12 June 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Friday 12 June 2015 

Morning Prayer   

Psalms 99 and 100

Songs of praise to God who rules, is awesome, loves justice and fairness and will stand by us. We are to come, be joyful, sing, be thankful, know we are loved and will be loved forever.

1 Samuel 14: 16 – 35

Saul sees and hears the disturbance in the Philistine’s camp. He checks who is missing from his army and brings the Ark of the Covenant forward with the priest. The tumult increases. Saul stops the priest. Saul and his people rally to battle. Hebrews that were with the Philistines come over to the Israelites and they start to win.

Saul makes an error he tells the army they are no to eat until the battle is over. They become faint. Jonathon has not heard this oath so eats honey. The warriors, at the end of the battle are so hungry they kill animals and eat meat raw, which is a greater sin. Saul sets up an altar so that the men can eat it without sinning. This is the first altar Saul built.

Acts 9: 10 – 19a

Ananias, a disciple in Damascus has a vision where the Lord tells him to go to a specific house in a named street and search for Saul of Tarsus. Saul has seen a vision that someone will come, lay hands on him and restore his sight. Ananias objects saying what he knows of Saul and the danger he poses. Jesus tells Ananias to go and that Saul has been chosen to bring his name to the Gentiles, kings and people of Israel. Saul will suffer for Jesus’ name.

Ananias goes, lays hands on Saul, tells him he is sent by Jesus so that he may regain sight and receive the Holy Spirit. Immediately Saul can see, is baptised, eats and gains his strength.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Camellia
Harrietville Vic 2015 L Osburn

Holy Lord you are worthy to be praised. You stand by us always with your awesome power, grace and love of justice and fairness. Take away our fears and worries about doing things “the right way” and instead be obedient to you. Make us respond to the needs, calls and concerns of those around us including our enemies so that we demonstrate with our actions that our allegiance is right with you, we trust you, we act and you are with us always through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

Friday 12 June April 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalms 103

A beautiful psalm of praise blessing God with every part of our being and for every benefit we have been given especially God's eternal love. This is a luscious reverent, adoring psalm.

Sirach 5: 1 – 6: 1

This is about not resting on our achievements, thinking we have done it all and can now do what we prefer to do.

We are challenged not to sin. Just because we have sinned before and nothing happened, doesn’t give us a free-pass resting on God’s mercy. We need to not be presumptuous and to turn back to God – not postpone it for another day.

We are not to depend on dishonest wealth or go with every fad but stand firm with what we know to be true.

We are to be quick to hear and deliberate in answering. If we don’t know, be silent.

Honour and dishonour come from speaking so we need to be sure that in great and small matters we do not harm to other or to our own reputations.

2 Corinthians 10: 1 – 12

Paul is facing opposition in Corinth and is called bold when he is away and meek when he is there. He claims the meekness and assumes divine weaponry. Arguments will be contested, thoughts made captive only to obey Christ.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Desert flowers
Broken Hill NSW 2015 L Osburn

Praise to you Lord for your love and care and nurturing. Open our ears to the wisdom of the scriptures. Help us review, reflect repent and start afresh again so that tomorrow when we rise we start again. Help us renew our lives with you mindful of your great commands to love you first and to love one another as you have loved us through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

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