+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentences
Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are, yet without sin: give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit; and, as you know our weakness, so may we know your power to save; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Reading: Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
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Reading: 1 John 4:16-18 (NLT)
We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect…. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.
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Prayer:
Heavenly Father: you are my God and I am your child – you love me, you are with me, and you always want the best for me.
+ Make me strong as I face the challenges of the day.
+ Take my hand and guide me throughout the day.
+ Hold me up and keep me standing firm throughout the day
+ Expel any fear and anxiety I may have with your perfect love for me.
Heavenly Father: No matter what I face today, I will look to you for deliverance and abide in your loving presence. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“No Longer Slaves” – Jonathan David & Melissa Helser
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Blessing
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentences
Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are, yet without sin: give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit; and, as you know our weakness, so may we know your power to save; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
__________
Reading: Psalm 32:8 (NLT)
The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you….”
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Reading: 1 John 3:1a (NLT)
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!
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Prayer:
Heavenly Father: your watchful eye is caring for me. I am protected, safe, and free.
+ Watch over me when I am lonely, tired and worn.
+ Watch over me when I stumble and fall.
+ Watch over me when I am helpless, too weak to stand.
+ Watch over me when I need your tender mercy.
+ Watch over me day in and day out.
Thank you, heavenly Father: you hold me in safety, with comfort and care. You speak to me gently, I have nothing to fear. I am protected, safe, and free. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Good Good Father” – Chris Tomlin
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Blessing
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
Bestow on us, we pray, O Lord, a spirit of always pondering on what is right and of hastening to carry it out. And, since without you we cannot exist, may we be enabled to live according to your will. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity if the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
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Reading: Matthew 4:1-11 (NLT)
The Temptation of Jesus
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.
During that time the devil came and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,
‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said,
“If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”
Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say,
‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”
Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
“I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
Jesus told him, “Get out of here, Satan.”“For the Scriptures say,
‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”
Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
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Prayer:
Heavenly Father: you are not the author of temptation, but you allow us to be tempted even as Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. His temptations are our temptations as well – food, fame and fortune.
Thank you for providing for our daily physical needs – food, clothing and shelter. And, even more importantly, thank you for providing for our spiritual needs through your Word written. Ground us in the Scriptures that we may escape the devil’s deceit.
You alone are worthy of receiving all glory, honor, power – and fame. In you, we live and move and have our being – our identity is in you. Fill us with faith, confidence and wonder at everything you do in us, or through us. Teach us humility, that Jesus may increase and we may decrease.
Discipline us in godliness during this Lenten season that we may store up treasures in heaven, even as we receive the wealth of true contentment with our lot here in this life. Keep us focused on your eternal Kingdom, as pilgrims living and working in the passing kingdoms of this world.
Heavenly Father: protect us from the wiles and deceit of the devil, and send us your angels to care for us – that we may love and serve you with undivided devotion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“”Jesus I Believe”” – Big Daddy Weave
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Closing:
“I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations. You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.
“I am the Lord; that is my name! – Isaiah 42:6-8a
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
_________
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentences
O God, come to our aid. O Lord, make haste to help us. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
__________
Reading: Genesis 41:1, 14 (NLT)
Two full years later…
_____
Pharaoh sent for Joseph….
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Reading: Isaiah 49:13-16 (NLT)
Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering.
Yet Jerusalem says, “The Lord has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us.”
“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins….”
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Prayer:
Father in heaven: you have written my name on your hand as a reminder of your steadfast love for me – your adopted child.
+ Grant me your peace when I’m troubled.
+ Grant me your guidance when I’m confused.
+ Grant me your wisdom when I’m foolish.
+ Grant me your heart when I’m indifferent.
+ Grant me your mercy when I’m suffering.
+ Grant me your protection when I’m overwhelmed.
+ Grant me your healing when I’m sick.
Thank you, heavenly Father, for your loving kindness to me in good times and bad. Fill me with songs of joy, that I may glorify your name. Through Jesus Christ, your Son and my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Blessed Be Your Name” – Maranatha! Music
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Blessing
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentences
O God, come to our aid. O Lord, make haste to help us. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
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Reading: Psalm 25 (NLT)
O Lord, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God! Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.
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Reading: Matthew 25:14-18 (NLT)
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.
“The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.
Prayer:
Lord God: you have made me your servant; you have given me gifts, abilities and experience; and you have given me the responsibility to make the most of it all until you return.
+ Show me where you want me to invest myself in this season of my life.
+ Open up new possibilities for me that I have never considered before.
+ Give me wisdom and sound judgement in the decisions I make going forward.
+ Lead me out of my comfort zone into new opportunities for Kingdom service.
Lord God: I give my life to you; I trust in you. Through Jesus Christ, your Son and my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Trust In You” – Lauren Daigle
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Blessing
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
The Peanut Gallery 