Morning Prayer: Psalm 143:8; 1 Kings 18:43; Luke 14:10-11 ~ here i am

Morning Prayer:

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

Opening sentence

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Morning readings

Psalm 143:8 ESV:

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

1 Kings 18:43 ESV:

And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times.

Luke 14:10-11 ESV:

But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Reflection:

How many times a day do I say, ‘Why am I here? What here can stir my gifts to growth? What task of greatness awaits me that I have long neglected? Have I missed Your voice, O God? Here I am: send me! Please!’

‘I have prepared a place for you,’ says the Lord, ‘that is for you, and only you, to fill. First of all, come to My table, and ask that you might serve, looking even for the lowest tasks. When the work of service is done, then you may look for your own place at table. But do not seek the most important place in case it is reserved for someone else. The place I have appointed is where you will be happiest.’

Prayer:

Take me often from the tumult of things into Thy presence. There show me what I am, and what I am supposed to be. Then hide me from Thy tears.

O King and Saviour, what is Thy gift to me? And do I use it to Thy pleasing?

+ May the will of God be done in me, the law of God be kept by me, my evil will controlled by me, speedy repentance made by me, temptation sternly shunned by me, blessed death welcomed by me, angels’ music heard by me, God’s highest praises sung by me.

Christ, You are the Truth; You are the light. You are the Keeper of the treasure I seek so blindly.

+ My soul’s desire is to see the face of God and to rest in His house. My soul’s desire is to study the Scriptures and to learn the ways of God. My soul’s desire is to be freed from all fear and sadness, and to share Christ’s risen life. My soul’s desire is to imitate my King, and to sing His purposes always. My soul’s desire is to enter the gates of heaven and to gaze upon the light that shines forever.

Dear Lord, You alone know what my soul truly desires, and You alone can satisfy those desires. Shape my desires to fit your perfect will for me. Amen.

Song

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.

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 of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

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Peanut Gallery: The Morning Prayer readings are from the Daily Office of the Northumbrian Community as available online here… and in the book form, Celtic Daily Prayer available on Amazon.com.

The website and prayer book are rich in prayer resources and I commend them to you. For our purpose here, I will limit my selections to the Morning Prayer resources.

Morning Prayer: Psalm 25:17; Isaiah 40:28-31; 2 Timothy 4:10-11 ~ strengthen us

Morning Prayer:

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

Opening sentences

Lord Jesus – To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.

Morning readings

Psalm 25:17 ESV:

The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.

Isaiah 40:28-31 ESV:

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

2 Timothy 4:10-11 ESV:

For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

Reflection:

O Holy Christ, bless me with Your presence when my days are weary and my friends are few.

Intercessions:

Mighty and Everlasting God, Maker of heaven and earth, Comfortor of all… especially those who are in trouble and great distress this day – look with favor upon Your people. We think particularly of those who are suffering great persecution because of their faith in Your Son Jesus Christ:

+ For the victims and families of those affected by the killings and mayhem in the Westgate shopping center in Nairobi, Kenya… we pray to the Lord
+ For the victims and families affected by the suicide-bomber massacre at All Saints Church in Peshawar, Pakistan… we pray to the Lord
+ For the victims and families of Christians murdered and displaced in the Syrian civil war… we pray to the Lord
+ For the victims and families of Coptic Christians targeted for revenge in Egypt… we pray to the Lord
+ For the Christians around the world who are being murdered, raped, plundered, abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, or otherwise oppressed by Muslims… we pray to the Lord
+ For all of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who are imprisoned because of their faith… we think especially of those in North Korea and Iran… we pray to the Lord

Give power to the faint and strength to the weak… breathe life into those who are exhausted… speak a word of hope and encouragement to those who feel abandoned… and comfort all who are suffering great loss this day. We ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Song Christ Be in My Waking

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 of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

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The website and prayer book are rich in prayer resources and I commend them to you. For our purpose here, I will limit my selections to the Morning Prayer resources.

Morning Prayer: Psalm 8:9; Ecclesiastes 3:11-13; Matthew 20:25-28 ~ the beauty of it all

Morning Prayer:

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

Opening sentences

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Morning readings

Psalm 8:9 ESV:

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 ESV:

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil — this is God’s gift to man.

Matthew 20:25-28 ESV:

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Prayer/Reflection:

God, our God, Your design for each of us is perfect in its friendliness. There is purpose in all things; and whoso finds it wins strength to bear. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life for many.
_________________________

Savior and friend, how wonderful art Thou!
+ my companion upon the changeful way,
+ the comforter of its weariness,
+ my guide to the eternal town,
+ the welcome at its gates. (Alistair Maclean)

Song

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.

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

_____________________________________

The website and prayer book are rich in prayer resources and I commend them to you. For our purpose here, I will limit my selections to the Morning Prayer resources.

Morning Prayer: Psalm 139:13-18; Jeremiah 29:11; 1 John 4:18-19 ~ no fear

Morning Prayer:

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

Opening sentences

Seek the Lord while He may be found – with all your heart… with all your soul… with all your mind… with all your strength. Call upon Him while He is near.

Declaration of faith

To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God. Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Morning readings

Psalm 139:13-18 ESV:

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

1 John 4:18-19 ESV:

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.

Prayer/Reflection:

Blessing

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

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The website and prayer book are rich in prayer resources and I commend them to you. For our purpose here, I will limit my selections to the Morning Prayer resources.

Morning Prayer: Psalm 24:7-10; Genesis 19:2-3; Luke 19:15-16 ~ hospitality

Morning Prayer:

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

Opening sentences
Seek the Lord while He may be found – with all your heart… with all your soul… with all your mind… with all your strength.

Call upon Him while He is near.

Declaration of faith

To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God. Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Morning readings

Psalm 24:7-10 ESV: Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty — he is the King of glory.

Genesis 19:2-3 ESV: He said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

Luke 19:15-16 ESV: When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’

Prayer/Reflection:

In Hospitality there is a door to which you have the key, and you are the sole keeper. There is a latch no hand can lift save yours. No ruler, nor warrior, writer, thinker: but only you.

O heart, hurry now and welcome your King to sit by the warmth of your fire. (Henri Nouwen)

Anthem: “Lift Up Your Heads” ~ Messiah by George Friedrich Händel (Wien, Theater an der Wien April 2009)

Blessing

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

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The website and prayer book are rich in prayer resources and I commend them to you. For our purpose here, I will limit my selections to the Morning Prayer resources.

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