Praying the Psalms: Wed, 03 Oct – Psalm 82 ~ Rise up, O God, and judge the earth!

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.
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Morning Reading: Psalm 82 (NLT) (A Psalm of Asaph)

God presides over heaven’s court; he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings: “How long will you hand down unjust decisions by favoring the wicked? Interlude

“Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people. But these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant! They wander about in darkness, while the whole world is shaken to the core. I say, ‘You are gods; you are all children of the Most High. But you will die like mere mortals and fall like every other ruler.’”

Rise up, O God, and judge the earth, for all the nations belong to you.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: You are the Sovereign Ruler of all; restore justice and righteousness in our land for your name’s sake –

+ for our government has misused its power and abused our trust…
+ for our government has no respect for you, or your people…
+ for our government has no moral center, no holy fear…
+ for our government has abandoned your eternal truths…

O Lord our God: You are the Righteous Judge of all; judge us now impartially, with mercy and truth for your name’s sake –

+ for our nation has become morally blind…
+ for our nation has become Biblically ignorant…
+ for our nation has been torn apart by civil disorder…
+ for our nation has been sold out by evil officials…

O Lord our God: You are the Most High God, blessed be your name! Judge your people who are called by your name, and restore as a united nation under your sovereign rule, through your Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Psalm 82” (Rescue) – My Soul Among Lions [featuring footage from Operation Save America’s Mother Day Rescue]

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

Praying the Psalms: Tue, 02 Oct – Psalm 81 ~ Sing praises to God, our strength.

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.
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Morning Reading: Psalm 81 (NLT) (A Psalm of Asaph)

Sing praises to God, our strength. Sing to the God of Jacob. Sing! Beat the tambourine. Play the sweet lyre and the harp. Blow the ram’s horn at new moon, and again at full moon to call a festival! For this is required by the decrees of Israel; it is a regulation of the God of Jacob. He made it a law for Israel when he attacked Egypt to set us free.

I heard an unknown voice say,

“Now I will take the load from your shoulders; I will free your hands from their heavy tasks. You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you; I answered out of the thundercloud and tested your faith when there was no water at Meribah. Interlude

“Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. O Israel, if you would only listen to me! You must never have a foreign god; you must not bow down before a false god. For it was I, the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.

“But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around. So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas. Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths! How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes! Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him; they would be doomed forever. But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.”
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: Fill us with joy as we sing your praises –

+ Harmonize our worship with that of the angels of heaven…
+ Harmonize our worship with your unending love and our certain hope…

O Lord our God: Bind us together as we sing your praises –

+ Harmonize our worship together in spirit and truth…
+ Harmonize our worship together in gladness of heart…

O Lord our God: Fill us with gratitude as we sing your praises –

+ For you have answered our prayers in times past and present…
+ For you have guided us and prevented us from falling into traps and snares…

O Lord our God: Hold us close to your heart, that we may love and serve you and faithfully witness to the glory of your name – through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Psalm 81” (Feast Day) – Jamie Soles

Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
Raise a song, sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp.
Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon,
On our feast day, on our feast day.

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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, 01 Oct – Psalm 80 ~ Restore us, O God!

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.
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Morning Reading: Psalm 80 (NLT) (A Psalm of Asaph)

Please listen, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph’s descendants like a flock. O God, enthroned above the cherubim, display your radiant glory to Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Show us your mighty power. Come to rescue us!

Turn us again to yourself, O God. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved. O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, how long will you be angry with our prayers? You have fed us with sorrow and made us drink tears by the bucketful. You have made us the scorn of neighboring nations. Our enemies treat us as a joke.

Turn us again to yourself, O God of Heaven’s Armies. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved. You brought us from Egypt like a grapevine; you drove away the pagan nations and transplanted us into your land. You cleared the ground for us, and we took root and filled the land. Our shade covered the mountains; our branches covered the mighty cedars. We spread our branches west to the Mediterranean Sea; our shoots spread east to the Euphrates River. But now, why have you broken down our walls so that all who pass by may steal our fruit? The wild boar from the forest devours it, and the wild animals feed on it.

Come back, we beg you, O God of Heaven’s Armies. Look down from heaven and see our plight. Take care of this grapevine that you yourself have planted, this son you have raised for yourself. For we are chopped up and burned by our enemies. May they perish at the sight of your frown. Strengthen the man you love, the son of your choice. Then we will never abandon you again. Revive us so we can call on your name once more.

Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: Shepherd your people through the self-sacrificing love and mighty power of your Son, Jesus Christ –

+ for we don’t know what to do or where to turn…
+ for we have used our freedom to stray into the abyss…
+ for we receive no compassion here on earth, only ridicule…

O Lord our God: Shepherd your people from your mercy seat through your Son, Jesus Christ. Shine your light into our darkness and restore us, that we might meet you face to face and be saved, to the glory of your name. Amen.
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“Psalm 80” (Restoration) – James Block

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

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

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost – 30 Sep – Mark 9:38-48 ~ For or Against Us?

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

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

Opening Prayer

Pour out your Spirit, O God, over all the world to inspire every heart with knowledge and love of you. Grant that we who confess Jesus as Lord may shun whatever is contrary to our faith and give witness to your love that has saved us in Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Voice Of The Skies (Psalm 19)” – The Shiyr Poets

The heavens declare the glory
The heavens declare the glory of
The heavens declare the glory of God

Day after day | Night after night
The voice of the skies proclaim
The art of your hands

Without a sound | Without a word
The voice of the skies goes out
To the edge of the world

For the sun a celestial pavilion
Like a couple just wed from their canopy come
The rising of the sun to warm the world

Then the sun completes its circuit
Like a champion running his course with delight
Nothing in the world escapes it’s heat

The law of the Lord is perfect
The law of the Lord revives the soul
The Lord’s commands are sure delighting the heart

The fear of the Lord is blameless
The fear of the Lord gives light to the eyes
The teachings of the Lord make the foolish wise

To be desired | Much more than gold
Sweeter than honey from the honeycomb
Your servant is warned | Of danger and woe
For all who keep your word there’s great reward

For who can discern their own heart
Cleanse me from these hidden faults of mine
Keep me your servant from willful sin
Let them not be master over me

Then I will be blameless
I will be innocent
I will be free from sin

May the words | Of my mouth
May every heartfelt thought be pleasing to you

O Lord My Rock | Redeemer of all
May the life I live be pleasing to you
May the life I live be pleasing to you

The heavens declare the glory
The heavens declare the glory of
The heavens declare the glory of God
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Gospel Reading: Mark 9:38-48 (NLT)

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.”

“Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us. If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.

“But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands. If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, ‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.’
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Prayers of Intercession:

Sovereign God, ruler of heaven and earth: we approach your throne of grace to receive mercy and help in this our time of trouble. Lord, hear our prayers –

+ For church leaders — that they may serve humbly and speak truthfully to those in positions of power…
+ For people in positions of power — that they may use it wisely and fairly to further your Kingdom purposes…
+ For people in the media – that they might report the news truthfully without bias, slander or innuendo…
+ For people of faith – that we might discern truth from falsehood, and uphold the presumption of innocence…
+ For persecuted people of faith – that they may be delivered from evil with their reputations and positions restored…
+ For displaced people of faith – that they may be provided for and safely return to their homes and communities…
+ For people who are sick in body, mind and spirit – that they may be healed and delivered from all that ails them…
+ For all who have died in Christ – that they may receive the reward of eternal life lived in your holy presence…

Sovereign God: Give wisdom to all who rely on you, and show us the mercy and grace we need each day, all to your glory – we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“I Am Not Alone” – Kari Jobe

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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!

Praying the Psalms: Sat, 29 Sep – Psalm 79 ~ Help us, O God of our salvation!

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.
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Morning Reading: Psalm 79 (NLT) (A Psalm of Asaph)

O God, pagan nations have conquered your land, your special possession. They have defiled your holy Temple and made Jerusalem a heap of ruins. They have left the bodies of your servants as food for the birds of heaven. The flesh of your godly ones has become food for the wild animals. Blood has flowed like water all around Jerusalem; no one is left to bury the dead. We are mocked by our neighbors, an object of scorn and derision to those around us.

O Lord, how long will you be angry with us? Forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire? Pour out your wrath on the nations that refuse to acknowledge you—on kingdoms that do not call upon your name. For they have devoured your people Israel, making the land a desolate wilderness. Do not hold us guilty for the sins of our ancestors! Let your compassion quickly meet our needs, for we are on the brink of despair.

Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the glory of your name. Save us and forgive our sins for the honor of your name. Why should pagan nations be allowed to scoff, asking, “Where is their God?” Show us your vengeance against the nations, for they have spilled the blood of your servants. Listen to the moaning of the prisoners. Demonstrate your great power by saving those condemned to die.

O Lord, pay back our neighbors seven times for the scorn they have hurled at you. Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever and ever, praising your greatness from generation to generation.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: You are our ever-present helper in times of trouble. Hear the cries of your people for justice –

+ vindicate the righteous and punish the wicked…
+ expose liars and deceivers in the light of truth…
+ defend the honor of your name against the unbelievers…
+ use their evil intentions to bring about good for your people…

O Lord our God: Our battle is truly against the spiritual forces of wickedness arrayed against us. Defend your people and destroy your enemies that your Kingdom purposes may prevail on earth as in heaven. We ask through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Psalm 79” – Chris Kopko