Tag: vigilance

1st Sunday of Advent, 29 November: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14; 1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 ~ vigilance!

First Sunday of Advent

Advent begins today. It is a 4-week season for preparing our hearts to behold our Savior, the prophesied Messiah. May this season draw our hearts back to reflect on what has already been done and propel us onward into a new year of expectation and readiness for His next glorious appearing!

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

Opening Prayer:

God our Savior, You utter a word of promise and hope and hasten the day of justice and freedom, yet we live in a world forgetful of Your word, our watchfulness dulled by the cares of life. Keep us alert. Make us attentive to Your word, ready to look on Your Son when He comes with power and great glory. Make us holy and blameless, ready to stand secure when the day of His coming shakes the world with terror. We ask this through Him whose coming is certain, whose day draws near: Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
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Hymn: “”Intro & Prepare Ye The Way”” – Michael W. Smith [A New Hallelujah]


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A Reading from the Old Testament: Jeremiah 33:14-16 (NLT)
[Jeremiah’s prophecy looks to the day when a son of David will bring salvation. Christians see this fulfilled in Jesus.]

Our Righteousness

“The day will come, says the Lord, when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good things I have promised them.

“In those days and at that time I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. In that day Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this will be its name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 (NLT)

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.
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The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.
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The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.
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The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant.
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“Psalm 25” – The Psalm Project


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A Reading from the Letters: 1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2 (NLT)
[Grow in love, says Paul; be blameless when the Lord comes in glory.]

And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.

Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 (NLT)
[Jesus warns his followers to be vigilant.]

vigilance eagle

“And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!”
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“Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”
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Hymn: “Lord I Need You” – Matt Maher


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Intercessions:

Because God is faithful and loving, we can approach Him with confidence.

+ For all believers – that we may be found ready when the Lord comes in glory…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all people of good will – that we may experience the mercy of God, who never tires of forgiving…. Lord, hear us.
+ For families, especially those who suffer – that they may find in the birth of Jesus a sign of hope…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who live in fear – that they may find new courage in this new year…. Lord, hear us.
+ For people burdened by addiction – that the liberation promised by the Lord may be theirs…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all who suffer, in mind or body or spirit – that they may experience God’s healing power…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all who have died – that they may have peace and rest in the Kingdom…. Lord, hear us.

Lord, You are a true friend to those who revere You: be our comfort and support in all our needs, we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Hymn: “Light Of The World” – Lauren Daigle


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Benediction:

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. (Revelation 22:20-21)

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

Morning Prayer: Psalm 31:14-16; Exodus 3:14-15; Revelation 22:13 ~ I Am

Morning Prayer: 

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

Opening sentence

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.

Morning readings

Psalm 31:14-16 ESV:

But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me.

Exodus 3:14-15 ESV:

God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors — the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.

This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.

Spiritual song: “Great I Am” – New Life Worship

Revelation 22:13 ESV:

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Reflection: “In The Present Moment” – Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Hurry is an unpleasant thing in itself, but also very unpleasant for whoever is around it. Some people came into my room and rushed in and rushed out and even when they were there they were not there – they were in the moment ahead or the moment behind. Some people who came in just for a moment were all there, completely in that moment.

Live from day-to-day, just from day-to-day. If you do so, you worry less and live more richly. If you let yourself be absorbed completely, if you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly in those moments.

I do not think, it is lack of time that keeps me from doing things, it is that I do not want enough to do them.

The-archangel Michael defeating satan Guido Reni (1635)
The-archangel Michael defeating satan
Guido Reni (1635)

Prayer: Michael and the angels

Holy Michael, archangel, defend us in the day of battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray: and do thou, prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God thrust down to Hell Satan and all wicked spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen

Canticle

Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

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.

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

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Peanut Gallery: The Morning Prayer readings are from the Daily Office of the Northumbrian Community as available online here… and in the book form, Celtic Daily Prayer available on Amazon.com.

The website and prayer book are rich in prayer resources and I commend them to you. For our purpose here, I will limit my selections to the Morning Prayer resources.

Morning Prayer: Psalm 131:1-2; 1 Kings 19:19-21; Mark 14:32-40 ~ quiet my soul

Morning Prayer: 

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

Opening sentence

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.

Morning readings

Mother and child

Psalm 131:1-2 ESV:

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.

1 Kings 19:19-21 ESV:

So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.

Mark 14:32-40 ESV:

And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.”

And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him.

Reflection:

Help me to know that the secret of contentment lies in organizing the self in the direction of simplicity.

Unless You have another task for me, keep me vigilant in prayer.

Prayer: “Pour Over Me” – Stuart Townend

Canticle

Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

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.

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

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Peanut Gallery: The Morning Prayer readings are from the Daily Office of the Northumbrian Community as available online here… and in the book form, Celtic Daily Prayer available on Amazon.com.

The website and prayer book are rich in prayer resources and I commend them to you. For our purpose here, I will limit my selections to the Morning Prayer resources.