Rolling the stone, part I

Genesis 29:2-11 (The Message)

Jacob set out again on his way to the people of the east. He noticed a well out in an open field with three flocks of sheep bedded down around it. This was the common well from which the flocks were watered. The stone over the mouth of the well was huge. When all the flocks were gathered, the shepherds would roll the stone from the well and water the sheep; then they would return the stone, covering the well.
Jacob said, “Hello friends. Where are you from?”

They said, “We’re from Haran.”

Jacob asked, “Do you know Laban son of Nahor?”

“We do.”

“Are things well with him?” Jacob continued.

“Very well,” they said. “And here is his daughter Rachel coming with the flock.”

Jacob said, “There’s a lot of daylight still left; it isn’t time to round up the sheep yet, is it? So why not water the flocks and go back to grazing?”

“We can’t,” they said. “Not until all the shepherds get here. It takes all of us to roll the stone from the well. Not until then can we water the flocks.”

While Jacob was in conversation with them, Rachel came up with her father’s sheep. She was the shepherd. The moment Jacob spotted Rachel, daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, saw her arriving with his uncle Laban’s sheep, he went and single-handedly rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the sheep of his uncle Laban. Then he kissed Rachel and broke into tears.

Dear Lord,
When Jacob saw Rachel, his heart was so transformed by his love for her, a huge stone proved no barrier to uncovering the well of water. When he served Laban seven years for Rachel, they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
Oh, that our love for You would prove so passionate–that our love would transform our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh and uncover wells of living water. Oh, that our days would be so filled with adoration that time would loose its grip on our our imaginations. Creator of heaven and earth, of space and time, may we live and move and have our being in You. Amen.
Genesis 29:10, 20, Ezekiel 36:26, Acts 17:28

Psalm 123

Unto you I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. (Psalm 123:1)
      Father, we look to you.

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until he has mercy on us. (Psalm 123:2)
      Jesus, we are your servants and we look to you. You have called us friends and we are awed by that. Please help us keep looking to you; thank you for your mercy on us.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us! For we are exceedingly filled with contempt. (Psalm 123:3)
      Holy Spirit, the proud hold us in contempt; help us keep looking to you. Fill our minds with your truth.

Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorn of those who are at ease, with the contempt of the proud. (Psalm 123:4)
      LORD, if it had not been for you who have been at our side when men rose up against your faithful people, they would have swallowed us alive when their wrath was kindled against us; we would have been overwhelmed. But blessed are you, O LORD our God who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowler. Our help is in you, O LORD, who has made heaven and earth. (From Psalm 124)

      A word received: Pray that I will raise up faithful witnesses throughout my church. Pray for my people that they will have a heart to go out into the harvest fields.

Tuesday: [120], 121, 122, 123; 2 Samuel 18:9-18; Acts 23:12-24; Mark 11:27-12:12
Wednesday: 119:145-176; 2 Samuel 18:19-23; Acts 23:23-35; Mark 12:13-27

Albany Intercessor

Mark 11:12-26

Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, he went to see if perhaps he would find something on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And his disciples heard it. (Mark 11:12-14)
      Jesus, you have taught in so many parables about the consequences of not yielding up fruit to you when you expect it. Have mercy on the Episcopal Church and restore us to fruitfulness. Thank you.

So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And he would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then he taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” (Mark 11:15-17)
      Lord, have mercy on us in the Episcopal Church and come and drive out of it all who corrupt it. Restore to us a common life of prayer.

And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy him; for they feared him, because all the people were astonished at his teaching. (Mark 11:18 )
      Heavenly Father, even now many of the chief priests of the Episcopal Church plot how they might destroy those who are faithful to Jesus. Have mercy on us and protect us.

When evening had come, he went out of the city. Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away.” (Mark 11:19-21)
      Holy Spirit, please help us count the cost of not yielding up the fruit that Jesus expects from us; please help us count the cost of not going forth to the harvest fields.

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. (Mark 11:22-23)
      Jesus, we come to you for those, ____nn____, who have spiritual or emotional mountains that block their way forward. In your name we command those mountains to be removed and cast into the sea.

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:24-26)
      Holy Spirit, move in all our hearts and set us free from condemnation: help us forgive one another in the Episcopal Church. Thank you.

      A word received: Pray for the princes of my people.
      Pray for the rulers of my people.
      Pray they will turn to me for guidance.
      Pray they will hear and receive my guidance.
      Pray for this nation that it will come to new life in me.
      Pray for hope that does not disappoint — that only comes from me.

      A word received: You can turn to me now, whatever your need or trouble.

Monday: 106:1-18; 2 Samuel 17:24-18:8; Acts 22:30-23:11; Mark 11:12-26
Tuesday: [120], 121, 122, 123; 2 Samuel 18:9-18; Acts 23:12-24; Mark 11:27-12:12

Albany Intercessor

Psalm 118:1-9

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! For his mercy endures forever. (Psalm 118:1)
      Thank you, LORD, for your enduring mercy to us in the midst of all of the confusion in your church and in this nation. Please stop the disinformation about health care reform.

Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 118:2)
      Holy Spirit, please help all of us throughout this nation know and say, “Your mercy endures forever.”

Let the house of Aaron now say, “His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 118:3)
      Jesus, we pray that the leaders and teachers of the Episcopal Church would know and say, “Your mercy endures forever.”

Let those who fear the Lord now say, “His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 118:4)
      Holy Father, thank you for loving us so much, for sending your son to die for us, “Your mercy endures forever!”

I called on the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place [set me free]. (Psalm 118:5)
      Jesus, in our distress over your church we have called on you — please set us in that place of freedom where we cast all our cares on you.

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (Psalm 118:6)
      Father, thank you for being there when we need you.

The Lord is for me among those who help me; therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me. (Psalm 118:7)
      Father, my heart’s desire for those who hate your faithful people is that you will bring them to conversion and repentance. Thank you.

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. (Psalm 118:8 )
      Jesus, you are our confidence and our hope.

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. (Psalm 118:9)
      Father, please help us keep our hope and our trust fixed on you where true joys are to be found.
      We pray for the princes of your church — the bishops — that they will turn to you.
      We pray for the princes of this nation — the President and the governors, the congressmen and legislators, and the judges — that they will turn to you and seek your guidance. Thank you.

      A word received: Pray for my people to have my mind about the events in the Episcopal Church.
      Pray for my people to hold me as the standard of measurement.
      Pray for my people to return to my word and truth.
      Pray for my people to desire my will and purposes to be worked out in the Episcopal Church.

Sunday: 118; 2 Samuel 17:1-23; Gal. 3:6-14; John 5:30-47
Monday: 106:1-18; 2 Samuel 17:24-18:8; Acts 22:30-23:11; Mark 11:12-26

      Notes from the Front Line

Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009
From: Noel Dawes
Subject: Ministering at Helping Military Families Conference
      Meryl and I are ministering at the Helping Military Families Conference in CO from Sun 16 Aug to Fri 21 Aug inclusive. Conference details are at http://www.accts.org/naramcfc and we would welcome your prayers for us and the conference as a whole.
      Many thanks and blessings!
      P.S. If you have served your country in a war zone, especially in Iraq or Afghanistan – or in any of the many battles and actions the men and women our armed forces have fought since World War 2 up to today – you may be interested to look at http://www.christ-the-king-center.org/WelcomeHome/.
      Click on the links. Download a brochure and pass it on to a friend.
      If you feel a Welcome Home Retreat is for you, either as a helper or a guest, please call Sandra Lester at 518.692.9550 ext 202. Donors have been generous and the Retreat is offered free of charge. We have huge hearts to minister Christ’s healing grace to Warriors’ lives. Our fifth, very successful, Retreat took place from 3-5 August 2009.
      The last Retreat date for 2009 is 26-28 October. Dates for 2010 will be publicized very soon.
      Y’all come – be refreshed from the wellspring of life!
      [Note: Pray for the Welcome Home Initiative!]

Albany Intercessor

Prayer Table report

Christ Church Schenectady Prayer Table report August 15, 9:25-10:30 AM Torre Bissell and Don Foust
+–indicates received wooden cross made by Dennis Adams of North Carolina.

It was a very slow day at the corner of State and Swan in Schenectady today. There were times when the streets were totally quiet; no cars, no busses, no ambulance sirens, no children playing, not even the hum of locusts in the trees.

+Shamir and +Alex–this young couple is expecting a child. We prayed for a healthy and safe delivery of the baby. We also prayed that this couple and their baby would become a family.

Man across the street–Did not stop, but made the sign of the cross when we said hello.

+Laura and her young son +Julius–We prayed for protection for this family. Julius’ eyes became large and a huge smile appeared on his face when we gave him the wooden cross.

+Albert–prayed for good fortune.

+Charles–”The Lord knows…”

+Glenn–Young man–Among his multiple tattoos was a pair of Praying Hands. Asked for strength to make the correct decisions in his life.

+Austin–This young man wearing a tie-dyed tee-shirt and matching head band first passed by on the other side of the street. On the return he cheerfully stopped and asked for prayer for his upcoming trip. He is going to Eugene and Portland Oregon. We prayed for Travelling Mercies.

+Will–This young man said is about to make a major decision in his life–to end his addiction to alcohol and drugs. We prayed for the Holy Spirit to give him strength.

Albany Intercessor

Psalm 107:33-43

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. (Psalm 107:33-34)
      LORD, so much of the Episcopal Church has turned into barren and dry ground; it no longer yields up to the fruit of righteousness.

He turns a wilderness into pools of water, and dry land into watersprings. (Psalm 107:35)
      Holy Spirit, come and flood us with your living water. Give us a heart’s hunger that will not be satisfied with anything less than you.

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. (Psalm 107:36-37)
      Jesus, we long for our parish and this diocese to be fruitful and well-watered gardens where your people may find rest and refreshment. Help us sow in your Spirit and bring to you a fruitful harvest.

He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly; and he does not let their cattle decrease. (Psalm 107:38 )
      Father, we turn to you and desire your blessing.

When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction and sorrow, he pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way; (Psalm 107:39-40)
      Lord Jesus, please deal with those who hold your truth and your little ones in contempt and despise the good news of your cross and resurrection. Bring the leaders and teachers of the Episcopal Church to a saving knowledge of you.

Yet he sets the poor on high, far from affliction, and makes their families like a flock. The righteous see it and rejoice, and all iniquity stops its mouth. (Psalm 107:41-42)
      Father, set the poor in spirit under the shelter of your wings and shepherd them. Give us your joy in what you are doing among us.

Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord. (Psalm 107:43)
      Holy Spirit, please give us understanding of the Father’s lovingkindness as we observe what you are doing among us. Thank you.

      A word received: Pray for my people.
      Pray they will be restored to me.
      So many of my people have wandered away; pray they will return to me.

Saturday: 107:33-43, 108:1-6(7-13); 2 Samuel 16:1-23; Acts 22:17-29; Mark 11:1-11
Sunday: 118; 2 Samuel 17:1-23; Gal. 3:6-14; John 5:30-47

Albany Intercessor

Psalm 102:1-4

Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you. (Psalm 102:1)
      Jesus, please hear our prayer and let our cry come to you for the Episcopal Church and for this diocese.

Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. (Psalm 102:2)
      Jesus, reveal yourself daily to Bishop Bill, hear his prayers for this diocese, and daily guide him.

For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers. (Psalm 102:3)
      Father, the life of the church has been consumed and dried up, please send the refreshing rain of your Holy Spirit upon us.

My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. (Psalm 102:4)
      Holy Spirit, come and provide for us in this diocese with your wisdom and joy.

      Jesus, please set a table for us in the wilderness of the Episcopal Church.

      Father, as you led the children of Israel through the wilderness, now lead your faithful people in the Episcopal Church. Thank you.

      A word received: Pray for my people.
      Pray that I will raise up faithful rulers and shepherds for my people and that they will walk in all my ways.
      Pray that I will refine their hearts with my word and Spirit.
      Pray for new life in my church and among my people.
      Pray for a return to faithful witness of my word and deeds.

Thursday: 105:1-22; 2 Samuel 15:1-18; Acts 21:27-36; Mark 10:32-45
Friday: 102; 2 Samuel 15:19-37; Acts 21:37-22:16; Mark 10:46-52

Albany Intercessor

South Carolina

The diocese of South Carolina has their clergy meeting today.

Dear Father,
As intercessors, we come boldly into Your throne room covered in the Blood of Jesus. We come up under the authority of the Blood Covenant, the authority of Your Word and the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Clothe the clergy of South Carolina with the armor of light.
–May they bind themselves to the Truth, who is Jesus.
–May they bind themselves to Your Righteousness in Christ Jesus.
–May they bind themselves to the Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
–May they bind themselves to the Faith of the Son of God.
–May they bind themselves to the Salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Help them to bind their mind, will, and emotions to the Will, Word, and Way of God. May their corporate mind be so bound to the mind of Christ, that the very thoughts, feelings and purposes of His heart would be within their thoughts. Endow them with mighty weapons for the pulling down of strongholds, the casting down of imagination and every high thing that would exalt itself against the knowledge of You in their corporate life. We pray that their thoughts would be captive to the obedience of Christ.

Baptize them and fill them afresh with the Holy Spirit and Fire.

We pray that their corporate mind will be aligned with Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, and the kingdom of God. As intercessors we speak to the heavens and command them to be opened over this meeting place. Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven this day. Release the ministry of angels into their gathering.

Stir them to resist the devil and renounce any agreement that they have knowingly or unknowingly made with the kingdom of darkness. As intercessors, we agree with the word of God and the completed work of the cross–It is finished! The prince of this world now stands condemned. Jesus has disarmed the powers and authoritites, triumphing over them by the cross. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. We claim the completed work of the cross over this meeting, this diocese, and the land.

Father, as intercessors, we are fallen creatures. We see through a glass darkly and don’t always know how to pray. We stand in agreement with the intercession of Jesus Christ that is proceeding from the right hand of the Father. Amen.

Mark 10:42-45

But Jesus called them to himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45)
      Jesus, please restore your model of leadership to the life of the Episcopal Church. Thank you.

      A word received: Call to me my little ones. Call my faithful ones to me. Rejoice in my presence. Place your hope in me.

Thursday: 105:1-22; 2 Samuel 15:1-18; Acts 21:27-36; Mark 10:32-45
Friday: 102; 2 Samuel 15:19-37; Acts 21:37-22:16; Mark 10:46-52

Albany Intercessor

Savannah litigation

Tonight there will ba a prayer vigil for the Christ Church, Savannah, GA court hearing, to be held tomorrow.

From Scripture
No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him,
on those whose hope is in His unfailing love,
to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.
In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.
May Your unfailing love rest upon us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in You. Psalm 33:16-22

Please Pray For:
The Judge

This is the prayer being used by Christ Church, Savannah, for its legal counsel:

Though we do not trust in any man to help us, we do ask that You, Lord, would help these men who have been appointed to serve as our representatives in the court, conduct themselves in accordance with Your will. We pray that they would be enabled by Your Holy Spirit to see clearly what You would have them do; that they would speak clearly and persuasively against any injustice or unrighteousness. We pray that the Judge would make just decisions and that You would prevent him from being deceived by the lies of the one who is known as the father of lies. We pray not that we would win, Lord, but that Your Truth would be vindicated in such a way that the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ would never depart from the pulpit of Christ Church. We ask that the only “trust” which would have any claim upon Christ Church would be that trust, Lord, which Your people place in You as the Way, the Truth and the Life.

We pray that You glorify Yourself in these proceedings in the court and that we would not fail to be worthy of the calling You have placed upon us as Your stewards of Christ Church at this time. We thank You that our unrighteousness is covered by the blood of the Lamb. So move us by Your Spirit that we would not get in the way of Your will being done. Amen.

We also pray, Lord, for those who oppose the truth of Your most holy Word. Have mercy upon them. Amen.

Savannah litigation

The court hearing of Christ Church, Savannah, GA is Friday, August 14.

Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down,
that the mountains would tremble before You!
As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil,
come down to make Your name known to Your enemies
and cause the nations to quake before You!
For when You did awesome things that we did not expect,
You came down,
and the mountains trembled before You.
Since ancient times no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides You,
who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. Isaiah 64:1-4

Dear Lord, come down to the courtroom in Savannah, we pray. Amen.

Psalm 109:1-5

Do not keep silent, O God of my praise! (Psalm 109:1)
      LORD, please speak to your people, open our ears.

For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful have opened against me; they have spoken against me with a lying tongue. (Psalm 109:2)
      Holy Spirit, please shut the mouths of the wicked and the deceitful.

They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause. (Psalm 109:3)
      Jesus, you are my rock and my strong, high tower, and I run to you for safety.

In return for my love they are my accusers, but I give myself to prayer. (Psalm 109:4)
      Father, thank you that we can turn to you in prayer.

Thus they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love. (Psalm 109:5)
      Lord, please help us forgive our detractors. Thank you.

      A word received: Yield your life to me.

Wednesday: 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30; 2 Samuel 14:21-33; Acts 21:15-26; Mark 10:17-31
Thursday: 105:1-22; 2 Samuel 15:1-18; Acts 21:27-36; Mark 10:32-45

Albany Intercessor

South Carolina

Dear Lord,
The divided loyalties in the Episcopal Church have bred blame, finger-pointing, division, intrigue, deception, and marginalization. Have mercy. Just as polygamy was a factor in the rape of Tamar, the anguish of Hannah, and the idolatry of Solomon, our divided loyalties to You have led to pain and betrayal.
We confess that we have kept a record of the sins of our brothers. Like the older son in the parable of the prodigal son, our stony hearts have kept a record of the sins of our brothers. Our stony hearts build monuments of the sins of others.
Yet, you are compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. You pardon sin and forgive the transgressions of Your children. You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
Have compassion on the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. Tread their sins underfoot and hurl all their iniquities into the depths of the sea. Post a sign that reads ‘No more fishing here.’
Help them to build monuments of forgiveness. Amen.
Psalm 103:8, Micah 7:18-19

Raise up intercessors

Ezekiel 9:3-6
Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the LORD called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.”
As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion. Slaughter old men, young men and maidens, women and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.”

O Lord,
We are surrounded by detestable things. We limit the opportunities of each other because we hate each other. Give us a new heart, Lord, that we may define the cultural scenes by practicing the love of Jesus. Take away our indifference. Raise up intercessors who will cry out.
We pray for the holiness of Jerusalem and of Your Church. Amen.

Eric Swensson: Prayer is about relationship

My Lutheran pastor friend, blogger Eric Swensson, has an excellent post today on the need to remember prayer is a two-way relationship, and how to overcome the common problem of feeling that “no one is listening” to our prayers. I particularly liked this section on the relationship between reading Scripture and praying:

Confidence in Responding to God.
Listening to God will lead to actions as well as words. Words are just the beginning. If we’re reading 1 Corinthians 15, for example, we will exalt the Lord for the great victory of the resurrection and the hope that goes with it. But our response will go beyond that. It will give us greater confidence as we face a defeated spiritual enemy. It will give us words to say to the terminally ill. It will give us power as we face the everyday tumults of life. It may cause us to forsake a sinful attitude or habit.

When we pray, we must be ready to take action. The deeper the prayer goes into the Scripture, into the mind of God, the more radical the action may be. It may lead us to someone’s living room to share a deep burden. It may carry us back into the past to deal with some unresolved hurt we have received or inflicted. It may drastically change our plans. We may end up in some strange place doing things we never thought we would or could do. This is because our prayer is to God, and He is not a placid, inert Being. He is the living God, who steps into our lives with His awesome power and changes us in dramatic and unpredictable ways as we respond to Him. Or He may leave us right where we are. That’s okay: He’s God!

When we bow before God with our needs and our requests, we think we’re the initiators. But it may be that all prayer is a response to Him.

Go read it all.

Thanks Eric!