Solar flare

On June 7, the Hebrew holy day of Shavuot, the sun experienced a flare, displaying a coronal mass ejection of particles and plasma.

Malachi 4:2
“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.

Our Father in heaven,
Jesus Christ is our righteousness. When He walked on the earth, healing was even in the edge of His garment. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
We thank You for the holiness of Your name. We thank You that Jesus heals yesterday, today, and forever. We thank You He is establishing Your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord!

Acts 1:1-11

The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, (Acts 1:1)
      Jesus, please help us throughout this diocese and at the Diocesan Convention to receive your teaching into our hearts and minds.

until the day in which He was taken up, after he through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen, (Acts 1:2)
      Father, thank you for the faithful apostolic witness of Bishops Bill, Dan and David. Help all of us receive your commandments.

to whom he also presented himself alive after his suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3)
      Holy Spirit, please help us know Jesus and the power of his resurrection.

And being assembled together with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” he said, “you have heard from me;” (Acts 1:4)
      Jesus, help all of us who are assembled at the Diocesan Convention to wait upon you and receive the promise of your Father, the Holy Spirit.

“for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:5)
      Jesus, baptize us with your Holy Spirit.

Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)
      Father, we pray for your kingdom to come and your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

And he said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in his own authority.” (Acts 1:7)
      Holy Spirit, guide us so that we don’t get side-tracked by fruitless speculation about end-times. Help us live and hope in the resurrection.

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 )
      Jesus, please help us receive the power of your Holy Spirit.

      Holy Spirit, come upon us and empower us to be witnesses to Jesus in our communities, our diocese, and throughout the world.

      Father, help us see the harvest fields that are all around us.

Now when he had spoken these things, while they watched, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. (Acts 1:9)
      and ascended into heaven, (Nicene Creed)
      Jesus, thank you for your ascension into heaven to sit at the right hand of your father. Thank you that you ever live to make intercession for us.

      He ascended into heaven, (Apostles Creed)
      Jesus, thank you for being taken up into heaven in the sight of your apostolic witnesses. Help us live day by day in the hope that as you were taken up into heaven, so you will come back in like manner. (Acts 1:11)

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:10-11)
      Why are we standing here? Holy Spirit, help us go forth to the harvest fields in the hope of Jesus’ return again.

Friday: 102 * 107:1-32; Ezekiel 34:17-31; Hebrews 8:1-13; Luke 10:38-42
Saturday: 107:33-43, 108:1-6(7-13) * –; Ezekiel 43:1-12; Hebrews 9:1-14; Luke 11:14-23
Eve of Pentecost: — * 33; Exodus 19:3-8a,16-20; 1 Peter 2:4-10
The Day of Pentecost: 118 * 145; Isaiah 11:1-9; 1 Corinthians 2:1-13; John 14:21-29
HC: 104:25-37 or 104:25-32 or 33:12-15,18-22; Acts 2:1-11 or Ezekiel 11:17-20; 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 or Acts 2:1-11; John 20:19-23 or John 14:8-17

Albany Intercessor

Eight ascents and descents, part 7

Moses’ ascent (Ex 32:30-33) and descent (Ex 32:34)
Peter healed Tabitha (Acts 9:36-43).

Exodus 32:30-34
The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.”
So Moses went back to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”
The LORD replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.”

Peter was in Lydda (meaning-travail) at the time of Tabitha’s death in nearby Joppa (meaning-fairness; comeliness; beauty). Tabitha was always doing good and helping the poor. Messengers brought him to Joppa.

Acts 9:39-41
Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive.

The juxtaposition of these two stories provides a sobering contrast between idolatry and holiness. However, even in the face of idolatry, God gave instructions to Moses to move the Israelites forward after he sought atonement. Many people believed in the Lord after the resurrection of Tabitha (meaning-gazelle), and the kingdom of God on earth advanced.

Theme: From travail to beauty
Dominant posture: From prayer on knees to moving forward
O God, how we have sinned! Have mercy.

Sudan

The NYT:

The southern Sudanese have fought for independence for decades, and in January, nearly 99 percent of the region’s voters approved a split from northern Sudan in an internationally backed referendum. . . . Southern Sudan will be named the Republic of South Sudan upon independence.

But there are still a number of delicate and potentially combustible issues that need to be resolved before Sudan can peacefully break in two. Conflicts remained over how the two sides would share the south’s sizable reserves of crude oil and what to do about the Abyei region, which straddles the north-south border and is claimed by both.

Mr. Bashir seems to be steering his country back toward war. His troops and tanks violently annexed Abyei in May. Then he sent thousands of soldiers into two other volatile areas, Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan, while continuing a crippling blockade of the south, strangling it of food and fuel.

At the same time, renegade southern militias, widely believed to be armed by Mr. Bashir’s intelligence services, have stepped up their attacks, hitting army bases, snatching weapons and stretching southern troops thin as they scramble to meet all these threats, often hijacking United Nations vehicles to get to the battlefield.

But diplomats and analysts believe that, rather than trying to start a major conflict, Mr. Bashir may instead be playing out a carefully devised strategy meant to ensure just one thing: that when southern Sudan declares independence in July, his northern government controls as much oil as possible, or at least is richly compensated.

Psalm 83:13 (NIV)
Make them like tumbleweed, my God, like chaff before the wind.

Pursue Mr. Bashir’s forces with your tempest and terrify them with your storm, O Lord. Oh, that the structure of northern Sudan’s internal security, their armed forces and intelligence services, and the establishment of their alliances would be destroyed, stripped of all power, and completely exhausted. Let it be! Amen.

Numbers 11:10-30

Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and the anger of the LORD was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased. So Moses said to the LORD, “Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child,’ to the land which You swore to their fathers? (Numbers 11:10-12)
      LORD, you have laid the burden of the people of this diocese on Bishop Bill, Bishop Dan and Bishop David, and the priests and deacons of this diocese. Have mercy on them as they carry this heavy responsibility. We thank you, LORD, for the faithful shepherds you have raised up in this diocese.

Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now–if I have found favor in Your sight–and do not let me see my wretchedness!” (Numbers 11:13-15)
      Holy Spirit, when our shepherds and pastors are weary or discouraged, comfort them and fill them anew.

So the LORD said to Moses: “Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you.” (Numbers 11:16)
      Let the Diocesan Convention be such a gathering of your people, Jesus. Draw to your tent of meeting all the elders of your people so that we may stand with Bishop Bill.

“Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone.” (Numbers 11:17)
      Father, baptize your people afresh at the Diocesan Convention so that we are all filled with your Holy Spirit. Move through the business meeting, workshops, addresses to the convention, the Youth Rally and the ministry to children. Help all of us do our part in bearing the burden of your people.

“Then you shall say to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept in the hearing of the LORD, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt.” Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat.” (Numbers 11:18 )
      Holy Spirit, please help us hear the call to consecrate ourselves to the service of Jesus and the proclamation of the gospel.

“You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, 20but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have despised the LORD who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, “Why did we ever come up out of Egypt?”‘” And Moses said, “The people whom I am among are six hundred thousand men on foot; yet You have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat for a whole month.’ Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to provide enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to provide enough for them?” And the LORD said to Moses, “Has the LORD’S arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not.” (Numbers 11:19-23)
      Jesus, please forgive us for doubting your ability to provide for us.

So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD, and he gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tabernacle. Then the LORD came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied, although they never did so again. (Numbers 11:24-25)
      Holy Spirit, come upon us at the Diocesan Convention. Help us hear and speak what you are saying. Don’t let us cease doing that.

But two men had remained in the camp: the name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad. And the Spirit rested upon them. Now they were among those listed, but who had not gone out to the tabernacle; yet they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” (Numbers 11:26-27)
      Holy Spirit, come upon all of the Eldads and Medads of this diocese who have remained “back in the camp” and fill them as well.

So Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, one of his choice men, answered and said, “Moses my lord, forbid them!” Then Moses said to him, “Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the LORD’S people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!” (Numbers 11:28-29)
      Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. (1 Corinthians 14:1-5)

And Moses returned to the camp, he and the elders of Israel. (Numbers 11:30)
      Father, when we return to our parishes, help us take with us the full power and presence of your Holy Spirit.

      Jesus, renew in our day the wonders of your Pentecost. (John XXIII)

      Holy Spirit, come upon us throughout this diocese with your gifts and bring forth in our lives your fruit. Thank you.

A word received: The wounded are all around you — pray for them.

Thursday: 105:1-22 * 105:23-45; Ezekiel 18:1-4,19-32; Hebrews 7:18-28; Luke 10:25-37
Friday: 102 * 107:1-32; Ezekiel 34:17-31; Hebrews 8:1-13; Luke 10:38-42

Albany Intercessor

Eight ascents and descents, part 6

Moses’s ascent-first 40 days on mount (Exodus 24:12-32:14, Dt 9:9) and descent (Ex 32:15-30)
Jesus raises Lazarus (John 11:1-44)

Exodus 29:42-46, The Message (MSG)
“This is to be your regular, daily Whole-Burnt-Offering before God, generation after generation, sacrificed at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. That’s where I’ll meet you; that’s where I’ll speak with you; that’s where I’ll meet the Israelites, at the place made holy by my Glory. I’ll make the Tent of Meeting and the Altar holy. I’ll make Aaron and his sons holy in order to serve me as priests. I’ll move in and live with the Israelites. I’ll be their God. They’ll realize that I am their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt so that I could live with them. I am God, your God.”

Theme: I am the resurrection.
Dominant posture: Unwrap the grave clothes and build a dwelling place for God.

The exhaustive detail in the instructions of the construction of the tabernacle is noteworthy. Generally speaking, we in the West tend to be more verbal (left-brained) than visual-spatial (right-brained) in our personal and corporate worship. I think it no coincidence that Jesus was a carpenter.
We see through a glass darkly. The resurrected Jesus could eat and walk through walls. It’s my very limited understanding of string theory and superstring theory that multiple dimensions are necessary for the equations to be mathematically coherent. So, if eleven or twenty-three or however many spacetime dimensions are present, our understanding may be far more limited than we realize. When praying for healing, I suspect one way we fall short is our failure to recognize the “grave clothes” in unseen dimensions. I’m wondering if there aren’t clues to a clearer understanding within Holy Scripture.
Dear Lord, order our worship and our prayers and our study of Your Holy Word, we pray. Amen.

Trumpet evangel

This is the feast of Shavuot, the celebration of Israel receiving the Torah and establishing a covenant with God.

Numbers 10:9-10 (NIV)
When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the LORD your God and rescued from your enemies. Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the LORD your God.”

TRUMPET EVANGEL

Blare, blare, blare, ye trumpets old.
Fill the air with notes of gold.

Inhabit the praise, God Most High,
Enthroned on sapphire blue as the sky.
Open their ears to hear Your song
Wooing them to do no wrong.
Open their eyes to see Your arm
Shielding them from Satan’s harm.
Open their hearts to know Your Son,
By His Blood, their freedom won.

Ye trumpet blasts, open wide
The door of hope for Israel bride.
Angelic banners, lift His Name,
From sea to sea, Jesus proclaim:
Worthy the Lamb, head full-crowned,
Praise and honor and glory resound!
Worthy the Lamb, at God’s right hand,
Messiah of the Promised Land.

Blare, blare, blare, ye trumpets old.
Fill the air with notes of gold.

By Jill Woodliff

John 9

John 9
      1Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”
      Jesus, please help us see those in need and misfortune through your eyes and show forth your work in them.

      4″I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
      Jesus, let your light shine forth in our community. Light up all the dark places.

      6When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.
      Holy Spirit, anoint our eyes — help us see with spiritual eyes; help us see where you are working so that we can bless it and cooperate with you.

      7And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.
      Jesus, please help us follow your instructions as this man did.

      8Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?”
      9Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.”
      He said, “I am he.”
      10Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”
      11He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.”
      12Then they said to him, “Where is He?”
      He said, “I do not know.”
      13They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”
      16Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.”
      Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.
      17They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?”
      He said, “He is a prophet.”
      18But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”
      20His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” 22His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
      24So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.”
      25He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”
      Father, I love this story and the man’s confession: “One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” Thank you, Father, for opening my eyes.

      26Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”
      27He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”
      28Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. 29We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”
      30The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
      34They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out.
      Holy Spirit, thank you for all the lay people you have raised up as witnesses to Jesus in this diocese. Thank you for the strength of their faith. Thank you for the Faith Alive movement and the Cursillo movement in this diocese.

      35Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”
      36He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”
      37And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.”
      38Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.
      39And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”
      40Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?”
      41Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.
      Jesus, thank you for the gift of sight. Help us wherever we are blind to turn to you in true and lasting repentance. Let the light of the gospel shine forth in all our lives as it did with this man. Thank you.

A word received: Cast all your cares on me; I care for you.

Wednesday: 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30 * 119:121-144; Ezekiel 11:14-25; Hebrews 7:1-17; Luke 10:17-24
Thursday: 105:1-22 * 105:23-45; Ezekiel 18:1-4,19-32; Hebrews 7:18-28; Luke 10:25-37

Albany Intercessor

Eight ascents and descents, part 5

Moses’ ascent and descent (Ex 24:9-11)
Healing of Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:40-56)

Exodus 24:9-11
Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky. But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.

Luke 8:54-55
But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.

Theme: Rulers.
Dominant posture: Reach out and rejoice at the intersection between heaven and earth

Notice the transitions in these scriptures: The intersection of heaven and earth on Mt Sinai, water and land on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. The border of Jesus’s garment touched by the woman with the issue of blood. The intersection of life and death in Jairus’ daughter.
We rejoice in who You are, O Lord.

Israel’s borders

Numbers 23:23 (NIV)
There is no divination against Jacob,
no evil omens against Israel.
It will now be said of Jacob
and of Israel, ‘See what God has done!’

Father,
We stand in agreement with Your Holy Word that no divination or omens will come against the nation of Israel. We loose confusion into every demonic confederacy that seeks to breach the borders of Israel and to destroy it. We claim the bood of Jesus around this nation and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Amen.

Luke 10 and Isaiah 6

After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before his face into every city and place where he himself was about to go. (Luke 10:1)
      Jesus, help us hear you when you tell us to go into our communities with the gospel message. Show us whom we are to be paired with and give us the grace to go forward at your word.

Then he said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)
      Father, Son and Holy Spirit, send forth laborers into your harvest fields.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8 )
      Holy Father, help all of us say in our hearts, “Here am I! Send me.”

“Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.” (Luke 10:3)
      Jesus, you are my shepherd: I trust your guidance as I go out among the wolves.

“Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.” (Luke 10:4)
      Holy Spirit, help us go forth into the harvest fields trusting in Jesus’ provision for us. Keep us from being distracted by others as we go forth in the harvest fields.

“But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’” (Luke 10:5)
      Jesus, please help us minister your peace in the harvest fields. Thank you.

“And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” (Luke 10:9)
      Holy Father, anoint the healing ministry throughout this diocese and at the Diocesan Convention. Prompt us to proclaim your kingdom as we minister healing in the name of Jesus. Thank you.

Tuesday: 97, 99, [100] * 94, [95]; Ezekiel 7:10-15,23b-27; Hebrews 6:13-20; Luke 10:1-17
Wednesday: 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30 * 119:121-144; Ezekiel 11:14-25; Hebrews 7:1-17; Luke 10:17-24

Albany Intercessor

Eight ascents and descents, part 4

Moses’ ascent (Ex 20:18-21) and descent (Ex 24:3)
Son of the widow of Nain (Lk 7:11-18)

Exodus 21:2-6
“If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything. If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him. If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.
“But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’ then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.

Theme: Ordering time, domestic life.
Dominant posture: Out of love, choose servitude and give your master your ear.

Time plays an important role in the Exodus passage–the law of Sabbaths and the three annual feasts are given. One aspect of the story of the resurrection of the son of the widow of Nain is the providential nature of the timing of events. Only God could have orchestrated the funeral party meeting Jesus and His companions at the city gates–a confrontation of the spirit of death with the Lord of Life.
In the creation account, time is the first thing in Holy Scripture to be sanctified–the Sabbath.
Father, thank You for sanctifying time. We choose servitude and give You our ear.

Luke 22:19-20, 29-30

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)
      Jesus, thank you for breaking into my life.

      Jesus, thank you for being broken for me on the cross.

      Father, please help us by your Holy Spirit to be transformed as we remember what you have done for us in Jesus.

Likewise he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you.” (Luke 22:20)
      Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for pouring out your life blood for me. You have held nothing back from us.

“And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as my father bestowed one upon me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Luke 22:29-30)
      Father, help us to be about kingdom business at the Diocesan Convention.

      Holy Spirit, we don’t know what to do, but our eyes and hopes are upon you for the anointing and baptism you have for us.

      Jesus, let your kingdom and your kingdom purposes be manifested with power by your Holy Spirit at the Diocesan Convention. Thank you.

A word received: Keep coming to me. I AM blessing you.

Monday: 89:1-18 * 89:19-52; Ezekiel 4:1-17; Hebrews 6:1-12; Luke 9:51-62
Tuesday: 97, 99, [100] * 94, [95]; Ezekiel 7:10-15,23b-27; Hebrews 6:13-20; Luke 10:1-17

Albany Intercessor

Eight ascents and descents, part 3

Moses’ ascent (Ex 19:20-24) and descent (Ex 19:25)
Man cast into Elisha’s sepulcher (2 Ki 13:20-21)

Exodus 19:22
Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.

2 Kings 13:21
Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.

Theme: Holiness of spiritual leaders
Dominant posture: Stand up on feet

On Moses’ third ascent, God reiterates his instructions for purification and reinforces the boundary He had set. He then issues an invitation for Aaron to come up on the mountain.
Just as boundaries order our lives, bones give structure to the body. Life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11), and the blood is manufactured in the marrow of the bones. The boundary at the foot of Mt. Sinai protected the lives of the children of Israel, and Elisha’s bones gave life to the Hebrew man.
God’s laws give structure to our lives; that is how we are to stand up on our feet. The bones of Jesus, the Word made flesh, were never broken.
Father, help us to keep Your law. Amen.

“Faith in Action Sunday” Prayer Table Report

Christ Church Schenectady Prayer Table Report, Sunday, April 23, 2011, 10:00 – 12:00 noon. Today was “Faith in Action” Sunday in which various teams went out into the neighborhood to plant flowers, do prayer walking, clean the streets, give away gifts of water, chips and cookies, set up prayer table. We had three prayer tables: one on State St., one on Albany St., and one at Jerry Burrell Park. The people we prayed with are listed below.

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

State St.

+Bill — He lost his wallet with his money and ID cards and needs to pay the rent. We prayed for God’s provision for him.

+Man with cane (didn’t speak English) — Prayed for the the Lord’s blessing.

Rebecca — We prayed for direction in college and for her future work.

Bill (across the street) — prayed a blessing and for protection. Bill is epileptic.

(Little boy walking dog across the street) — prayer for protection

+++Jeremiah’ grandfather and grandmother and for Jeremiah doing his third tour in Iraq (2 silver stars), prayed for protection.

+Dequan, +Latik, and +Marcus — 3 friends listening on ipods together, prayed for blessing on their families.

Woman across the street — prayed for protection

Taxi driver — slowed down and waved

Baby — a blessing on her and her family

+Rashid — family, he said he really needs prayer and then he renewed his relationship with Jesus.

+Emily and +Karen — two Guyanese sisters asked prayer for their grandmother.

Peter — For a trip to Washington, DC

++Butch — Prayer for his wife Betty who has a lump in her breast. Prayed for healing and for daughter age 22. Betty is going to doctor on the 16th for a biopsy. Prayed for cleansing of her body and for good news.

+++Fay — for guidance for Joseph and Jamang

+Elijah — for guidance, college, excellence.

+Jacob — for purpose and guidance.

+Adijah — for school, knowledge, for a job, for happiness for her daughter.

+Charlotte — Praise for God answering her prayers for her son JayJay, for his graduation from high school, prayer for college, guidance, prayer for Charlotte to be the mother God calls her to be.

++Donna — for family for protection and guidance and for her daughter Crystal.

+Jay and +Jennifer — for a home by the 13th and for good health (Jennifer is serious anemic). Prayer for Landon who is in foster care and keeps getting injured.

++Nadiola and another

Mary — Prayer for her husband John who is dying of cancer. Prayed that there would be at least a brief period each day when John is lucid. Prayed for health, strength and more time. Prayed for strength and provision for Mary who is doing round-the-clock nursing care of John (Hospice only comes in for 10 minutes each day to give him morphine).

+Annette — Prayer for strength, provision, shelter, in legal proceedings against DSS. She prayed for and accepted God’s forgiveness for herself and to be able to forgive others, to not be angry towards others, strength from God to give her troubles to him.

+Danny — prayed for guidance, protection, strength.

+Crystal — Prayed for her newborn baby in the hospital. He was premature. Prayed he could come home soon.

+Jennifer and Javon (baby girl)

+Lori and +Ashley — for guidance

Jerry Burrell Park

+Geeta and +Stacy — 3 sons. Family and provision and travel safely.

John — mind and body, good health, take away anxieties

Man walking by — prayed for work

+Rachael — son, family, grandchildren

Michelle — peace and healing in family, guidance

+Carl — employment, spouse +Barbara and employment for her also, living situation, 11-year old daughter, Brittany and Emma, Jeherish, their mother, more

+Dante and +Dante Jr, Nyla — Day to day blessings

Rome — for health

Darlene — good weather for swim day and house would sell quickly

Chris — Sell home and acquire a new home, patience to find the right home.

Patricia — Safe trip for children and employment for kids, also for children Dan and Laura that they would come back to church.

Albany St.

Keenyetta — Life and marriage with husband

Nicole — 7 children, release from addiction

Devon — go back to church regularly

Robert — family and friends (4 daughters), staying sober

Mack — His sins, a renewal of his life

William — strengthen his walk with the Lord.

Michael — Progress in life, new wife, a coming child, getting to know Schenectady.

Carlos — Needs provision for a job

Annie — family

Dorothea — addiction

Sylvia — her soul

Ashton — his family and two daughters, legal issues.