Month: August 2020

Monday Morning Prayer: 31 Aug 2020 -Psalm 140:6, Colossians 3:1-4, 16-17 ~ Look up!

Monday Morning Prayer, 31 Aug 2020

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

Opening:

O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness during the day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

“set your sights on the realities of heaven”
Colossians 3:16 (NLT)

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Scripture: Psalm 140:6 (NLT)

I said to the Lord, “You are my God!”
Listen, O Lord, to my cries for mercy!

Psalm 140 – B Ari Lesser

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Scripture Reading

Colossians 3:1-4, 16-17 (NLT)

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
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Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

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Prayer:

Heavenly Father: I have died with Christ to sin, and have been raised to life with him. Keep my heart focused on eternity – on Christ who gives my life meaning, who will welcome me, one day, in glory. While I await that day, in faith –

+ I renounce the devil and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God…
+ I renounce the empty promises and deadly deceits of this world that corrupt and destroy the creatures of God…
+ I renounce the sinful desires of the flesh that draw me from the love of God…

Heavenly Father: Deliver me from the powers of darkness and evil, and lead me into the light and obedience of your kingdom. That I may –

+ Live as a new person whose life is hidden in Christ…
+ Live as one who is loved and forgiven in Christ…
+ Live as one who is at peace with you and my neighbors…

Heavenly Father: Fill me with your Spirit, that I may joyfully and obediently follow where Christ leads me, that one day I may share in his glory, when I meet him face-to-face. It’s in his name I pray. Amen.

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“Grave Clothes” – Stephen McWhirter

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Closing: Colossians 3:16-17

“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”

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

The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, 30 Aug 2020: Jeremiah 15:19-21, Psalm 26, Matthew 16:21-27 ~ “What is your soul worth?

The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, 30 Aug 2020

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

Opening:

O Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow after us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way,
take up your cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:16-24)

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A Mighty Fortress Is Our God – (Virtual Choir #4)

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A Reading from the Old Testament: Jeremiah 15:19-21 (NLT)

The Lord responds:

“If you return to me, I will restore you
so you can continue to serve me.
If you speak good words rather than worthless ones,
you will be my spokesman.
You must influence them;
do not let them influence you!
They will fight against you like an attacking army,
but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall of bronze.
They will not conquer you,
for I am with you to protect and rescue you.
I, the Lord, have spoken!
Yes, I will certainly keep you safe from these wicked men.
I will rescue you from their cruel hands.”

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Psalm 26 – Caryn Borland

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A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 16:21-27 (NLT)

Take Up Your Cross

From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.

But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!”

Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.

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Prayer –

Almighty God: Our help in ages past, our hope in years to come. You are our shield and defender against wicked people, and the schemes of Satan. Protect us and rescue us. We pray especially –

+ For Christians who suffer — that they may not give up….
Lord, hear us.
_ For all who are criticized for doing the right thing — that they may hold firm….
Lord, hear us.
+ For the grace to support each other in the hardships of life – that our burdens may be shared….
Lord, hear us.
+ For all who are suffering because of the pandemic – that they may be comforted….
Lord, hear us.
+ For all who struggle with illness, of mind or body – that they may be healed….
Lord, hear us.
+ For all who are suffering the effects of civil unrest – that their families and communities may be restored….
Lord, hear us.

Almighty God: Our help in ages past, our hope for years to come; you have disarmed every “power and principality” through Jesus’ death on the cross. Help us to take up our own crosses every day, and follow him, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. It’s in his name we pray. Amen.

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Defend Us – Jessica Di Giovanni

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Closing – Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Saturday Morning Prayer: 29 Aug 2020 – Psalm 136, Colossians 2:8-15 ~ God made you alive with Christ

Saturday Morning Prayer, 29 Aug 2020

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

Opening:

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.“
(Colossians 2:13)

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Scripture: 

Psalm 136 

Who has laid the waters and spread out the land?
Give Him thanks, give Him thanks.
By His understanding, by His mighty hand.
Give Him thanks, give Him thanks.

Who has made the sun to rule and reign the day?
Give Him thanks, give Him thanks.
Who the moon and stars and skies above obey?
Give Him thanks, give Him thanks.

His love endures forever, His love endures forever.
His love endures forever, give Him thanks!

Who has done great wonders, and the heavens raised?
Give Him thanks, give Him thanks.
Yet, will not forget us in our low estate?
Give Him thanks, give Him thanks.

His love endures forever, His love endures forever.
His love endures forever, give Him thanks!

Who has conquered kingdoms, crushed the enemy?
Give Him thanks! Give Him thanks!
Who will fight our battles, give us victory?
Give Him thanks! Give Him thanks!

His love endures forever, His love endures forever.
His love endures forever, give Him thanks!

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
Give thanks to the God of all gods!
Give thanks to the One whose mercy endures,
Give thanks to the King of heaven!
Give thanks!
Give Him thanks!

Psalm 136 (Give Him Thanks): – Slavic Chorale (in Russian)

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Scripture Reading

Colossians 2:8-15 (NLT)

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

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Reflection:

alive with Christ

“God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.”
(Colossians 1:27)

“It is true that He gave us life from the dead? He gave us pardon of sin; He gave us imputed righteousness. These are all precious things, but you see we are not content with them; we have received Christ himself. The Son of God has been poured out into us, and we have received him, and appropriated him.” (Spurgeon)

We can’t make ourselves alive, but God can make us alive together with Jesus.
We can never be made alive apart from Jesus.

sins forgiven

We are forgiven by grace.
The handwriting of requirements has in mind a list of our crimes or moral debt before God, a debt that no imperfect person can completely pay. But it can be taken out of the way, by payment from a perfect man, Jesus Christ.

“It might even be said that he took the document, ordinances and all, and nailed it to his cross as an act of triumphant defiance in the face of those blackmailing powers that were holding it over men and women in order to command their allegiance.” (Bruce)

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Prayer:

Lord Jesus: I’m in that place again On my knees Laying my life out before You
Thank you that on the cross you cried “It is finished”
You have done it Forgiveness is complete
I can live forever in Your grace Forever in Your love

  • So I ask now for Your forgiveness For the wrongs that I have done
  • And the things that I have neglected
  • I ask for Your forgiveness For the people I have hurt along the way
  • And those who I have failed to love as You love
  • I ask for Your forgiveness I receive Your forgiveness
  • And resolve in my heart That with Your strength I determine not to make these errors again

I receive Your forgiveness And by the power of Your Holy Spirit
I walk away from everything I know to be wrong
And embrace everything I know about You
For the kingdom, the power and the glory
Are always and forever Yours Amen
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“Up & Alive” – Luke & Anna Hellebronth

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Closing: 

“Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.”  (Colossians 2:8-10)

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

Friday Morning Prayer: 28 Aug 2020 – Psalm 132:14-16, Colossians 1:21-2:7 ~ build your life on Christ

Friday Morning Prayer, 28 Aug 2020

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

Opening:

Almighty God, whose most dear Son suffered pain before he went up to joy, and was crucified before he entered into glory: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the Cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

“And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.“
(Colossians 1:27)

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Scripture: 

Psalm 132:14-16 (NLT)

For the Lord has chosen Zion;
he has desired it for his dwelling place:
“This is my resting place forever;
here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
I will abundantly bless her provisions;
I will satisfy her poor with bread.
Her priests I will clothe with salvation,
and her saints will shout for joy.

Bedford Psalm 132: 14-16 – (Gaelic Psalms from the Hebrides of Scotland)

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Scripture Reading

Colossians 1:22-23, 26-27, 2:6-7 (NLT)

God has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.
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This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.
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And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

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Reflection:

Christ lives in you

“And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.”
(Colossians 1:27)

Take this as the secret of Christ’s life in you: His Spirit dwells in your innermost spirit. Meditate on it, believe in it, and remember it until this glorious truth produces within you a holy fear and wonderment that the Holy Spirit indeed abides in you.
(Watchman Nee)

Share his glory

“Christian joy is letting Christ live His life out through you so that what He is, you become.” ( David Jeremiah)

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Prayer:

Thank you Heavenly Father: for rescuing me from the dark power of Satan and bringing me into the kingdom of your dear Son, who lives in me.

+ Christ in me – is exactly like God, who cannot be seen….

+ Christ in me – means the fullness of God lives in me….

+ Christ in me – made everything in heaven and on earth….

+ Christ in me – made everything and holds it all together….

+ Christ in me – was the first to be raised from the dead….

+ Christ in me – sacrificed his blood on the cross, so that everyone would be brought back to God….

Thank you Heavenly Father: for making peace with me, and allowing me to stand in your presence as one who is holy and faultless and innocent. Through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

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You are my shelter
You are my peace
No matter the storms
That rage at me
Even when I falter
I know I’m in your hands

I long for You (I long for You)
I long for You (I long for You)

“Habitation” – Heartcry of David Collective

When I look at the heavens
The work of Your hands
The moon and stars
All at Your command
Even when I falter
I know I’m in your hands

Make me Your habitation
Make me a dwelling place for You
That I might carry Your presence
Wherever You lead me to

I long for You (I long for You)
I long for You (I long for You)
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Closing: 

“just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”  (Colossians 2:7)

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

Thursday Morning Prayer: 27 Aug 2020 -Psalm 122, 123, Philippians 4:4-9 ~ don’t worry; pray instead

Thursday Morning Prayer, 27 Aug 2020

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

Opening:

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“[God’s] peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.“
(Philippians 4:7b)

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Scripture: Psalm 122:6-9, 123 (NLT)

Psalm 122:6-9 (NLT)

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 123:1-4 (NLT)

I lift my eyes to you,
O God, enthroned in heaven.
We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy,
just as servants keep their eyes on their master,
as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy,
for we have had our fill of contempt.
We have had more than our fill of the scoffing of the proud
and the contempt of the arrogant.
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Psalm 122:6 – Shalom Jerusalem – paul wilbur

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Scripture Reading

Philippians 4:4-9 (NLT)

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

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Reflection:

God’s peace

“[God’s] peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:7b)

  •  God’s peace comes to us as a gift from God.
  • God’s peace describes a relationship that we enter into through the finished work of Jesus Christ.
  • God’s peace is beyond our ability to understand and to explain; it must be experienced.

“What is God’s peace? The unruffled serenity of the infinitely-happy God, the eternal composure of the absolutely well-contented God.” (Spurgeon)

Guard your hearts and minds

The peace of God is on guard over our hearts and minds.

“God’s peace, like a sentinel, patrols before the heart.” (Vincent)

“Shall keep them as in a strong place or a castle.” (Clarke)

This peace will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus; it will keep us from sinning under our troubles, and from sinking under them; keep us calm and sedate, without discomposure of passion, and with inward satisfaction. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, Isa. 26:3. (Matthew Henry)

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Prayer:

Heavenly Father: Guard my heart and mind through Christ Jesus, and grant me your peace –

+ that I may focus on what’s true, and ignore what’s false….
+ that I may focus on what’s honorable, and ignore what’s deceptive….
+ that I may focus on what’s right, and ignore what’s wrong….
+ that I may focus on what’s pure, and ignore what’s corrupt….
+ that I may focus on what’s lovely, and ignore what’s ugly….
+ that I may focus on what’s admirable, and ignore what’s shameful….

Heavenly Father: Guard my heart and mind through Christ Jesus, that I may practice what I know to be true, and experience your peace. Amen.

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“Think On These Things” – Bob Wilson

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Closing: 

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”  (Philippians 4:8)

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