After the Lord’s Ascension | Friday 17 May 2024: Psalm 33:12-22; Job 37:1-13; 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 ~ Prepare to live forever.

After the Lord’s Ascension | Friday 17 May 2024

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

Opening:

O God, the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit
to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place
where our Savior Christ has gone before;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

“This body that decays
must be changed into a body that cannot decay.
This mortal body must be changed
into a body that will live forever.”
(1 Corinthians 15:53)

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From Psalms: Psalm 33 – “Blessed the People the Lord has Chosen” – Francesca LaRosa (Official Lyric Video)

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OT Reading: Job 37:1-13 (GW)

Elihu Continues: God’s Ways Are Beyond Human Understanding

37:1 “My heart pounds because of this
and jumps out of its place.
Listen! Listen to the roar of God’s voice,
to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
He flashes his lightning everywhere under heaven.
His light flashes to the ends of the earth.
It is followed by the roar of his voice.
He thunders with his majestic voice.
He doesn’t hold the lightning back when his thunder is heard.
God’s voice thunders in miraculous ways.
It does great things that we cannot understand.

“He says to the snow, ‘Fall to the ground,’
and to the pouring rain, ‘Rain harder!’
He makes it impossible to do anything
so that people will recognize his work.
Animals go into their dens
and stay in their lairs.
A storm comes out of its chamber.
It is cold because of the strong winds.
God’s breath produces ice,
and the seas freeze over.
Yes, he loads the thick clouds with moisture
and scatters his lightning from the clouds.
He guides the clouds as they churn round and round
over the face of the inhabited earth
to do everything he orders them.
Whether for discipline,
or for ⌞the good of⌟ his earth,
or out of mercy,
he makes the storm appear.

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“For God Is With Us” by for King & Country / Landon’s Lyric Videos

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NT Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (GW)

15:50 Brothers and sisters, this is what I mean: Flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s kingdom. What decays cannot inherit what doesn’t decay.

I’m telling you a mystery. Not all of us will die, but we will all be changed. It will happen in an instant, in a split second at the sound of the last trumpet. Indeed, that trumpet will sound, and then the dead will come back to life. They will be changed so that they can live forever. This body that decays must be changed into a body that cannot decay. This mortal body must be changed into a body that will live forever. When this body that decays is changed into a body that cannot decay, and this mortal body is changed into a body that will live forever, then the teaching of Scripture will come true:

“Death is turned into victory!
Death, where is your victory?
Death, where is your sting?”

Sin gives death its sting, and God’s standards give sin its power. Thank God that he gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Kitty Parham – We Shall Be Changed (Live) / Gaither Music TV

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ Go before us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favor, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and finally, through your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Lord of Heaven’s Armies, we pray for swift justice and total victory over all evil in the Holy Land. Deliver the hostages from captivity and restore their souls. Destroy every stronghold of the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East. And grant your heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, diplomatically – and especially to those who will restore Israel spiritually – through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in the Name of your Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May the Spirit kindle in us the fire of God’s love.

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

After the Lord’s Ascension | Thursday 16 May 2024: Psalm 33:12-22; Genesis 2:4b-7; 1 Corinthians 15:42b-49 ~ Prepare for a makeover.

After the Lord’s Ascension | Thursday 16 May 2024:

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

Opening:

“As we have worn the likeness of the man
who was made from the dust of the earth,
we will also wear the likeness
of the man who came from heaven.”
(1 Corinthians 15:49)

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From Psalms: Psalm 33 – “Rejoice In The LORD O You Righteous” / Karl Kohlhase

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OT Reading: Genesis 2:4b-7 (GW)

The Creation of Man and Woman

2:4 This is the account of heaven and earth when they were created, at the time when the Lord God made earth and heaven.

Wild bushes and plants were not on the earth yet because the Lord God hadn’t sent rain on the earth. Also, there was no one to farm the land. Instead, underground water would come up from the earth and water the entire surface of the ground.

Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the earth and blew the breath of life into his nostrils. The man became a living being.

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Breathe on me, Breath of God / St Laurence’s Church Chorley

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NT Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:42b-49 (GW)

15:42 When the body is planted, it decays. When it comes back to life, it cannot decay. When the body is planted, it doesn’t have any splendor and is weak. When it comes back to life, it has splendor and is strong. It is planted as a physical body. It comes back to life as a spiritual body. As there is a physical body, so there is also a spiritual body.

This is what Scripture says: “The first man, Adam, became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. The spiritual does not come first, but the physical and then the spiritual. The first man was made from the dust of the earth. He came from the earth. The second man came from heaven. The people on earth are like the man who was made from the dust of the earth. The people in heaven are like the man who came from heaven. As we have worn the likeness of the man who was made from the dust of the earth, we will also wear the likeness of the man who came from heaven.

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In the Likeness of Jesus – Unceasing Prayers and Hymns

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ 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.

Benedict of Nursia
+ Gracious and holy Father, please give us intellect to understand you, reason to discern you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, a spirit to know you, hearts to meditate upon you, ears to hear you, eyes to see you, tongues to proclaim you, ways of life pleasing to you, patience to wait for you, and perseverance to look for you. Grant us a perfect end, your holy presence, a blessed resurrection, and life everlasting. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May the Spirit kindle in us the fire of God’s love.

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

After the Lord’s Ascension | Wednesday 15 May 2024: Psalm 115; Ezra 9:5-15; John 16:16-24 ~ Pray for anything in Jesus’ name.

After the Lord’s Ascension | Wednesday 15 May 2024

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

Opening:

“I can guarantee this truth:
If you ask the Father for anything in my name,
he will give it to you.”
(John 16:23b)

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From Psalms: Psalm 115 – “Trust in God” – Teshuva – Hallel

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OT Reading: Ezra 9:5-15 (GW)

9:5 At the evening sacrifice I got up from my misery, and with my clothes torn, I knelt down, stretched out my hands to the Lord my God in prayer, and said,

“I am ashamed, my God. I am embarrassed to look at you. Our sins have piled up over our heads, and our guilt is so overwhelming that it reaches heaven. From our ancestors’ days until now, we have been deep in guilt. Our kings and our priests have been handed over to foreign kings to be executed. We have been taken captive, robbed, and humiliated, as we still are today because of our sins. And now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been kind enough to leave us a few survivors from Babylon and to give us a secure hold on his holy place. Our God has made our eyes light up and has given us new opportunities while we were slaves. We are slaves, but our God hasn’t abandoned us in our slavery. Instead, he has made the kings of Persia treat us kindly. He did this to give us an opportunity to rebuild our God’s temple and restore its ruins and to give us a protective wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

“And now, our God, what can we say after all this? We have abandoned your commandments! The commandments you gave us through your servants the prophets, said, ‘The land you are going to take possession of has been polluted by its perverted people and by their disgusting practices that have filled it with wickedness from one end to another. So never let your daughters marry their sons or your sons marry their daughters, and never seek peace or trade with them. Then you will be strong, be able to eat the good things the land produces, and be able to give this land as a long-lasting inheritance to your children.’

“After all that has happened to us because of the evil things we have done and because of our overwhelming guilt, you, our God, have punished us far less than we deserve and have permitted a few of us to survive. If we break your commandments again and intermarry with people doing these disgusting things, you will become even more angry with us until you finally destroy us and no survivors are left. Lord God of Israel, because you are fair, a few of us continue to remain as survivors. Look at us. All of us are guilty. None of us can stand in your presence because of this.”

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“God Full of Mercy” / El Malei Rachamim by Sarah Liberman

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NT Reading: John 16:16-24 (GW)

16:16 “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. Then in a little while you will see me again.”

Some of his disciples said to each other, “What does he mean? He tells us that in a little while we won’t see him. Then he tells us that in a little while we will see him again and that he’s going to the Father.” So they were asking each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while’? We don’t understand what he’s talking about.”

Jesus knew they wanted to ask him something. So he said to them, “Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, and in a little while you will see me again’? I can guarantee this truth: You will cry because you are sad, but the world will be happy. You will feel pain, but your pain will turn to happiness. A woman has pain when her time to give birth comes. But after the child is born, she doesn’t remember the pain anymore because she’s happy that a child has been brought into the world.

“Now you’re in a painful situation. But I will see you again. Then you will be happy, and no one will take that happiness away from you. When that day comes, you won’t ask me any more questions. I can guarantee this truth: If you ask the Father for anything in my name, he will give it to you. So far you haven’t asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive so that you can be completely happy.

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In Jesus Name (God Of Possible) / Katy Nichole (ft. North Point Worship)

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ Holy Spirit, breath of God and fire of love, we cannot pray without your aid: Kindle in us the fire of your love, and illumine us with your light; that with a steadfast will and holy thoughts we may approach the Father in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you and the Father in eternal union. Amen.

+ O God, our heavenly Father, you manifested your love by sending your only-begotten Son into the world, that all might live through him: Pour out your Spirit on your Church, that we may fulfill his command to preach the Gospel to all people. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May the Spirit kindle in us the fire of God’s love.

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

After the Lord’s Ascension | Tuesday 14 May 2024: Psalm 115; Numbers 8:5-22; Titus 1:1-9 ~ Pray for godly spiritual leaders.

After the Lord’s Ascension | Tuesday 14 May 2024

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

Opening:

A spiritual leader
must have a good reputation….
(Titus 1:6)

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From Psalms: Psalm 115 – Hebrew Worship – תְּהִלִּים 115 – Psalm 115 – Biblical Hebrew

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OT Reading: Numbers 8:5-22 (GW)

The Levites Are Made Ready to Do the Lord’s Work

8:5 The Lord said to Moses, “Separate the Levites from the rest of the Israelites, and make them clean. This is what you must do to make them clean: Sprinkle them with water to take away their sins. Make them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes. Then they will be clean. Next, they must take a young bull and the grain offering of flour mixed with olive oil that is offered with it. You must take a second young bull as an offering for sin. Bring the Levites to the front of the tent of meeting, and assemble the whole community of Israel. Then bring the Levites into the Lord’s presence, and the Israelites will place their hands on them. Aaron will present the Levites to the Lord as an offering from the Israelites. Then they will be ready to do the Lord’s work.

“The Levites will place their hands on the heads of the young bulls. Sacrifice one of them as an offering for sin and the other one as a burnt offering to the Lord. These sacrifices will make peace with the Lord for the Levites. Make the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons, and present them as an offering to the Lord. In this way you will separate the Levites from the other Israelites, and the Levites will be mine.

“Once you have made them clean and presented them as an offering, the Levites may come and do their work at the tent of meeting. They will be the only Israelites given to me. I have taken them to be mine as substitutes for every firstborn male offspring of the Israelites. Every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal, is mine. The day I killed every firstborn male in Egypt, I set them apart as holy to me. So I have taken the Levites as substitutes for all the firstborn sons of the Israelites. The Levites will be the only Israelites I give to Aaron and his sons. They will work for the Israelites at the tent of meeting. They will make peace with the Lord for the Israelites. Then no plague will strike the Israelites when they come near the holy place.”

Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel did what the Lord commanded Moses to do to the Levites. The Levites performed the ceremonies to take away their sins and washed their clothes. Aaron presented them as an offering to the Lord and made peace with the Lord for them in order to make them clean. After that, the Levites came and did their work at the tent of meeting in the presence of Aaron and his sons. They did as the Lord had commanded Moses.

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Take my life and let it be – Northern Baptist Association

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NT Reading: Titus 1:1-9 (GW)

Greeting

1:1 From Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I was sent to lead God’s chosen people to faith and to the knowledge of the truth that leads to a godly life. My message is based on the confidence of eternal life. God, who never lies, promised this eternal life before the world began. God has revealed this in every era by spreading his word. I was entrusted with this word by the command of God our Savior.

To Titus, a genuine child in the faith we share.

Good will and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Savior are yours!

Guidelines for Leaders in the Church

1:5 I left you in Crete to do what still needed to be done—appointing spiritual leaders in every city as I directed you. A spiritual leader must have a good reputation. He must have only one wife and have children who are believers. His children shouldn’t be known for having wild lifestyles or being rebellious. Because a bishop is a supervisor appointed by God, he must have a good reputation. He must not be a stubborn or irritable person. He must not drink too much or be a violent person. He must not use shameful ways to make money. Instead, he must be hospitable, love what is good, use good judgment, be fair and moral, and have self-control. He must be devoted to the trustworthy message we teach. Then he can use these accurate teachings to encourage people and correct those who oppose the word.

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Here I Am, Lord – Dan Schutte / OCPmusic

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ O God, our heavenly Father, you raised up faithful servants to be spiritual leaders in your Church and to feed your flock: Give abundantly to all spiritual leaders [especially in the Holy Land] the gifts of your Holy Spirit, that they may minister in your household as true servants of Christ and stewards of your divine mysteries; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May the Spirit kindle in us the fire of God’s love.

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

After the Lord’s Ascension | Monday 13 May 2024: Psalm 115; Exodus 28:29-38; Philippians 1:3-11 ~ Pray for knowledge and insight.

After the Lord’s Ascension | Monday 13 May 2024

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

Opening:

“I pray that your love will keep on growing
because of your knowledge and insight.”
(Philippians 1:9)

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From Psalms: Psalm 115 – Poor Bishop Hooper

not to us but to your name be the glory
not to us but to your name be the glory
not to us but to your name be the glory god

the nations say where is their god
our god is in heaven doing all that pleases him
but the form of their handcrafted god
cannot move or make a sound

those who make them will be like them
and so will all those who trust in them

o house of israel
trust in the lord he is their help and shield
o house of aaron
trust in the lord he is their help and shield
o you who fear him
trust in the lord he is their help and shield

the lord will bless and he will remember
the great and the small aaron and israel
may the lord increase you and your children
may you be blessed by your maker

it is not the dead who praise the lord
for it is we who extol the lord

not to us but to your name be the glory
not to us but to your name be the glory
not to us but to your name be the glory god

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OT Reading: Exodus 28:29-38 (GW)

28:29 “Whenever Aaron goes into the holy place, he will be carrying the names of the sons of Israel over his heart as a constant reminder in the Lord’s presence. He must do this by wearing the breastplate for decision-making. Put the Urim and Thummim into the breastplate for decision-making. They, too, will be over Aaron’s heart when he comes into the Lord’s presence. In this way whenever he’s in the Lord’s presence, Aaron will always be carrying over his heart the ⌞means for determining the Lord’s⌟ decisions for the Israelites.

Other Clothes for Aaron and His Sons

28:31 “Make the robe that is worn with the ephod entirely of violet material. Make an opening for the head in the center with a reinforced edge (like a leather collar) all around it to keep it from tearing. All around the hem of the robe make pomegranates of violet, purple, and bright red yarn with gold bells in between— a gold bell alternating with a pomegranate all around the hem of the robe. Aaron must wear it when he serves as priest. The sound of the bells must be heard when he comes into and goes out of the Lord’s presence in the holy place so that he won’t die.

“Make a flower-shaped medallion out of pure gold, and engrave on it (as on a signet ring): Holy to the Lord. Fasten a violet cord to it, and tie it so that it’s on the front of the turban. It will be on Aaron’s forehead. He’s the one to be blamed for anything done wrong when the Israelites bring their holy offerings—whatever their gifts may be. The medallion must always be on Aaron’s forehead so that the Lord will accept their offerings.

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Holy To The Lord – Acappella – A Cappella

Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, cleansed and reconciled
Holy, washed from sin so vile
Holy, living undefiled
O Father make me Holy
“Holy To The Lord”

Holy, thoughts in truth refined
Holy, works in Him designed
Holy, love in Him defined
O help me to be Holy
“Holy To The Lord”

Holy, rev’rent, sanctified
Holy, righteous, purified
Holy, blameless, justified
O Father keep me Holy
“Holy To The Lord”
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NT Reading: Philippians 1:3-11 (GW)

Paul’s Prayer for the Philippians

1:3 I thank my God for all the memories I have of you. Every time I pray for all of you, I do it with joy. I can do this because of the partnership we’ve had with you in the Good News from the first day ⌞you believed⌟ until now. I’m convinced that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion on the day of Christ Jesus. You have a special place in my heart. So it’s right for me to think this way about all of you. All of you are my partners. Together we share God’s favor, whether I’m in prison or defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. God is my witness that, with all the compassion of Christ Jesus, I long ⌞to see⌟ every one of you.

I pray that your love will keep on growing because of your knowledge and insight. That way you will be able to determine what is best and be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. Jesus Christ will fill your lives with everything that God’s approval produces. Your lives will then bring glory and praise to God.

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I Will Bless The Lord //And Give Him All Glory🔥// Presence Of Jesus Ministry

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

Benedict of Nursia
+ Gracious and holy Father, please give me intellect to understand you, reason to discern you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, a spirit to know you, a heart to meditate upon you, ears to hear you, eyes to see you, a tongue to proclaim you, a way of life pleasing to you, patience to wait for you, and perseverance to look for you. Grant me a perfect end, your holy presence, a blessed resurrection, and life everlasting. Amen.

+ O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light rises up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you would have us do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices; that in your light we may see light, and in your straight path we may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May the Spirit kindle in us the fire of God’s love.

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

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