Acts 4:18-31

So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:18 )
      Lord Jesus, this is becoming the pattern in our nation — great pressure is put on your people to not speak or teach in your name.

But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20)
      Holy Spirit, please help us make the choice that Peter and John made: to boldly speak of the things we have seen and heard about Jesus.

So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. (Acts 4:21)
      Father, please help us shrug off the threats that come our way and do and say those things which will bring you glory.

For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. (Acts 4:22)
      Holy Spirit, move in the healing ministry throughout this diocese and do miracles of healing. Thank you.

And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. (Acts 4:23)
      Jesus, we ask your blessing on Bishop Bill as he speaks at the various Deanery meetings starting this week. Be present with your Holy Spirit and give us ears to hear your guidance. Thank you.

      [Please attend and pray for Bishop Love’s visits to the Deaneries to meet with the clergy and laity to discuss General Convention 2009. (Meetings will end by 9 PM:)
      Sep 8 - Metropolitan Deanery – St. Paul’s, Troy
            6:30 PM, Evening Prayer followed by light refreshments and discussion
      Sep 10 – Southern Adirondack Deanery - St. James, Lake George
            6:30 PM, Evening Prayer followed by light refreshments and discussion
      Sep 15 – Upper Hudson Deanery – Calvary Church, Burnt Hills
            5:30 PM, Evening Prayer followed by light refreshments and discussion
      Sep 17 – Hudson Deanery – Christ Church Coxsackie
            6:30 PM Evening Prayer followed light refreshments and discussion
      Sep 20 – Western Mohawk Deanery – Christ Church, Herkimer
            5:30 PM Evening Prayer followed by dinner and discussion
      Sep 27 – St. Lawrence Deanery – Trinity, Potsdam
            6 PM Evening Prayer followed by dinner and discussion
      Sept 29 – Susquehanna Deanery – St. James, Oneonta
            6 PM Evening Prayer followed by dinner and discussion
      Oct 6 – Northern Adirondack Deanery – Trinity, Plattsburgh
            6 PM Evening Prayer followed by dinner and discussion]

So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, you are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against his Christ.’” (Acts 4:24-26)
      Father, there are so many in authority who are gathered together against you and your son Jesus Christ. Guide us by your Holy Spirit through these times.

“For truly against your holy Servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever your hand and your purpose determined before to be done.” (Acts 4:27-28 )
      Holy Father, it was your purposes which triumphed, not theirs; please let us see your purpose triumph in our day.

“Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to your servants that with all boldness they may speak your word, by stretching out your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29-30)
      I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee; let me be full, let me be empty; let me have all things, let me have nothing; I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
      And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
      [From the Watch Night Service by John Wesley.]

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31)
      Holy Spirit, shake us out of our complacency and timidity and move us to speak your word with all boldness. Thank you.

      A word received: Pray for my will and purposes to be revealed to my people.
      Pray that my people will desire the desires of my heart.
      Pray for the new life that comes when my Spirit and my word penetrate the heart.

Sunday: 63:1-8(9-11), 98; 1 Kings 12:21-33; Acts 4:18-31; John 10:31-42
Monday: 41, 52; 1 Kings 13:1-10; Philippians 1:1-11; Mark 15:40-47

Albany Intercessor

Sudan menu

There is a wonderful plethora of prayer resources for Sudan. This list commences with L&B prayers in chronological order, followed by other resources.

Open a portal

Forty men, women and children were killed in Southern Sudan’s recent violence. Among the dead was the Ven. Joseph Mabior Garang, Archdeacon of Wernyol and Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul Yak’s Commissary in the new Diocese of Twic East. He was shot at the altar of the church in Wernyol during a service of Morning Prayer.

Father,
Your Son gave us the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever we bind on earth is bound in heaven and whatever we loose on earth is loosed in heaven. We claim this free access to God’s kingdom and declare that there are no more barriers between heaven and earth at the altar where the Venerable Joseph Garang and his companions were martyred.
Open a portal into the heavens where the angels can ascend and descend, where anointings can flow from the realms of glory, and where the people of God can enter into a heavenly visitation. May the spilled blood of Garang and his companions be the bedrock for a heavenly highway to Wernoyl and the worship of Your children be the paving stones.
Sudan has known conflict for two millenia. We see through a glass darkly and know only in part. If there are portals over this land that allow access of the demonic, we decree them bound. We speak in unity with our brothers and sisters in Sudan and claim the promise of Your blessing. Amen.
Matthew 16:19, Psalm 133

Sudan

Horrendous violence. It appears that the attack in Twic East was a deliberately organized attack on civilians by those that are against the peace in Southern Sudan and that the attack in Ezo was by the Lord’s Resistance Army.

“Your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground, like a voice calling for revenge.” (Genesis 4:10)

“There was murder in the city, but the blood was not spilled on the ground where the dust could hide it; it was spilled on a bare rock. I have left the blood there where it cannot be hidden, where it demands angry revenge.” (Ezekiel 24:7-8)

Arise, O Lord! We cry out for Your angry revenge on these evil forces. Confront them and bring them down. Deliver Southern Sudan from those who oppose the peace process and from the Lord’s Resistance Army.
In Your wrath, shake the earth. Let the smoke from Your nostrils and the consuming fire from Your mouth route the enemies.
Thunder in the heavens. At Your voice, they lose heart and come trembling from their strongholds. Send hailsones and lightning against them. Deliver Southern Sudan by Your sword.
Your Son said, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’ Bless Southern Sudan. Make them the head and not the tail. When the foreigners hear the Word of the Lord, may they cringe and obey the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
The LORD lives! Praise be to our Rock! Exalted be God our Savior! You are the God who avenges Your children, who subdues nations, who saves them from their enemies. Exalt Southern Sudan above its foes; from violent men rescue them.
We praise you among the nations, O LORD; we will sing praises to your name. You give Your people great victories; You show unfailing kindness to Your anointed. Amen.
Psalm 17 & 18

Note: Our prayers for deliverance from the Lord’s Resistance Army have been based on Psalm 17 and 18, based on a word received. We encourage the use of these scriptures when praying for Sudan.

Christ Church Schenectady Prayer Table report

Christ Church Schenectady Prayer Table report September 5, 9:30-10:35 AM Torre Bissell and Don Foust
+–indicates received wooden cross made by Dennis Adams of North Carolina.

On this beautiful Saturday morning people came streaming to the Prayer Table. From the moment the Prayer Table was set-up till it was taken down, someone was receiving prayer. At one point without any prompting, people sat down in the empty chair waiting for the person in front of them to complete their prayers

+Leticia–”My son’s father has swelling of the brain”–pray for healing.

+Minnie–Minnie walked by the Prayer Table and said “I can’t get prayer–I’m sinning“. We convinced her that was the best reason to get prayer. (Minnie came to the Prayer Table a year ago with “drugs and paraphernalia” on her). We prayed for forgiveness of sins and for a change in direction in her life.

Linda–A regular on her way to work. Prayed for her husband Rayford (at work) and for her family in Guyana.

+Pedro–prayed for his wife’s mother, Carmen. Pedro’s wife (Iris) is currently with Carmen. His mother-in-law is having panic attacks. We prayed for God’s Peace in Carmen’s life and for Iris’ ministry to her mother.

+Les–prayed for his daughter Sarah.

Marlene–This young woman walked quickly across the street and directly to the Prayer Table. She was wearing a wooden cross from a previous visit to the Prayer Table. She asked for prayer for a job.

Jim– a regular. Jim said, “I have peace of mind”. Jim has been haunted by memories of his abusive parents and the death of his son. We prayed for peaceful memories.

+Clarence–This young man is sincerely looking for a new start to his life. He is on parole and wants to re-join his family. He said he was “railroaded” into the charges that sent him to prison, but has foregiven these people. He had spent time on the streets doing a lot of bad things. He is seeking a Church and we gave him a card for Christ Church. Clarence returned to the Prayer Table on his way back from the store (wearing the wooded cross) and we prayed again for new direction in his life.

++James–Before we finished praying with Clarence, James sat down in the empty chair at the Prayer Table. James wants to move his family into a better apartment. We prayed for provision.

+Vincent–Before we finished praying with James, Vincent sat down. As Deacon Alan would often say, there is always one person who touches your heart at a session of the Prayer Table; and today that person was Vincent. This middle-aged man lost his son (David) four years ago. His son fell down the stairs to his death when his son was 14 years old. Vincent is tormented by David’s death. At one point, Vincent felt God was punishing him, but Vincent realizes now that is not the case. Yet, his son’s death is constantly on his mind. Vincent spent 3 years in prison because of his problem with alcohol. Vincent was raised in the Church; he was an alter boy at St. Luke’s. With much prompting at the Prayer Table, Vincent re-gave his life to Christ. He said this was a hard thing to do. Through-out his time at the Prayer Table, Vincent was openly weeping. Pray for Vincent–he is in great pain and needs to constantly look toward Christ for answers.

+Joan and her children +Michael and +Daniel–Prayed for blessings in their lives.

+Pedro and +Maria–This young Hispanic couple was walking down State Street hand-in-hand. They were part of a Neighborhood Prayer Walk for Iglesias De Dios, the Spanish Church on State Street. We prayed for their ministry.

Gloria–Prayed that God would lift the burdens from her life.

+James, +Melissa and their children +Juny, +Nathan, +James, and +Michelle–Prayed for safety for this family and that the children might come to know the Lord.

+Agnes–Prayed for a blessing in this tired woman’s life.

+Evelyn–Prayed for protection. She is visiting from Troy and is originally from Puerto Rico.

+Bill– Pray that this young man will successfully completed his para-legal studies in college and find a meaningful job.

Kayla– A regular–Her brother Josh has been released from jail. He has found a job and is staying with their mother. We prayed for blessings for Kayla, her son Nassir, and her mother and her brother.

Man across the street. Made the sign of the cross and bowed when seeing the Prayer Table.

+John–Prayed for his family and his children.

Don Foust

Albany Intercessor

We have not passed this way before

Joshua 3:3-4
So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.”

Dear Heavenly Father,
We have not passed this way before. We in the Anglican Communion stand at a border, not a geographical border, but a border that is both spiritual and natural, institutional and personal, in time and beyond time. We have not passed this way before.
Father, order our understanding.
There is a space between us and Jesus of Nazareth of about 2000 years. We wish to know the way by which we must go.
Father, order our footsteps.
Jesus was the prophetic fulfillment of the ark of the covenant, the vessel of the presence of God. In Him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead.
Father, order our wills to shoulder the yoke of Jesus.
The tablets of stone–Jesus came to fulfill the Law. It is easier for heaven and earth, and for the Anglican Communion, to disappear, than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.
Father, order our hearts to receive Your law.
The bowl of manna–Jesus is the Bread of God, come down from heaven to give life to the world.
Father, order our hearts to receive Your love.
The flowering almond branch–Like first life in the spring, Jesus is the firstborn of the dead. He is the mediator of the new covenant, entering the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood.
Father, order our prayers to agree with the intercession of Jesus Christ.
We have not passed this way before, but we trust that as surely as the sun rises, You will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. Amen.
Joshua 3:14, Colossians 2:9, Matthew 5:17, 11:29, Luke 16:17, Jeremiah 1:11, John 6:33, Hebrews 9:11-15, Hosea 6:1-3

James 5:7-20

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. (James 5:7)
      Holy Spirit, produce in us the fruit of patient endurance. Let your rain fall on all the parishes of this diocese.

You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. (James 5:8 )
      Father, please establish our hearts while we wait for the coming of your son.

Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! (James 5:9)
      Jesus, write your word on our hearts: Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret–it only causes harm. (Psalm 37:7-8 )

My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. (James 5:10)
      Holy Spirit, please help us actually read the prophets from the Old Testament so that we can take them as examples.

Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord–that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. (James 5:11)
      Holy Spirit, restore daily Bible reading throughout this diocese so that we can learn from the examples that are set forth there.

But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment. (James 5:12)
      Father, let our words that we speak be faithful and true.

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. (James 5:13)
      Jesus, please help us take to heart the power of prayer and the singing of the words of Scripture.

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. (James 5:14)
      Holy Spirit, empower the healing ministry throughout this diocese. Move every elder among us into exercising this ministry and to works of faith.

And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (James 5:15)
      Father, write prayers of faith on our hearts and on our lips.

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16)
      Jesus, bless our mutual ministry to one another throughout this diocese.

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. (James 5:17)
      Lord, help us pray according to the mind of your Spirit.

And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. (James 5:18 )
      Lord, help us pray according to the mind of your Spirit.

Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20)
      Holy Spirit, help us move one another to repentance. Let the fire of the gospel burn in our hearts.

Saturday: 30, 32; 1 Kings 12:1-20; James 5:7-12, 19-20; Mark 15:33-39
Sunday: 63:1-8(9-11), 98; 1 Kings 12:21-33; Acts 4:18-31; John 10:31-42

Albany Intercessor

James 4:13-17

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. (James 4:13-14)
      Lord, our times and our seasons are in your hands. So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)

Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” (James 4:15)
      Holy Spirit, help us to learn that every breath we take is a gift from you.

But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. (James 4:16)
      Jesus, help our lives to be monuments to you, rather than to ourselves.

Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)
      Father, please help us recognize the promptings of your Holy Spirit for what they are. Thank you.

      A word received: Hold fast to me today.
      I will do what you cannot.
      Look to me — I AM able.

Friday: 31; 1 Kings 11:26-43; James 4:13-5:6; Mark 15:22-32
Saturday: 30, 32; 1 Kings 12:1-20; James 5:7-12, 19-20; Mark 15:33-39

Albany Intercessor

Seminaries

If we could see Satan’s strongholds with our natural eyes, I wonder if they wouldn’t look like cattle chutes, leading to inevitable destruction. If that were indeed the case, then an outside intervention to break down the walls of the chute is necessary for redemption. Jesus is our Redeemer and comes when we acknowledge our plight and call out for His aid.

Almighty God,
You are the great Lord of the harvest, Jehovah-jireh. We pray for the new students coming to Anglican seminaries this fall, especially _____. Equip them for the ministry of the good news of Jesus Christ. Establish, sustain, and expand the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven through their education.
Should they encounter strongholds of false thinking in their curriculum, reveal these strongholds to the eyes of their hearts. If they become entrapped in such strongholds, then stir their hearts to cry out to You for help. Make haste to rescue them, we pray. You are the Lord of hosts, Jehovah-Sabaoth. Amen.

Mark 15:21 and a prayer by Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear his cross. (Mark 15:21)
      Lord, so many times the choice that was forced on me, the path I would never have chosen on my own has been the place of your working in my life. Thank you for all those “forced” choices that have led me close to you. Please give me a heart to respond to everything you want to do in my life. Thank you.

      How easy it is
      for me to live with you, Lord.
      How easy it is to believe in you
      when my mind reels from not understanding,
      or when my mind weakens–
      when the most intelligent people cannot think
      beyond the evening and do not know
      what must be done tomorrow.
      You convey to me the
      lucid assurance that you exist,
      that you will see to it that not all paths
      toward good will be closed.
      At the peak of earthly renown
      I look back with amazement at
      that road which by no stretch of the imagination
      I could have devised–
      A remarkable road through despair
      which has led me here
      where I too have been able
      to send mankind
      reflections of your rays–
      As for what I
      won’t have time or ability for–
      This means that you have
      reserved it for others.
            Prayer
            Alexander Solzhenitsyn

      A word received: Pray for listening ears and listening hearts.
      Pray for eyes that see and discern what I am doing.
      Pray for new life in my church that comes from my Spirit and my word.
      Pray that my people will hold fast to my word.

Thursday: 37:1-18; 1 Kings 11:1-13; James 3:13-4:12; Mark 15:12-21
Friday: 31; 1 Kings 11:26-43; James 4:13-5:6; Mark 15:22-32

Albany Intercessor

Restoring Prayer Conference

At Ridley Hall, Cambridge. Commences today.

O Lord,
We ask that the nation of the United Kingdom will be Your Son Jesus Christ’s inheritance, that the entire nation will remember and turn to Him, and that this nation will bow down before Him. Quicken those attending this conference to stand in the gap for their country, for the House of Windsor, for the Church of England, the Church of Ireland, the Church of Scotland, and the Church of Wales. Amen.
Psalm 2:8, 22:27

Raise up lay leaders, prophets, and priests

Please notice that in these examples from Holy Scripture, the prophets and priests were called to a face to face confrontation with evil. However, it was the lay people who were asked to donate great time, effort, and money to do something frankly kooky. God sometimes asks us to do things that we don’t understand. He loves it when we’re so crazy in love with Him that we do it.

O Lord,
Noah was so close to You that he built an ark on dry land and filled it according to your specifications. You established a covenant of life with him and his descendants.
The wise men traveled a great distance to follow a star and bring wealth to the Christ child. Their riches provided for Jesus’s escape from Herod and helped to eventually bring a covenant of life for all of mankind.
May we have lay leaders in our church who are so close to You, so aware of Your prompting, that they are willing to defy natural wisdom and bring a covenant of life for Your Church.
After Elijah’s supernatural victory at Mount Carmel, he was frightened by Jezebel’s words and ran. Yet You were merciful and sustained him with angelic food.
Lord, allow new strength to arise in Your prophets. Keep them covered in spiritual armor. Provide them all the strength they need to finish strong.
Bathe their wounds with Your healing grace. Rebuke the spirit of failure from them. Should their wounds have been an entry point for any sin or demonic influence in their lives, bind that influence so that no time, resources, or favor will work against the will of God in their lives.
Send Your holy angels to sustain them.
Phinehas was so zealous for Your honor, Lord, that he drove a spear through an Israelite man and the Midianite woman he had brought into the Israelite camp. By so doing, he stopped the plague of the Baal of Peor that had killed 24,000.
May Your priests be so zealous for Your honor in using the sword of the Spirit to rebuke sexual sin and idolatry. Stop this plague of spiritual death. Amen.

Lambeth Palace bishops meeting

Seven bishops of TEC are currently at Lambeth Palace for a brief meeting.

O Lord,
The earth is Yours, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
How long we have faltered between two opinions, seeking to follow both You and the devices and desires of our own hearts. The divided Communion reflects our divided hearts. We have rent asunder Your church by our willful arrogance. Our hearts have grown cold. Have mercy, Lord.
Yet, we trust in You. Where else can we turn? No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.
O Lord God Almighty, we call on Your name. Answer our cries! Send Your holy fire down on this meeting. Eliminate the ambiguity in our hearts and in the hearts of all those present at this meeting. O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in the Anglican Communion and that we are your servants. Answer us, O Lord, answer us, so these people will know that You, O Lord, are God, and that You are turning their hearts back again. Amen.
Psalm 24:1, 1 Kings 18, 1 Corinthians 2:9

Psalm 38:1-10

O Lord, do not rebuke me in your wrath, nor chasten me in your hot displeasure! (Psalm 38:1)
      LORD, you know my sins only too well; have mercy on me.

For your arrows pierce me deeply, and your hand presses me down. (Psalm 38:2)
      Holy Spirit, restore to me your joy and gladness.

There is no soundness in my flesh because of your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin. (Psalm 38:3)
      Lord Jesus, I wait on you for your healing of my body, mind, and spirit.

For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. (Psalm 38:4)
      Father, I am weary and I ask for the refreshment of your Holy Spirit.

My wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness. (Psalm 38:5)
      Jesus, you know my folly, lead me in your ways and teach me.

I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. (Psalm 38:6)
      Lord, I look at your body, the church, and it is grievously wounded.

For my loins are full of inflammation, and there is no soundness in my flesh. (Psalm 38:7)
      Father, please come and restore me and those I pray for; have mercy on us.

I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart. (Psalm 38:8 )
      Lord, please give us a quiet and discerning spirit in our hearts.

Lord, all my desire is before you; and my sighing is not hidden from you. (Psalm 38:9)
      Holy Spirit, please let the desires of my heart line up with the desires of the Father’s heart.

My heart pants, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me. (Psalm 38:10)
      As the deer longs for the water brooks, so longs my soul for you, O God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before you? (From Psalm 42:1-2)

“There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.” (Exodus 12:49) “You shall have one law for the sojourner and for the native; for I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 24:22)
      A word received: Pray for the aliens in your midst. Pray that my people will have a heart to reach out to them. Pray that the aliens among you will find a home in me.
      Lord Jesus, help us to reach out to the foreigners and “illegals” among us and treat them as you would. Thank you.

Wednesday: 38; 1 Kings 9:24-10:13; James 3:1-12; Mark 15:1-11
Thursday: 37:1-18; 1 Kings 11:1-13; James 3:13-4:12; Mark 15:12-21

      Notes from the Front Line

***** From 12/22/2003, #55, 4th Quarter 2003
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” (Malachi 4:5-6)
      Jesus, please send your prophets to minister in our communities and churches, for many of our fathers do not know their children and the children do not know their fathers. Teach the men in all our congregations and communities to be fathers. We have lost our way and we need your blessing.

Albany Intercessor

The religious spirit

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Father, forgive us for worshipping Your provision, rather than You Yourself.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Father, forgive us fixing our eyes on the storm, rather than on You.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
Father, forgive us for disbelieving the power manifestations of Your Holy Spirit.
God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
Father, forgive us for worshipping Christian leaders and institutions, rather than You.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
Father, forgive us for trusting in idols, in man-made devices and systems of thought, rather in You.
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Father, forgive us for worshipping doctrine rather than You.
Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.
Forgive us for worshipping the manifestations and the good works, rather than You.
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Father, forgive us for attaching ourselves to feelings of religiosity, rather than to You.
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalm 46