Morning Prayer: Psalm 119:96; I Samuel 2:18-21; Matthew 5:48 ~ attainable perfection

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.

You will find the Lord your God, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Morning readings

God the Father by Cima da Conegliano, c. 1515 — God the Father
by Cima da Conegliano, c. 1515

Psalm 119:96 NLT:

Even perfection has its limits, but your commands have no limit.

I Samuel 2:18-21 NLT:

But Samuel, though he was only a boy, served the Lord. He wore a linen garment like that of a priest. Each year his mother made a small coat for him and brought it to him when she came with her husband for the sacrifice. Before they returned home, Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “May the Lord give you other children to take the place of this one she gave to the Lord.” And the Lord gave Hannah three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.

Matthew 5:48 NLT:

But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Reflection/Prayer:

Those of us who are unfamiliar with Greek can apparently miss out on the subtleties of meaning in many New Testament passages.

I am told that one such verse is that which says, Be perfect even as your Heavenly Father is perfect. The two words used for ‘perfect’ are slightly different. The one is perfection in a limited, finite way, the other infinite.

What this means is that Jesus’ command to be perfect is attainable (at least on a good day!). We are asked to be as perfect as we can be, even as He is as perfect as He can be. We are being asked to eat our dinner like our Daddy, not to eat our Daddy’s dinner. As we grow, so does our capacity for such food.

…like an onion: except that as you go in and in, each circle is larger than the last. (C.S. Lewis)

Hymn: “The Perfect Wisdom of Our God” – Keith and Kristyn Getty

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 119:89-95; Deuteronomy 17:19; Revelation 1:3; 5:2-5 ~ words of life

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.

You will find the Lord your God, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Morning readings

Psalm 119:89-95 NLT:

Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven. Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created. Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans.

If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery. I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life.

I am yours; rescue me! For I have worked hard at obeying your commandments. Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me, I will quietly keep my mind on your laws.

Deuteronomy 17:19 NLT:

He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees.

Revelation 1:3; 5:2-5 NLT:

God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.

And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.

Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Reflection/Prayer:

Oh well, I guess it has been settled in heaven, and yet I would have died had my trust not been in Your word.

Prayer is not the privilege of a few. It is a reality easily accessible, for tiny children as for old men. It finds expression in innumerable ways. (Brother Roger of Taize)

Delighful I think it to be / in the bosom of an isle / on the crest of a rock / that I may see often / the calm of the sea, that I may pore on one of my books good for my soul, a while kneeling for beloved heaven, a while at psalms, a while meditating upon the Prince of Heaven (Columba)

Little men perceive what solitude is…

For a crowd is not company,
and faces are but a gallery of pictures,
and talk but a tinkling cymbal
where there is no love. (Francis Bacon)

Spiritual Song: “Wonderful Words of Life” – Philip P. Bliss (1874)

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.

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

Blessing

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

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 119:81-88; Judges 6:11-14; Hebrews 12:11-12 ~ get a grip

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.

You will find the Lord your God, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Morning readings

Psalm 119:81-88 NLT:

I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word. My eyes are straining to see your promises come true. When will you comfort me? I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke, but I have not forgotten to obey your decrees.

How long must I wait? When will you punish those who persecute me? These arrogant people who hate your instructions have dug deep pits to trap me. All your commands are trustworthy. Protect me from those who hunt me down without cause. They almost finished me off, but I refused to abandon your commandments.

In your unfailing love, spare my life; then I can continue to obey your laws.

Judges 6:11-14 NLT:

Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”

“Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”

Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”

Hebrews 12:11-12 NLT:

No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.

Reflection/Prayer:

The story is told of a man who tripped and fell off a cliff. Clutching at the grasses on the edge of the cliff he found himself for a moment or two able to hang on and delay his fall.

‘Is there anyone up there?’ he cried out desperately. ‘Yes,’ came the reply, but no further response. ‘Who are you? Why don’t you help me?’ shouted the man. ‘I’m God,’ said the Voice, ‘and I will help you. But you must do exactly as I say.’ ‘OK,’ whispered the man, ‘what have I to do?’ ‘First, let go!’ ‘Is there anybody else up there?’ called out the man?’

Poor fearful little Gideon had to do something just like that to become the mighty man of valour God saw him as. Against an army which far outnumbered them, God’s solution was to cut back even further on numbers!!

With decrease thou shalt increase. Count not as men count. Do not look into thy hand and say, ‘I have not enough,’ for with less, even with the decrease, nothing shall be impossible to thee. Like with the army of old – I can do more even with less.

Spiritual Song: “Where No One Stands Alone” – Mosie Lister

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.

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

Blessing

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

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 119:73-78; Jeremiah 18:1-6; Romans 8:25-26 ~ just clay

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.

You will find the Lord your God, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Morning readings

Psalm 119:73-78 NLT:

You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands.

May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word. I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it. Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant. Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your instructions are my delight. Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me; meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments.

Jeremiah 18:1-6 NLT:

The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.

Then the Lord gave me this message: “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand….”

Romans 8:25-26 NLT:

But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

Reflection/Prayer:

O God, forgive the poverty and pettiness of our prayers. Listen not to our words, but to the yearning of our hearts. Hear beneath our petitions the crying of our need. (Peter Marshall)

God, You hear within us the groanings so deep they cannot even be uttered. Let Your tender mercies come unto us that we may live again.

‘Can I not do with you as the Potter?’ says the Lord God. Lord, help me to realize that I am Your project.

Have Your own way, Lord, have Your own way
You are the Potter – I am the clay
Mould me and make me after Your will
while I am waiting, yielded and still.
(Adelaide A. Pollard)

‘Can I not do with you as the Potter?’
‘Yes.’

Spiritual Song: “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” – Adelaide A. Pollard

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.

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

Blessing

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

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 119:65-72; Genesis 37:23-24; 50:20; Acts 5:29-39 ~ good judgement

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.

You will find the Lord your God, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Morning readings

Psalm 119:65-72 NLT:

You have done many good things for me, Lord, just as you promised. I believe in your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge. I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.

You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees. Arrogant people smear me with lies, but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart. Their hearts are dull and stupid, but I delight in your instructions. My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.

Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver.

Genesis 37:23-24; 50:20 NLT:

So when Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped off the beautiful robe he was wearing. Then they grabbed him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it….

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

Acts 5:29-39 NLT:

But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”

When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them. But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while. Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About 400 others joined him, but he was killed, and all his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing. After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered.

“So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”

Reflection/Prayer:

Poor Joseph fell foul of his brothers’ jealousy. In the bottom of his pit it took a lot of imagination to believe any good could ever come of it.

Anyone who strives to climb out of a pit will not pray
that its sides shall be smooth. (Hugh Redwood)

Withdraw not Thy hand, O my God, from me here,
O Chief of the chiefs, O withdraw not Thy hand.
(From Poems of the Western Highlanders)

When things seem really bad we might need to hesitate before assuming it’s against us and out to get us. As Gamaliel pointed out, we need to be careful just in case it’s God we’d be fighting in rejecting it.

Great questions stand unanswered before us, and defy our best wisdom. Though our ignorance is great, at least we know we do not know. When we don’t know what to say, keep us quiet. (Peter Marshall)

Spiritual Song: “Be Still” – David Evans

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.

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

Blessing

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

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.

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