask that our sins would be exchanged for his obedience. Let our fiendish ways die with him on the cross and may seeds of new obedience begin to take root within us.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Our Creator: Despised, yet Merciful
God Almighty,
Being that you created us, you are Lord over us. Because you have formed us, you have sovereignty over us.
Yet we acknowledge that we not given proper heed to our Creator. From birth we have renounced you and rebelled against you. Instead of adoring you and delighting ourselves in you, we have only despised you and provoked you. And we know that we cannot even begin to number our offenses. Day after day, hour after hour our iniquities mount up. And they are all tallied by your all seeing eye.
Yet we know that as infinite as this vast creation is, so is the eternal reaches of your mercy. And we look to you now, asking that you would blot out our transgressions from before you.
Father, your word declares that the blood of Jesus Christ is able to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And you promise to cast our sins as far as the east is from the west when we humble ourselves before you.
And so we pray that you would do that very thing this morning. Let the books be cleared, and may you not look on us as our sins deserve. For we ask this not in our own name, but only in the strong name of our precious Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Being that you created us, you are Lord over us. Because you have formed us, you have sovereignty over us.
Yet we acknowledge that we not given proper heed to our Creator. From birth we have renounced you and rebelled against you. Instead of adoring you and delighting ourselves in you, we have only despised you and provoked you. And we know that we cannot even begin to number our offenses. Day after day, hour after hour our iniquities mount up. And they are all tallied by your all seeing eye.
Yet we know that as infinite as this vast creation is, so is the eternal reaches of your mercy. And we look to you now, asking that you would blot out our transgressions from before you.
Father, your word declares that the blood of Jesus Christ is able to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And you promise to cast our sins as far as the east is from the west when we humble ourselves before you.
And so we pray that you would do that very thing this morning. Let the books be cleared, and may you not look on us as our sins deserve. For we ask this not in our own name, but only in the strong name of our precious Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Combined Service Scheduled for March 7th & 14th
On March 7th and 14th, CRF will not be holding its morning service at the Bill Harris Dealership like we normally do. We will have a combined service at the Savanah Presbyterian Church, located approximately10 minutes north of Ashland on State Route 250 North (the church is located on the left hand side of the road as you pass through Savannah).
Rev. Timmons will be speaking at both the worship service (11:00 am) and adult Sunday School (9:45 am).
Rev. Timmons will be speaking at both the worship service (11:00 am) and adult Sunday School (9:45 am).
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Our Lamentable View of God
O God, you are the God of all grace. One who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin. Yet, you will by no means clear the guilty, this we know. For this reason we confess our sin.
We know that we have not regarded you as we ought. Our thoughts of you have been few and corrupt. And even when our minds turn to contemplate the divine, we never fail to corrupt the splendor of your being.
We beg your forgiveness, O God, for we know that we have refashioned you and cast you in another light; one that does not reflect what you have revealed yourself to be. We know that we have grievously misrepresented you. To be sure we have held wicked and unworthy thoughts of you. Instead of being big, we have made you small. Though you are infinite in being and glory, we have limited you.
In all, we have created a god in our own image and of our own liking; one that we can handle and we can have mastery over.
But now, O God, help us cast aside our false notions and let us find forgiveness with you. Overlook our evil caricatures and let your Spirit reform our perverted thoughts. Give us grace to know you and to adore that for which we naturally have an aversion.
Above all, let your glory reign over us and purity dwell in us. For this we ask in the strong Name of Jesus, Amen.
We know that we have not regarded you as we ought. Our thoughts of you have been few and corrupt. And even when our minds turn to contemplate the divine, we never fail to corrupt the splendor of your being.
We beg your forgiveness, O God, for we know that we have refashioned you and cast you in another light; one that does not reflect what you have revealed yourself to be. We know that we have grievously misrepresented you. To be sure we have held wicked and unworthy thoughts of you. Instead of being big, we have made you small. Though you are infinite in being and glory, we have limited you.
In all, we have created a god in our own image and of our own liking; one that we can handle and we can have mastery over.
But now, O God, help us cast aside our false notions and let us find forgiveness with you. Overlook our evil caricatures and let your Spirit reform our perverted thoughts. Give us grace to know you and to adore that for which we naturally have an aversion.
Above all, let your glory reign over us and purity dwell in us. For this we ask in the strong Name of Jesus, Amen.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Energies Exhausted in Worship
God,
We come to worship you. And we pray that all that might hinder us from doing so might be cast off. Let the restraints of sin be removed, and the distractions of worldly cares be quieted. May it be that our minds turn solely to you and your glory. Moreover, we pray that all our energies might be exhausted in this holy hour. For our souls glory in your Lordship and rejoice in your tender care.
Yet, even as our mental and physical powers are drained, may we yet be revived—renewed in the Spirit of our God.
Father, may it be that we find our Sabbath rest in the work of worship. May our spiritual labors today bring forth a harvest of righteousness. That as we drink the spiritual milk of your word we would see our souls invigorated anew.
Lord, we pray that not one moment of this hour would be wasted. For we long to gain new life, new knowledge, new reasons to adore you.
So Father, as we draw near the temple on high, we ask that you might spread your wings over us. Shelter us in your divine care, and spread your redeeming love upon us. For we ask it in the Name of our dear Redeemer and Friend, Jesus Christ. Amen.
We come to worship you. And we pray that all that might hinder us from doing so might be cast off. Let the restraints of sin be removed, and the distractions of worldly cares be quieted. May it be that our minds turn solely to you and your glory. Moreover, we pray that all our energies might be exhausted in this holy hour. For our souls glory in your Lordship and rejoice in your tender care.
Yet, even as our mental and physical powers are drained, may we yet be revived—renewed in the Spirit of our God.
Father, may it be that we find our Sabbath rest in the work of worship. May our spiritual labors today bring forth a harvest of righteousness. That as we drink the spiritual milk of your word we would see our souls invigorated anew.
Lord, we pray that not one moment of this hour would be wasted. For we long to gain new life, new knowledge, new reasons to adore you.
So Father, as we draw near the temple on high, we ask that you might spread your wings over us. Shelter us in your divine care, and spread your redeeming love upon us. For we ask it in the Name of our dear Redeemer and Friend, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Great Whiners
Almighty King and precious Redeemer,
Your hand has been outstretched to do us good. Yet we have not been obedient to your word. We have not returned kindness for the favor you have shown us, or warmed to the way of the Lord.
Like the Israelites of old, we have grumbled against you. Like them we have become experts in complaining. For we have grieved your all wise providence and expressed contempt when you made our bellies full.
Have you not given us what we did not deserve? Yet we said it was not enough. Then, when you allotted us an even greater portion of the good things in life, we gave you no thanks, nor honored the Source of our blessing.
Father, our ways have been the ways of sinners. And we confess before you that we ought to be stripped of all that we have.
But we pray that one thing would not be taken away from us, and that is your grace and mercy. Let your unfailing love be ours, and let it be ours in abundance. And should you you take away all our possessions, we pray that you would take our sin away with it.
Should you grant that we continue with these gifts, we pray that they would not become a curse to us or used against us in any way. Rather we pray, with ever such boldness, that you would give us one thing more: that is, that you would give us a spirit by which we may enjoy and use these gifts properly. That we would have a heart that looks to you, rather to what you have bestowed.
Lord, in all these things we look to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and we hold fast to his mediation. For there and there alone do we find our courage to come to you even now. And we pray that the wounds of our great High Priest would intercede for us even now before you.
For we ask this in His strong Name.
Your hand has been outstretched to do us good. Yet we have not been obedient to your word. We have not returned kindness for the favor you have shown us, or warmed to the way of the Lord.
Like the Israelites of old, we have grumbled against you. Like them we have become experts in complaining. For we have grieved your all wise providence and expressed contempt when you made our bellies full.
Have you not given us what we did not deserve? Yet we said it was not enough. Then, when you allotted us an even greater portion of the good things in life, we gave you no thanks, nor honored the Source of our blessing.
Father, our ways have been the ways of sinners. And we confess before you that we ought to be stripped of all that we have.
But we pray that one thing would not be taken away from us, and that is your grace and mercy. Let your unfailing love be ours, and let it be ours in abundance. And should you you take away all our possessions, we pray that you would take our sin away with it.
Should you grant that we continue with these gifts, we pray that they would not become a curse to us or used against us in any way. Rather we pray, with ever such boldness, that you would give us one thing more: that is, that you would give us a spirit by which we may enjoy and use these gifts properly. That we would have a heart that looks to you, rather to what you have bestowed.
Lord, in all these things we look to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and we hold fast to his mediation. For there and there alone do we find our courage to come to you even now. And we pray that the wounds of our great High Priest would intercede for us even now before you.
For we ask this in His strong Name.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
God be Praised for Giving Us Seats of Honor
We extol you, O Lord of the Universe, and praise your infinite name. You spoke an all things were made. You commanded, and it was done. How admirable is your work, O Lord. How great is your power.
We cast ourselves before you, we who are nothing before you. We despise what we are and we despise what we have become. We are soiled and not fit to sit upon the doorsteps of heaven. For the depths of our unworthiness we can never plumb, the extent of our sins we can never measure.
But you bow down to us and look upon us with great delight. You condescend to us and lift our heads. You shower us with gifts of life and bestow upon us nothing but steadfast love. You open the door of your dwelling and you invite us to come and take seats of honor.
O most sweet and merciful God, your hospitality only increases the praises that you are due. The welcome you give us exceeds what we deserve.
So let now our hearts be put in a right frame, may they evoke the reverence that only angels can rightly give.
We cast ourselves before you, we who are nothing before you. We despise what we are and we despise what we have become. We are soiled and not fit to sit upon the doorsteps of heaven. For the depths of our unworthiness we can never plumb, the extent of our sins we can never measure.
But you bow down to us and look upon us with great delight. You condescend to us and lift our heads. You shower us with gifts of life and bestow upon us nothing but steadfast love. You open the door of your dwelling and you invite us to come and take seats of honor.
O most sweet and merciful God, your hospitality only increases the praises that you are due. The welcome you give us exceeds what we deserve.
So let now our hearts be put in a right frame, may they evoke the reverence that only angels can rightly give.
Confessing the Sin of an Irreligious Mind
Why do you regard such worms, O God? Why do you offer yourself to wretches like us who are ever so profane?
Lord, you are of such infinite glory, but we are vile and filled with all sort so error. With our mouths we spew forth blasphemies; with our eyes look contemptibly upon your children; with our feet we run into evil. Our hearts are bereft of praise and our thanksgiving is withheld from you who deserve eternity’s worship.
Does this not reveal the temperature of our hearts? Is not our inward man as colder than this frigid winter’s day?
Father, we confess that our lives are bent on evil and we have not given you the honor that you deserve. And we pray that you might pardon our irreligious nature and forgive us for seeking anything and everything but you.
Give us each this day a personal revival. Warm us by your grace and kindle a new zeal within us. Give us the assurance of your divine love and let us be cleansed of our sin. For this we ask in Jesus’ strong name.
Lord, you are of such infinite glory, but we are vile and filled with all sort so error. With our mouths we spew forth blasphemies; with our eyes look contemptibly upon your children; with our feet we run into evil. Our hearts are bereft of praise and our thanksgiving is withheld from you who deserve eternity’s worship.
Does this not reveal the temperature of our hearts? Is not our inward man as colder than this frigid winter’s day?
Father, we confess that our lives are bent on evil and we have not given you the honor that you deserve. And we pray that you might pardon our irreligious nature and forgive us for seeking anything and everything but you.
Give us each this day a personal revival. Warm us by your grace and kindle a new zeal within us. Give us the assurance of your divine love and let us be cleansed of our sin. For this we ask in Jesus’ strong name.
To Feed Ravenously at the Table of Our Lord
Behold, I come to you, Lord, that I may prosper by Your gift and be delighted at Your holy banquet, which you, O God, in Your sweetness have prepared for Your poor. Behold, all that I can or ought to desire is in You. You are my salvation and my redemption, my hope and strength, my honor and glory.
Here at this table we gather in order to be fattened by your outstretched hand. And we pray that you would now feed us with this heavenly food. We come to this table with great joy and eager expectation, for we know that this is the only food that will really sustain our bodies, for its nutrients are spiritual in nature and its enrichment profits our souls.
Let us feed upon our Lord Jesus to the satisfaction of our inner cravings. Let us indulge ourselves in your mercy and ravenously partake of the love which is in Christ our Mediator. God, here at this table, make us voracious gluttons who devour you grace greedily. And when we arise from this great feast, let us be ever so filled with spiritual joy and fattened by the good tidings that only Your Spirit can impart.
Here at this table we gather in order to be fattened by your outstretched hand. And we pray that you would now feed us with this heavenly food. We come to this table with great joy and eager expectation, for we know that this is the only food that will really sustain our bodies, for its nutrients are spiritual in nature and its enrichment profits our souls.
Let us feed upon our Lord Jesus to the satisfaction of our inner cravings. Let us indulge ourselves in your mercy and ravenously partake of the love which is in Christ our Mediator. God, here at this table, make us voracious gluttons who devour you grace greedily. And when we arise from this great feast, let us be ever so filled with spiritual joy and fattened by the good tidings that only Your Spirit can impart.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Breaking Free of Our Earthy Orientation
Almighty God,
We long for a taste of you this morning. A sip of your holy presence. For we are earthy creatures, people who are fixated on earthly things. Our minds cannot be drawn upward because our fascinations are too much involved with earthly things. But if you reveal yourself we shall see that which is more delightful. When you show yourself to be more desirous our current infatuations will lose their luster. Our souls will find that you are more lovely and more satisfying.
Pull back the shades that hang over our eyes and give us a glimpse of your splendor. Let us inwardly see that nothing in this vast creation can compare to you and all should be counted as nothing for you.
Lord, our souls long for more than what we have. Our fixation on transitory things has left us thirsting. Yet we cannot ascend higher than our hearts will let us. So let your grace come to us this morning. Like the rising of the sun at dawn come to us, and may we see that there is something more glorious and much more worthy of our affection.
We long for a taste of you this morning. A sip of your holy presence. For we are earthy creatures, people who are fixated on earthly things. Our minds cannot be drawn upward because our fascinations are too much involved with earthly things. But if you reveal yourself we shall see that which is more delightful. When you show yourself to be more desirous our current infatuations will lose their luster. Our souls will find that you are more lovely and more satisfying.
Pull back the shades that hang over our eyes and give us a glimpse of your splendor. Let us inwardly see that nothing in this vast creation can compare to you and all should be counted as nothing for you.
Lord, our souls long for more than what we have. Our fixation on transitory things has left us thirsting. Yet we cannot ascend higher than our hearts will let us. So let your grace come to us this morning. Like the rising of the sun at dawn come to us, and may we see that there is something more glorious and much more worthy of our affection.
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