Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Sat, 29 July – 1 Thessalonians 1-3 ~ thank God for you

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ 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.

Please Read: 1 Thessalonians 1-3 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

Lord Jesus – I pray for your church around the world today, especially for those suffering oppression and great persecution. Protect your people, Lord; be their shield and defender against the anger and violence of hate-driven people. Provide for your people, Lord; supply their need for food, clothing and shelter, and give them safe havens for rest.

1 Thessalonians 1.2-3 (NLT) – We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

+ Thank you, Lord, for their faithfulness and steadfastness in the face of great opposition. I ask, Lord, that they might continue to labor in love, strengthened and empowered by your Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 2.7-8 (NLT) – But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

+ Lord, I pray that the plight of our persecuted brothers and sisters might be taken to heart by your people around the world. Fill us with a passion to relieve their suffering by whatever means available to us.

1 Thessalonians 2.13 (NLT) – And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

+ Lord, Pour out your Spirit that your written Word in Scripture might come alive in new, fresh ways. Accomplish your good works of grace, love, and peace in the hearts of all believers.

1 Thessalonians 3.11-13 (NLT) – Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Lord Jesus – Hold your people close to your heart – that we might increase in love for one another and persevere in godliness as we await your return with all the saints who have gone before us. Amen.
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“All the Poor and Powerless” – All Sons & Daughters

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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!

Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Fri, 28 July – Luke 23-24 ~ the torturous road to Emmaus

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ 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.

Please Read: Luke 23-24 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

In today’s reading, we walk along with Jesus from his Trial and Crucifixion on Good Friday, through Easter and his Resurrection Appearances, to his Ascension into heaven. It speaks for itself.

Please read through it slowly.

Lord Jesus, send your Spirit to help us read the Scriptures with the same mind that you read them to the disciples on the way to Emmaus. In the light of the Word, written in the Bible, you helped them to discover the presence of God in the disturbing events of your sentence and death. Thus, the cross that seemed to be the end of all hope became for them the source of life and of resurrection.

Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and peace. We ask this of you, Lord Jesus, who revealed to us the Father and sent us your Spirit. Amen.

Lectio Divina (Order of Carmelites)

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“How deep the Father’s love” – Selah

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

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

Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Thu, 27 July – Ezekiel 43-48 ~ absolute holiness

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ 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.

Please Read: Ezekiel 43-48 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

You are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. – 1 Peter 2:5 (NLT)

Absolute holiness

Ezekiel 43:5-7, 10, 12 (NLT) – Then the Spirit took me up and brought me into the inner courtyard, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple. And I heard someone speaking to me from within the Temple, while the man who had been measuring stood beside me. The Lord said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place where I will rest my feet. I will live here forever among the people of Israel.
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“Son of man, describe to the people of Israel the Temple I have shown you, so they will be ashamed of all their sins.
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And this is the basic law of the Temple: absolute holiness! The entire top of the mountain where the Temple is built is holy. Yes, this is the basic law of the Temple.

Lord God: You are transforming me into a living stone to be used in the building your spiritual temple here on earth through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. As I consider the standard of absolute holiness for your Temple, I am ashamed of my sins and ask that you forgive me, cleanse me, and shape me into something you can use for your good purpose.

Holy priesthood

Ezekiel 44:4, 9, 15-16, 24 (NLT) – Then the man brought me through the north gateway to the front of the Temple. I looked and saw that the glory of the Lord filled the Temple of the Lord, and I fell face down on the ground.
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“So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: No foreigners, including those who live among the people of Israel, will enter my sanctuary if they have not been circumcised and have not surrendered themselves to the Lord.
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“However, the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok continued to minister faithfully in the Temple when Israel abandoned me for idols. These men will serve as my ministers. They will stand in my presence and offer the fat and blood of the sacrifices, says the Sovereign Lord. They alone will enter my sanctuary and approach my table to serve me. They will fulfill all my requirements.
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“They will serve as judges to resolve any disagreements among my people. Their decisions must be based on my regulations.

Lord God: Show me your glory, that I may be awestruck by the wonder and beauty of your presence. Help me to persevere in faithfulness and obedience, that I may offer myself as a living sacrifice that pleases you, through faith in Jesus Christ my Lord. And allow me, according to your good purpose, to bring others into your presence as well.

Holy ground

Ezekiel 45:1, 3-4 (NLT) – “When you divide the land among the tribes of Israel, you must set aside a section for the Lord as his holy portion.
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“Within it the sanctuary of the Most Holy Place will be located. This area will be holy, set aside for the priests who minister to the Lord in the sanctuary. They will use it for their homes, and my Temple will be located within it.

Lord God: You set apart a specific portion of land in Jerusalem for the building of your physical temple, and claimed it as your holy ground. And, you have watched over the physical construction, destruction and desecration of your Temple on this land even to this day. Reclaim this land as your holy ground, as a place of prayer. Cleanse it and drive out all elements that would use it for any other purpose.

River of healing

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 12 (NLT) – In my vision, the man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple. There I saw a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the altar on its south side. The man brought me outside the wall through the north gateway and led me around to the eastern entrance. There I could see the water flowing out through the south side of the east gateway.
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Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.”

Lord God: Pour out your Spirit on us and through us, that we may taste and see that you are good. Heal the sick, open the eyes of the blind, and set free the captives now, in our day – even as we await the full revelation of your river of life, flowing out of the new Jerusalem, at the end of time.

Presence of God

Ezekiel 48:35 (NLT) – “The distance around the entire city will be 6 miles. And from that day the name of the city will be ‘The Lord Is There.’”

Lord God: Without your presence I am a homeless, defenseless wanderer. It’s your presence within me, through faith in your Son Jesus Christ, that sets me apart as a person belonging to you. Empower me by your Spirit to be a light in the darkness for all who seek the Lord.
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“Let Us Know Jehovah” – Sumphonia

Let us know Jehovah; Come, let us press on,
For His Day is certain, Certain as the dawn.
He will come to bless us, Like the fall of rain,
Like the rain of spring-time, Watering the plain.

Tho’ the Lord has torn us, He will heal again;
Tho’ the Lord has struck us, He will bind our pain.
After days of mourning, We will be restored,
Thus to live before Him, Let us seek the Lord.
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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

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

Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Wed, 26 July – Proverbs 15 ~ on gentleness, thoughtfulness and happiness

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ 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.

Please Read: Proverbs 15 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

On Gentleness

Proverbs 15:1 (NLT) – A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

Heavenly Father: Fill me with your Spirit and produce in me the gentleness and kindness of Christ Jesus my Lord.

+ that I may speak words of truth and life to those around me
+ that I may speak words of healing and peace to those in conflict
+ that I may persevere in the pursuit of godly living with faith and love

On Thoughtfulness

Proverbs 15:28 (NLT) – The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.

Heavenly Father: You alone are the source of all wisdom; teach me how to live a disciplined, godly life, and to do what is right and just and fair.

+ that I may offer good advice and encourage others to grow in knowledge and understanding
+ that I may encourage my children and grandchildren to live sensible, responsible, godly lives
+ that I may humbly receive advice and correction; and say the right thing at the right time

On Happiness

Proverbs 15: 15 (NLT) – For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.

Heavenly Father: You are the source of my hope through Christ Jesus my Lord; fill me with goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

+ that I may be content in all circumstances with what I have, and live my life with a happy heart
+ that I may overflow with confident hope, lifting the spirits of others and encouraging them in love
+ that I may grow in godliness and live in your presence – in harmony with others and at peace with you, my God

Through Christ Jesus my Lord, who lives in unity with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Kindness” – Chris Tomlin

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

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

Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Tue, 25 July – 2 Kings16-20 ~ banished from God’s presence

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ 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.

Please Read: 2 Kings 16-20 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

Living God, help us to find ourselves in this reading of your Word, that we may truly understand what is happening today in our world; that, understanding, we may believe, and, believing, we may follow in all faithfulness and obedience, seeking your honor and glory in all that we do; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Banishment

2 Kings 17:13-20 (NLT) – Again and again the Lord had sent his prophets and seers to warn both Israel and Judah: “Turn from all your evil ways. Obey my commands and decrees—the entire law that I commanded your ancestors to obey, and that I gave you through my servants the prophets.”

But the Israelites would not listen. They were as stubborn as their ancestors who had refused to believe in the Lord their God. They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and they despised all his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols, so they became worthless themselves. They followed the example of the nations around them, disobeying the Lord’s command not to imitate them.

They rejected all the commands of the Lord their God and made two calves from metal. They set up an Asherah pole and worshiped Baal and all the forces of heaven. They even sacrificed their own sons and daughters in the fire. They consulted fortune-tellers and practiced sorcery and sold themselves to evil, arousing the Lord’s anger.

Because the Lord was very angry with Israel, he swept them away from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained in the land. But even the people of Judah refused to obey the commands of the Lord their God, for they followed the evil practices that Israel had introduced. The Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel. He punished them by handing them over to their attackers until he had banished Israel from his presence.

Syncretism

2 Kings 17:32-34 (NLT) – These new residents worshiped the Lord, but they also appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests to offer sacrifices at their places of worship. And though they worshiped the Lord, they continued to follow their own gods according to the religious customs of the nations from which they came. And this is still going on today. They continue to follow their former practices instead of truly worshiping the Lord and obeying the decrees, regulations, instructions, and commands he gave the descendants of Jacob, whose name he changed to Israel.

Faithfulness

2 Kings 18:5-8 (NLT) – Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after his time. He remained faithful to the Lord in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord had given Moses. So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did. He revolted against the king of Assyria and refused to pay him tribute. He also conquered the Philistines as far distant as Gaza and its territory, from their smallest outpost to their largest walled city.

Intercession

2 Kings 19:14-19 (NLT) – After Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the Lord’s Temple and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the Lord: “O Lord, God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth. Bend down, O Lord, and listen! Open your eyes, O Lord, and see! Listen to Sennacherib’s words of defiance against the living God.

“It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these nations. And they have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and burned them. But of course the Assyrians could destroy them! They were not gods at all—only idols of wood and stone shaped by human hands. Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O Lord, are God.”

Deliverance

2 Kings 19:35-36 (NLT) – That night the angel of the Lord went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. When the surviving Assyrians woke up the next morning, they found corpses everywhere. Then King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and returned to his own land. He went home to his capital of Nineveh and stayed there.

Respite

2 Kings 20:16-20 (NLT) – Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to this message from the Lord: The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king.”

Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the Lord is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.”

The rest of the events in Hezekiah’s reign, including the extent of his power and how he built a pool and dug a tunnel to bring water into the city, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.

Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
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“Manifesto” – The City Harmonic