Praying the Psalms: Sat, 24 Nov – Psalm 127 ~ Unless the Lord builds a house…

Praying the Psalms

+ 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.
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Morning Reading: Psalm 127 (NLT) – A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of Solomon.

Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: Thank you for claiming us as your own and placing us in tribes and nations that we may love and serve you –

+ empower us with your Spirit that we may advance your Kingdom…
+ empower us with your Spirit that we may bear good fruit…
+ empower us with your Spirit that we may bless those around us…
+ empower us with your Spirit that we may balance our work with rest…
+ empower us with your Spirit that we may trust you with our worries…

O Lord our God: Thank you for claiming us as your own and placing us in tribes and nations. Give us children whose lives are centered on you, whose help and hope comes from faith and trust in your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives with you in unity with the Holy Spirit, one God, the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Amen.
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“Psalm 127” – The Corner Room

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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, and 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.

Praying the Psalms: Fri, 23 Nov – Psalm 126 ~ Restore us, O Lord!

Praying the Psalms

+ 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.
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Morning Reading: Psalm 126 (NLT) – A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said,

“What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”

Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!

Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: Fill our dreams with joyous longing for your restoration –

+ lift us out of our present darkness and struggle, that we might revel in the joy of our salvation…
+ transform our grief and sadness into irrepressible hope, that we might rejoice in our redemption…
+ embolden us in our declaration of the glorious future you have prepared for us, that we might be winsome, winning, witnesses to the world around us…

O Lord our God: Fill our dreams with joyous longing for your restoration; use us as your vanguard to lay the groundwork of faith for your imminent return in glory, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
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“Psalm 126” – Sojourn Music

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

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

Praying the Psalms: Thu, 22 Nov – Psalm 125 ~ the Lord protects his people

Praying the Psalms

+ 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.
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Morning Reading: Psalm 125 (NLT) – A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever. The wicked will not rule the land of the godly, for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong.

O Lord, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with you. But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O Lord . Take them away with those who do evil. May Israel have peace!
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: Protect all who trust in you, that we may stand firm in the face of evil –

+ secure us with your mighty power…
+ secure us with your unerring wisdom…
+ secure us with your unchanging love…

O Lord our God: Protect all who trust in you, that we may stand firm in the face of evil –

+ provide for our spiritual needs…
+ provide for our daily necessities…
+ provide for our ongoing relationships…
+ provide for our sorrows and grief…

O Lord our God: Protect all who trust in you, that we may stand firm in the face of evil, through the sure foundation of our faith in Jesus Christ, your Son, our Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen.
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“Psalm 125” (Those Who trust) – Enter the Worship Circle

Those who trust in the Lord
Are a strong mountain
They will not … not be moved

Those who trust in the Lord
Are as Mount Zion
They will not … not be moved

Though the world moves like mad
You alone are faithful
Jesus, you, you will not be changed

Christ the King, He sets my feet
On a firm foundation
They will not … not be moved
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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

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

Praying the Psalms: Wed, 21 Nov – Psalm 124 ~ What if the Lord had not been on our side?

Praying the Psalms

+ 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.
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Morning Reading: Psalm 124 (NLT) – A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

What if the Lord had not been on our side?

Let all Israel repeat: What if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us?

They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger.
The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us.
Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives.

Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart! We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free!

Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: Were it not for you, we would be lost –

+ for you delivered us from calamity…
+ for you delivered us from evil…
+ for you delivered us from bondage…
+ for you delivered us from temptation…

O Lord our God: Blessed be your holy Name; you are for us, not against us. We are forgiven and set free through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
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“Psalm 124” – UNC Wilmington’s concert choir / written by UNCW music student Kyle Miller

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

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

Praying the Psalms: Tue, 20 Nov – Psalm 123 ~ Lord have mercy.

Praying the Psalms

+ 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.
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Morning Reading: Psalm 123 (NLT) – A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven.

We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal.

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy, for we have had our fill of contempt. We have had more than our fill of the scoffing of the proud and the contempt of the arrogant.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: We look to you in our times of trouble; have mercy on us –

+ for you judge the earth in righteousness and truth…
+ for you are the hope of the downtrodden and oppressed…
+ for you are the refuge of the suffering and afflicted…
+ for you are the redeemer of our sin-sick souls…
+ for you are the giver of life, satisfying and eternal…

O Lord our God: We look to you in our times of trouble; have mercy on us, and be gracious to us – through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives in unity with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, the same yesterday, today, and forever. Amen.
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“Psalms 123” (Unto You I Lift Up My Eyes) – Zion’s Sake