DECEMBER 31, 2019
God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
-Psalm 46:1 (NLT)
DECEMBER 30, 2019
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.
- 3 John: 2 (NRSV)
From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
-John 1:16 (NRSV)
And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See I am making all things new."
-Revelation 21:5a (NRSV)
DECEMBER 27, 2019
... God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.
-1 John 1:5 (NRSV)
DECEMBER 26, 2019
As we are glad, Creator God,
when the dawn reveals the world to us,
innocent and fresh,
and in delight be ready to start anew.
-Collect, A New Zealand Prayer Book, pg. 575
DECEMBER 25, 2019
CHRISTMAS DAY
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.
-Titus 2:11 (NRSV)
DECEMBER 24, 2019
Look toward the east, O Jerusalem,
and see the joy that is coming to you from God.
-Baruch 4:36 (NRSV)
DECEMBER 23, 2019
The Lord, your God, is in your midst, ...
he will renew you in his love; ...
-Zephaniah 3:17 (NRSV)
DECEMBER 22, 2019
Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
-Psalm 80:7 (NRSV)
DECEMBER 21, 2019
For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
-Hebrews 10:36 (NRSV)
DECEMBER 20, 2019
Live light, travel light, spread the light, be the light.
-found on a Yogi tea bag
DECEMBER 19, 2019
Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
-Matthew 25:13 (NRSV)
DECEMBER 18, 2019
But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol (death),
for he will receive me.
-Psalm 49:15 (NRSV)
DECEMBER 17, 2019
Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord.
-Zechariah 2:10 (NRSV)
*note: this was shot using a technique called 'free lensing" and is intentionally blurry in spots
DECEMBER 16, 2019
Live your beliefs and you can turn the world around.
-Henry David Thoreau
DECEMBER 15, 2019
the desert shall rejoice ... it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing.
-Isaiah 35:1b-2 (NRSV)
DECEMBER 14, 2019
Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage all you people of the Land, says the Lord...
-Haggai 2:4 (NRSV)
DECEMBER 13, 2019
Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord's message, saying, I am with you, says the Lord.
-Haggai 1:13 (NRSV)
DECEMBER 12, 2019
Our steps are made firm by the Lord,
though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong,
for the Lord holds us by the hand.
-Paalm 37:23a, 24 (NRSV)
DECEMBER 11, 2019
Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
-Proverbs 16:3 (NRSV)
DECEMBER 10, 2019
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
-Psalm 36:9 (NRSV)
My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for he will pluck me out of the net.
-Psalm 25:15 (NRSV)
DECEMBER 8, 2019
The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid, ...
and a little child shall lead them.
-Isaiah 11:6 (NRSV)
DECEMBER 7, 2019
May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance.
Jude 2 (NRSV)
DECEMBER 6, 2019
Seek good and not evil,
that you may live;
and so the Lord, the God of hosts,
will be with you...
-Amos 5:14a (NRSV)
DECEMBER 5, 2019
... what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness,,,?
-2 Peter 3:11b (NRSV)
DECEMBER 4, 2019
I treasure your word in my heart...
-Psalm 119:11a (NRSV)
DECEMBER 3, 2019
You will do well to be attentive to this [prophetic message] as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
-2 Peter 1:19b (NRSV)
DECEMBER 2, 2019
Come, living Saviour,
come to your world which waits for you.
-Collect, 1 Advent, A New Zealand Prayer Book, page 568
DECEMBER 1, 2019
1st Sunday in Advent
... come let us walk in the light of the Lord!
-Isaiah 2:5b (NRSV)
NOVEMBER 30, 2019
The commands of the Lord are clear,
giving insight for living.
-Psalm 19:8b (NLT)
NOVEMBER 29, 2019
With gratitude and humble trust
we bring our best to thee...
-Hymn 705, verse 3 The Hymnal 1982
NOVEMBER 28, 2019
THANKSGIVING
Tell God what you need, and thank him for all that he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.
-Philippians 4:6b-7a (NLT)
NOVEMBER 27, 2019
... you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
-1 Peter 1:9b (NLT)
NOVEMBER 26, 2019
The Lord is good,
a strong refuge when trouble comes.
-Nahum 1:7a (NLT)
NOVEMBER 25, 2019
God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy.
-1 Peter 1:1-12 (NLT)
NOVEMBER 24, 2019
The Lord of Heaven's Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.
-Psalm 46: 7&11 (NLT)
NOVEMBER 23, 2019
Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation!
-Isaiah 65:18a (NLT)
NOVEMBER 22, 2019
For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.
-Matthew 18:20 (NLT)
NOVEMBER 21, 2019
Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
Let the whole earth know what he has done.
-Psalm 105:1 (NLT)
NOVEMBER 20, 2019
Joy is the serious business of Heaven.
-C.S. Lewis
NOVEMBER 19, 2019
And [the one sitting on the throne] also said, "... I am the Alpha and Omega - the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life."
-Revelation 21:6 (NLT)
photo credit: Steve Switzer
... strength comes from Heaven alone.
1 Maccabees 3:20b (NEB)
NOVEMBER 17, 2019
Gentle words are a tree of life.
-Proverbs 15:4a (NLT)
NOVEMBER 16, 2019
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way ..."
-Matthew 16:24 (NLT)
NOVEMBER 15, 2019
[The Lord] will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you under his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
-Psalm 91:4 (NLT)
NOVEMBER 14, 2019
The Lord is my shepherd;
He guides me along right paths.
-Psalm 23: 1a, 3b (NLT)
NOVEMBER 13, 2019
Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
-Nehemiah 8:10b (NLT)
NOVEMBER 12, 2019
[God] gave them bread from heaven.
They ate the food of angels!
God gave them all they could eat.
-Psalm 78:24b-25
NOVEMBER 11, 2019
You alone are the Lord. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and all the angels of heaven worship you.
-Nehemiah 9:6 (NLT)
NOVEMBER 10, 2019
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, ... comfort and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.
-2 Thessalonians 2:16a, 17 (NLT)
NOVEMBER 9, 2019
Jesus spoke to them at once, "Don't be afraid," he said, "Take courage. I am here."
-Matthew 15:27 (NLT)
We prayed that he wold give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled. ... he heard our prayer.
-Ezra 8:21b, 23b
NOVEMBER 7, 2019
You have done such wonderful things.
Who can compare with you, O God?
-Psalm 71:19b (NLT)
NOVEMBER 6, 2019
Love is the beauty of the soul.
-St. Augustine
Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind.
-Matthew 13:47 (NLT)
NOVEMBER 4, 2019
... I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings
until the danger passes by.
-Psalm 57:1 (NLT)
NOVEMBER 3, 2019
Learn to do good.
Seek justice
-Isaiah 1:17a (NLT)
NOVEMBER 2, 2019
And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.
-Revelation 7:17c (NLT)
NOVEMBER 1, 2019
... because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
-Ephesians 1:11 (NLT)
OCTOBER 31, 2019
Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God.
-Psalm 50:14a (NLT)
OCTOBER 30, 2019
But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears because they hear.
-Matthew 13:16 (NLT)
OCTOBER 29, 2019
For God is the king over all the earth.
Praise him with a Psalm.
-Psalm 47:7 (NLT)
OCTOBER 28, 2019
This is my command: Love each other.
-John 15:17 (NLT)
OCTOBER 27, 2019
Those who live at the ends of the earth
stand in awe of your wonders.
From where the sun rises to where it sets,
you inspire shouts of joy.
-Psalm 65:8 (NLT)
OCTOBER 26, 2019
For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.
-Matthew 12:34b (NLT)
OCTOBER 25, 2019
[O Lord,] Be my rock of protection,
a fortress where I will be safe.
-Psalm 31:3 (NLT)
OCTOBER 24, 2019
Put your hope in the Lord.
Travel steadily in his path.
-Psalm 37:34 (NLT)
OCTOBER 23, 2019
To have courage for whatever comes in life - everything lies in that.
-St. Theresa of Avila
OCTOBER 22, 2019
Then Jesus said, "Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
-Matthew 11:28 (NLT)
OCTOBER 21, 2019
Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
-Psalm 25:4 (NLT)
OCTOBER 20, 2019
The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
-Psalm 121:5 (NLT)
OCTOBER 19, 2019
May [the Lord] grant yoru heart's desires
and make all your plans succeed.
May the Lord answer all your prayers.
-Psalm 20:4, 5c (NLT)
OCTOBER 18, 2019
God of seed and growth and harvest,
creator of need, creator of satisfaction;
give us, we pray our daily bread,
sufficient and assured for all.
-Thursday Daily Devotion, A New Zealand Prayer Book, pg. 125
OCTOBER 17, 2019
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace...
-1Corinthians 14:33a (NLT)
OCTOBER 16, 2019
... not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
-Matthew 10:29b-31 (NLT)
OCTOBER 15, 2019
Let love be your highest goal.
-1 Corinthians 14:1a (NLT)
OCTOBER 14, 2019
For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.
-St. Teresa of Avila
OCTOBER 13, 2019
Our lives are in his [God's] hands,
and he keeps our feet from stumbling.
-Psalm 66:9 (NLT)
OCTOBER 12, 2019
... if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing.
-1 Corinthians 13:2b (NLT)
When I am overwhelmed,
you alone know the way I should turn.
-Psalm 142:8 (NLT)
OCTOBER 10, 2019
God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
-1 Corinthians 12:6 (NLT)
OCTOBER 9, 2019
Lord, how great is your mercy.
-Psalm 119:15a (NLT)
OCTOBER 8, 2019
Kind words are like honey -
sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
-Proverbs 16:24 (NLT)
OCTOBER 7, 2019
There is a joy for those who deal justly with others
and always do what is right.
-Psalm 106:3 (NLT)
OCTOBER 6, 2019
God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
-2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
My heart is confident in you, O God;
no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!
-Psalm 108:1 (NLT)
OCTOBER 4, 2019
... the officer said, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed." Then Jesus said, ... "Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened."
-Matthew 8:8, 13a (NLT)
When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away,
but the godly have a lasting foundation.
-Proverbs 10:25 (NLT)
OCTOBER 2, 2019
A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
-Matthew 7:17,20 (NLT)
OCTOBER 1, 2019
Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
-Matthew 7:12 (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2019
The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
-Psalm 103:8 (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
-1 Timothy 16:11b
SEPTEMBER 28, 2019
Teach us to realize the brevity of life,
so that we may grow in wisdom.
-Psalm 90:12 (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 27, 2019
... your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
-Matthew 6:8 (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 26, 2019
Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings.
-Psalm 85:12 (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
You are my refuge and my shield;
your word is my source of hope.
-Psalm 119:114 (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 24, 2019
Watching birds has become part of my daily meditation affirming my connection to the earth body.
-Carol P. Christ
SEPTEMBER 23, 2019
For the kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God's power.
-1 Corinthians 4:20 (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 22, 2019
Blessed be the name of the Lord
now and forever.
-Psalm 113:2 (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 21, 2019
Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heard.
-Proverbs 3:3 (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 20, 2019
Let your mind be quiet, realising the beauty of the world,
and the immense, the boundless treasures that it holds in store.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2019
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
-Matthew 5:8 (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 18, 2019
One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers ... Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people."
-Matthew 4:18a, 19 (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 17, 2019
In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.
-Aristotle
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
-Psalm 51:1 (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 14, 2019
Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!
Let the hills sing out their songs of joy ...
-Psalm 98:8 (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
[The Lord] lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
-Psalm 40:2 (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 12, 2019
Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
-Philippians 2: 15b (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 11, 2019
Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, ... Don't look out only for your own interests, bet take an interest in others too.
-Philippians 2:3a, 4 (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 10, 2019
God our friend, you never change,
you are always here.
When we are lonely or helpless
you watch over us.
Hear us,
be with us, ...
-Collect, A New Zealand Prayer Book, pg. 627
I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.
-Philippians 1:9 (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 8, 2019
Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him.
-Deuteronomy 30:19a, 20a (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 7, 2019
O what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight.
-Psalm 32:1 (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 6, 2019
I entrust my spirit into your hand.
Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.
-Psalm 31:5 (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 5, 2019
For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.
-James 3:15 (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 4, 2019
Renew my life with your goodness.
-Psalm 119:40b (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 3, 2019
[The Lord] helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
-Psalm 28:7b (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 2, 2019
He is good!
His faithful love endures forever!
-2 Chronicles 7:3b (NLT)
SEPTEMBER 1, 2019
... never forget to show kindness and to share what you have with others; for such are the sacrifices which God approves.
-Hebrews 13:16 (NEB)
AUGUST 31, 2019
Gracious is the Lord and righteous,
our God is full of compassion.
-Psalm 116:5 (NEB)
AUGUST 30, 2019
Let all the ends of the earth remember and turn again to the Lord.
-Psalm 22:27 (NEB)
AUGUST 29, 2019
The Lord lives, blessed is my rock,
high above all is God who saves me.
-Psalm 18:46 (NEB)
AUGUST 28, 2019
... Paul stood up among them and said, "... I urge you not to lose heart ..."
-Acts 27:21a, 22a (NEB)
AUGUST 27, 2019
It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.
-Aristotle
AUGUST 26, 2019
I lie down and sleep,
and I wake again, for the Lord upholds me.
-Psalm 3:5 (NEB)
... the Lord will guide you continually
and he will satisfy your needs in the shimmering heat;
he will give you strength of limb;
you will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
-Isaiah 58:11 (NEB)
AUGUST 24, 2019
You may have ten thousand tutors in Christ, but you have only one father.
-1 Corinthians 4:15a (NEB)
AUGUST 23, 2019
I cry aloud to the Lord; ...
When my spirit is faint within me,
thou art there to watch over my steps.
-Psalm 142:1a, 3 (NEB)
AUGUST 22, 2019
The first [commandment] is, "... love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength."
-Mark 12:29-30 (NEB)
AUGUST 21, 2019
I call with my whole heart; answer me, Lord.
I will keep thy statutes.
-Psalm 119:145 (NEB)
AUGUST 20, 2019
If I lift up my eyes to the hills,
where shall I find help?
Help comes only from the Lord,
maker of heaven and earth.
-Psalm 121:1-2 (NEB)
AUGUST 19, 2019
Jesus said, "... I tell you, then, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.
-Mark 11:24 (NEB)
AUGUST 18, 2019
Your Spirit lives in us
so that we can look at the world with your eyes
-from Eucharistic Prayer V, Scottish Episcopal Church
AUGUST 17, 2019
Sing thankfully in your hearts to God, with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.
-Colossians 3:16b (NEB)
AUGUST 16, 2019
Mighty God,
strong, loving and wise,
help us to depend upon your goodness
and to place our trust in your Son.
-Collect, A New Zealand Prayer Book, pg. 627
I sought the Lord's help and he answered me;
he set me free from all my terrors.
-Psalm 34:4 (NEB)
AUGUST 14, 2019
Let thy face shine upon thy servant...
-Psalm 119a (NEB)
AUGUST 13, 2019
... Christ sees something in you that can be used to bring about the Kingdom of God right here on earth - the Kingdom of Peace ...
-Jon Feuss, Deacon, from a sermon at St. Peter's
AUGUST 12, 2019
... we should keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, who himself said, "Happiness lies more in giving than in receiving."
-Acts 20:35 (NEB)
AUGUST 11, 2019
And what is faith? Faith gives substance to our hopes and makes us certain of realities we do not see.
-Hebrews 11:1 (NEB)
AUGUST 10, 2019
The Holy Spirit nudges us to seek God. It is the Holy Spirit who comforts us when we struggle. This same Holy Spirit whispers gently, You are a beloved child of God.
-Jay Howington, writing for Forward Day by Day
AUGUST 9, 2019
Everything is possible to one who has faith.
-Mark 9:23 (NEB)
AUGUST 8, 2019
Guide me, O Lord,
that I may be true to thee and follow thy path.
-Psalm 86:11a (NEB)
AUGUST 7, 2019
What does a man gain by winning the whole world at the cost of his true self? What can he give to buy that self back?
-Mark 8:36-37 (NEB)
AUGUST 6, 2019
... May there daily grow within us
a generous, trusting spirit.
-Collect, A New Zealand Prayer Book, pg. 632
AUGUST 5, 2019
Restore us, O God,
and make thy face shine upon us that we may be saved.
-Psalm 80:3 (NEB)
AUGUST 4, 2019
Lord may we be wakeful at sunrise to begin a new day for you; Cheerful at sunset for having done our work for you; Thankful at moon rise and under star shine for the beauty of your universe; And may we add what little may be in us to add to your great world. Amen.
-Prayer After Communion, Celtic Communion Service at Old Sainte Peter's 7/28/19
AUGUST 3, 2019
Wait for the Lord; be strong, take courage,
and wait for the Lord.
-Psalm 27:14 (NEB)
AUGUST 2, 2019
O Jesus, I have promised to serve thee to the end:
be thou forever near me, my Master and my friend;
I shall not fear the battle, if thou art by my side;
no wander from the pathway, if thou wilt be my guide.
-Hymn 655, The Hymnal 1982, words by John Ernest Bode
AUGUST 1, 2019
But I will wait in continual hope,
I will praise thee again and again.
-Psalm 71: 14-15 (NEB ~ New English Bible)
JULY 31, 2019
But Jesus spoke to them at once, "Don't be afraid," he said. "Take courage! I am here!"
-Mark 16:50b (NLT)
JULY 30, 2019
Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his disciples didn't even have time to eat.
-Mark 6:31 (NLT)
Be faithful in the small things because it is in them that your strength lies.
-Mother Teresa
There is no photo today due to computer problems.
JULY 28, 2019
Let your roots grow down into [Christ Jesus,] and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
-Colossians 2:7 (NLT)
JULY 27, 2019
You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
-Psalm 139:5 (NLT)
JULY 26, 2019
But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
-Psalm 40:16a (NLT)
JULY 25, 2019
Direct, control, suggest this day,
all I design, or do, or say;
that all my powers, with all their might,
in thy sole glory may unite.
-Hymm 11, verse 3, The Hymnal 1982; words: Thomas Ken
JULY 24, 2019
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Silence!" Be still!" Suddenly the wind stopped and there was a great calm. Then he asked [the disciples], "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
-Mark 4: 39-40 (NLT)
JULY 23, 2019
... the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord.
-Acts 14:3a (NLT)
JULY 22, 2019
As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
-Psalm 42:1 NLT
JULY 21, 2019
God isn't finished writing your story; so let go of the pen.
-heard on The Message, Sirius XM Radio
JULY 20, 2019
So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy all you whose hearts are pure!
-Psalm 32:11 (NLT)
JULY 19, 2019
Praise the Lord,
for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love.
-Psalm 31:21 (NLT)
JULY 18, 2019
Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
-Psalm 37:7 (NLT)
JULY 17, 2019
Jesus told them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor - sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."
-Mark 2:17 (NLT)
JULY 16, 2019
I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.
-C.S. Lewis
JULY 15, 2019
We pray you Jesus, take the old water,
our busy, conscientious lives,
and turn them into gospel wine,
that everyone may see your life
and thirst.
-Collect, A New Zealand Prayer Book, pg. 645
JULY 14, 2019
Amos replied, "I'm not a professional prophet, and I was never trained to be one. I'm just a shepherd ... But the Lord called me away from my flock ...
-Amos 7:14-15a (NLT)
Has the Lord called you out of your comfort zone?
JULY 13, 2019
In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.
May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.
-Psalm 20:1 (NLT)
JULY 12, 2019
I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God.
Bend down and listen as I pray.
-Psalm 17:6 (NLT)
JULY 11, 2019
God's love is ever-present; it does not falter or catch with the wind the way our anxieties and fears do. God has given me safety and grounded me in such a mighty love.
-Liz Bartenstein, writing for Forward Day by Day
JULY 10, 2019
The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
-1 Samuel 16:7b (NLT)
JULY 9, 2019
Lead me in the right path, O Lord ...
Make your way plain for me to follow.
-Psalm 5:8 (NLT)
JULY 8, 2019
That prayer has a great power
which a person makes with all their might.
-Mechthild of Madgeburg
JULY 7, 2019
So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.
-Galatians 6:9 (NLT)
JULY 6, 2019
Praise the Lord who is my rock ...
-Psalm 144:1a (NLT)
JULY 5, 2019
Holy God, grant us the beginning of wisdom
and love to cast out every fear:
that we may grow more brave,
more ready to hear,
more ready to obey.
-Collect, A New Zealand Prayer Book, pg. 646
JULY 4, 2019
The Lord helps the fallen
and lifts those bent beneath their loads.
-Psalm 145:14 (NLT)
JULY 3, 2019
But be sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you.
-1 Samuel 12:24 (NLT)
JULY 2, 2019
Prayer is the most concrete way to make our home in God.
-Henri Nouwen
JULY 1, 2019
Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord?
Who can ever praise him enough?
-Psalm 106:2 (NLT)
JUNE 30, 2019
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. ... the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.
-Galatians 6:16a, 22 (NLT)
JUNE 29, 2019
Work at telling others the Good News and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.
-2 Timothy 4:5b (NLT)
JUNE 28, 2019
Long ago you laid the foundations of the earth
and made the heavens with your hands.
-Psalm 102:25 (NLT)
JUNE 27, 2019
Search for the Lord and his strength;
continually seek him.
-Psalm 105:4 (NLT)
JUNE 26, 2019
Live in faith and hope, though it may be in the darkness,
for in the darkness God protects the soul.
-St. John of the Cross (16th Century, Spain)
JUNE 25, 2019
Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.
-Colossians 3:16a (NLT)
JUNE 24, 2019
The grass withers and the flowers fade,
but the word of our God stands forever.
-Isaiah 40:8
JUNE 23, 2019
Send out your light and your truth;
let them guide me.
-Psalm 44:14
JUNE 22, 2019
Breathe on me breath of God,
fill me with life anew,
that I may love what thou dost love,
and do what thou wouldst do.
-Hymn 508, The Hymnal 1982
JUNE 21, 2019
And the Lord came and called as before, "Samuel, Samuel."
And Samuel replied, "Speak, your servant is listening."
-1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
JUNE 20, 2019
I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.
-Psalm 34:4 (NLT)
JUNE 19, 2019
How sweet your words taste to me;
they are sweeter than honey.
-Psalm 119:103 (NLT)
For all the earth is the Lord's,
and he has set the world in order.
-1 Samuel 2: 8c (NLT)
When the world seems disconnected and out of sorts, we do well to remember that Jesus calls us to love and to serve.
- Jay Howington, writing for Forward Day by Day
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
-Romans 5:3-4 (NLT)
Be joyful. Grow to maturity.l Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
-2 Corinthians 13:11b (NLT)
Let all who seek God's help be encouraged.
-Psalm 69:32b (NLT)
But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
-Psalm 70:4 (NLT)
God of power,
may the boldness of your Spirit transform us,
may the gentleness of your Spirit lead us,
may the gifts of your Spirit
be our goal and our strength
now and always.
-A New Zealand Prayer Book, pg. 559
Sing a new song to the Lord!
Sing his praises from the ends of the earth!
Sing all you who sail the seas,
all you who live in different coastlands.
-Isaiah 42:9
As the blind beggar came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?"
"Lord," he said, "I want to see."
And Jesus said, "All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you."
- Luke 40b-42 (NLT)
What do you want Jesus to do for you? Ask, and believe.
I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.
-John 14:27 (NLT)
Jesus replied, "But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice."
-Luke 11:30 (NLT)
I will bless my people ... There will be showers of blessing.
-Ezekiel 34:26
But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their (our) behalf. Parenthetical note added.
-Hebrews 8:24-25 (NLT)
This message came to me from the Lord: ... I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them.
-Ezekiel 11:25 (NLT)
Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
-Psalm 100:1-2 (NLT)
Your unfailing love will last forever.
Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.
-Psalm 89:2 (NLT)
JUNE 2, 2019
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let anyone who hears this say, "Come." Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.
-Revelation 22:17 (NLT)
Before the mountains were born,
before you gave birth to the earth and the world,
from beginning to end, you are God.
-Psalm 90:2 (NLT)
There's a hope in front of me
There's a light, I still see it
There's a hand still holding me
Even when I don't believe it ...
There's hope in front of me.
-Hope in Front of Me by Danny Gokey
Listen here: Hope
We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul ...
-Hebrews 6:19
MAY 29, 2019
Almighty Godgive us such a vision of your purpose
and such an assurance of your love and power,
that we may ever hold fast the hope
which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
-Collect, A New Zealand Prayer Book, p.641
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
-Ephesians 6:10-11
Your strength is found at the end of my road
Your grace it reaches to the hurting
Still through the tears and questioning why
I will stand my ground where hope can be found...
-O'Lord by Lauren Daigle
Listen here: O'Lord
I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
-Joshua 1:9 (NRSV)
Everything that is done in this world is done by hope.
-Martin Luther
Cast all your anxiety on God, because he cares for you.
-1 Peter 5:7 (NRSV)
Love ... bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
-1 Corinthians 13:7 (NRSV)
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
whose trust ever childlike, no cares could destroy:
Be there at our waking, and give us we pray,
your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.
-Hymn 482, The Hymnal 1982
Listen here: Lord of all hopefulness
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
-Romans 15:13
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.
- Helen Keller
There is one Body and one Spirit;
There is one hope in God's call to us; ...
- Holy Baptism, Book of Common Prayer, pg. 299
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; ...
- Isaiah 43:2 (NRSV)
Happy are they who trust in the Lord!
they do not resort to evil spirits or turn to false gods.
- Psalm 40:4 (BCP)
Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.
- Romans 12:12 NRSV
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.
- 1 Peter 5:10 NRSV
No matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible.
-George Chakiris
And now, what is my hope?
O Lord, my hope is in you.
-Psalm 39:8 (BCP)
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
-Lamentations 3:22-23 (NRSV)
Weeping may spend the night,
but joy comes in the morning.
-Psalm 30:6 (BCP)
For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
-Romans 8:24-25 (NRSV)
Give us courage to hope, and to risk disappointment.
Teach us to pray expectantly,
and when our prayers seem to fail,
bring us to pray again and again;
for you are our God,
who acts and will act again.
-Collect, A New Zealand Prayer Book, page 641
Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord you God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.
-Deuteronomy 31:6 (NRSV)
Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without words - and never stops at all.
-Emily Dickinson
... and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
-Romans 5:5 (NRSV)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
-Hebrews 11:1 (NRSV)
Love is a springtime plant that perfumes everything with it's hope, even the ruins to which it clings.
-Gustave Flaubert
And you will have confidence because there is hope;
you will be protected and take your rest in safety.
-Job 11:18 (NRSV)
MAY 2, 2019
... we look not at what can be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
-2 Corinthians 4:18 (NRSV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
-Romans 15:13 (NRSV)
[Jesus prays for his disciples] "I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one."
-John 17:15 (NRSV)
Reading this I was struck that Jesus prays this for his disciples in his time, and in all the time to come. I am humbled that Jesus prays for us, for me.
APRIL 29, 2019
But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift.
-Ephesians 4:7 (NRSV)
Let everything that has breath
praise the Lord!
Hallelujah!
-Psalm 150:6 (BCP)
APRIL 26, 2019
Turn again to your rest, O my soul,
for the Lord has treated you well.
-Psalm 116: 6 (BCP)
When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure you are blessed in abundance.
-Joel Osteen
But Peter said, "I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, stand up and walk." ... he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
- Acts 3:6, 8b (NRSV)
Living Christ, you are risen from the dead!
Love reigns!
- Easter Collect, A New Zealand Prayer Book
You will show me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy ...
- Psalm 16:11 (BCP)
Easter Sunday
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.
-Book of Common Prayer, pg. 351
"The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."
-Lamentations 3:24 (NRSV)
Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
-Hebrews 4:16 (NRSV)
[Jesus said...] I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
-John 13:34a,35 (NRSV)
... let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
-Hebrews 12:1b-2a (NRSV)
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
-1 Corinthians 1:19 (NRSV)
Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens
and your faithfulness to the clouds.
-Psalm 36:5 (BCP)
If we live by the Spirit, Jesus will guide us through all situations and circumstances.
-Debbie Veale
APRIL 13, 2019
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen
-Romans 11:36 (NRSV)
For thus says the Lord: ... When you search for me you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart.
-Jeremiah 29: 10a,13 (NRSV)
Prayer is the key of the morning and the bolt of the evening.
-Mahatma Gandhi
So again Jesus said to them, ... "I am the good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father."
-John 10:7a, 14-15a (NRSV)
Peace be within your walls
and quietness within your towers.
-Psalm 122: 7 (BCP)
Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.
-John 9:15 (NRSV)
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
-Philippians 3:14 (NRSV)
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, help me to listen ~ to open my heart, my mind, and my soul to your call for me in this world. Let me have the courage and grace to act upon that call so that your light may shine forth. Amen.
APRIL 6, 2019
[The Lord] changed deserts into pools of water
and dry land into water-springs.
-Psalm 107:35 (BCP)
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his mercy
and the wonders he does for his children.
-Psalm 107:6,8 ~ and repeated: 13,15/19,21/28,31 (BCP)
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.
-Romans 8: 18 (NRSV)
Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. ... letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
-Romans 8: 5, 6b (NLT)
Praise to you abundant God, ...
Praise to you for your unfailing grace.
Make us now your faithful people
-A New Zealand Prayer Book, p. 491
Happy are the people who know the festal shout!
they walk, O Lord, in the light of your presence.
-Psalm 89:15 (BCP)
For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with shouts of victory.
-Psalm 32:7 (NLT)
QUERY: Have you ever felt challenged beyond your abilities? Overwhelmed by a loss, task, or just the busyness of life? At those times, do you feel alone? Remember, you are never lost to God. God always has a place for you to rest and be renewed; a place where you are known and loved.
PRAYER: Holy God, there are times when I need a place to be where I can rest. You offer me a hiding place, you welcome me into your presence, and I know that I am not alone. Thank you for giving me strength. Amen.
MARCH 30, 2019
... present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, ... For sin will have no dominion over your, since you are not under law but under grace.
-Romans 6:13b, 14 (NRSV)
Come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.
-Psalm 95:1 (BCP)
Love first and things tend to work out far better than when you go in with your own agenda and mindset on what is the right way.
-Valerie Ryan, taken from Lenten Devotionals for St. Peter's by the Sea
There's a wideness in God's mercy
like the wideness of the sea.
-Hymn 469, The Hymnal 1982
Abraham grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
-Romans 3:20b-21 (NRSV)
"For nothing will be impossible with God." -Angel Gabriel
-Luke 1:37 (NRSV)
On Sundays in Lent, the Daily Inspiration will be taken from the Lenten Meditation Series at St, Peter's Episcopal Church in San Pedro, CA. They will include a scripture verse, query, and prayer. I hope you enjoy.
MARCH 24, 2019
Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, ... and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. ... God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."
-Exodus 3:1,2,4 (NRSV)
PRAYER: Almighty and all powerful God, you reach out to each of us in many different ways. Help us to open our ears, our eyes, and our lives to you mighty power. May we respond, "Here I am."
MARCH 23, 2019
Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right is his sight.
-Romans 3:24 (NLT)
Bit it is good for me to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge.
-Psalm 73:28
MARCH 21, 2019
You strengthen me more and more;
you enfold and comfort me.
-Psalm 71:21 (BCP)
Jesus said to him, "Stand up, take your mat, and walk." At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.
-John 5:8-9 (NRSV)
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
-Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSV)
Whenever I am afraid
I will put my trust in you.
-Psalm 56:3 (BCP)
MARCH 17, 2019
You speak in my heart and say, "Seek my face."
Your face, Lord, will I seek.
-Psalm 27:11 (BCP)
PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, keep us mindful of your presence. Help us to seek you always, in the good times and the bad. Give us the gift of your saving help. Amen.
MARCH 16, 2019
Jesus said to her ... "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming... When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us."
-John 4:24-25 (NRSV)
Great things are they that you have done, O Lord my God!
how great your wonders and your plans for us!
there is not who can compare with you.
-Psalm 40:5 (BCP)
I know every bird in the sky,
and the creatures of the field are in my sight.
-Psalm 50:11 (BCP)
... it is the practice of returning to whatever moment we are living in now that restores us, because only when fully in each moment can we draw strength from the Oneness of things.
-Mark Nepo, The Book of Awakening, pg. 79
Christ, however, was faithful over God's house as a son, and we are his house if we hold firm the confidence and the pride that belong to hope.
-Hebrews 3:6 (NRSV)
MARCH 11, 2019
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;
I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
-Psalm 52:8 (BCP)
MARCH 10, 2019
1st Sunday in Lent
For God shall give angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways
-Psalm 91:11 (BCP)
PRAYER: Gracious God, you have given me the gift of your angels to surround me and keep me as I move through my days. Help me be mindful of your constant presence and love, rejoicing always and giving thanks. Amen.
MARCH 9, 2019
... the Lord your God, who is present with you, is a great and awesome God.
-Deuteronomy 7:21b (NRSV)
For he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.
O that today you would harken to his voice.
-Psalm 95:7 (BCP)
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
-John 1:29 (NRSV)
Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.
-St. Augustine
Anyone who truly loves God travels securely.
-St. Teresa of Avila
MARCH 4, 2019
My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
-Psalm 25:15 (ESV)
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
-2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV)
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:6 (ESV)
For God, who said, "let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
-2 Corinthians 4:6 (ESV)
It is the Lord who makes clouds rise at the end of the earth,
who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
-Psalm 135:7 (ESV)
My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promise.
-Psalm 119:148 (ESV)
FEBRUARY 26, 2019
For the Son on God, Jesus Christ... was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him.
2 Corinthians 1:19-20a (ESV)
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
-Philippians 3:14 (ESV)
Who the Son sets free
Oh is free indeed
I'm a child of God
Yes I am
- (song) Who You Say I Am by Hillsong Worship
listen here: Who You Say I Am
I am chosen
Not forsaken
I am who you say I am
- (song) Who You Say I Am by Hillsong Worship
FEBRUARY 22, 2019
In my father's house
There's a place for me
I'm a child of God
Yes I am
- (song) Who You Say I Am by Hillsong Worship
... we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people...
-1 Timothy 5:10b (NRSV)
You meet those who gladly do right,
those who remember you in your ways.
-Isaiah 64:5a (NRSV)
Jesus answered them, "... So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
-Mark 11:24 (NRSV)
Who is like you, Lord God of hosts?
You rule the raging of the sea
and still the surging of it's waves.
-Psalm 18:8a,9 (BCP)
And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.
-Luke 6:19 (NRSV)
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
-Psalm 136:1 (NRSV)
For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.
-Mark 10:45 (NRSV)
Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace ...
-2 Timothy 2:22 (NRSV)
You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in your word.
-Psalm 119:114 (NRSV)
... God did not give us as spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and a spirit of love and of self-discipline.
-2 Timothy 1:7 (NRSV)
The Lord will guide you continually, ...
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water
whose waters never fail.
-Isaiah 58:11 (NRSV)
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain.
-Luke 15:10 (NRSV)
Jesus said to him, " ... All things can be done for the one who believes."
-Mark 9:23 (NRSV)
... the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
-Galatians 5:22 (NRSV)
For the whole law is summed up n a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
-Galatians 5:14 (NRSV)
For the mountains may depart
and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you ...
-Isaiah 54:10a (NRSV)
[Jesus] ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute ... They ate and were filled ...
-Mark 8: 6a, 8a (NRSV)
For you have delivered my soul from death,
and my feet from falling,
so that I may walk before God
in the light of life.
-Psalm 56:13 (NRSV)
Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love.
-1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)
The sparrow has found her a house
and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young;
by the side of your altars, O Lord of Hosts,
my King and my God.
-Psalm 84:2 (BCP)
If you are walking in darkness,
without a ray of light,
trust in the Lord
and rely on your God.
-Isaiah 50:10b (NLT)
O my strength, to you I sing praises,
for you, O God, are my refuge,
the God who shows unfailing love.
-Psalm 59:17 (NLT)
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.
-Galatians 2:20a (NLT)
When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance.
-Joel Osteen
For she thought to herself, "If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed." ... And [Jesus] said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over."
-Mark 5: 28, 34 (NLT)
Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, "Amen! Amen!" as they lifted their hands.
-Nehemiah 8:6a (NLT)
God is a God of the present. God is always in the moment, be that moment hard or easy, joyful and painful.
-Henri Nouwen
The Conversion of St. Paul
But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace.
-Galatians 1:15
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.
-Psalm 37:5 (NLT)
God our life,
be with us through this day,
whether or not it brings us joy.
Help us when evening comes
to recall one benefit
for which to give you thanks.
Amen
-A New Zealand Prayer Book, page 116
Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
-Ephesians 4:29b (NLT)
JANUARY 21, 2019
Therefore I ... beg you to live a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
-Ephesians 4:1 (NLT)
JANUARY 20, 2019
For with thee is the fountain of life;
in thy light do we see light.
-Psalm 36:9 (RSV)
I have called you by name, you are mine.
-Isaiah 43:1b (NLT)
The light and love offered by Jesus is the upholding and transforming piece of us, of all of us. Rest in His light and love.
-Dawn M. Switzer
JANUARY 17, 2019
You light a lamp for me.
The Lord, my God lights up my darkness.
-Psalm 18:28 (NLT)
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
-Ephesians 1:10 (NLT)
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
-Isaiah 40:31a (NLT)
Who else has held the oceans in his hand?
Who else has measured off the heavens with his fingers?
He picks up the whole earth
as if it were a grain of sand.
-Isaiah 40:12a, 15c (NLT)
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;
the God of glory thunders;
the Lord is upon the mighty waters.
-Psalm 29:3 (BCP)
We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us.
-John 9:4a (NLT)
... suddenly [the disciples] saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, but he called out to them, "Don't be afraid. I am here."
-John 6:19 (NLT)
As soon as I pray, you answer me;
you encourage me by giving me strength.
-Psalm 138:3 (NLT)
To all who mourn in Israel,
[the Lord] will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair ...
-Isaiah 61:3a (NLT)
The Lord is on my side, therefore I will not fear ...
-Psalm 118:6a (BCP)
JANUARY 7, 2019
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
-Psalm 103:1 (BCP)
JANUARY 6, 2019
The eastern sages saw from far
and followed on his guiding star;
by light their way to Light they trod,
and by their gifts confessed their God.
-Hymn 131/132 v.2, The Hymnal 1982, words: Caelius Sedulius (5th century)
We, like Mary, rest confounded that a stable should display
heaven's Word, the world's creator, cradled there on Christmas Day,
yet this child, our Lord and brother, brought us love for one another.
-Hymn 102 v.3, The Hymnal 1982, words: James Waring McCrady (this verse only)
Note: this verse is not included in many performances
Listen here: Once in Royal David's City
JANUARY 4, 2019
King of all days oh, so highly exalted
Glorious in Heaven above
Humbly You came to the earth You created
All for love's sake became poor
-Here I am to Worship, Hillsong Worship
Listen here: Here I am to Worship
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
doth his successive journeys run:
his kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
till moons shall wax and wane no more.
-Hymn 544 vs.1, The Hymnal 1982, words: Isaac Watts
Listen here: Jesus Shall Reign
Be near me Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay
close by me forever and love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care
and fit us for heaven to live with thee there.
-Hymn 101 v.3, The Hymnal 1982, Traditional Carol
Listen here: Away in a Manger
At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow,
Every tongue confess him King of glory now;
'tis the father's pleasure we should call him Lord,
Who from the beginning was the mighty Word.
-Hymn 435 v.1, The Hymnal 1982; words: Caroline Marie Noel
This isn't a Christmas hymn, but reflects today's reading from Philippians
