The Episcopal Church

Isaiah 52:14-15(NLT)
But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.
Father, forgive us. We in the Body of Christ have so disfigured Christ Jesus’s appearance. The Episcopal Church has spent tens of millions of dollars in litigation. As an Episcopalian, I confess our sin and say, Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
And he will startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence. For they will see what they had not been told; they will understand what they had not heard about.
I look at the sorry mess, Lord, and am overwhelmed. Yet I know it is not too big for You. Unveil Jesus in our midst, Lord. Turn our hearts aright. I plead for new revelation.
We are in the furnace of affliction. May we be refined like silver. Help me and my beloved church to hear new things from this time, even hidden things that we had no knowledge of. Open our ears and our hearts. Amen.
Isaiah 48

Matthew 22:15-22 and Genesis 1:27

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle him in his talk. And they sent to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do you care about anyone, for you do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites? Show me the tax money.” So they brought him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” And he said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way. (Matthew 22:15-22)
      Holy Spirit, there is so much confusion in our country about money and taxes. Help your people do as Jesus commanded and look at the currency in their pockets and recognize that it is stamped with “Caesar’s image and inscription.”

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27)
      Holy Spirit, help your people receive this verse into their hearts — to recognize that we are all stamped with the image of God and that we belong to him.

      Jesus, help us daily render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s. Thank you.

      Father, once again I give my life over into your hands. You have made me and stamped me with your image; I am yours. Thank you.

A word received: I AM your defender. Look to me. I AM waiting for you.

Sunday: 148, 149, 150 * 114, 115; Jer. 29:1,4-14 Acts 16:6-15 Luke 10:1-12,17-20
HC: 96 or 96:1-9; Isaiah 45:1-7; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22
Monday: 25 * 9, 15; Jer. 44:1-14 1 Cor. 15:30-41 Matthew 11:16-24

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Please pray for David Gough, CMS Ireland as he travels to Egypt, South Sudan and, for the first time with CMS Ireland, to 3 Partner Dioceses in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
      16th October Sunday, 09.00, Youth and MU meetings. Speaking at Mangobo Parish, Kindu, Confirmed

Albany Intercessor

Nebraska–Francis Sayre

The Very Rev. Francis B. Sayre Jr. (1915 — 2008) was Dean of the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. for 27 years.

O God, whose splendor unfettered, whose mercy unbounded rests upon the wide plain of Nebraska, let the soul of Thy people be open too. May they hark Thy call gently upon the wind, poignant as a whistle cry haunting the prairie night.

Nurture, Lord, the great course of flat water which once bore the questing pioneer across our nation’s heart, and now dispenses life to the fields of corn and farmers’ homes.

So may blessing come, O Father, to children schooled to Thy glory, whose eyes shall reflect the distant hills of faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hat tip: The Anglican Digest

Lord’s Resistance Army

President Barack Obama on Friday announced to Congress his decision to send about 100 U.S. troops to central Africa to help battle a rebel group known as the Lord’s Resistance Army. We have prayed much for the destruction of the Lord’s Resistance Army on this blog. Here is a previous spiritual warfare prayer:

William Jennings Bryan

William Jennings Bryan (1860 – 1925) was a three-time nominee for president, and he served as Secretary of State. Unofficially, he was regarded as the greatest orator of his age. He articulated the concerns of ordinary Americans in unapologetically biblical and moral language. He championed reforms that we take for granted today: women’s suffrage, labor unions, and anti-trust.

The parents have a right to say that no teacher paid by their money shall rob their children of faith in God and send them back to their homes skeptical, or infidels, or agnostics, or atheists.

If we have to give up either religion or education, we should give up education.