Morning Prayer: Thu, 05 Jan – 1 John 3:11-21; Psalm 100:1-5; John 1:43-51 ~ love is a sacrifice

Thursday of the Second Week of Christmas

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

Opening Sentence

O come, let us adore him!

A holy day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, and adore the Lord. Today a great light has come upon the earth.
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Reading: 1 John 3:11-21 (NLT)

This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.
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Reading: Psalm 100:1-5 (NLT)

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
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Reading: John 1:43-51 (NLT)

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown.

Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”

“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

“Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.

As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”

“How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”

Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”

Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”
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Prayer:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, sent by God to be for us the One who is Wise, Just and Holy – our Redeemer.

+ Lord of the universe, the shepherds found you in a manger: save us from a selfish, self-serving lifestyle.
+ You so loved us in all our weakness that you came to be our Savior; help us to respect the dignity of every man and woman.
+ You took our nature but you did not sin; help us to use your gifts in the service of others.
+ You made the Church your bride without defect or blemish: grant that all your people may persevere to the end.

God, our Father, since through the human birth of your only Son you began in us the work of redemption, keep us firm in faith, and with Christ as the Shepherd of our souls bring us the glory you have promised. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
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“Good Shepherd of My Soul” – Keith & Kristyn Getty

Good Shepherd of my soul come dwell within me. Take all I am and mold your likeness in me. Before the cross of Christ, this is my sacrifice: a life laid down and ready to follow.

The troubled find their peace in true surrender. The prisoners their release from chains of anger. In springs of living grace, I find a resting place to rise refreshed, determined to follow.

I’ll walk this narrow road with Christ before me, where thorns and thistles grow and cords ensnare me. Though doubted and denied, He never leaves my side. But lifts my head and calls me to follow.

And when my days are gone, my strength is failing, He’ll carry me along through death’s unveiling. Earth’s struggles overcome, heav’n’s journey just begun, to search Christ’s depths and ever to follow.
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Blessing

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

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

Morning Prayer: Wed, 04 Jan – 1 John 3:7-10; Psalm 98:1, 7-9; John 1:35-42 ~ who’s your daddy?

Wednesday of the Second Week of Christmas

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

Opening Sentence

O come, let us adore him!

His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power!
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Reading: 1 John 3:7-10 (NLT)

Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.
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Reading: Psalm 98:1, 7-9 (NLT)

Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power!
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Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the earth and all living things join in. Let the rivers clap their hands in glee! Let the hills sing out their songs of joy before the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with fairness.
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Reading: John 1:35-42 (NLT)

The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.

Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them.

They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

“Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”.

Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).
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Prayer:

The Word of God was manifested in the flesh, seen by angels and preached among the nations. Let us praise him: Only Son of God, we adore you.

+ Redeemer of all men, you made us children of God; may we never know a day apart from you.
+ You manifested to us the faithfulness of God: may you always be the light of our lives.
+ You let us see the Father’s love for us: may we show others your loving care.
+ You came to live among us: make us worthy to be your friends.

Almighty God, the light of a new star in heaven heralded your saving love. Let the light of your salvation dawn in our hearts and keep them always open to your life-giving grace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
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” Lamb of God” – Vertical Church Band

You came from heaven’s throne | Acquainted with our sorrow | To trade the debt we owed | Your suffering for our freedom

The Lamb of God in my place | Your blood poured out, my sin erased | It was my death You died | I am raised to life | Hallelujah, the Lamb of God

My name upon Your heart | My shame upon Your shoulders | The power of sin undone | the cross for my salvation

My God, there is no greater love | There is no greater love | The Savior lifted up | There is no greater love
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Blessing

Put on the righteousness of Christ; demonstrate that you are a child of God.

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

Morning Prayer: Tue, 03 Jan – 1 John 2:29–3:6; Psalm 98:1, 3-6; John 1:29-34 ~ the Lamb has adopted me

Tuesday of the Second Week of Christmas

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

Opening Sentence

O come, let us adore him!

The Word was made flesh, and he lived among us, full of grace and truth. From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace, alleluia.
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Reading: 1 John 2:29–3:6 (NLT)

Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children.

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.
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Reading: Psalm 98:1, 3-6 (NLT)

Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power!
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The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song, with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn. Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!
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Reading: John 1:29-34 (NLT)

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”

Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.
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Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, Immanuel – our Redeemer, the Son of God, who became man to renew our human nature – be with us now.

+ Jesus, Splendor of the Father, Son of the Virgin Mary, brighten this day by your presence among us.
+ Jesus, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, put us on the path to holiness, be our guide.
+ Jesus, all-powerful, obedient and humble, inspire all believers to pour out their lives in the service of others.
+ Jesus, father of the poor, our way and our life, grant to your Church the spirit of detachment from earthly things.

Almighty God, your Son’s manhood, born of the Virgin, was a new creation, untainted by our sinful condition. Renew us, then, in Christ and cleanse us from all trace of sin that we might live faithfully as your children. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
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“Children Of God” – Third Day

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Blessing

Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

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

Morning Prayer: Mon, 02 Jan – 1 John 2:22-28; Psalm 98:1-4; John 1:19-28 ~ live what you learned

Monday of the Second Week of Christmas

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

Opening Sentence

O come, let us adore him!

Show us, Lord, the light of your mercy.
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Reading: 1 John 2:22-28 (NLT)

And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.

I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
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Reading: Psalm 98:1-4 (NLT)

Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power! The Lord has announced his victory and has revealed his righteousness to every nation! He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel. The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!
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Reading: John 1:19-28 (NLT)

This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”

“Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?”

“No,” he replied.

“Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”

“No.”

“Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”

John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:

“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”

Then the Pharisees who had been sent asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”

John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”

This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.
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Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, the source of Life and Light, Savior of the world – have mercy on us.

+ Christ, Sun of Justice, you revealed your glory among us; teach us to live with God as children of the Light.
+ Simeon and Anna proclaimed you as the Savior; grant that the Jewish people may accept your message so long foretold.
+ At your birth the angels proclaimed glory in heaven and peace on earth; fill our world with the spirit of your peace.
+ You became the second Adam, renewing all our human ways; bring hope to those who live under the oppression of sin.

God our Father, grant that, learning your truth with humility, we may live it in faith and love. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
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“Living for Jesus” – Cedar College of Education Choir at KwaSizabantu Mission in South Africa.

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Blessing

And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame. – 1 John 2:28

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

New Year’s Day; Sun 01 Jan: Num 6:22-27; Psa 67:2-3, 5-7; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21 ~ His name is Jesus

New Year’s Day (The Octave Day of Christmas)

Happy New Year! On this first day of the Year of Our Lord 2017, we seek God’s blessing and remember blessed Mary, who thought about all that she saw and heard concerning her newborn son, named Jesus – “God saves.”

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

Opening Prayer:

Most high God, you come near to us this Christmas season in the child born of the Virgin Mary. In the depths of darkness, she gave birth to light; in the depths of silence, she brought forth the Word. Grant that we who ponder these things in our hearts may recognize in her child our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, in the splendor of eternal light, God for ever and ever.
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“How Great is Our God” – 3 million sing in Hebrew, Polish & English! (Krakow, Poland)

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A Reading from the Old Testament: Numbers 6:22-27 (NLT)
[The ‘Blessing of Aaron’ expresses God’s care for humanity: a suitable New Year blessing for all believers….]

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:

‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’

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A Reading from the Psalms: Psa 67:2-3, 5-7 (NLT)

May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere. May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you.
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May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us. Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear him.
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“O God, Let All the Nations Praise Your Name (Psalm 67)” – Bill Monaghan

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A Reading from the Letters: Galatians 4:4-7 (NLT)
[Because of the birth of Mary’s child, we can all be called children of God….]

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 2:16-21 (NLT)
[On the eighth day Mary’s child was circumcised and given the name Jesus.]

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.
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“His Name” – Urban Rescue

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Intercessory Prayer:

God graciously blesses all of humanity, so we can approach him with our needs with confidence:

+ That those who follow Christ around the world may remain faithful throughout this New Year…. Lord, hear us.
+ That all who claim to worship God – in churches, synagogues and mosques – may grow in mutual respect and tolerance…. Lord, hear us.
+ That peace may soon come in all the warn-torn regions of our world…. Lord, hear us.
+ That Christians may continue to work for peace with justice for all…. Lord, hear us.
+ That mothers may learn to treasure every moment of their children’s lives…. Lord, hear us.
+ That this New Year may bring fresh enthusiasm and strong growth to God’s people around the world…. Lord, hear us.
+ That all who have died in Christ over this past year may live with you forever in the splendor of your eternal light…. Lord, hear us.

Gracious God, you bless your people with peace and justice: accept our prayers and give us your help to live faithfully in the year ahead as your children, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“King of Glory” – Third Day

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Benediction:

‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’ – Numbers 6:24-27
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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

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