Month: March 2016

Morning Prayer: 04 March – Mark 12:28-34 ~ love God, love people

Friday of the Third Week of Lent

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentence

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
(Isaiah 55:6)

Morning Reading: Mark 12:28-34 (NLT)

One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

The Good Samaritan Théodule-Augustin Ribot, before 1870 Musée des Beaux-Arts de Pau Pau, Aquitaine, France
The Good Samaritan
Théodule-Augustin Ribot, before 1870
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Pau
Pau, Aquitaine, France

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.”

Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Morning Prayer

Thank you Lord Jesus: you died on the cross that I might live. Revive my life in you today.

+ You have taught me by your life and renewed me by your passion; do not allow me to grow used to sin.
+ You call on me to care for the poor and hungry; may I deny myself today to help my brothers and sisters in their need.
+ I accept from your hands this day of Lent; may I dedicate it to you by acts of love.
+ End the rebellion within my heart; make me generous and willing to share.

Lord God, open my heart to your grace. Restrain me from all human waywardness and keep me faithful to your commandments. May I love you with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength; and may I love my neighbor as myself. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“Lord Reign In Me” – Brenton Brown

There are many people | Who will say they’re Christians | And they live like Christians on the Sabbath day | But come Monday morning, til the coming Sunday | They will fight their neighbor all along the way

Oh you don’t love God, if you don’t love your neighbor | If you gossip about him, if you never have mercy | If he gets into trouble, and you don’t try to help him | Then you don’t love your neighbor, and you don’t love God

In the Holy Bible, in the Book of Matthew | Read the 18th chapter in the 21st verse | Jesus plainly tells us that we must have mercy | There’s a special warning in the 35th verse

There’s a God almighty, and you’ve got to love him | If you want salvation and a home on high | If you say you love him while you hate your neighbor | Then you don’t have religion, you just told a lie

Closing Sentence

Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. (Isaiah 55:7)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Morning Prayer: 03 March – Luke 11:14-23 ~ with me or against me?

Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentence

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6)

Morning Reading: Luke 11:14-23 (NLT)

One day Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn’t speak, and when the demon was gone, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed, but some of them said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” Others, trying to test Jesus, demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.

Gentlemen-8

He knew their thoughts, so he said, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart. You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive? And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For when a strong man like Satan is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe — until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.

“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

Morning Prayer

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, the radiant light of the world. You guide me along the path of light and I no longer live in darkness. Christ, my Savior, may I grow in your likeness today.

+ Lord Jesus, you are the Way – may I follow your leadership throughout the day.
+ Lord Jesus, you are the Truth – may I reflect your purity of heart in all my actions today.
+ Lord Jesus, you are the Life – may I be a life-giving presence to all I encounter today.
+ Draw me close to you – may I treasure your friendship and come to know its depth.
+ Teach me to work with you for the good of all, whether the time is right or not.
+ Forgive my sins against your wisdom and love – may your word light up my way.

Merciful God, I approach your throne of grace and humbly ask that you prepare me – body, mind and spirit – to celebrate Easter with an ever greater appreciation for the paschal mystery. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“God With Us” – Jesus Culture

You are matchless in grace and mercy | There is nowhere we can hide from Your love | You are steadfast, never failing, You are faithful | All creation is in awe of who You are

You’re the healer of the sick and the broken | You are comfort for every heart that mourns | Our King and our Savior forever | For eternity we will sing of all You’ve done | For eternity we will sing of all You’ve done

God with us, God for us | Nothing can come against, | no one can stand between us | God with us, God for us | Nothing can come against, | no one can stand between us

Your heart, it moves with compassion | There is life, there is healing in Your love | You’re the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit | For eternity we will sing of all You’ve done

Where there was death, You brought life, Lord | Where there was fear, You brought courage | When I was afraid, You were with me | And You lifted me up, and You lifted me up

Closing Sentence

Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. (Isaiah 55:7)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Morning Prayer: 02 March – Matthew 5:17-19 ~ law-abiding citizens

Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentence

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
(Isaiah 55:6)

Morning Reading: Matthew 5:17-19 (NLT)

law-of-god

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Morning Prayer

Blessed be Christ my Savior. In him I become a new creation, the old order passes away and all things are renewed. Lord, renew me in your Spirit today.

+ Forgive my sins and set me free from all of my evil inclinations.
+ May I begin this day with the end in mind and live as a citizen of heaven.
+ Keep me focused on the things that really matter in this world of confusion.
+ Deliver me from apathy that I may joyfully recognize the power you have given me.
+ Fill me now with your Spirit that I may be a messenger of justice, mercy and peace.

Lord God: nourish me on your word and renew me in your Spirit that I may joyfully serve you and live wholeheartedly as a citizen of your Kingdom. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“Lord Reign In Me” – Brenton Brown

Closing Sentence

Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. (Isaiah 55:7)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Morning Prayer: 01 March – Matthew 18:21-35 ~ the generosity of God

Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentence

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6)

Morning Reading: Matthew 18:21-35 (NLT)

Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”

“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!

“Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.

Bankruptcy

“But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.

“But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.

“His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.

“When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.

“That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”

Morning Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, bread of heaven, “feed me til I want no more” and strengthen me to meet the challenges of the day.

+ Forgive me, Lord, for I have sinned; I have sinned against you.
+ Hear me, Lord, and take away my guilt by your saving grace.
+ Cleanse me from all unrighteousness and restore a right spirit within me.
+ Give me a grace-filled heart towards those who have sinned against me.
+ And, make me a gracious forgiver of repeat offenders.

Do not withdraw your grace from me, faithful God: for by grace alone can I give myself to your service and receive your help in my every need. Guide me in this Lenten journey; I ask through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer” – CWM RHONDDA

Closing Sentence

Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. (Isaiah 55:7)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!