David Bahn – Reflections

Light from the Word and through the lens

recent posts

about

In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations. David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com. He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991. Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania. David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”

The Pathway of Prayer

Here is the outline of my message on August 30, 2020. This is the first of my “Legacy” messages that I hope will give witness to God’s work through me at St. John. All glory to him!

The St. John Prayer Garden is An Invitation to Pray

St. John Prayer Garden Entrance

We Enter in Praise

Station 1: Enter His Courts with Praise”

Ps 100:4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Confessing our Sins

We Confess our Sins

1 John 1:8-9
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Calling upon God for Help

Calling on God for Help

Psalm 50:15
Call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Trading Anxiety for Prayerfulness

Trading Anxiety for Prayer

 Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Believing Jesus’ Promises

Believing Jesus’ Promises

Matthew 7:7-8
Jesus says “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

Refreshed by Jesus’ Living Water

Refreshed by the Living Waters

 John 4:13-14
Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Remembering our Baptism

Remembering our Baptism

Marked by Grace, Faith, and Good Works

Marked by Grace, Faith, and Good Works

Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Blessed by God

Blessed by God

Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Centered in the Cross

May your coming in and your going out be blessed forevermore!

Discover more from David Bahn – Reflections

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Posted in

One response to “The Pathway of Prayer”

  1. Quilting Crosses with Threads of Hope Avatar
    Quilting Crosses with Threads of Hope

    I’ve spent many, many hours in the beautiful place praying, reading, anguishing, listening, learning, writing, crying and crying-out, rejoicing, worshiping and healing. I have even thought that one day I might sit below the fountain and let the waters flow over me as those of re-birth in baptism, but I never realized that the intersecting pathways created the cross until seeing this aerial view. What a special, special place this prayer garden is for me. Now, this walk can be taken virtually as well. Thank you for this. God’s blessings!

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.