Christmas | Thursday – 05 Jan 2023
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take
our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin:
Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children
by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you and the same
Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
“Let us run with endurance
the race God has set before us.
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus….”
(Hebrews 12:1b-2a)
__________
From Psalms: Psalm 72 – Poor Bishop Hooper
give the king your judgments o god
give your righteousness to his son
may he judge the people with justice now
and give deliverance to the poor and the children
may he rule from sea to sea to sea
from the river there to where the earth ends
then the tribes will come and bend their knee
let every king and nation now bow before him
may he be like rain that falls upon the grass
may his name endure forever
may all nations bring him praise in him be blessed
let peace abound ’til the moon is no more
long may he live in golden days
may prayer be made always for him
may cities now with fruit and grain
blossom out in abundance
may he be like rain that falls upon the grass
may his name endure forever
may all nations bring him praise in him be blessed
let peace abound ’til the moon is no more
may he be like rain that falls upon the grass
may his name endure forever
may all nations bring him praise in him be blessed
let peace abound ’til the moon is no more
let his name endure ’til the sun is no more
blessed be the lord the god of israel
who alone works mighty wonders
blessed be his glorious name forevermore
and let the earth be filled with glory
__________
OT Reading: Joshua 1:1-9 (NLT)
The Lord’s Charge to Joshua
1:1 After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you— from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.
“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
__________
be strong and take courage – Choeur Uni Paris 2012
__________
NT Reading: Hebrews 11:32-12:2 (NLT)
11:32 How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death.
But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.
God’s Discipline Proves His Love
12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
__________
Turn Your Eyes – The Glorious Christ Live | SovereignGraceMusic
__________
+ Gracious and holy Father, please give me intellect to understand you, reason to discern you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, a spirit to know you, a heart to meditate upon you, ears to hear you, eyes to see you, a tongue to proclaim you, a way of life pleasing to you, patience to wait for you, and perseverance to look for you. Grant me a perfect end, your holy presence, a blessed resurrection, and life everlasting. Amen.
+ O God, of your goodness, give me yourself, for you are enough for me. I can ask for nothing less that is completely to your honor, and if I do ask anything less, I shall always be in want. Only in you I have all. Amen.
__________
Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch
May your past be a pleasant memory,
Your future filled with delight and mystery,
Your now a glorious moment,
That fills your life with deep contentment.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Peanut Gallery 