Praying the Psalms: Wed, 08 Aug – Psalm 34 ~ praise the Lord at all times

Praying the Psalms

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

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.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Morning Reading: Psalm 34 (NLT)

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!

Calamity will surely destroy the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished. But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: you alone are worthy of our worship and praise. We pledge you our allegiance and trust in your loving-kindness and greatness to satisfy the desires of our hearts according to your good purpose for our lives.

+ Thank you, Lord, for answered prayer and freedom from fear…

+ Thank you, Lord, for your deliverance and help in times of trouble…

+ Thank you, Lord, for your protection and defense in times of danger…

+ Thank you, Lord, for your goodness and provision in times of uncertainty…

O Lord our God: give us courage and boldness to declare your mercy and kindness to all who will listen –

+ That they, too, may experience your mercy and goodness…

+ That they, too, may experience your beauty and joy…

+ That they, too, may experience your protection and provision…

+ That they, too, may experience your security and peace…

O Lord our God: you watch over the godly and hear us when we cry for help. Fill us with your Spirit –

+ That we might live honestly and uprightly…

+ That we might be live securely under your protection…

Through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Psalm 34” – The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

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

Praying the Psalms: Tue, 07 Aug – Psalm 33 ~ sing for joy to the Lord

Praying the Psalms

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

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

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.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Morning Reading: Psalm 33 (NLT)

Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord; it is fitting for the pure to praise him. Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp. Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy. For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.

The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him. For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command.

The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.

What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.

The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do. The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—for all its strength, it cannot save you.

But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine.

We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.
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Morning Prayer

Almighty God, Protector of your chosen people: we worship and praise your holy name –

+ For you are the Lord our God; you satisfy the desire of our hearts

+ For you are the living and true God; there is none like you

+ For you rule with righteousness; you shape us to become more like you

+ For you watch over us; we are your own inheritance our future is in your hands

Almighty God, Creator and Ruler of the world: our hope is in you; surround us with the loving-kindness of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Rejoice In The LORD O You Righteous” (Psalm 33) – Karl Kohlhase

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

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

Praying the Psalms: Mon, 06 Aug – Psalm 32 ~ rejoice in sins forgiven

Praying the Psalms

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

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

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.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Morning Reading: Psalm 32 (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! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: you are merciful, gracious, and kind – you forgive the sins of all who come to you through your Son, Jesus Christ –

+ Without your forgiveness we are hopelessly lost –

for we have broken your commandments and sinned against you
for we have tried unsuccessfully to hide our sin, to repress our guilt
for we have been consumed by the dread of being exposed

+ With your forgiveness we are eternally blessed –

for when we confess our sins, our burden of guilt is lifted
for you forgive our sins and take them far away from us

O Lord our God: you forgive the sins all who turn to you in faith and repentance through your Son, Jesus Christ –

you cancel all accusations against us and free us from getting what we deserve
you put our sin out of sight and see instead the blood sacrifice of your Son
you acquit us completely and declare us righteous in your sight

O Lord our God: we rejoice in the wonder of your mercy and forgiveness through your Son, Jesus Christ –

fill us with songs of deliverance, instead of consuming remorse
fill us with a new understanding of your protection and friendship
fill us with joyous praise and the freedom of belonging in your family

O Lord our God: break down the walls of resistance of guilty people who attempt to hide their sin; turn their hearts to you in repentance, faith and trust; and fill them with the joy of sins forgiven through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Happy The Man Whose Transgressions Are Forgiven (Psalm 32)” – Karl Kohlhase

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

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

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost – 05 Aug – John 6:24-35 – I am the bread of life.

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

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

Opening Prayer

Lord, giver of ever lasting life, satisfy our hunger through Christ, the bread of life, and quench our thirst with your gift of belief, that we may no longer work for food that perishes, but believe in the One whom you have sent. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“I Am the Bread of Life” – Toolan | Notre Dame Folk Choir

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Gospel Reading: John 6:24-35 (NLT)

So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”

Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

“Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
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Prayers of Intercession:

O God, you are our Provider and Sustainer: hear our prayers as we approach your throne of grace in this our time of need. Lord, help us. We pray –

+ for all believers – that you may sustain their hope of eternal life….
+ for every man and woman searching for meaning – that they may find Jesus….
+ for believing families – that they may teach your truths to their children…
+ for nomads and wanderers – that they may receive your protection….
+ for those who are hungry – that they may receive your sustenance….
+ for families at risk – that they may receive counsel and legal protection….
+ for those who have died in Christ – that they may enjoy eternal life….

O God, you have never failed to nourish your people in their needs: hear our cries and grant our prayers, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Panis Angelicus” – Andrea Bocelli

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Blessing – Ephesians 4:22-24

Live as children of light – “throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”

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

Praying the Psalms: Sat, 04 Aug – Psalm 31 ~ our future is in your hands

Praying the Psalms

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

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

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.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Morning Reading: Psalm 31 (NLT)

O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced. Save me, for you do what is right. Turn your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly. Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe. You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger. Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me for I find protection in you alone. I entrust my spirit into your hand. Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.

I hate those who worship worthless idols. I trust in the Lord. I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul. You have not handed me over to my enemies but have set me in a safe place.

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes. My body and soul are withering away. I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness. Sin has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within. I am scorned by all my enemies and despised by my neighbors—even my friends are afraid to come near me. When they see me on the street, they run the other way. I am ignored as if I were dead, as if I were a broken pot. I have heard the many rumors about me, and I am surrounded by terror. My enemies conspire against me, plotting to take my life.

But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me. Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord, for I call out to you for help. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them lie silent in the grave. Silence their lying lips—those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.

How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.

Praise the Lord, for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love. He kept me safe when my city was under attack. In panic I cried out, “I am cut off from the Lord!” But you heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help.

Love the Lord, all you godly ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant. So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: hear the cries of all your people suffering great hardship and persecution –

their enemies seek to entrap them
their enemies seek to destroy them
their enemies conspire against them
their enemies lie and slander them
their friends forget them
their strength fails them
they think you have abandoned them

O Lord our God: hear the cries of the remnant among your people who look to you for rescue and refuge –

you are their hope for protection
you are their redeemer from sin
you are their gracious advocate
you hold their lives in your hands
you remain faithful to your promises

O Lord our God: turn their weeping into songs of deliverance; fill their lives with goodness; pour out your loving-kindness upon them – that the whole world might know of your justice and mercy – through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Father, I Put My Life In Your Hands (Psalm 31)” – John Michael Talbot