Month: February 2013

Morning Reading: Luke 9.7-9 NLT – who is he?

Reading: Luke 9.7-9 NLT

When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about everything Jesus was doing, he was puzzled. Some were saying that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead. Others thought Jesus was Elijah or one of the other prophets risen from the dead.

“I beheaded John,” Herod said, “so who is this man about whom I hear such stories?” And he kept trying to see him.

Jesus Names Word CloudPrayer: Jesus – Name above all names – you are: Advocate (1 John 2:1)… Almighty (Rev. 1:8; Mt. 28:18)… Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:13)… Amen (Rev. 3:14)… Apostle of our Profession (Heb. 3:1)… Atoning Sacrifice for our Sins (1 John 2:2)… Author of Life (Acts 3:15)… Author and Perfecter of our Faith (Heb. 12:2)… Author of Salvation (Heb. 2:10)… Beginning and End (Rev. 22:13)… Blessed and only Ruler (1 Tim. 6:15)… Bread of God (John 6:33)… Bread of Life (John 6:35; 6:48)… Capstone (Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7)… Chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20)… Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4)… Christ (1 John 2:22)… Creator (John 1:3)… Deliverer (Rom. 11:26)… Eternal Life (1 John 1:2; 5:20)… Everlasting Father (Isa. 9:6)… Gate (John 10:9)… Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11)… Faithful Witness (Rev. 1:5)… Faith and True Witness (Rev. 3:14)… First and Last (Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13)… Firstborn From the Dead (Rev. 1:5)… God (John 1:1; 20:28; Heb. 1:8; Rom. 9:5; 2 Pet. 1:1;1 John 5:20; etc.)… Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)… Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20)… Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14)… Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23)… Heir of all things (Heb. 1:2)… High Priest (Heb. 2:17)… Holy and True (Rev. 3:7)… Holy One (Acts 3:14)… Hope (1 Tim. 1:1)… Hope of Glory (Col. 1:27)… Horn of Salvation (Luke 1:69)… I Am (John 8:58)… Image of God (2 Cor. 4:4)… King Eternal (1 Tim. 1:17)… King of Israel (John 1:49)… King of the Jews (Mt. 27:11)… King of kings (1 Tim 6:15; Rev. 19:16)… King of the Ages (Rev. 15:3)… Lamb (Rev. 13:8)… Lamb of God (John 1:29)… Lamb Without Blemish (1 Pet. 1:19)… Last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45)… Life (John 14:6; Col. 3:4)… Light of the World (John 8:12)… Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5)… Living One (Rev. 1:18)… Living Stone (1 Pet. 2:4)… Lord (2 Pet. 2:20)… Lord of All (Acts 10:36)… Lord of Glory (1 Cor. 2:8)… Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16)… LORD [YHWH] our Righteousness (Jer. 23:6)… Man from Heaven (1 Cor. 15:48)… Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15)… Mighty God (Isa. 9:6)… Morning Star (Rev. 22:16)… Offspring of David (Rev. 22:16)… Only Begotten Son of God (John 1:18; 1 John 4:9)… Our Great God and Savior (Titus 2:13)… Our Holiness (1 Cor. 1:30)… Our Husband (2 Cor. 11:2)… Our Protection (2 Thess. 3:3)… Our Redemption (1 Cor. 1:30)… Our Righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30)… Our Sacrificed Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7)… Power of God (1 Cor. 1:24)… Precious Cornerstone (1 Pet. 2:6)… Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6)… Prophet (Acts 3:22)… Resurrection and Life (John 11:25)… Righteous Branch (Jer. 23:5)… Righteous One (Acts 7:52; 1 John 2:1)… Rock (1 Cor. 10:4)… Root of David (Rev. 5:5; 22:16)… Ruler of God’s Creation (Rev. 3:14)… Ruler of the Kings of the Earth (Rev. 1:5)… Savior (Eph. 5:23; Titus 1:4; 3:6; 2 Pet. 2:20)… Son of David (Lk. 18:39)… Son of God (John 1:49; Heb. 4:14)… Son of Man (Mt. 8:20)… Son of the Most High God (Lk. 1:32)… Source of Eternal Salvation for all who obey him (Heb. 5:9)… The One Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5)… The Stone the builders rejected (Acts 4:11)… True Bread (John 6:32)… True Light (John 1:9)… True Vine (John 15:1)… Truth (John 1:14; 14:6)… Way (John 14:6)… Wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24)… Wonderful Counselor (Isa. 9:6)… Word (John 1:1)… Word of God (Rev. 19:13). Amen.

Spiritual Song: “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” – Edward Perronet (1780)

Ash Wednesday Reading: Joel 2.12-13 ESV – “return to me”

Reading: Joel 2.12-13 ESV

Ash Wednsday Cross“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.”

Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – I come to You, during this Lenten season, seeking Your grace… Your mercy… and Your love. Hear my prayer. Lord Jesus – You who was tempted in all things… yet without sin. Have compassion and mercy on me. Holy Spirit – Discern the thoughts and intents of my heart. Humble me before You… that I might serve You with all my heart. I ask it in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Scripture Song: “What If His People Prayed” – Casting Crowns (YouTube)

What if the armies of the Lord / Picked up and dusted off their swords / Vowed to set the captives free / And not let Satan have one more

What if the church for heaven’s sake / Finally stepped up to the plate / Took a stand upon God’s promise / And stormed hell’s rusty gates

What if His people prayed / And those who bear His name / Would humbly seek His face / And turn from their own way

And what would happen if we prayed / For those raised up to lead the way / Then maybe kids in school could pray / And unborn children see light of day

What if the life that we pursue / Came from a hunger for the truth / What if the family turned to Jesus / Stopped asking Oprah what to do

What if His people prayed / And those who bear His name / Would humbly seek His face / And turn from their own way

He said that they would hear / His promise has been made / He’s answered loud and clear, Yeah / If only we would pray

If My people called by My name / If they’ll humble themselves and pray / If My people called by My name / If they’ll humble themselves and pray

What if His people prayed / And those who bear His name / Would humbly seek His face, Yeah / And turn from their own way

He said that they would hear / His promise has been made / He’s answered loud and clear, Yeah / If only we would pray

What if His people prayed

Morning Reading: Luke 9.1-6 NLT – your turn

Reading: Luke 9.1-6 NLT

Healing Prayer
Healing Prayer

One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes. Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town. And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.”

So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – We would follow the disciples’ example… to tell everyone the Good News of the Kingdom of God… and to heal the sick. Grant us your Kingdom power and authority to accomplish your Kingdom purposes in our time. We ask it for your Name’s sake. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “This Kingdom” (YouTube)

Please Pray for Christians in Somalia – World Watch List #5

Peanut Gallery: Christian Persecution – Somalia #5 on World Watch List 

East-Africa-Map

It is too dangerous for believers to meet openly in this strictly Islamic state. Terrorist groups such as al-Shabaab target converts to Christianity and eliminate them.

Aid workers, Christian or otherwise, require tight security due to the risk of abduction.

The election of a new parliament and president in 2012 created a framework for a more legitimate government. But for Christians the future still looks bleak, as the provisional constitution does not allow for religious freedom. (Population: 9.8 million – a few hundred Christians)

Please Pray:

  • Al-Shabaab, which is backed by al-Qaeda, remains a serious threat. Pray that its influence will diminish
  • That Christian radio programmes will bring hope to isolated believers and those who are seeking God
  • Some of those who have returned to Somalia following the political changes have been exposed to Christianity. Pray this will bring more tolerance towards Christians.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – May your Kingdom come… and your will be done… in Somalia, as it is in heaven. Feed your people and deliver them from evil. Lord Jesus – Come in power to Somalia… break their bondage to sin and death… set them free – may your Word go forth with power accomplishing your Kingdom purposes. Holy Spirit – Move among your people… strengthening, encouraging, protecting them. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Somali-woman-mourns-near--007Persecution dynamics

Islamic leaders maintain that Somalia remains a strictly Islamic state with no room for Christians. Children attend mandatory Madrasa Islamic classes, people are buried with Islamic burial rights whatever their religion might be, and it is extremely difficult to openly declare faith. It is too dangerous to meet openly and families of converts are fearful that they might be suspected of conversion and risk execution. Continue reading “Please Pray for Christians in Somalia – World Watch List #5” →

Morning Reading: Luke 8:40-56 ESV – power healing

Reading: Luke 8:40-56 ESV

Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

woman issue of bloodAs Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?”

When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.”  And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”

And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.”  And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.”  And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give me the faith to believe that all things are possible with you. Only say the Word… and I shall be healed. And Lord – Give me the grace to accept your will – whatever it is… in me, around me, and through me. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Spirit Song” – John Wimber (1979)