Tag: Universalis

Saturday of 2nd Week of Easter, 29 Apr – John 6:16-21 ~ God with us!

Saturday of the Second Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

Lord God, also in our day we need men and women filled with the Spirit of love and service who are attentive to the needs of people. Let them listen even to the unspoken cries of people too timid to voice their poverty and distress and help without condescension their brothers and sisters of Christ, for he is our Lord for ever.
__________

Reading: John 6:16-21 (NLT)

That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!” Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!
__________

Reflection & Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ: your Kingdom rule knows no boundaries, even the winds and waves obey you. You come to our assistance in the eye of the storm.

+ Free us from our past constraints that we might look forward to wonderful new adventures with you.
+ Free us from our present entanglements that we might look to you alone for our strength and security.

Come Lord Jesus: as light in our darkness, as calm in our storms, as healer of our diseases, as mercy over justice, as love over fear. Be our ever-present help in times of trouble, for your name’s sake.
__________

“Eye of the Storm” – Ryan Stevenson


__________

Concluding Prayer

Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord; it is fitting for the pure to praise him. Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp. – Psalm 33:1-2 (NLT)
__________

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

Friday of 2nd Week of Easter, 28 Apr – John 6:1-15 ~ God our provider

Friday of the Second Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

Lord our God, your Son Jesus fed those who followed him in the desert and they received as much as they wanted. May we know and be convinced that he can fill our own emptiness not just with gifts that fill our need of the moment but with himself, and may we accept him eagerly, for he is our Lord for ever.
__________

Reading: John 6:1-15(NLT)

After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.) Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.

Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”

Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

“Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.

When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.
__________

Reflection & Prayer:

Gracious God: In this information age, I am overwhelmed by the plight of the needy; my mind can’t begin to comprehend the depth of their distress. My personal resources seem insignificant; and yet, you fed thousands with a child’s lunch.

  • Lord, nothing escapes your attention; hear the cries of the needy and destitute.
  • Lord, provide for them, both physically and spiritually, out of the abundance of your grace.
  • Lord, multiply the generous giving of your people through Christian agencies.
  • Lord, give wisdom and discernment to Christians in the distribution of resources.
  • Lord, protect us all from the wiles and deceit of the evil one who would subvert their efforts.

God our Provider: All that I have comes from you, use me as you will to advance your Kingdom and bring honor to your name. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
__________

“Provider” – Urban Rescue


__________

Concluding Prayer

The Lord is my light and my salvation — so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? – Psalm 27:1 (NLT)
__________

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

Thursday of 2nd Week of Easter, 27 Apr – John 3:31-36 ~ believe and live

Thursday of the Second Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

Lord our God, your Son Jesus Christ came from you and bore witness to the things he had heard and seen. He could not but bear witness to you. Give us the Spirit of your Son, we pray you, to speak your word and to live it, that we may show Christ, your living Word, to those who have not seen him. We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
__________

Reading: John 3:31-36 (NLT)

“He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else. He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true. For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”
__________

Reflection & Prayer:

He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. – John 3:30 (NLT)

Lord Jesus Christ: sent by the Father to live among us and speak his words of life to us – I believe you are the Christ, the Son of the living God, and that you have given me eternal life.

  • Fill me with your Spirit – that I may appreciate the significance of who you are.
  • Fill me with your Spirit – that I may be open to all that you have planned for me.
  • Fill me with your Spirit – that I may be as quick to forgive, as I am to be forgiven.
  • Fill me with your Spirit – that I may recall and apply your teaching to my life.
  • Fill me with your Spirit – that I may worship you freely and truthfully.

Lord Jesus Christ: the Father has entrusted you with everything, I can do no less. My real life, my true self, is hidden in you; may you increase and I decrease that I may become the person I was made to be. Soli Deo gloria.
__________

“Jesus” – Chris Tomlin


__________

Concluding Prayer – Psalm 34:3,8 (NLT)

Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.
_____

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
__________

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

Wednesday of 2nd Week of Easter, 26 Apr – John 3:16-21 ~ come into the light

Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

Lord our God, you loved us so much that you gave us your only Son to save us from ourselves and to give us eternal life.

Do not condemn us, Lord, do not leave us to ourselves and to our little schemes but give us your Son now to stay with us and to make love and justice and peace ever new realities among us, your people reborn in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
__________

Reading: John 3:16-21 (NLT)

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”
__________

Reflection & Prayer:

Ever-loving God: you gave us Jesus, your Son, so that we could believe in him, be saved from our sins, and live in the light of his glory – full of grace and truth.

We praise you with grateful, believing, hearts, Lord – glorify us with the glory of Christ.

  • You have called us into your own marvelous light that we may always see your loving-kindness.
  • You purify and strengthen us through your Holy Spirit to do what is right in your sight.
  • You call us to sacrifice ourselves in the service of others that our worship may be acceptable to you.

At the start of the day fill our hearts with your love; let the praise of your glory be the joy of our lives. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
__________

“God So Loved the World” – The Gabrieli Choir, Budapest


__________

Concluding Prayer

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. – Psalm 34:1-2 (NLT)
__________

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

Tuesday of 2nd Week of Easter, 25 Apr – Mark 16:15-20 ~ power outage?

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

Lord God, grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may receive power from on high, and show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
__________

Reading: Mark 16:15-20 (NLT)

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”

When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.
__________

Reflection & Prayer:

Peanut Gallery: There was a power outage at our house today – nothing serious, only for a couple of hours.

The lights were out, no stove or refrigerator, no music or news, and the garage door wouldn’t open. Our cell phones worked as long as the batteries held out, but we couldn’t recharge them.

I’m over-stating the case. We live in a South Carolina hurricane zone and do know how to cope with power outages.

Still, it got me thinking about today’s reading and the church. Is today’s church trying to function in the middle of a serious spiritual power outage? Have God’s people become powerless? Is a power outage the new normal for the church?

God of power and might: send us your Spirit. Fill your church and your people with your power.

+ Bind us to our Lord Jesus Christ, as the branches draw life from the vine.
+ Send us into the world to preach, teach and heal with the power of your Spirit.
+ Prepare the lost, the sick, the demonized, and the broken-hearted to believe and be baptized.
+ Work through us, Lord, confirming what we do and say by miraculous signs.

God of power and might: we must decrease so that you may increase – for apart from you, we can do nothing. We pray, come Holy Spirit, through our Lord Jesus Christ and for your glory. Amen.
__________

“Fall Afresh” – Amanda Cook (Bethel Music)


__________

Concluding Prayer

I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness. Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens. – Psalm 89:1-2
__________

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