Morning Prayer: Wed, 30 Nov – Psalm 19:8-11; Romans 10:9-18; Matthew 4:18-22 ~ beautiful feet

Wednesday in the First Week of Advent

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

Opening Sentence – (In the preparation days of Celtic Advent)

+ We have waited long for You. Deep has been our darkness.
+ We long for You to shine right here among us where we are.
+ We will not fear the shadows that surround us if only You will come among us!
+ We wait for the sound of a cry in the night, the joy that follows pain, the coming of hope.
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Reading: Psalm 19:8-11 (NLT)

The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.
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Reading: Romans 10:9-18 (NLT)

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have:

“The message has gone throughout the earth, and the words to all the world.”

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Reading: Matthew 4:18-22 (NLT)

One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers — Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew — throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.

A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
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Prayer:

Heavenly Father:

Fill me with a desire to understand, and joyfully apply, Your Word to my life – that I may live reverently and receive Your promised great reward.

Holy Spirit :

Give me the words I need, when I need them – that I may persuasively tell others the Good News of what You have done for me.

Lord Jesus :

Show me what I must leave behind – that I may follow You without hesitation and be an example to others.

Amen .
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“How beautiful are the feet”

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Blessing

Make your heart ready for the King of Glory to come in. Pray: come dwell among us and be my peace today.

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

Morning Prayer: Tue, 29 Nov – Psalm 72; Isaiah 11:1-10; Luke 10:21-24 ~ God’s righteousness revealed

Tuesday in the First Week of Advent

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

Opening Sentence – (In the preparation days of Celtic Advent)

+ We have waited long for You. Deep has been our darkness.
+ We long for You to shine right here among us where we are.
+ We will not fear the shadows that surround us if only You will come among us!
+ We wait the sound of a cry in the night, the joy that follows pain, the coming of hope.
__________

Reading: Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 (NLT)

Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son. Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly.
_____

May all the godly flourish during his reign. May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more. May he reign from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
_____

He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them.
_____

May the king’s name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise.
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Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10 (NLT)

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot — yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him — the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment.

Jesus & animals PEACE by William Strutt, late 1800's — Jesus & animals PEACE
by William Strutt, late 1800’s

In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.

Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.

In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.
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Reading: Luke 10:21-24 (NLT)

At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.

“My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Then when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen. I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.”
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Prayer:

Sovereign God: Your people long for a fair and righteous judge; come Lord Jesus.

+ that the godly may flourish and prosper
+ that the poor may be treated fairly
+ that the oppressed and unprotected may be defended
+ that the weak and needy may be rescued

Son of David: You are the banner of salvation for the whole world; grant us Your peace.

+ that wisdom, understanding and fear of the Lord may prevail
+ that truth may be revealed and the wicked destroyed
+ that enmity within creation may be replaced by peace
+ that all nations may flourish under Your rule

Lord Jesus: Thank You for revealing the heart and mind of the Father to us.

+ Draw us ever closer to You that we may become more like You
+ Give us Your humility that we might freely let go of our rights and privileges
+ Renew our minds that we might approach You with the openness of a child
+ Give us eyes to see and ears to hear You during this advent season

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus. Amen.
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“This Kingdom” – David Evans

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Blessing

Make your heart ready for the King of Glory to come in. Pray: come dwell among us and be my peace today.

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

Daily Reading: 22 July – Paul to the Churches: The Supremacy of Christ – Colossians 1:1-23

Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

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

E100:17.e – Paul to the Churches

The Supremacy of Christ – Colossians 1:1-23 (NLT)

Greetings from Paul

Colossians 1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.

2 We are writing to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.

May God our Father give you grace and peace.

Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.

6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

7 You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. 8 He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.

9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Christ Is Supreme

15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. 18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.

19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.
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“In Christ Alone” – Kristian Stanfill | Passion 2013

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Prayer

Heavenly Father: Thank you for graciously including me in your family through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. It is through him that I approach your throne of grace; Lord, hear my prayer –

That I may grow closer to you and come to know you better.
That I may grow in spiritual wisdom and understanding of your will for my life.
That I may live in a way that honors and pleases you.
That I may live in the light as a citizen of your Kingdom.
That I may live confidently with the end in mind, my home in heaven.
That I may love the people I encounter today, as you have loved me.
That the truth of your wonderful grace may continue to change my life.
That the Good News of your grace may continue to change lives around the world.
That I may be strengthened with your power to patiently endure every adversity.
That I may be filled with joy as one who has been forgiven and set free in Christ.

Heavenly Father: May your Son, Jesus Christ have supremacy in every aspect of my life – today and forever. Amen.

Closing Sentence

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!

Morning Prayer: 25 June – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; James 5:9-12 ~ strength in weakness

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

Opening Sentence

Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate me in the truth.

Morning Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NLT)

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Morning Reading: James 5:9-12 (NLT)

Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!

For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.

Morning Prayer

We have a high priest, able to sympathize with us in our weakness, one who, because of his likeness to us, has been tempted in every way, but did not sin. Lord, show us your mercy and compassion.

+ Lord, for the joy which lay in the future, you willingly went to the cross: make us share your death, that we may also share your joy.
+ Lord, you said ‘Let any man who thirsts come to me and drink’: give your Spirit now to all who thirst for you.
+ You sent your disciples to preach the gospel to every nation: bless those men and women who devote their lives to preaching the gospel today.
+ Help those in pain to know that the Father cares for them for he loves them as he loves his own Son.

Almighty Father, let your light so penetrate our minds that, walking in your commandments, we may always follow you, our leader and guide. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

“Before The Throne Of God Above” – Selah

Blessing

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

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

Morning Prayer: 11 June – James 4:13-17 ~ like the morning fog

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

Opening Sentence

O Lord, I trust in your merciful love. My heart will rejoice in your salvation.

Morning Reading: James 4:13-17 (NLT)

Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog — it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

Morning Prayer

God is love: he who dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him. In Jesus Christ we see how God loves us.

+ You have given us life and light this morning – thank you for such great gifts.
+ You are sole master of the future – keep me from despair and the fear of what is to come.
+ Love has no ambition to seek anything for itself – strengthen my will to give up selfishness today.
+ Your love in us can overcome all things – let there be no limit to my faith, my hope, and my endurance.

Lord God, in your wisdom you created me, by your providence you rule me: penetrate my inmost being with your holy light, so that my way of life may always be one of faithful service to you. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

“Oceans” – Hillsong United

Blessing

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

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