Please find below the notes from the Elder's Prayer this past Sunday.

It is interesting when a famous person dies to see the response his death gets. Does his/her life receive praise for all of the good they did? Maybe some will say that they were taken too soon.

Maybe this person's life will be remembered for the change he/she brought. The question at times it is that change for the better or did they bring change for the worse?

How long will this person be remembered? How long will the impact of their life be felt?

Bring it a little closer to home. Many of us will find ourselves in the same boat. After we pass away, how long will our lives be remembered? How many of our grandchildren will remember much about us? Or great-grandchildren will even know our names?

Psalm 103:15-16 says - As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field, for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.

For most us, our lives will not be remembered by the generations that follow us. History will not make much of our names.

But God will remember us. Psalm 103:17 - But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him... 18 to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.

The world might look on our lives and not take notice or interest. But God looks on our lives and takes notice - that person obeys, he loves me, she trusts me - and he says 'I will remember them.'

So who do you want to remember your life? Do you want human history to remember it (as for man his days are like grass)? Or do you want God to remember it (103:19 - The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, his kingdom rules over all)?

Live your life so that God remembers it. Live it in a way that you impact those around you, those who follow you, to be remembered by God.

Prayer - Beginning of Psalm 103

Bless the Lord, o my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

Bless the Lord, o my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your sin, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.

Lord, you have been merciful to us, granting forgiveness to your enemies, exhibiting perfect patience toward sinners.

You have been gracious to us, granting us faith and providing the righteous of Christ as our own. You have loved us, showing compassion for those who were ignorant and lost and without a shepherd.

We follow our own way, seek our own fleeting glory, but you have opened our eyes to see and our minds to know that you are God and we are not. And you will remember us when our days are over because your love does not fail, it does not move. You place your love on those who obey you, trust you, love you. Help us to obey, to trust, to love.

Bless the Lord, o my soul. Bless the Lord, all God's people.

Amen