30 October 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Thursday 30 October 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalms 148 and 149

These two psalms call on every part of creation to praise and glorify God.  Parts call for dance and celebration of victories over enemy nations.

Nehemiah 5: 14 – 6: 9

Nehemiah as governor feeds up to 150 people each night and his servants work on the wall. He imposes no levy on the people to fund the household or buy property. He asks God to see his deeds.

When the wall is built (though the gates are not) Sanballat sends a message for Nehemiah to meet him in a village outside the city. Nehemiah refuses 4 times. On the 5^th Sanballat threatens to tell the king that the Jews intend to rebel and that Nehemiah has set up prophets to proclaim himself king. Nehemiah send back a clear message that all this is fabrication. He is aware it is an intimidation strategy to stop the people from building. Nehemiah prays, “O God strengthen my hands” (v.9).

Matthew 19: 16 – 30

A young man calls Jesus “good” and asks Jesus about eternal life. Jesus says there is only one who is good. Eternal life comes through keeping God’s commandments and he recites them. The man says he keeps them. Jesus says if he wants to be perfect, sell all he has, give the money to the poor then follow Christ. The young man withdraws, grieving: he has so much to lose.

Jesus says how hard it is for a rich person to get into the Kingdom of God: as hard as trying the thread a camel through a sewing needle. The disciples become distressed because only the rich can afford to do what is required – no one has a hope if they can’t get in. Jesus says, “for God all things are possible” (v.26).

Peter wants to know what he will get since the disciples have given up everything? Jesus says at the end of all things they will be in positions of glory beside Jesus. Those who leave everything for God will receive eternal life. But many who are privileged now will be last on the list while those last on the list now will be honoured.

Collect for Morning Prayer

The leap
Busselton Pier WA 2014
L Osburn

Holy and exciting God everything is possible for you: creation, construction, joy, freedom from oppression, and from possessions. Help us to be alert to those pressures that would trick us into slowing down. Give is the strength to do your will. Help us to remember we have already received the reward and celebrate your gift to us – your Son, so that our lives of service are lives of praise and thanksgiving through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Thursday 30 October 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalms 144 and 150

The first psalm is of a king who has prepared for war, he calls on God to be the strong deliverer. He expresses humility not just for himself but all people, asks for God to be with them in routing the enemy. The psalmist will sing praises, the youth and the land will flourish, there will be peace and all happiness will be restored once the battle is won.

The last psalm is of joyful and exuberant praise – instruments, dancing. “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord” (v6).

Daniel 8: 1 – 14

Daniel has a vision of a ram beside a river with two great horns. A huge goat with a single horn comes from the west and destroys the ram. The goat’s horn breaks and more horns shoot up. One horn creates havoc on earth, in the temple and in heaven that lasts 2300 days.

2 Peter 2: 12 – 3: 2

Peter continues his condemnation of false teachers and how you can tell them by their behaviours, greed and lack of substance. He laments those who believe and then fall back into their old life. He encourages the people to remember the words of the prophets and remember the commandments of Christ spoken through the apostles.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Blackwood River WA
2014 L Osburn

God of hope and promise in tough times, you have been with your faithful people in times of war, destructive powers and false teachers. Your way is hope, consistency and truth leading us to exuberant, joyful praise. In the still, be with us, remind us of Christ and the commandments to love you and love one another so that our hearts may again lift to you and be filled with your love, your joy and your peace through Jesus Christ and your Holy Spirit. Amen.