Tag: Jesus Christ

Praying the Psalms: Thu, 01 Nov – Psalm 107 ~ Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!

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 107 (NLT)

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies. For he has gathered the exiles from many lands, from east and west, from north and south.

+ Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless. Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died. “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live. Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

+ Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, imprisoned in iron chains of misery. They rebelled against the words of God, scorning the counsel of the Most High. That is why he broke them with hard labor; they fell, and no one was there to help them. “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; he snapped their chains. Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. For he broke down their prison gates of bronze; he cut apart their bars of iron.

+ Some were fools; they rebelled and suffered for their sins. They couldn’t stand the thought of food, and they were knocking on death’s door. “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death. Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.

+ Some went off to sea in ships, plying the trade routes of the world. They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action, his impressive works on the deepest seas. He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the waves. Their ships were tossed to the heavens and plunged again to the depths; the sailors cringed in terror. They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits’ end. “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor! Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. Let them exalt him publicly before the congregation and before the leaders of the nation.

He changes rivers into deserts, and springs of water into dry, thirsty land. He turns the fruitful land into salty wastelands, because of the wickedness of those who live there. But he also turns deserts into pools of water, the dry land into springs of water. He brings the hungry to settle there and to build their cities. They sow their fields, plant their vineyards, and harvest their bumper crops. How he blesses them! They raise large families there, and their herds of livestock increase.

When they decrease in number and become impoverished through oppression, trouble, and sorrow, the Lord pours contempt on their princes, causing them to wander in trackless wastelands. But he rescues the poor from trouble and increases their families like flocks of sheep. The godly will see these things and be glad, while the wicked are struck silent.

Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord.
__________

Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: To you alone belong our worship, thanksgiving and praise, for you answered our prayers –

+ when you found us hopelessly lost, weary from wandering…
+ when you delivered us from our bondage, imprisoned in darkness…
+ when you redeemed us from our sins, suffering the consequences…
+ when you saved us from our fears, gripped by terror…

O Lord our God: To you alone belong our worship, thanksgiving and praise; for you answered our prayers when we cried out to you in Jesus’ name. Give us the words to express your goodness, that all may experience your loving-kindness and live full, satisfying lives – now and forever. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
__________

“Psalm 107” – Rachel Cohen

Give thanks for He is good | Give thanks for He is good
Give thanks for His unfailing love

Some wandered in the wastelands, finding no way
They were hungry and thirsty
Then they cried out to the Lord in their distress
And He brought them deliverance

Give thanks for He is good | Give thanks for He is good
Give thanks for His unfailing love
Oh, He satisfies | He satisfies

Some sat in darkness, suffering in chains
For they had despised Him
Then the cried out to the Lord in their distress
And he brought them out of darkness

Give thanks for He is good | Give thanks for He is good
Give thanks for His unfailing love
Oh, He breaks away our chains | He breaks away our chains

Some became foolish in their rebellious ways
And drew near the gates of death
Then they cried out to the Lord in their distress
And He rescued them from the grave

Give thanks for He is good | Give thanks for He is good
Give thanks for His unfailing love
Oh, sing a song of joy | Sing a song of joy

Whoever is wise, let him hear | And consider the love of the Lord
The great love of the Lord

Give thanks for He is good | Give thanks for He is good
__________

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, 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 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Praying the Psalms: Wed, 31 Oct – Psalm 106 ~ His faithful love endures forever.

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 106 (NLT)

Praise the Lord!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise him enough? There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right.

Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people; come near and rescue me. Let me share in the prosperity of your chosen ones. Let me rejoice in the joy of your people; let me praise you with those who are your heritage.

+ Like our ancestors, we have sinned. We have done wrong! We have acted wickedly! Our ancestors in Egypt were not impressed by the Lord’s miraculous deeds. They soon forgot his many acts of kindness to them. Instead, they rebelled against him at the Red Sea. Even so, he saved them—to defend the honor of his name and to demonstrate his mighty power. He commanded the Red Sea to dry up. He led Israel across the sea as if it were a desert. So he rescued them from their enemies and redeemed them from their foes. Then the water returned and covered their enemies; not one of them survived. Then his people believed his promises. Then they sang his praise.

+ Yet how quickly they forgot what he had done! They wouldn’t wait for his counsel! In the wilderness their desires ran wild, testing God’s patience in that dry wasteland. So he gave them what they asked for, but he sent a plague along with it. The people in the camp were jealous of Moses and envious of Aaron, the Lord’s holy priest. Because of this, the earth opened up; it swallowed Dathan and buried Abiram and the other rebels. Fire fell upon their followers; a flame consumed the wicked.

+ The people made a calf at Mount Sinai; they bowed before an image made of gold. They traded their glorious God for a statue of a grass-eating bull. They forgot God, their savior, who had done such great things in Egypt—such wonderful things in the land of Ham, such awesome deeds at the Red Sea. So he declared he would destroy them. But Moses, his chosen one, stepped between the Lord and the people. He begged him to turn from his anger and not destroy them.

+ The people refused to enter the pleasant land, for they wouldn’t believe his promise to care for them. Instead, they grumbled in their tents and refused to obey the Lord. Therefore, he solemnly swore that he would kill them in the wilderness, that he would scatter their descendants among the nations, exiling them to distant lands.

+ Then our ancestors joined in the worship of Baal at Peor; they even ate sacrifices offered to the dead! They angered the Lord with all these things, so a plague broke out among them. But Phinehas had the courage to intervene, and the plague was stopped. So he has been regarded as a righteous man ever since that time.

+ At Meribah, too, they angered the Lord, causing Moses serious trouble. They made Moses angry, and he spoke foolishly.

+ Israel failed to destroy the nations in the land, as the Lord had commanded them. Instead, they mingled among the pagans and adopted their evil customs. They worshiped their idols, which led to their downfall. They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons. They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters. By sacrificing them to the idols of Canaan, they polluted the land with murder. They defiled themselves by their evil deeds, and their love of idols was adultery in the Lord’s sight.

That is why the Lord’s anger burned against his people, and he abhorred his own special possession. He handed them over to pagan nations, and they were ruled by those who hated them. Their enemies crushed them and brought them under their cruel power. Again and again he rescued them, but they chose to rebel against him, and they were finally destroyed by their sin. Even so, he pitied them in their distress and listened to their cries. He remembered his covenant with them and relented because of his unfailing love. He even caused their captors to treat them with kindness.

Save us, O Lord our God! Gather us back from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you.

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting! Let all the people say, “Amen!”

Praise the Lord!
__________

Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: We have sinned greatly against you. Have mercy on us according to your unfailing love, and save us –

+ for we have forgotten your many acts of kindness…
+ for we have forgotten your deliverance in times of trouble…
+ for we have forgotten your provision in times of need…
+ for we have forgotten your forgiveness in times of apostasy…

O Lord our God: We have sinned greatly against you. Have mercy on us according to your unfailing love, and save us –

+ for we have scorned your mercy…
+ for we have rejected your prophets…
+ for we have resisted your discipline…
+ for we have hardened our hearts against you…

O Lord our God: We have sinned greatly against you. Have mercy on us according to your unfailing love, and save us through your Son, Jesus Christ – that your people might be restored as a light to the nations, and that your praise may envelope the whole earth. Amen.
__________

“Psalm 106” – Amorousness

__________

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, 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 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Praying the Psalms: Tue, 30 Oct – Psalm 105 ~ Give thanks 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 105 (NLT)

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given, you children of his servant Abraham, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.

He is the Lord our God. His justice is seen throughout the land. He always stands by his covenant—the commitment he made to a thousand generations. This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant:

“I will give you the land of Canaan as your special possession.”

He said this when they were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan. They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. Yet he did not let anyone oppress them. He warned kings on their behalf:

“Do not touch my chosen people, and do not hurt my prophets.”

He called for a famine on the land of Canaan, cutting off its food supply. Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them—Joseph, who was sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character. Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door. Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household; he became ruler over all the king’s possessions. He could instruct the king’s aides as he pleased and teach the king’s advisers.

Then Israel arrived in Egypt; Jacob lived as a foreigner in the land of Ham. And the Lord multiplied the people of Israel until they became too mighty for their enemies. Then he turned the Egyptians against the Israelites, and they plotted against the Lord’s servants.

But the Lord sent his servant Moses, along with Aaron, whom he had chosen. They performed miraculous signs among the Egyptians, and wonders in the land of Ham. The Lord blanketed Egypt in darkness, for they had defied his commands to let his people go. He turned their water into blood, poisoning all the fish. Then frogs overran the land and even invaded the king’s bedrooms. When the Lord spoke, flies descended on the Egyptians, and gnats swarmed across Egypt. He sent them hail instead of rain, and lightning flashed over the land. He ruined their grapevines and fig trees and shattered all the trees. He spoke, and hordes of locusts came—young locusts beyond number. They ate up everything green in the land, destroying all the crops in their fields. Then he killed the oldest son in each Egyptian home, the pride and joy of each family.

The Lord brought his people out of Egypt, loaded with silver and gold; and not one among the tribes of Israel even stumbled. Egypt was glad when they were gone, for they feared them greatly. The Lord spread a cloud above them as a covering and gave them a great fire to light the darkness. They asked for meat, and he sent them quail; he satisfied their hunger with manna—bread from heaven. He split open a rock, and water gushed out to form a river through the dry wasteland. For he remembered his sacred promise to his servant Abraham. So he brought his people out of Egypt with joy, his chosen ones with rejoicing. He gave his people the lands of pagan nations, and they harvested crops that others had planted. All this happened so they would follow his decrees and obey his instructions.

Praise the Lord!
__________

Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: Thank you! You watch over and bless your people today, even as you watched over and blessed Israel long ago –

+ for you are faithful to your covenants forever…
+ for you are faithful to your promises forever…
+ for you work out our salvation in real-time…
+ for you decimate your opposition…
+ for you raise up godly leaders…

O Lord our God: Thank you for the new covenant you have made with us in Jesus Christ! Make us a holy people, faithful and obedient, that we might show others your goodness – light in the darkness – a source of help, healing and hope. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
__________

“Psalm 105” (Give Thanks) – Sean Dayton

__________

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, 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 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Praying the Psalms: Mon, 29 Oct – Psalm 104 ~ O Lord my God, how great you are!

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 104 (NLT)

Let all that I am praise the Lord.

O Lord my God, how great you are! You are robed with honor and majesty. You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens; you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds. You make the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind. The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants.

You placed the world on its foundation so it would never be moved. You clothed the earth with floods of water, water that covered even the mountains. At your command, the water fled; at the sound of your thunder, it hurried away. Mountains rose and valleys sank to the levels you decreed. Then you set a firm boundary for the seas, so they would never again cover the earth.

You make springs pour water into the ravines, so streams gush down from the mountains. They provide water for all the animals, and the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds nest beside the streams and sing among the branches of the trees. You send rain on the mountains from your heavenly home, and you fill the earth with the fruit of your labor. You cause grass to grow for the livestock and plants for people to use. You allow them to produce food from the earth—wine to make them glad, olive oil to soothe their skin, and bread to give them strength. The trees of the Lord are well cared for—the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. There the birds make their nests, and the storks make their homes in the cypresses. High in the mountains live the wild goats, and the rocks form a refuge for the hyraxes.

You made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to set. You send the darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals prowl about. Then the young lions roar for their prey, stalking the food provided by God. At dawn they slink back into their dens to rest. Then people go off to their work, where they labor until evening.

O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small. See the ships sailing along, and Leviathan, which you made to play in the sea.

They all depend on you to give them food as they need it. When you supply it, they gather it. You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied. But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust. When you give them your breath, life is created, and you renew the face of the earth.

May the glory of the Lord continue forever! The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made! The earth trembles at his glance; the mountains smoke at his touch.

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. Let all sinners vanish from the face of the earth; let the wicked disappear forever.

Let all that I am praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!
__________

Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: You are the greatest, and the world you made shows it –

+ for you made the dry earth, and filled it with life-sustaining water…
+ for you made the vegetation, from blades of grass to mighty trees…
+ for you made every creature, and gave each one a purpose and place…
+ for you made humankind, and gave us reason and moral choice…

O Lord our God: You are the greatest, and your work among us shows it –

+ for you sustain the universe in all its splendor…
+ for you sustain the atom in all its variety…
+ for you sustain the earth, everywhere and in everything…
+ for you sustain humankind, wisely and benevolently…

O Lord our God: You are the greatest, and your Son, Jesus Christ, shows it –

+ for it’s through him that we live joyfully and happily in this wondrous world….
+ for it’s through him that we find peace with you, and rest for our souls…
+ for it’s through him that we live full, satisfying lives – now and forever…
+ for it’s through him that we receive mercy and grace when we need it most…

O Lord our God: You are the greatest!
__________

“Psalm 104” – Psalm Project Africa

__________

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, 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 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost – 28 Oct – Mark 10:46-52 ~ your faith has made you well

Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost

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

Opening Prayer

Have pity on us, God our Savior. Grant us grace and courage to cast off our sins and turn to you for healing and new life. Show us in Christ the sure path of salvation and strengthen us to follow him gladly. 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.
__________

“All My Hope” – Tauren Wells / Crowder

__________

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:46-52 (NLT)

Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

“Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.

But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”

So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.

“My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”

And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.
__________

Prayers of Intercession:

O Lord our God: Thank you for welcoming us into your presence through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. Hear our prayers, Lord, and help us in our time of need –

+ for all who gather in your name throughout the world – that we may be one in Christ Jesus…
+ for all who are persecuted because of their faith – that we may be delivered from evil by Christ Jesus…
+ for all who are suffering – physically, emotionally, spiritually – that we may be healed by faith in Christ Jesus…
+ for all who cannot see – physically and spiritually – that our eyes may be opened by Christ Jesus…
+ for all who are young in faith – that we may become rooted in the grace and truth of Christ Jesus…
+ for all who have died in faith – that they may forever live peacefully in the presence of Christ Jesus…

O Lord our God: We rejoice in your loving-kindness as we present our needs to you. May those who plant the seeds of your Kingdom in weeping be restored with great shouts of joy at your Kingdom harvest, through Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.
__________

“Psalm 126” – Sojourn Music

__________

Blessing – Ephesians 3:20-21

“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.”

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