Morning Prayer: Friday, 27 Nov 2020
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people, that bringing forth in abundance the fruit of good works, they may be abundantly rewarded when our Savior Jesus Christ comes to restore all things; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
“You yourself made my inmost parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
marvelous are your works, and my soul knows it very well….
and in your book were all my members written,
Which day by day were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”
(Psalm 139:12-13, 15-16)
Preparation:
Holy Spirit, breath of God and fire of love, I cannot pray without your aid: Kindle in me the fire of your love, and illumine me with your light; that with a steadfast will and holy thoughts I may approach the Father in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who reigns with you and the Father in eternal union. Amen.
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“Psalm 139” (Far Too Wonderful) –
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The New Cloverdale Psalter (2019 Update of 1535 Original)
“Psalm 139”
1 O LORD, you have searched me out and known me; *
you know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thoughts from afar.
2 You examine my path and my places of rest, *
and are acquainted with all my ways.
3 Indeed, there is not a word on my tongue, *
but you, O LORD, know it altogether.
4 You have enclosed me behind and before, *
and have laid your hand upon me.
5 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, *
so excellent I cannot attain to it.
6 Where shall I go then from your Spirit, *
or where shall I flee from your presence?
7 If I climb up to heaven, you are there; *
if I make my bed in the Grave, you are there also.
8 If I take the wings of the morning *
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
9 Even there shall your hand lead me, *
and your right hand shall hold me.
10 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,” *
then shall my night be turned to day.
11 Even the darkness is not dark to you, and the night is as clear as the day; *
the darkness and the light to you are both alike.
12 For you yourself made my inmost parts; *
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
13 I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; *
marvelous are your works, and my soul knows it very well.
14 My bones were not hidden from you *
when I was made in secret and fashioned in the depths of the earth.
15 Your eyes beheld my substance, while I was yet unformed; *
and in your book were all my members written,
16 Which day by day were fashioned, *
when as yet there was none of them.
17 How dear to me are your thoughts, O God. *
How great is the sum of them!
18 If I were to count them, they would be more in number than the sand. *
When I wake up, I am present with you.
19 Oh, that you would slay the wicked, O God! *
Depart from me, you bloodthirsty men.
20 For they speak unrighteously against you; *
your enemies take your Name in vain.
21 Do I not hate those, O LORD, who hate you, *
and do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 Indeed, I hate them with a perfect hatred; *
they have become my own enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; *
try me and examine my thoughts.
24 Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me, *
and lead me in the way everlasting.
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Proverbs 27 (NLT) – more proverbs of Solomon
1 Don’t brag about tomorrow,
since you don’t know what the day will bring.
19 As a face is reflected in water,
so the heart reflects the real person.
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Consider:
“You yourself made my inmost parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
marvelous are your works, and my soul knows it very well….
and in your book were all my members written,
Which day by day were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”
(Psalm 139:12-13, 15-16)
God made you
God has put all your parts together… God formed your members, and united them in a bodily frame and form before you were born—he must be able to understand all your thoughts and feelings. As you were not concealed from God before you saw the light, so you can not be hidden from God anywhere.
- Whatever you are naturally or supernaturally, is a work of God.
- Whatever others are, for better or worse, God still made them.
- No matter your deficiencies , God knows you and loves you.
—Albert Barnes.
God planned you
- Your life, from the beginning to the end, is in God’s good, gracious, and merciful hand.
- That God knows all about you and still loves you, is cause for joy and comfort.
God search our hearts
- What a mercy that there is one being who can know us to perfection! He is intimately at home with us. He is graciously inclined towards us, and is willing to bend his omniscience to serve the end of our sanctification…. By your providence, by your word, by your grace, and by your Spirit, lead me evermore.
__ Spurgeon
Think and be careful what thou art within,
For there is sin in the desire of sin:
Think and be thankful, in a different case,
For there is grace in the desire of grace.—John Byron, 1691-1763.
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Prayer:
The birth, and/or adoption, of a child is a joyous and solemn occasion in the life of a family. Our heavenly Father has given us the Spirit of adoption, that we who were strangers might become members of the household of God. It has pleased Almighty God, our heavenly Father, to bless families with the gift of children.
+ Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ Watch over your children, O Lord, as their days increase; bless them and guide them, and keep them unspotted from the world. Strengthen them when they stand; comfort them when discouraged or sorrowful; raise them up if they fall; and in their hearts may your peace which passes understanding abide all the days of their life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ Lord Jesus, be mindful of your promise. Think of us, your children, and when we shall depart, speak to our spirits these loving words: “Today you shall be with me in joy.” O Lord Jesus Christ, remember us, your children who trust in you, when our tongues cannot speak, when the sight of our eyes fails, and when our ears are stopped. Let our spirits always rejoice in you and be joyful about our salvation, which you, through your death, have purchased for us. Amen.
+ Hasten, O Father, the coming of your kingdom; and grant that we your children, who now live by faith, may with joy behold your Son at his coming in glorious majesty; even Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
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Psalm 139 – FREEDOM CHURCH
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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.
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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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