Luke 13:1-5, 1 Timothy 1:12-15, and Psalm 23:6

There were present at that season some who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1-5)
      Holy Spirit, please help each of us recognize our need for repentance and new life in Jesus.

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:12-15)
      Grace is getting from God what we do not deserve. Mercy is not getting from God what we do deserve. Thank you Father for your grace and mercy towards us.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. (Psalm 23:6)
      Jesus, thank you for your goodness and mercy. Thank you for following behind me and comng between me and all of my past.

A word received: Pray for my people to hunger for what I have for them.

Monday: 1, 2, 3 * 4, 7; Ruth 1:1-18; 1 Tim. 1:1-17; Luke 13:1-9
Tuesday: 5, 6 * 10, 11; Ruth 1:19-2:13; 1 Tim. 1:18-2:8; Luke 13:10-17

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Christ Church Schenectady Prayer Table Report, Faith in Action Sunday, May 19, 2013, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. Darlene Chesnut and Torre Bissell on State St. It was rainy and cold but that is never an indicator of how many will come for prayer.

+–indicates received a wooden cross made by Dennis Adams of North Carolina
a–indicates was anointed with Holy Water

+Lloyd (man) — He is still in great pain from his sciatic nerve.

+Don (Older man) — He asked prayer for his wife Pat who has a cracked rib.

Binil — We prayed for his unborn baby boy that he would be strong and healthy and normal and that Sigi would have a safe and easy delivery at the right time.

+Margaret — We prayed for her to reach the calling God has for her.

+a Carl and +a Dede — He asked for the power to resist going back to drugs; she asked for a blessing on their marriage (they have been married two weeks).

+a Kevin — He is a student at Fulton-Montgomery College. We prayed for his success there.

+Brittney

+Ibrihim — He needs a place to stay; he is on the street.

+Moses — We gave thanks for his continued sobriety.

+Clifford — His vocal cords were destroyed in cancer surgery. We prayed for a miracle from Jesus to restore his voice.

+Jimmy — “a home”

+Stephen (young man) — He asked prayer “for my father and my mother and myself.” We reminded him that he had a Father in heaven who loves him. He gave us a big grin and said he knew that — he is a preacher’s kid.

+Angel — He asked prayer for himself and his family and for everyone in need of prayer.

+Ray (young man) — He asked prayer for good luck and that he would win the lottery. We prayed for peace of mind and God’s provision for him.

Katy — We prayed that God would provide for her.

+a Duanne (young man) — He is about to go into the Marines. We prayed for God’s protection for him.

+a Luigi (young man) — He asked prayer “for my family”.

Albany Intercessor

UK praying for marriage

From Christianity Today: The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill. . . . is due to have its third reading on 20 and 21 May. Proposed amendments include exempting religious schools from having to promote or endorse gay marriage, the right to conscientious objection as grounds for refusing to conduct a same-sex marriage ceremony, and for a referendum to be held on the issue of same-sex marriage

Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP)
For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

Romans 11:29 (AMP)
For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]

Father in heaven,
You are a gracious God. We thank You for Your thoughts, Your plans, Your gifts, and Your call in the covenant of marriage. May Your kingdom come, Your will be done in the institution of marriage in the United Kingdom as it is in heaven. Amen.

Tree of 40 fruit–a living sculpture

The Tree of 40 Fruit is quite literally a fruit tree that will grow forty varieties of fruit from the family of stone fruits, including peach, plum, apricot, nectarine, cherry and the hybrid species therein. Blossoming in variegated tones of white and pink in early spring, and burdened by fruit in late summer, this work draws its significance from the number forty. The Tree of 40 Fruit is an allegorical sculpture by Sam Van Aken at 21c Museum Hotel, Bentonville, Arkansas.

Revelation 22;1-5 (MSG)
Then the Angel showed me Water-of-Life River, crystal bright. It flowed from the Throne of God and the Lamb, right down the middle of the street. The Tree of Life was planted on each side of the River, producing twelve kinds of fruit, a ripe fruit each month. The leaves of the Tree are for healing the nations. Never again will anything be cursed. The Throne of God and of the Lamb is at the center. His servants will offer God service—worshiping, they’ll look on his face, their foreheads mirroring God. Never again will there be any night. No one will need lamplight or sunlight. The shining of God, the Master, is all the light anyone needs. And they will rule with him age after age after age.

O Lord,
May fountains of living water flow from our spirits. May our lives bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit in every season. May the work of our hands bring healing to the nations. May Your face shine upon us from age to age. Amen.

John 20:19-23

Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19)
      Holy Spirit, set us free from the fear that keeps us locked inside our church walls. Help us go forth into our communities with the gospel of peace. Thank you.

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. (John 20:20)
      Jesus, reveal yourself to us as well — help us know the reality of your love for us.

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” (John 20:21)
      Jesus, please help us receive and know your peace. Help us go forth at your word.

And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:22)
      Jesus, breathe on us and fill us with the power of your Holy Spirit. Renew in our day the wonders of your Pentecost.

If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20:23)
      Father, help us recognize the opportunities you give us to share your love and forgiveness. Thank you.

A word received: Pray for my victory among my people.

The Day of Pentecost; 118 * 145; Isa. 11:1-9; 1 Cor. 2:1-13; John 14:21-29
Day of Pentecost
Early or Vigil Service: 33:12-22 or 130 or 104:25-32; Genesis 11:1-9 or Exodus 19:1-9a,16-20a, 20:18-20 or Ezekiel 37:1-14 or Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:1-11 or Romans 8:14-17,22-27; John 7:37-39a
Principal Service: 104:25-37 or 104:25-32 or or 33:12-15,18-22; Acts 2:1-11 or Joel 2:28-32; 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 or Acts 2:1-11; John 20:19-23 or John 14:8-17
Monday: 1, 2, 3 * 4, 7; Ruth 1:1-18; 1 Tim. 1:1-17; Luke 13:1-9

Albany Intercessor

Jerusalem

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.

Isaiah 62:1

Let it be so, dear Lord.

John 6:16-21

Now when evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they willingly received him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going. (John 6:16-21)
      Help us willingly receive you into our lives, Jesus. Thank you.

Poem by Jonathan Bissell
Coming On The Water
(Poem based on John 6:16-21)

In the darkness
strong winds blow
the waters are rough

Who is he
coming on the water?

In the darkness
strong winds blow
the waters are rough

Jesus
coming on the water

Tell me
it is you
tell me
do not be afraid

Strong winds blow
the waters are rough
In the darkness
come into my boat

Jesus
coming on the water

Together
we reach the shore.

Saturday: 107:33-43, 108:1-6(7-13) * –; Ezek. 43:1-12; Heb. 9:1-14; Luke 11:14-23
Eve of Pentecost; –; * 33; Exod. 19:3-8a,16-20; 1 Pet. 2:4-10
The Day of Pentecost; 118 * 145; Isa. 11:1-9; 1 Cor. 2:1-13; John 14:21-29
Day of Pentecost
Early or Vigil Service: 33:12-22 or 130 or 104:25-32; Genesis 11:1-9 or Exodus 19:1-9a,16-20a, 20:18-20 or Ezekiel 37:1-14 or Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:1-11 or Romans 8:14-17,22-27; John 7:37-39a
Principal Service: 104:25-37 or 104:25-32 or or 33:12-15,18-22; Acts 2:1-11 or Joel 2:28-32; 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 or Acts 2:1-11; John 20:19-23 or John 14:8-17

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Christ Church Schenectady Prayer Table Report, Saturday, May 18, 2013, 9:15 – 10:35 a.m. Louise Popa, Torre Bissell and Carol MacNaughton (with Steve Evans) on State St.

+–indicates received a wooden cross made by Dennis Adams of North Carolina
a–indicates was anointed with Holy Water

Steve — That he will clearly know the next step to take with his business.

a Tobias (regular) — “I want to be at the right place, at the right time [and the right church].” He asked prayer for his church, One Body of Christ Baptist, Shane, Sharon, Ragena, Maisha, Lisa, Titlaika, Nensin, Dianne, Tina, and Yashiwa.

+a Roseann — For her mom, Helen, for strength to keep going (Helen just lost another daughter age 47), for Roseann’s grandson and sister who are travelling up here, that they will have a safe trip.

+Mirelli (Spanish speaking) — We prayed for the renewing power of the Holy Spirit to come into her.

+a Debra (regular) — She is moving to New York City in the middle of June to be with her family. She is still in lots of pain from being hit by a car two years ago and needs help from her family to take care of her.

+Donna (on her way to a breakfast at Friendship House across the street)

Luz (Spanish speaking woman who speaks some English) — She is going to California to visit — leaving on Tuesday, returning on June 1 — to meet two Japanese grandchildren for the first time.

++++ Vanessa –She asked for “guidance for the next step.” She took three crosses for family members.

+a Sheena — She asked prayer for her mom Vicki who has AIDS.

+ Carla and +Ruth (Spanish speaking) — Mirelli (see above) had gone from the prayer table and brought them for prayer. We prayed for God’s blessing and the power of the Holy Spirit for them.

+a Boogi (man) — “For more of Jesus.”

+a William — He fell and injured his neck and was having difficulty walking.

+a Sean — He had really never known his birth father well. We prayed that he would come to know God as his own father.

+a Craig — He asked prayer for his granddaughter Jean who is going to have major surgery at Albany Med.

+a Eddie — He said that previous prayer that he would get a new apartment has been answered. He asked prayer for a good job to support him and his family.

+a Puru — He was a young Hindu man who has had many conversations with his Christian co-workers and wants to go to church with them. We asked him if he would like to give his life to Jesus and he said, “Yes.” We asked him explicitly if he knew there was only one God and he said, “Yes.” He gave his life to Jesus, confessed his sins and accepted God’s forgiveness.

+a Odell (man) – He has high blood pressure and his cholesterol levels are up, and is feeling a little depressed by it all. We prayed for the healing power of the Holy Spirit to come into his body.

Nick snf Natosh (two young Hindu men) — We prayed for God’s blessing on them.

Albany Intercessor

Psalm 107:33-38

He turns rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; a fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of those who dwell in it. He turns a wilderness into pools of water, and dry land into watersprings. There he makes the hungry dwell, that they may establish a city for a dwelling place, and sow fields and plant vineyards, that they may yield a fruitful harvest. He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly; and he does not let their cattle decrease. (Psalm 107:33-38 )
      Holy Spirit, come and turn our parched and dry churches into pools of living water where your people may find refreshment and healing and restoration. Renew in our day the wonders of your Pentecost.

            A Watered Garden, by W. B. Anderson, 1919
      I have a precious memory. It is the memory of a garden that I happened upon one tired midsummer’s morning, in the midst of a torrid plain in India. I was weary, and travel-stained, and thirsty, when over the drooping head of the horse, I saw a clump of trees on the far horizon. I hoped it might be a garden. It seemed ages until we should reach it. When we did arrive under the spreading branches of great mango trees, a cool zephyr, as grateful as the fanning of angels’ wings, rippled over my parched cheeks. It was still early in the day, when, swinging myself wearily from the hard seat of the springless yekka, I walked straight into the heart of the garden, down the shady aisle of mango and loquat trees. Before dawn there had been a shower of rain, and now the gardener was running the clear, cool water from the irrigating well all about among trees and shrubs. Everywhere leaves were green and flowers were bright. Parrots circled through the cloudless blue, swung upon the swaying branches, calling merrily to one another. The air was ladened with the intoxicating odors of roses and jasmine. The fountain sparkled laughingly in the shaded center of the garden. I stooped to bathe my hands and face in the cool waters of the fountain’s basin. Then, from its joyous spring I drank until satisfied. I sat for a few precious moments upon the marble edge of the fountain and reveled in the refreshment of a watered garden. The driver called, and I hurried out again across the stifling, heated plain. I had tarried for so short a time, but I was a new man. I carried away the song of the garden in my heart, and its echoes shall never die from my life.
      I was making the same journey in another year. The road was more uninviting than before, the weather was hotter, and I was not only weary, but ill. But I had a memory! For hours I looked and longed for the place of the garden of refreshing. At last we came to the shade of its trees. Wearily and weakly, but eagerly, I climbed from the seat of the torturing, springless cart. With unsteady steps I entered the door of the garden. The trees were gray with dust. The flowers drooped in the heat. The little water courses were parched and dry. The fountain was stopped. My soul sank with weariness, and I turned away sick at heart to finish the torturing journey unrefreshed. At the door I met the gardener. I asked him why his garden languished so. He explained with guilty look that he had been absent attending to affairs of his own for a week. I asked him if the raja would not be vexed at the neglect of his garden. He explained that the raja had gone to the mountains for a month. Then I knew that the garden had been neglected because the master’s orders had been disobeyed. He intended that every traveler might be refreshed; but his gardener had not been faithful.
      I have a precious memory. It is a memory of a friend. Sin-stricken and weary, and far from God, I was traveling one day when I came into his life. His whole life was wet with the dews of Heaven; his garments were redolent with the odors of Paradise; he just breathed the very life of God. I sat and communed with him, and from within his life there flowed into mine rivers of living water. I walked with him through lovely avenues of restful shade in his friendship, and saw heavenly vistas, and drank from life-giving springs. I went out to my life renewed and refreshed. I was a new man, and there rang through all my being a song of the memory of that blessed life. All through eternity shall the echoes of that friendship call from peak to peak for me.
      In time of need and anguish I came again to that friend. I ran to meet him as a shelter from my sore distress. I found him and entered into communion with him. But the fountains of his life seemed dried up. The refreshment seemed to have vanished. His own life seemed parched and drooping. His speech was as the speech of other men. I struggled back to my own life as I came. Later he told me that the King of his life was not being obeyed, and the garden of his heart was not being watered.. The trees and the walks of his friendship were still there, but they no longer soothed and strengthened. The fountain of his friendship was still there, but its waters had been hushed. The King had intended that this garden, this life, should be kept perpetually refreshing for the souls of all who might come to it, but the King had not been obeyed, and the living water had not been kept flowing, and I went away unrefreshed.
      Then I prayed, “Oh God, keep flowing into me, and within me, and from within me Thy rivers of living water for the health and joy of other men! Oh, King of life, make my life a watered garden!”

A word received: Bring the wounded and those in pain to me. Be like those four men who lowered their friend through the roof to me.

Saturday: 107:33-43, 108:1-6(7-13) * –; Ezek. 43:1-12; Heb. 9:1-14; Luke 11:14-23
Eve of Pentecost; –; * 33; Exod. 19:3-8a,16-20; 1 Pet. 2:4-10
The Day of Pentecost; 118 * 145; Isa. 11:1-9; 1 Cor. 2:1-13; John 14:21-29
Day of Pentecost
Early or Vigil Service: 33:12-22 or 130 or 104:25-32; Genesis 11:1-9 or Exodus 19:1-9a,16-20a, 20:18-20 or Ezekiel 37:1-14 or Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:1-11 or Romans 8:14-17,22-27; John 7:37-39a
Principal Service: 104:25-37 or 104:25-32 or or 33:12-15,18-22; Acts 2:1-11 or Joel 2:28-32; 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 or Acts 2:1-11; John 20:19-23 or John 14:8-17

Albany Intercessor