THEMATIC BACKGROUND from: I Will Not Leave You...

   I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little 
   while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me;
   because I live, you also will live.  On that day you will know 
   that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
                                                    (John 14:18-20)

Following and obeying Christ is the key to a life that is worth the living,
   the key to never being alone,
   the key to knowing the comfort of the Spirit's presence,
      the Spirit that communicates the presence of both the Father and The Son;
      the Spirit that leads us to the truth
      and which is the truth - the truth that sets us free.
													
	
CREATIVE CLOSING
There is a deep comfort and peace in hearing, knowing and deeply believing that
you are never alone, that the eternal God and the risen Christ are with you,
are in you, and you in them.

And I have said that only in prayer can we really know this.

So we are going to pause for minute to pray. 
Silent prayer to let God communicate this to you. 
We will ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you 
that you are not alone as you follow the way of Jesus.
	
Prepare your hearts to listen as I pray. 
Tune up your inner listening, your inner seeing, and your inner sensing:

Gracious God - you have given me life.  
You have seen to my nurture through my mother and father. 
You sent Jesus to reveal to me your great love. 
Now may the Spirit reveal the depth and the breadth of your love for me.
Is it true that I am not alone?
Is it true that you and I are one?
Is it true that you have not left me an orphan?
Let us be still for a minute 
to hear, to know and to understand what God wants us to know.

(Pause – 1 minute, and then continue)



copyright - George Hartwell, 2002, 2005
            Rev. Richard J. Fairchild - Spirit Networks, 2002 - 2006
            please acknowledge the appropriate author if citing these resources.