Morning Prayer, Thursday, 17 Sep 2020
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
Gracious God: without You I am unable to please You.
Mercifully grant that Your Holy Spirit may rule and direct my heart in all things;
through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be always acceptable in your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)
Preparation:
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of my heart by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ my Lord. Amen.
__________
The New Cloverdale Psalter (2019 Update of 1535 Original)
Psalm 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, *
and the firmament shows his handiwork.
2 One day speaks to another, *
and one night gives knowledge to another.
3 There is neither speech nor language, *
and their voices are not heard;
4 But their sound has gone out into all lands, *
and their words to the ends of the world.
5 In them he has set a tent for the sun, *
which comes forth as a bridegroom out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run his course.
6 It goes forth from the uttermost part of the heavens, and runs about to the end of it again, *
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; *
the testimony of the LORD is sure, and gives wisdom to the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, and rejoice the heart; *
the commandment of the LORD is pure, and gives light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, and endures for ever; *
the judgments of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; *
sweeter also than honey, than the drippings from the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant taught, *
and in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can tell how often he offends? *
O cleanse me from my secret faults.
13 Keep your servant also from presumptuous sins, lest they get the dominion over me; *
so shall I be undefiled, and innocent of great offense.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be always acceptable in your sight, *
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
__________
Psalm 19 ( – Poor Bishop Hooper
__________
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Proverbs 16
The Lord Has the Final Word
1 We humans make plans,
but the Lord has the final word.
2 We may think we know what is right,
but the Lord is the judge of our motives.
3 Share your plans with the Lord,
and you will succeed.
9 We make our own plans,
but the Lord decides where we will go.
33 We make our own decisions,
but the Lord alone
determines what happens.
__________
Consider: “The heavens speak God’s glory”
Though all preachers on earth should grow silent, and every human mouth cease from publishing the glory of God, the heavens above will never cease to declare and proclaim his majesty and glory. They are for ever preaching; for, like an unbroken chain, their message is delivered from day to day and from night to night. At the silence of one herald another takes up his speech. One day, like the other, discloses the same spectacles of his glory, and one night, like the other, the same wonders of his majesty. Though nature be hushed and quiet when the sun in his glory has reached the zenith on the azure sky—though the world keep her silent festival, when the stars shine brightest at night—yet, says the psalmist, they speak; ay, holy silence itself is a speech, provided there be the ear to hear it.
—Augustus T. Tholuck (1799 –1877)
+ Resolve to make the time, and find a place – to be blessed by this holy silence.
__________
Prayer:
Christ, as a light
illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield
overshadow me.
Christ under me;
Christ over me;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light;
Christ as a shield;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.
__________
Let the Words of My Mouth – Fernando Ortega
__________
Blessing:
May the peace of the Lord 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 Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Peanut Gallery 