Lord, we are gathered this morning as your church to give glory to you in our worship. 

We come before you as weak, frail beings - helpless in our own power - dependent on your promises of boundless love, unfailing grace and mercy. 

You hold us in your arms when we struggle. 

We are so clearly reminded of this today as we grieve with the Jackson family over the loss of their beloved husband and father, Brian - who was afflicted with such a painful earthly struggle, but did not lose heart, knowing that his affliction brought him closer to the eternal weight of glory prepared by you for him. 

We pray also for others in our body who continue to struggle with challenging earthly afflictions and for their families and for their brothers and sisters in Christ that continue to love and care for them. 

Help us to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. 

As the apostle Paul reminds us, we know that our earthly bodies are merely a tent and when the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from you O Lord, a house not made with hands but eternal in the heavens. 

While we are on this earth, our bodies groan, and we long to put on our heavenly dwelling, the dwelling that awaits all those who have put their trust in you as Lord and Savior.

You have prepared us for this very thing and given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 

Lord, help us today as we grieve with the Jackson family and all others who struggle physically and spiritually, to always be of good courage.  

Help us to walk by faith, not by sight knowing that someday we will be away from our bodies and at home with you, Lord.  

As your word reminds us, teach us to number our days so that we may present to you a heart of wisdom. 

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 

We come before you today, Great God, and give thanks in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ - Amen.