Morning Prayer: Wed, 30 Nov – Psalm 19:8-11; Romans 10:9-18; Matthew 4:18-22 ~ beautiful feet

Wednesday in the First Week of Advent

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

Opening Sentence – (In the preparation days of Celtic Advent)

+ We have waited long for You. Deep has been our darkness.
+ We long for You to shine right here among us where we are.
+ We will not fear the shadows that surround us if only You will come among us!
+ We wait for the sound of a cry in the night, the joy that follows pain, the coming of hope.
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Reading: Psalm 19:8-11 (NLT)

The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.
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Reading: Romans 10:9-18 (NLT)

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have:

“The message has gone throughout the earth, and the words to all the world.”

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Reading: Matthew 4:18-22 (NLT)

One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers — Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew — throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.

A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
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Prayer:

Heavenly Father:

Fill me with a desire to understand, and joyfully apply, Your Word to my life – that I may live reverently and receive Your promised great reward.

Holy Spirit :

Give me the words I need, when I need them – that I may persuasively tell others the Good News of what You have done for me.

Lord Jesus :

Show me what I must leave behind – that I may follow You without hesitation and be an example to others.

Amen .
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“How beautiful are the feet”

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Blessing

Make your heart ready for the King of Glory to come in. Pray: come dwell among us and be my peace today.

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

Morning Prayer: Tue, 29 Nov – Psalm 72; Isaiah 11:1-10; Luke 10:21-24 ~ God’s righteousness revealed

Tuesday in the First Week of Advent

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

Opening Sentence – (In the preparation days of Celtic Advent)

+ We have waited long for You. Deep has been our darkness.
+ We long for You to shine right here among us where we are.
+ We will not fear the shadows that surround us if only You will come among us!
+ We wait the sound of a cry in the night, the joy that follows pain, the coming of hope.
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Reading: Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 (NLT)

Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son. Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly.
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May all the godly flourish during his reign. May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more. May he reign from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
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He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them.
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May the king’s name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise.
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Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10 (NLT)

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot — yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him — the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment.

Jesus & animals PEACE by William Strutt, late 1800's — Jesus & animals PEACE
by William Strutt, late 1800’s

In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.

Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.

In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.
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Reading: Luke 10:21-24 (NLT)

At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.

“My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Then when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen. I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.”
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Prayer:

Sovereign God: Your people long for a fair and righteous judge; come Lord Jesus.

+ that the godly may flourish and prosper
+ that the poor may be treated fairly
+ that the oppressed and unprotected may be defended
+ that the weak and needy may be rescued

Son of David: You are the banner of salvation for the whole world; grant us Your peace.

+ that wisdom, understanding and fear of the Lord may prevail
+ that truth may be revealed and the wicked destroyed
+ that enmity within creation may be replaced by peace
+ that all nations may flourish under Your rule

Lord Jesus: Thank You for revealing the heart and mind of the Father to us.

+ Draw us ever closer to You that we may become more like You
+ Give us Your humility that we might freely let go of our rights and privileges
+ Renew our minds that we might approach You with the openness of a child
+ Give us eyes to see and ears to hear You during this advent season

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus. Amen.
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“This Kingdom” – David Evans

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Blessing

Make your heart ready for the King of Glory to come in. Pray: come dwell among us and be my peace today.

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

Morning Prayer: Mon, 28 Nov – Psalm 121; Isaiah 4:2-6; Matthew 8:5-11 ~ our help and hope

Monday in the First Week of Advent

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

Opening Sentence – (In the preparation days of Celtic Advent)

+ We have waited long for You. Deep has been our darkness.
+ We long for You to shine right here among us where we are.
+ We will not fear the shadows that surround us if only You will come among us!
+ We wait the sound of a cry in the night, the joy that follows pain, the coming of hope.
__________

Reading: Psalm 121 (NLT)

I look up to the mountains — does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.

The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.

The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
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Reading: Isaiah 4:2-6 (NLT)

But in that day, the branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious; the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of all who survive in Israel.

All who remain in Zion will be a holy people—those who survive the destruction of Jerusalem and are recorded among the living. The Lord will wash the filth from beautiful Zion and cleanse Jerusalem of its bloodstains with the hot breath of fiery judgment.

Then the Lord will provide shade for Mount Zion and all who assemble there. He will provide a canopy of cloud during the day and smoke and flaming fire at night, covering the glorious land. It will be a shelter from daytime heat and a hiding place from storms and rain.
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Reading: Matthew 8:5-11 (NLT)

When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”

Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”

But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! 1nd I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.
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Prayer:

Lord God, Maker of heaven and earth: we turn to Your Son, Jesus Christ, for help and protection as we begin our day. Come, Lord Jesus!

+ Christ, You are the Daystar, powerfully dispelling our darkness: awaken our faith from sleep.
+ Reveal Your presence in the world through the lives of Christian men and women.
+ Come to create a new world, where justice and peace may find a home.
+ End the long night of our pride, and make us humble of heart.

Lord God: Give us the grace to be ever on the watch for Christ Your Son. When He comes and knocks at our door, let Him find us ready and waiting, joyfully proclaiming His glory.
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“The Glory of God” – Matt Papa

Shining in splendor | Pure and forever enduring | The glory of God

Shining in splendor | Pure and forever enduring | The glory of God

Rising, our praises | For endless ages we’ll sing of | The glory of God

From all that’s passing | Lift up our eyes oh Lord | This is what we were created for | To see You on that day
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Blessing

As we make our hearts be ready for the King of Glory to come in; we pray, come dwell among us and be our peace today.

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

1st Sunday of Advent, 27 Nov: Is 2:1-5; Ps 122: 1-9; Rom 13:11-14; Mt 24:37-44 ~ live watchful, decent lives

First Sunday of Advent

The season of Advent begins today. During the next 27 days we will look forward in hope. We will watch for the end times, when Christ will come in glory, Christ whose birthday we will celebrate very soon.

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

Opening Prayer:

God of majesty and power, amid the clamour of our violence Your Word of truth resounds; upon a world made dark by sin the Sun of Justice casts His dawning rays.

Keep Your household watchful and aware of the hour in which we live. Hasten the advent of that day when the sounds of war will be for ever stilled, the darkness of evil scattered, and all Your children gathered into one.

We ask this through Him whose coming is certain, whose day draws near: Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
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“Come, Now is the Time to Worship” – Hillsong

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A Reading from the Old Testament: Isaiah 2:1-5 (NLT)
[Isaiah gives a prophecy of a time of peace when all people will worship the one God.]

This is a vision that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all—the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.

People from many nations will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.”

For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem.

The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.

Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 122 (NLT)

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” And now here we are, standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is a well-built city; its seamless walls cannot be breached. All the tribes of Israel—the Lord’s people—make their pilgrimage here. They come to give thanks to the name of the Lord, as the law requires of Israel. Here stand the thrones where judgment is given, the thrones of the dynasty of David.

Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper.

O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces. For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “May you have peace.”

For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.
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“Psalm 122”

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A Reading from the Letters: Romans 13:11-14 (NLT)
[Paul advises the Romans to live decent lives.]

This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 23:35-43 (NLT)
[We’re told to stay alert, because we don’t know when the Master is coming.]

“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.

“Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.

“So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
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“Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” – Fernando Ortega

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Intercessory Prayer:

God of Mercy and Grace: You alone hold our chaotic world together through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Hasten His return to us in glory; and, as we wait expectantly, listen to the cries of Your people around the world:

+ That Christians around the world who are undergoing unimaginable persecution may be delivered from evil…. Lord, hear us.
+ That world-wide human trafficking and the resulting debasement of people made in Your image may be eliminated…. Lord, hear us.
+ That the people of Aleppo and Syria, and throughout the Middle East, may have peace…. Lord, hear us.
+ That the poor and unprotected people of the world may receive justice, both now and in the age to come…. Lord, hear us.
+ That Christians everywhere may be prepared to meet Christ when He comes…. Lord, hear us.
+ That people who are anxious at this time of year may find peace in the indefatigable love of the Prince of Peace…. Lord, hear us.
+ That those who are sick in mind or body may be healed…. Lord, hear us.
+ That our friends and family members who have died in Christ may fully experience Your promised eternal rest… may be theirs. Lord, hear us.

Loving God, You want what is best for Your people, hear our prayers and help us in our needs through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“The King is Coming” – Newsboys

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Benediction:

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation — the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ — for this will bring much glory and praise to God. – Philippians 1:9-11
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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Morning Prayer: Sat, 26 Nov – Psalm 122:7; Ecclesiastes 3:11-12, 14; Hebrews 3:4, 6-8 ~ built by God

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

Opening Sentence

I call all heaven to witness today that I have put on Christ.
I choose no other Lord than the Maker of heaven and earth.
This day I walk with Him and He will walk with me.
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Reading: Psalm 122:7 (NLT)

O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces.
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Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:11-12, 14 (NLT)

Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can.
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And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him.
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Reading: Hebrews 3:4, 6-8 (NLT)

For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God.
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We are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ. That is why the Holy Spirit says,

“Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness.

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My Prayer:

Promise-Keeping God: You have set apart Your people Israel to be a light to the nations.

+ May there be peace and prosperity within Jerusalem;
+ May all who bless her, be blessed;
+ May all who curse her, be cursed;
+ May Jerusalem be a city prepared for Christ’s return.

Creator God: You made all things and declared them “good.”

+ May I see Your beauty in all You have made;
+ May I see the longing for eternity in every human heart;
+ May I find joy in the dailiness of my life;
+ May I choose this day, and every day, to live by Your Word and Spirit.

Redeeming God: You have made me a “new creation” in Jesus Christ.

+ May Your Spirit find a fitting residence within me;
+ May Your Spirit drive out whatever darkness remains within me;
+ May I live courageously and confidently in the certain hope of Christ’s return;
+ May I faithfully follow wherever You lead, no matter how difficult or improbable.

Christ in me, lowly and meek yet all-powerful. Christ in me, the hope of glory. Amen.
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“Everything is Beautiful” – Ray Stephens

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Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Protecting Father, in the name of the Conquering Son, and in the name of the Liberating Spirit. Amen!

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