Tag: Don’t be afraid

The 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 09 Aug 2020: Jonah 2:1-10, Psalm 29, Matthew 14:22-33 ~ “I am Jesus. Don’t be afraid.”

The 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 09 Aug 2020

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

Opening:

Keep your Church, O Lord, by your perpetual mercy; and because without you
the frailty of our nature causes us to fall, keep us from all things hurtful, and
lead us to all things profitable for our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“Don’t worry! I am Jesus. Don’t be afraid.”

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A Reading from the Old Testament: Jonah 2:1-10 (CEV)

From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the Lord his God:

When I was in trouble, Lord, I prayed to you, and you listened to me. From deep in the world of the dead, I begged for your help, and you answered my prayer.

You threw me down to the bottom of the sea. The water was churning all around; I was completely covered by your mighty waves. I thought I was swept away from your sight, never again to see your holy temple.

I was almost drowned by the swirling waters that surrounded me. Seaweed had wrapped around my head. I had sunk down below the underwater mountains; I knew that forever, I would be a prisoner there. But, you, Lord God, rescued me from that pit.

When my life was slipping away, I remembered you—and in your holy temple you heard my prayer. All who worship worthless idols turn from the God who offers them mercy. But with shouts of praise, I will offer a sacrifice to you, my Lord. I will keep my promise, because you are the one with power to save.

The Lord commanded the fish to vomit up Jonah on the shore. And it did.

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Psalm 29 (The Voice of the Lord) – (Nick Poppens) The Psalms Project

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A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew Matthew 14:22-33 (CEV)

Right away, Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and start back across the lake.But he stayed until he had sent the crowds away. Then he went up on a mountain where he could be alone and pray. Later that evening, he was still there.

By this time the boat was a long way from the shore. It was going against the wind and was being tossed around by the waves. A little while before morning, Jesus came walking on the water toward his disciples. When they saw him, they thought he was a ghost. They were terrified and started screaming.

At once, Jesus said to them, “Don’t worry! I am Jesus. Don’t be afraid.”

Peter replied, “Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come on!” Jesus said. Peter then got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward him.

But when Peter saw how strong the wind was, he was afraid and started sinking. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

Right away, Jesus reached out his hand. He helped Peter up and said, “You surely don’t have much faith. Why do you doubt?”

When Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind died down. The men in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, “You really are the Son of God!”

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“Cry Out To Jesus” – Third Day

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A Prayer

Gracious Father: Hear our prayers for the Church and the World, and have mercy on us.
We pray in the name of Jesus –

+ For your Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it, through Jesus Christ our Lord….

+ For the peace of the world. In your perfect kingdom, no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord….

+ For all who live, preach, and teach the Gospel at home and in distant lands; prosper them, and protect them in all perils, support them in their loneliness, sustain them in the hour of trial; give them your abundant grace to bear faithful witness; and endue them with burning zeal and love, that they may turn many to righteousness; through Jesus Christ our Lord….

+ For our brothers and sisters in Christ who are persecuted for their faith. Give them boldness that they may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in them, and give them the strength to suffer courageously; through Jesus Christ our Lord….

+ For our Nation, and our President Donald Trump. We commend this Nation to your merciful care, that we may be guided by your providence, and dwell secure in your peace. Grant to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do your will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them continually mindful of their calling to serve this people in reverent obedience to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord….

+ For the social conflict and distress in our Nation. Increase, O God, the spirit of neighborliness among us, that in peril we may uphold one another, in suffering tend to one another, and in homelessness, loneliness, or exile befriend one another. Grant us brave and enduring hearts that we may strengthen one another, until the disciplines and testing of these days are ended, and you again give peace in our time; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

+ For the discouraged and downcast. Cheer with hope all who are discouraged and downcast, and by your heavenly grace preserve from falling those whose poverty tempts them to sin. Though they be troubled on every side, suffer them not to be distressed; though they are perplexed, save them from despair; through Jesus Christ our Lord….

+ For the broken-hearted. Heal them and turn the sadness of the sorrowful to joy, Let your fatherly goodness be upon all whom you have made. Remember in pity all those who are this day destitute, homeless, elderly, infirm, or forgotten; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

+ For the multitude of your poor. Lift up those who are cast down. Mightily befriend innocent sufferers, and sanctify to them the endurance of their wrongs, and by your heavenly grace preserve from falling those whose poverty tempts them to sin. Though they be troubled on every side, suffer them not to be distressed; though they are perplexed, save them from despair; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Most loving Father, you will us to give thanks for all things, to dread nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on the One who cares for us. Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested unto us in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Oceans” (Where Feet May Fail) – Hillsong UNITED

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Closing – Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV)

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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

Monday of Easter Week, 13 April 2020 – Matthew 28:9-15, Acts 2:14,22-32, Psalm 16 ~ Don’t be afraid!

Monday of Easter Week, 13 April 2020

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

Opening:

“Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus Christ,
our hope, our light, and our salvation.

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A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 27:57-66 (NLT)

And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

The Report of the Guard

As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.
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Acts 2:14,22-32 (NLT)

Peter Preaches to the Crowd

Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this.
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“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. King David said this about him:

‘I see that the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
No wonder my heart is glad,
and my tongue shouts his praises!
My body rests in hope.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead
or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.
You have shown me the way of life,
and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’

“Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.

“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.”
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Psalm 16 (Fullness of Joy) – Shane & Shane

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Closing: (NLT) – Psalm 16:11 (NLT)

You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.

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

Thursday Morning: 26 Sep 2019 – Matthew 14:22-36 ~ “Don’t be afraid. Take courage, I am here!”

Thursday Morning

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

Opening (A Collect for Guidance – Thursday)

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: Guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our lives we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – Matthew 14:22-36 (NLT)

Jesus Walks on Water

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.

Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

“Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.
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Morning Reflection:

“Don’t be afraid. Take courage, I am here!”

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him.
“You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
– Matthew 14:31 –

Jesus’ response to the disciples’ fear centered on, “I am here!” The disciples could take courage because Jesus was there. The words, “I am,” were a term Jesus used to claim deity.

On one hand, the disciples feared drowning because of the ferocity of the storm. On the other hand, Peter feared drowning because he climbed out of the boat. But in both cases the message is the same – “Don’t be afraid, I am here!” – Jesus stills the storm, and hauls Peter back into the boat.

Courage comes from knowing that Jesus – the One who is “I am” is present.

Questions for consideration:

  • What sort of storms have you experienced in your life? What was  your greatest fear when you were caught up in the middle of it? Please explain.
  • How did Jesus see you through it? Did you experience his encouraging presence in the midst of it? Please explain.
  • Are you currently experiencing a storm in your life, or is there a storm on your horizon? What do you need Jesus to do for you? Do you believe that he will? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer – For Times of Suffering or Weakness

Dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: I hold up all my weakness to your strength, my failure to your faithfulness, my sinfulness to your perfection, my loneliness to your compassion, my little pains to your great agony on the Cross. I pray that you will cleanse me, strengthen me, guide me, so that in all ways my life may be lived as you would have it lived, without cowardice and for you alone. Show me how to live in true humility, true contrition, and true love. Amen.
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“Be Not Afraid” – John Michael Talbot
(Video clips from the 1998 movie The Prince of Egypt)

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and 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

3rd Sunday after Pentecost: 25 June – Matthew 10:26-33 ~ choose faith over fear

3rd Sunday after Pentecost

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

Opening Prayer

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Implant in my heart the love of your Name, increase in me true faith and life, nourish me with all goodness, and bring forth in me the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ my Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“God You are My God” – Desperation Band


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Reading: Matthew 10:26-33 (NLT)

“Don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.
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Prayer:

Sovereign Lord: In these troubled times, fill my heart with strong love and firm faith, that I may choose to trust you in every circumstance – even when I’m afraid.

+ Deliver me from the fear of losing my security, my comfort, or my well-being.
+ Deliver me from the fear of losing my money, my friends, or even my family.
+ Deliver me from the fear of ridicule, of criticism, or the opinion of others.
+ Deliver me from the fear of uncertainty, of losing control, or the unknown.

Sovereign Lord: In these troubled times, fill my heart with strong love and firm faith, that I may confess my true convictions and bear witness to my faith.

+ Give me the faith to live confidently and freely as your beloved child.
+ Give me the faith to face problems, to address conflicts, and to live responsibly.
+ Give me the faith to live bravely, strengthened by your power at work within me.
+ Give me the faith to be a credible example of the transforming power of your love.

Sovereign Lord: In these troubled times, I place my trust in you – your reign and your justice – whether I understand what you are doing or not, through Jesus Christ my Lord, your Son, 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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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 56:3, 12-13 (NLT)

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
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I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help. For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Monday of Easter Week, 17 Apr – Matthew 28:8-15 ~ witnesses debunk fake news

Monday of Easter Week

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

Opening Sentences

Living God, my heart is glad and rejoices and I am confident that I have a living person to believe in, Jesus Christ, who is risen from the dead. Show me the path of life, that I may live in the joy of your presence and give me the grace to make my whole life a witness that proclaims Jesus is my risen, living Lord now and for ever. Amen.
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Reading: Matthew 28:8-15 (NLT)

The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.
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Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ: Emmanuel (God with us) you were born to us, and Emmanuel (God with us) you are to us until the end of time. I have nothing to fear.

+ In the rush of my day, meet and greet me, Lord; call me by name.
+ Fill me with joy in your presence that I might glorify your name.
+ Replace my fears with the security of your perfect love for me.

Lord Jesus Christ: you are the living God who has overcome sin and death once and for all. Give me a spirit of power, love and self-discipline that I might confidently tell others that you are alive and well… and that you have changed my life… forever.

Soli Deo gloria! Amen.
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Forever – Kari Jobe


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Blessing

I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. – Psalm 16:7-8 (NLT)

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