call me hephzibah [003]

lord, we gather this morning as a people in search of you.  we come to you as people who have been deceived, and who have allowed ourselves to be deceived.  we come as people in need of the gift of discernment, as people who are deeply in need of you.  come near to us.  father, we pray you would allow us to see our neighbors not just as ourselves, but as you see them.  as intricately designed, lovely, complex humans worthy of love and respect and dignity.  guide us to do justice through acts of generosity and offer love that is self-sacrificial, because we know that those are the ways of the kingdom, and we desire to bring your kingdom near.  we pray for the words [      ] will offer this morning, that they would do work to shape us into the people who live and love more like your son.  we pray these things in jesus’ name.  amen.