Nakba Day

Today is Nakba Day (meaning “day of the catastrophe”), an annual day of commemoration for the Palestinian people of the displacement that accompanied the creation of Israel in 1948. There have been outbreaks of violence at the borders and in Jerusalem.

Excerpts from Psalm 122 (New International Version)
2 Our feet are standing
in your gates, Jerusalem.
5 There stand the thrones for judgment,
the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you be secure.
7 May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels.”
8 For the sake of my family and friends,
I will say, “Peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your prosperity.

The gate

Genesis 28:12,13a,16,17 (New International Version)
12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it stood the LORD . . . .
16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”

John 1:51 (New International Version)
He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

John 10:7 (New International Version)
Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.

Jesus, You are the gate of heaven, and we praise You!

John 10:1-11

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. ” (John 10:1)
      Lord, there is so much nonsense out there in your church about “many ways into heaven.” Have mercy on us and help us discern the true from the false.

“But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.” (John 10:2)
      Holy Spirit, thank you for the faithful shepherds you have raised up in this diocese.

“To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” (John 10:3)
      Jesus, help all your sheep in this diocese clearly hear your call to follow you.

“And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” (John 10:4)
      Jesus, thank you for going before us. Please help us daily recognize your voice.

“Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. “ (John 10:5)
      Father, help us recognize and flee from every stranger to the gospel.

Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which he spoke to them. (John 10:6)
      Holy Spirit, please give us understanding of what Jesus is saying to us.

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7)
      Father, open the door of my heart to Jesus so that I may fully enter in.

“All who ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.” (John 10:8 )
      Thank you, Jesus, for protecting our hearing.

“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:9)
      Thank you, Jesus, for being the entryway into the kingdom of God. Help us daily find your green pastures and still waters as we read the Bible.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
      Jesus, thank you for the riches you have given to us in your gospel.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
      Jesus, thank you for giving your life for me. Thank you for cancelling the debt of sin for me.

A word received: Praise me.

We cry out to you, Lord Jesus Christ:
      You are the way, the truth, and the life.
Please teach us where we are currently in ignorance,
      That we may know your truth and abide in it.
Show us where we are stumbling in the darkness,
      And guide us back into your way.
Establish us in the life of your Spirit
      That we correctly discern the true from the false;
And guard us from all false teaching
      And knowledge that would be hurtful to us.
Father, defend us evermore
      Through your son Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank you.
(Bishop Westcott revised)

Sunday: 63:1-8(9-11),98 * 103; Wisdom 1:1-15; 1 Peter 5:1-11; Matthew 7:15-29
HC: 23; Acts 6:1-9; 7:2a,51-60 or Nehemiah 9:6-15; 1 Peter 2:19-25 or Acts 6:1-9; 7:2a,51-60; John 10:1-10
Monday: 41,52 * 44; Wisdom 1:16-2:11,21-24 or Exodus 32:1-20; Col. 1:1-14; Luke 6:1-11

      Notes from the Front Line

All Throught the Night (Lullaby) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH-GGoxrHFM&feature=related
Ar Hyd Y Nos (All Through The Night) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkdp0EjCmO0&feature=related
Alleluia Sing To Jesus Hymn http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-tX-D8rW8E&feature=channel
Thine Be The Glory hymn http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vGlBlELi_Q&NR=1
Blessed Assurance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuyf1YQvcwY&feature=related
Come, Thou Fount http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5YfNdFtesM&feature=related
what a friend we have in Jesus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k531QQvBtYI&NR=1&feature=fvwp
God Be With You Till We Meet Again http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hvaysA1MYQ&feature=channel
Jesus Savior Pilot Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY38n9ediO4&feature=related

Albany Intercessor

The King’s English

One hundred phrases from the KJV in three minutes.