The point of using dummy text for your paragraph is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters. making it look like readable English.
As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after You.
You alone are heart’s desire, and I long to worship You.
Chorus: You alone are my strength, my shield.
To You alone may my spirit yield.
You alone are my heart’s desire,
And I long to worship You.
I love you more than gold or silver, only you can satisfy.
You alone are the real joy giver, and the apple of my eye. Chorus.
You’re my friend and You’re my brother, even though You are a King.
I love You more than any other, so much more than anything. Chorus.
When I stand accused by my regrets
And the devil roars his empty threats
I will preach the gospel to myself
That I am not a man condemned,
For Jesus Christ is my defense.
Chorus My sin is nailed to the cross.
My soul is healed by the scars.
The weight of sin I bear no more.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord.
When my doubt and shame hang over me
Like the arrows of the enemy
I will run again to Calvary
That rugged hill of hell’s defeat
My fortress and victory. Chorus
Bridge It is finished, sin is vanquished.
Hallelujah, praise the Lord.
All the glory, all the honor
To my Savior, Christ the Lord. Repeat
When I stand before the throne at last,
His blood will plead my innocence.
I will worship Him with holy hands
And raise the song that never ends.
Of Jesus Christ my righteousness
How I long to breathe the air of heaven
Where pain is gone and mercy fills the streets;
To look upon the one who bled to save me,
And walk with Him for all eternity.
CHORUS: There will be a day when all will bow before Him.
There will be a day when death will be no more.
Standing face to face with He who died and rose again.
Holy, holy is the Lord!
Ev’ry prayer we prayed in desperation,
The songs of faith we sang through doubt and fear.
Oh, in the end, we’ll see that it was worth it,
When He returns to wipe away our tears. CHORUS
On that day, we join the resurrection,
And stand beside the heroes of the faith,
And with one voice, a thousand generations,
Sing, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.
Forever He shall reign!”
Final Chorus: So let it be today, we shout the hymn of heaven,
With angels and the saints, we raise a mighty roar.
Glory to our God, who gave us life beyond the grave.
Holy, holy is the Lord! (repeat final chorus, then sing last line)
Oh, holy, holy is the Lord
Jesus is dealing with the Pharisees again. The Pharisees were a segment of Jewish society that took obedience to God’s law very seriously. But they went too far. They felt that they could perfectly obey God’s law and thereby become righteous before God. But the Pharisees misunderstood the main obstacle to obedience. Our main issue as sinful humans isn’t what we do or don’t do, and it isn’t something from outside of us. Too often we blame circumstances, society, upbringing, other people’s behavior (things outside of us) for our own disobedience. But Jesus makes it clear in our lesson today that our main problem is our own hearts, our own sinful nature. Our issue is inside of us. So we cannot blame anyone else, and we aren’t able to fix ourselves. That’s why we need Jesus and His forgiveness, won for us on the cross.
Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”
3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ 5 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ 6 they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
8 “‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
9 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.’”
10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
13 He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
15 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”
16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. 17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the bible. The whole psalm focuses on God’s word and promises. When you read the psalm, the word ‘law’ is used a lot. Don’t think only of rules or commandments. In the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, the word ‘law’ often refers to all of God’s words which includes passages full of God’s promises and God’s grace, not just God’s commands. In Psalm 119, each section will have a Hebrew letter as a title. Every line in that section starts with that Hebrew letter. We will be reading the sections called ‘daleth’ (our ‘D’) and ‘He’ (sort of like our ‘H’). This is a Hebrew form of poetry called an acrostic.
25 I am laid low in the dust;
preserve my life according to your word.
26 I gave an account of my ways and you answered me;
teach me your decrees.
27 Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,
that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.
28 My soul is weary with sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word.
29 Keep me from deceitful ways;
be gracious to me and teach me your law.
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I have set my heart on your laws.
31 I hold fast to your statutes, Lord;
do not let me be put to shame.
32 I run in the path of your commands,
for you have broadened my understanding.
33 Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees,
that I may follow it to the end.[a]
34 Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law
and obey it with all my heart.
35 Direct me in the path of your commands,
for there I find delight.
36 Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.
37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word.[b]
38 Fulfill your promise to your servant,
so that you may be feared.
39 Take away the disgrace I dread,
for your laws are good.
40 How I long for your precepts!
In your righteousness preserve my life.
15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
INVOCATION
P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Our Savior Jesus Christ commanded baptism when He said: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” All of us are born into this world with a deep need for baptism. From our parents we inherit a sinful nature; we are without true fear of God and true faith in God and are condemned to eternal death. But Jesus took away our sin by giving His life on the cross. At our baptism he clothes us with the robe of His righteousness and gives us a new life. Our sinful nature need not control us any longer. We recall what baptism means for our daily lives as we speak these words together:
C: Baptism means that the sinful nature in us should be drowned by daily sorrow and repentance, and that all its evil deeds and desires be put to death. It also means that a new person should daily arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
P: As baptized children of God we confess our sins:
C: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful, and that I have disobeyed You in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve Your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
P: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given His only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
P: In obedience to the command of our Lord and trusting in His promise, you have brought Leona Bowersox to be baptized. Jesus told us: “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” It is in baptism that God grants the new life of forgiveness, joy, and peace to little children. By the power of God’s Word, this gracious water of life washes away sin, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe.
P: Receive the sign of the cross on the head and the heart to mark you as a redeemed child of Christ.
P: Leona, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
The Almighty God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – has forgiven all your sins. By your baptism, you are born again and made a dear child of your Father in heaven. May God strengthen you to live in your baptismal grace all the days of your life. Peace be with you.
P: Brothers and sisters, our Lord commands that we teach His precious truths to all who are baptized. Christian love therefore urges all of us, to assist in whatever matter possible so that Leona may remain a child of God until death. If you are willing to carry out this responsibility, then answer: Yes, as God gives me strength.
C: Yes, as God gives me strength.
P: Let us pray:
P: Merciful Father in heaven, we thank you for the blessing of baptism by which You offer and grant the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. Help us to regard our baptism as the robe of righteousness we are to wear all the days of our lives. Look with special favor on Leona and grant her a rich measure of Your Spirit that she may grow in faith and in godly living. Make us willing to carry out our responsibilities to those who have been baptized that all of us may finally come to the blessed joys of heaven, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
See This Wonder in the Making
See this wonder in the making; God Himself this child is taking
As a lamb safe in His keeping, His to be, awake or sleeping.
Miracle each time it happens As the door to heaven opens
And the Father beams, “Beloved, heir of gifts a king would covet!”
Far more tender than a mother, Far more caring than a father,
God into Your arms we place her, With Your love and peace embrace her.
Here we bring a child of nature; Home we take a newborn creature,
Now God’s precious son or daughter, Born again by Word and water.
CHILDRENS’ MESSAGE
SONG of PRAISE for WHO GOD IS
You are here, moving in our midst.
We worship You. We worship You.
You are here, working in this place.
We worship You. We worship You.
CHORUS: You are Way Maker, Miracle Worker,
Promise Keeper, Light in the darkness,
My God, that is who you are.
You are Way Maker, Miracle Worker,
Promise Keeper, Light in the darkness,
My God, that is who you are.
You are here, turning lives around.
We worship you. We worship you.
You are here, mending ev’ry heart.
We worship you. We worship you.
CHORUS: You are Way Maker, Miracle Worker,
Promise Keeper, Light in the darkness,
My God, that is who you are.
You are Way Maker, Miracle Worker,
Promise Keeper, Light in the darkness,
My God, that is who you are.
CHORUS: You are Way Maker, Miracle Worker,
Promise Keeper, Light in the darkness,
My God, that is who you are.
You are Way Maker, Miracle Worker,
Promise Keeper, Light in the darkness,
My God, that is who you are.
That is who you are.
SERMON Blessings or Curses. Which will you choose?
(a message based on Deuteronomy 30:15-20)
THANK OFFERING
TIME OF PRAYER
I’m calling on the God of Jacob,
Whose love endures through generations.
I know that you will keep your covenant.
I’m calling on the God of David,
Who made a shepherd boy courageous.
I may not face Goliath, but I’ve got my own giants.
O God, my God, I need you.
O God, my God I need you now.
How I need you now.
O Rock, O Rock of ages
I’m standing on your faithfulness,
On your faithfulness, O God.
PRAYERS
LORD’S PRAYER: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours now and forever. Amen.
You answered prayers back then, and you will answer now.
You are the same God. You are the same God.
You were providing then. You are providing now.
You are the same God. You are the same God.
You moved in power then. God move in power now.
You are the same God. You are the same God.
You were a Savior then. You are a Savior now.
You are the same God. You are the same God.
O God, my God, I need you.
O God, my God I need you now.
How I need you now.
O Rock, O Rock of ages,
I’m standing on your faithfulness,
On your faithfulness, O God.
BENEDICTION
P: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
GREETING & ANNOUNCEMENTS
A SENDING PRAYER.
P: O Lord God, may Your strength protect us. May Your power preserve us. May Your wisdom, O Lord, instruct us. May Your hand pilot us. May Your ways direct us. May Your shield, O God, defend us. May Your hosts guard us against the snares of the evil one and the temptations of the world.
Christ, be with us. Christ, be behind us, before us, beside us and within us. Be with us, O Christ, in quiet; O Christ, in danger; O Christ, at work and at home. Christ, be on my mouth, in my heart, and all through my life. Dwell in us, Christ, to win us, to comfort us, to restore us, and to save us.
May your salvation, O Lord, be always ours this day and forevermore. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.