Morning Prayer: Wed, 18 Jan – Psalm 4:4-6; Ecclesiastes 7:9; Ephesians 4:26-27 ~ control your anger

Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

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

Opening Sentence

O God, come to our aid.

O Lord, make haste to help us.
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Reading: Psalm 4:4-6 (NLT)

Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.

Offer sacrifices in the right spirit, and trust the Lord.

Many people say, “Who will show us better times?” Let your face smile on us, Lord.
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angry-man-fool

Reading: Ecclesiastes 7:9 (NLT)

Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool.
__________ Continue reading “Morning Prayer: Wed, 18 Jan – Psalm 4:4-6; Ecclesiastes 7:9; Ephesians 4:26-27 ~ control your anger”

Morning Prayer: Tue, 17 Jan – Psalm 32:1-2; Proverbs 4:20-23; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 ~ guard your heart

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time 

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

Opening Sentence

O God, come to our aid.

O Lord, make haste to help us.
__________

Reading: Psalm 32:1-2 (NLT)

Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!

Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
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Reading: Proverbs 4:20-23 (NLT)

My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.

man-in-suit-of-armor

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
__________ Continue reading “Morning Prayer: Tue, 17 Jan – Psalm 32:1-2; Proverbs 4:20-23; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 ~ guard your heart”

Morning Prayer: Mon, 16 Jan – Psalm 5:4-8; Proverbs 4:13-15; James 4:7-10 ~ humble yourself

Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time 

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

Opening Sentence

O God, come to our aid.

O Lord, make haste to help us.
__________

Reading: Psalm 5:4-8 (NLT)

O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked. Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence, for you hate all who do evil. You will destroy those who tell lies. The Lord detests murderers and deceivers.

Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe. Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow.
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Reading: Proverbs 4:13-15 (NLT)

Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.

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Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving.
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Reading: James 4:7-10 (NLT)

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
__________ Continue reading “Morning Prayer: Mon, 16 Jan – Psalm 5:4-8; Proverbs 4:13-15; James 4:7-10 ~ humble yourself”

Morning Prayer: Sat, 14 Jan – Psalm 119:101, 110; Genesis 3:6; James 1:13-15 ~ temptation comes from within

Saturday of First Week in Ordinary Time 

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

Opening Sentence

This day is Your gift to me;
I take it, Lord, from Your hand
and thank You for the wonder of it.
__________

Reading: Psalm 119:101, 110 (NLT)

I have refused to walk on any evil path, so that I may remain obedient to your word.
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The wicked have set their traps for me, but I will not turn from your commandments.
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Reading: Genesis 3:6 (NLT)

temptation-apple-and-snake

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.
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Reading: James 1:13-15 (NLT)

And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
__________ Continue reading “Morning Prayer: Sat, 14 Jan – Psalm 119:101, 110; Genesis 3:6; James 1:13-15 ~ temptation comes from within”

Morning Prayer: Fri, 13 Jan – Psalm 66:10-14; Proverbs 1:10-15; Mark 14:37-38 ~ keep watch and pray

Friday of First Week in Ordinary Time

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

Opening Sentence

This day is Your gift to me;
I take it, Lord, from Your hand
and thank You for the wonder of it.
__________

Reading: Psalm 66:10-14 (NLT)

You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver. You captured us in your net and laid the burden of slavery on our backs. Then you put a leader over us. We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance.

Now I come to your Temple with burnt offerings to fulfill the vows I made to you—yes, the sacred vows that I made when I was in deep trouble.
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Reading: Proverbs 1:10-15 (NLT)

My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!

They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent! Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death. Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take. Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.”

My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths.
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Reading: Mark 14:37-38 (NLT)

brooklyn_museum_-_you_could_not_watch_one_hour_with_me_vous_navez_pu_veiller_une_heure_avec_moi_-_james_tissot

Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
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Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ: I thank you. Through your cross and resurrection you offer freedom and hope to those ready to receive them. I am ready, Lord; show me your loving-kindness.

+ I am a child of the day: help me to live in the light of your presence.
+ Guide my thoughts, my words, my actions: so that what I do today may be pleasing to you.
+ Help me to avoid wrongdoing: show me your mercy and your love.
+ Through your passion and death you have won life for me: give me the strength of your Holy Spirit.

Lord God: Strengthen in my heart the faith you have given me. Keep me awake and alert, so that no trials may quench the fire your Spirit has kindled within me. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
__________

“Stay with me” – Taize


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Blessing

On the path that is before you, may you have companions on the journey, may you find Christ in the stranger, and may you know the love and blessing of God.

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