Church of the Resurrection: Lent 3 Devotionals

Apologies, given that I did little blogging over the weekend, I neglected to post a link to the third week of Lenten Devotionals at Church of the Resurrection in Tampa (which is the source of the daily Lent devotionals being posted at Anglican Mainstream).

Here’s the link for Week 3:

In case I don’t get a chance to link to the Week 4 devotional guide, just go to the Church of the Resurrection Home Page and you should find the link in the top right of the page.

Lent Quotes: Henri Nouwen – when guilt becomes an idol

Another great Lent quote from Henri Nouwen

“There is an awareness of sin that does not lead to God but to self-preoccupation.  Our temptation is to be so impressed by our sins and failings and so overwhelmed by our lack of generosity that we get stuck in a paralyzing guilt.  It is the guilt that leads to introspection instead of directing our eyes to God.  It is the guilt that has become an idol and therefore a form of pride.  Lent is the time to break down this idol and to direct our attention to our loving Lord.”

hat tip: Living in the Daily Grind blog

John 7:37-49

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. (John 7:37)
      Lord, I come to you.

He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38 )
      Jesus, I believe in you; let your rivers flow out of my heart. Make me a well-watered garden where others may find rest.

But this he spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:39)
      Holy Spirit, help us all throughout this diocese receive more of you; move in our hearts today.

Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” So there was a division among the people because of him. Now some of them wanted to take him, but no one laid hands on him. Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not brought Him?” (John 7:40-45)
      Father, even now the chief priests and leaders of the Episcopal Church seek to contain what your son is doing.

The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!” (John 7:46)
      Jesus, speak to our hearts as well!

Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived? Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in him? (John 7:47-48 )
      Holy Spirit, please do in our generation what was done before: let the good news of Jesus Christ spread throughout the Episcopal Church no matter the lack of faith of its leaders.

But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” (John 7:49)
      Father, it is still true in our day what was true then: the leaders and teachers of the Episcopal Church hold the faith of the common people in contempt. Their “learning” has blinded them. Let the gospel message continue to spread among us. Thank you.

Tuesday: 78:1-39; Jeremiah 7:21-34; Romans 4:13-25; John 7:37-52
Wednesday: 119:97-120; Jeremiah 8:18-9:6; Romans 5:1-11; John 8:12-20

      Notes from the Front Line

      As Jean and I were praying about our personal finances and the finances of the parish, we got the following word: Offer your money, your resources to me daily. Make it a daily offering. Torre

Albany Intercessor

Lent – Counting the Co$t

In checking the RSS feeds of some of the blogs posting regular Lenten-themed entries this afternoon, I discovered two great related entries at the GodSpace and Story-Formed blogs.

Christine Sine’s post at GodSpace is Lent – Finding Freedom in the Desert. In reflecting on something she had read recently by Thomas Merton about what the 40 years in the desert taught the Israelites, Christine writes:

Adversity encourages mutuality, sharing, generosity and cooperation. It encourages us to take notice of the weak and vulnerable and hopefully to accept our responsibility to care for them. It writes the laws of God on our hearts not just on our minds. Something that we need to think about as we responds to the current recession. In fact I wonder if as a world society we are entering a season of Lent in which God wants us to be educated into the freedoms of life lived in a covenantal relationship with God. In From Anxiety and Greed to Milk and Honey a recent article in Sojourner’s magazine Walter Brueggemann reminds us that

Biblical faith is an invitation away from autonomy to covenantal existence that binds the self to the holy, faithful God and to neighbors who are members in a common economy.

This was the lesson of the 40 years in the wilderness for the children of Israel and it seems as though there has never been a better time to think about this than now. What do you think? What lenten lessons are you learning as a result of this recession that are enabling you to live in a way that is more representative of the kingdom of God culture?

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Tara at the Story-Formed blog takes up the challenge of responding to Christine’s questions, and has posted some excellent reflections and a great prayer in her latest blog entry Investing 101:

What does it look like for me and my family to “share with God’s people who are in need”? And how do we get the resources into the hands of those in the family of God who are around the world? As these questions churn in me, I want our children to participate in the sharing as well. So what will that look like? AND as I ask God to “Search me, O God, and know my heart…” I know He is finding places in there that are miserly, calculating and hoarding. I want to “share” because He asks me to, but in the act of obedience I also want Him to transform my heart.

Lord, give us, Your church, a vision of what You desire from us during these economic times. Teach us to live with open hands and hilariously generous hearts and lives. May we give out of obedience and find that our hearts are changed as we share what we have with Your people. Give us eyes to see those who are in need and give us Your guidance as to how you would have us give. As we take care of one another, may the world see You and know that we are Yours by our love for one another. Amen.

***

I’m challenged and convicted by both of these blog entries, and reminded that it is very easy to spiritualize Lent and get so focused on our own personal relationship with the Lord that we lose sight of the real nuts and bolts practical outworking of living out our faith in our daily lives. How is the time we are spending with the Lord this Lent transforming our relationships with those around us and changing our priorities? I confess I personally am finding it hard to be cheerful in giving these days, feeling the squeeze in my own personal finances.

May the Lord continue to grant us grace this Lent to grow in holiness in all areas of our lives – in prayer, in worship, in overcoming areas of persistent sin, and in our growth in compassion and love for the needy around us.

(posted by KB)

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops is convened in Kanuga.

Jeremiah 7:2-15

” ‘Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the LORD.  This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!”  If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly,  if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever.  But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.
 ” ‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, [a] burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, 10 and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”-safe to do all these detestable things?  Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD. 

 ” ‘Go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for my Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel.  While you were doing all these things, declares the LORD, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer.  Therefore, what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears my Name, the temple you trust in, the place I gave to you and your fathers.  I will thrust you from my presence, just as I did all your brothers, the people of Ephraim.’

O Lord,

We pray that the bishops do not trust in deceptive words that are worthless.  Open their ears to hear Your voice.  Amen.

Index of Lent Entries: Feb 23 – Mar 16

We’ve posted over 65 entries so far this Lent… We hope and pray these resources, prayers & quotes continue to be a blessing and encouragement and strengthen us all to truly keep a holy Lent.

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1.  Our Lent entries by category:
Lent Devotionals
Lent Prayers
Lent Quotes
Lent Resources
Lent: Family & Children

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2.  Other quick links – Notable Posts (Updated March 16)

(With the exception of the resources list, entries are listed more or less in order of posting, most recent first)

a. Resources
Our Top Ten Favorite Lent Resources
Some NEW Lenten Resources to recommend
Update on Anglican Lent Resources

Lenten Sabbath Prayer Service for families
Week 2 Lenten Devotional Guide Available
Great post on Lent & Kids at the Story-Formed blog
Fr. Stephen Freeman: Why we Fast
GAFCON Lenten Bible Studies “Way of the Cross” available
Phil at Deacon’s Slant – blogging on the 7 Deadly Sins
The Falls Church has a Lenten Devotional guide
An Appeal for Anglican Lenten Resources
Lent for children & families: A Lenten version of a “Jesse Tree”
Lent Resource: 40 Days for Life
Anglican Relief & Development’s Lenten Appeal
Ash Wednesday Resources & Links
From our Archives: Index of all the 2006 Anglican Bloggers Lenten Devotional posts

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b. Prayers
Hear, O Lord (Attende Domine)
Richard Baxter – Keep me seeking after You
St. Thomas More – Give me grace to amend my life
Lenten Sabbath Prayer Service for families
St. Ignatius – the reward of knowing that we do thy will
A Communal Prayer of Confession
St. Ephraim the Syrian – Take away the spirit of laziness
Praying for our enemies
St. John Chrysostom – Let me love you as intensely as I have loved sin
St. Thomas Aquinas – Give light to my blindness
Dietrich Bonhoeffer – In Me there is Darkness, but with You there is Light
Arise Thou Sun Upon the Winter Landscape of My Heart
Charles Wesley – Make My Heart a House of Prayer
EB Pusey – May we weary of all which is not His
Lenten Prayer: to be freed from the seven deadly sins
St. Augustine – Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit
One blogger’s Daily Prayer for Lent
Ash Wednesday Prayers: Turn to us O Lord, and we shall be turned
St. Anselm – Grant us Grace to Desire You with a whole heart
Two Ash Wednesday Prayers
Charles Wesley: Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies
St. Polycarp – Increase in us faith, truth and gentleness

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c.  Quotes

Gregory of Nyssa – Through prayer … we rid ourselves of vanity
John Newton – I am not what I once was
St. Peter Chrysologus – Fasting is the Soul of Prayer
Aelfric of Eynsham – Honor God not by Naked Words Alone
Thomas a Kempis: Now is the proper time for amendment
John Donne – It is your sin, your own sin
Christine Sine – What is Lent Preparing us For?
George Herbert – Lord instruct us to improve our fast
Abstaining from distraction
Bonaventure – ask to be taught, above all things, how to love
Bonhoeffer on Cheap vs. Costly Grace
The real question of Lent
Jean Pierre de Caussade – the active practice of fidelity
Henri Nouwen – How am I to let myself be found by Him?
Hesychios – Set your soul in quietness
Pope Benedict XVI on Fasting
Giving up sin, not chocolate! (and an excellent set of questions for self examination)
St. Macarius the Great – Make a Beginning Every Day
The purpose of spiritual disciplines
Teresa of Avila – bringing our wills into conformity with the will of God

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d. Devotionals / Meditations:

William Cowper: Jehovah Our Righteousness
TSM March 3 Devotional – Wayward Hearts & John Wesley
From our Archives: Seek the Lord and Live, an Ash Wednesday Devotional
“Ashes”
An “emergent Catholic” reflects on prayer – “activity” vs. “meditation”
From our Archives: Index of all the 2006 Anglican Bloggers Lenten Devotional posts
Reflecting further on the juxtaposition of the Transfiguration & Lent
Preparing for Lent: What can I do before Lent begins?
Dr. Peter Toon reflects on Lent and justification by faith

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e. Miscellaneous:

Lent around the blogosphere - 4
Lent around the blogosphere - 3
Lent Around the Blogosphere – 2
Lent around the blogosphere (updated)

Lent Prayers: Hear, O Lord (Attende Domine)

From our archives: originally posted in March 2006. Note: on Tuesday and Wednesday we’ll be posting Captain Yips’ two reflections on this prayer from our 2006 Anglican bloggers Lenten devotional series.

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Attende Domine – Hear, O Lord
Filed under: Prayers & Prayer Themes, Repentance, Lent 2006, Lent Prayers — Karen B.

What a wonderful prayer litany from the 10th century. For those of you Latin buffs, the Latin text follows below the English.

source:  Catholic Culture.Org
This penitential hymn is based on a 10th century Mozarabic Litany for the Lenten Season.

Refrain. Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon us, who have sinned against Thee.

1. King, high exalted, all the world’s Redeemer, to Thee we lift out eyes with weeping: Christ, we implore Thee, hear Thy suppliant’s prayers.

Refrain. Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon us, who have sinned against Thee.

2. Right hand of Godhead, headstone of the corner, path of salvation, gate of heaven, wash away the stains of our sin.

Refrain. Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon us, who have sinned against Thee.

3. We, Thy eternal majesty entreating, with Thy blessed ears hear our sighing: graciously grant pardon to our sins.

Refrain. Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon us, who have sinned against Thee.

4. Humbly confess we, who have sinned against Thee, with contrite hearts we reveal things hidden; O Redeemer, may Thy pity grant forgiveness.

Refrain. Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon us, who have sinned against Thee.

5. Led away captive, guiltless, unresisting, condemned by false witnesses unto death for sinners, Christ do Thou keep us whom Thy blood hath ransomed.

Refrain. Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon us, who have sinned against Thee.

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Attende Domine
R. Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.

Ad te Rex summe, omnium redemptor, oculos nostros sublevamus flentes: exaudi, Christe, supplicantum preces. R.

Dextera Patris, lapis angularis, via salutis, ianua caelestis, ablue nostri maculas delicti. R.
Rogamus, Deus, tuam maiestatem: auribus sacris gemitus exaudi: crimina nostra placidus indulge. R.

Tibi fatemur crimina admissa: contrito corde pandimus occulta: tua Redemptor, pietas ignoscat. R.

Innocens captus, nec repugnans ductus, testibus falsis pro impiis damnatus: quos redemisti, tu conserva, Christe. R.

Psalm 80:1-7

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth! (Psalm 80:1)
      Jesus, Shepherd of Israel, lead us like a flock; let your light shine forth on the Episcopal Church.

Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, stir up your strength, and come and save us! (Psalm 80:2)
      Jesus, stir up your strength before the leaders and teachers and people of the Episcopal Church, and come and save us!

Restore us, O God; cause your face to shine, and we shall be saved! (Psalm 80:3)
      Father, restore us; bring us back to you and we shall be saved.

O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry against the prayer of your people? (Psalm 80:4)
      LORD, we continue to provoke you by our words and our deeds; have mercy on us.

You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in great measure. (Psalm 80:5)
      Holy Spirit, move our hearts to repentance.

You have made us a strife to our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves. (Psalm 80:6)
      Restore us, O God of hosts; cause your face to shine, and we shall be saved! (Psalm 80:7)

Monday: 80; Jeremiah 7:1-15; Romans 4:1-12; John 7:14-36
Tuesday: 78:1-39; Jeremiah 7:21-34; Romans 4:13-25; John 7:37-52

Albany Intercessor

Justyn Terry: Be constant in prayer

The Very Rev. Justyn Terry, Dean of Trinity School for Ministry, from an article on the birth of a new province–

Be Constant in prayer.
Pray every day for those with whom you disagree. Pray for the leadership of The Episcopal Church, for great blessing to be
upon them. Pray for the witness of the Church to a watching world. This is a time when we might easily be tempted to act in
the flesh rather than in the Spirit. Our walk with the Lord is all the more vital. Let us heed the call to be constant in prayer.
At a time like this we have an opportunity to learn about living in the tension of a fallen world. May the Lord grant us abundant grace for these testing times.

Mark 5:1-20

      Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when he had come out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.
      When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore you by God that you do not torment me.”
      For he said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” Then he asked him, “What is your name?”
      And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” Also he begged him earnestly that he would not send them out of the country.
      Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.
      So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with him to depart from their region.
      And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged him that he might be with him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how he has had compassion on you.” And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled. (Mark 5:1-20)
      Jesus, thank you for your compassion on me.

      Holy Spirit, guide me in speaking to my family and friends so that I truly tell of how Jesus has had compassion on me.

      Father, thank you for adopting me as your son and making me clean by the blood of your son Jesus. Thank you.

Sunday: 93, 96; Jeremiah 6:9-15; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; Mark 5:1-20
Monday: 80; Jeremiah 7:1-15; Romans 4:1-12; John 7:14-36

      Notes from the Front Line

Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009
From: Carlson, David A
Subject: Addendum to Prayer Table Report
Torre,
Thank you for putting this combined report out. I forgot to include one of the people who stopped for prayer — a woman named Estelle (someone else came right after her and I forgot to write it down at the time). She needs to get an apartment (she has been staying with a friend) and asked us to pray for a custody hearing next week for her son Isaiah (the case will be held downstate so she is praying for transportation).

Albany Intercessor

Lent Quotes: Gregory of Nyssa – Through prayer … we rid ourselves of vanity

From our archives, originally posted in March 2007

Lent Quotes: Gregory of Nyssa on Prayer

Filed under: Saints & Church Fathers, Spiritual Disciplines, Lent 2007, Lent Quotes — Karen B.

The effect of prayer is union with God, and, if someone is with God, he is separated from the enemy.

Through prayer we guard our chastity, control our temper and rid ourselves of vanity. It makes us forget injuries, overcomes envy, defeats injustice and makes amends for sin. . . It will refresh you when you are weary and comfort you when you are sorrowful. . .

Prayer is the delight of the joyful as well as the solace of the afflicted. . . Prayer is intimacy with God and contemplation of the invisible.

–Gregory of Nyssa

Lord’s Resistance Army

A Ugandan website has posted an analysis of the military campaign against the LRA. Although Joseph Kony is still free, many of our prayers have been answered. One hundred fifty rebels have been killed, five LRA commanders captured, and 300 abductees rescued. Last week, the troops captured LRA leader number four.
The LRA use diversionary tactics to draw attention away from its leader. The capture and death of some of his commanders and fighters is poised to be a serious setback for Kony, as it deprives him of diversionary troops.
Dominic Ongwen is close to the Central African Republic (CAR) border, and Okeny Opwa is close to southern Sudan-DR Congo border. Kony is criss-crossing between these places. It was also reported that Odhiambo is in a critical condition, suffering from gout and probably injured during December 14 raids.
Kony is reported to have lost important means of communication by radio and satellite phones. Arms, hi-tech communication gadgets and laptops have reportedly been recovered. Air strikes razed down large gardens of food.
Moved by the cries of our African brothers and sisters, Lent & Beyond has posted 31 prayers for the defeat of the LRA, most of them in 2009. Operation Lightning Thunder, a joint military operation of Uganda, Southern Sudan, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo that began in December 2008, has so far been the most effective offensive against the LRA. I thank God for the many answered prayers.
We are currently praying through Psalms 17 and 18. As we progress through these psalms, it is occasionally uncanny how the current news report coincides with the next verses. On January 31, the rescue of 90 Congolese abductees tied to each other on ropes was reported. This was the corresponding scripture passage:

The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called to the LORD;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears. Psalm 18:4-6

Indeed, today’s analysis of the progress made by the military operation correlates with the next verses:

Psalm 18:28-29 (New Living Translation)
You light a lamp for me.
The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.
In your strength I can crush an army;
with my God I can scale any wall.

O Lord our God,
We thank You for stirring us to pray for the defeat of the Lord’s Resistance Army and for teaching us how to pray. In Your strength, this army can be crushed! With You, this stronghold can be overcome! You are a mighty God and an awesome God. We praise Your holy name. Amen.

Prayer Table Reports

PRAYER TABLE REPORT #1
Saturday, March 14 2009; at Christ Church in Schenectady. First “shift:” Torre Bissell and Don Foust, 9:20-10:30 a.m. Note: Very balmy, sunny, a really pleasant change in the weather!

+–indicates received wooden cross made by Dennis Adams of North Carolina.

+Bea — woman waiting for the bus — pain in stomach that doctor said was due to anxiety; she has claimed her healing hasn’t received it yet.

Frank — older man — goes to St. Joseph’s downtown; he was reluctant at first to receive prayer but then did.

+Theodore — man came from other side of street — had a fight with his wife Stacy a week ago and has been out of the apartment since. Confessed his part of it to Jesus and asked for forgiveness. He is going back to Stacy to ask her forgiveness.

Bill — a regular — crossed himself after receiving prayer.

+Malcolm — “It’s a struggle each day for food and provision.” We prayed the Father would send this day’s bread. We pointed out that Jesus is the provider.

Lester — middle-aged man — prayed for sobriety for him and prayed for protection and provision.

+Jim — middle-aged man — his Godson Michael has been in Iraq for “4 years, 5 months, and 6 days; that’s too damned long!” We prayed for protection for Michael and for all those who are in harm’s way there and peace and comfort for Jim.

James — middle-aged man — he is a pastor of the Macedonia Seventh Day Adventist Church around the corner on Swan St.

Pat — middle-aged woman, a regular — prayed Keith would be able to get his blood pressure down, that Nick would get a kidney transplant, that Keisha’s tumor would disappear, and that Pat “will hold strong” when she goes to Atlantic City.

+Pedro — young man — “My English…Spanish” prayed for protection and provision

Jim — middle-aged man — prayed for comfort for him about his son Robert’s death.

+Tyra and +Shannon — two young women — we prayed for them and for their children, Maileh, Kadez, and Markel.

PRAYER TABLE REPORT #2
(Sat., March 14, 2009; 10:30 — Dianne Gambill and David Carlson)

[+ --indicates received one of the wooden crosses from Dennis Adams of North Carolina.]

Desdemona — a dear lady who has come for prayer many times — asked for continued prayer for her grandson Peter who is in jail — we prayed for the Lord’s covering over the situation, for the Lord’s protection and provision for Peter, and for God’s peace for Desdemona — we thanked God that Peter has a praying grandmother; as she left, Desdemona said, “with much prayer is much power” — Amen!

Middle-aged man walking by — said he was too busy to stop for prayer and said “I still have God in my heart” — we prayed for the Lord’s blessing

[NOTE: We had an unusually high percentage of people who turned down our offers to pray for them -- we prayed for them as they walked by that the Lord will reveal Himself to them and that they would know that God loves them]

+ Reena — woman got off the bus and came right over to the prayer table — we recognized her as someone who has stopped before — she asked for general prayers for her health and especially her eyes (she is waiting to get an appointment with an eye doctor) — we prayed for physical healing of her eyes and that the Lord would give her eyes to see what He wants to show her spiritually

+ Bob — another “repeat” — we prayed that the Lord would protect him, provide for him in every way, and reveal Himself to Bob

++ Lisa — woman who has come to Neighborhood Meal before and only has partial hearing — she asked prayer for her husband for healing of his foot (he just had a toe amputated); she accepted crosses for herself and her husband

Jonathan — young man in early 20′s — gets depressed, thinks people at church are mad at him or don’t like him — we prayed that he would know that people love him and care about him and that especially he would know how much his Father in Heaven loves him.

+ C — teenager asked prayer for 18-year old brother Joshua — got word that Joshua was held up at knifepoint last night and has not been able to get in touch with him ever since — we asked for God’s peace and His covering over the whole situation — that Joshua would be ok

David Carlson

Albany Intercessor

House of Bishops

The Episcopal Church House of Bishops is meeting in Kanuga.

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. Romans 3:22-25a

O Lord, we cry out for shepherds who have faith in the blood of Jesus. Amen.

This prayer was contributed by one of our readers, Georgia.

Holy Father, Please drive all evil from hearts and minds of these men and women…give them ears to hear, eyes to see, hearts to believe. By the Power of Your Word, restore them to their right minds… may the righteous who attend be able to humbly, gently, patiently, meekly instruct, so that You may convict and grant godly sorrow unto repentance…broken and contrite hearts….Be glorified in Your Church, Lord Jesus. Amen
II Timothy 2:24-26

Lent Quotes: John Newton – I am not what I once was

“I am not what I ought to be — ah, how imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be — I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good! I am not what I hope to be — soon, soon shall I put off mortality, and with mortality all sin and imperfection. Yet, though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was; a slave to sin and Satan; and I can heartily join with the apostle, and acknowledge, “By the grace of God I am what I am.”

As quoted in The Christian Pioneer (1856) edited by Joseph Foulkes Winks, p. 84

(hattip to a commenter at Stand Firm)