Affliction

It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. Psalm 119:71

When you pray in distress, always question the voice that says your affliction is God’s rejection, or just a defeat at the hands of others, or a sweeping and permanent condemnation of who you are.

Instead, assume God’s love and ask, “Father, what would you have me learn from this? Give me the Holy Spirit to guide me, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.”

Pay attention to the attentive

In Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been crippled from birth. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said in a loud voice, ‘Stand upright on your feet.’ And the man sprang up and began to walk. Acts 14:8-10, Morning Prayer

Son of God, we forget that only you make all things new. We sometimes think that it is our own power, or intelligence, or personality, or strategy, or title or organization that can bring new life. And when our old nature asserts this, we come to believe that any person can be made new if we just try hard enough. We don’t look for you at work in them or seek your direction for how to respond. We grow tired and bitter in fruitless works.

Intercede for us, Great High Priest, asking that the Father give us the Holy Spirit to teach us truth:
+ that your power is made perfect in our weakness,
+ that only some of your word will land on good soil and bear fruit,
+ that many will reject your way and choose the path to destruction.

And ask that the Spirit give us your power to apply truth wisely and rightly:

+ to look intently at those who listen to your word,
+ to search for those who have a mustard seed of faith,
+ to trust you to confirm your word with power in their lives.

Amen.

There is no barrier

Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
You opened the heavens and came down, soaring on the wings of the wind. You suffered and died and rose from the dead on the third day. You spoke to Peter in a dream and appeared to Cornelius in a vision.
There is no barrier that you cannot vanquish. Holy is Your name. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord. You are mighty and powerful, sovereign over heaven and earth and all that is therein. We proclaim Your holy name over Your children at the General Convention in Anaheim; we claim Your sovereignty over all that is therein. We declare Your power and might over spiritual rulers of darkness who are holding Your children captive. Set the prisoners free. Amen.

Perspective From the Scriptures: He is the One who Stills the Tumult

(posted by KB)

The Psalms for today’s lectionary are quite extraordinary to read in light of the incredible conflict, confusion and sense of hurt and anguish over the outcome of Friday’s business session at the ACC.

There were many passages in today’s Psalms expressing outrage at injustice and crying out in anguish at being “trampled on” that I could have quoted. But what really leaped off the page at me this morning and greatly encouraged my heart was this declaration of our Lord’s power and majesty and the reminder that He is still at work revealing His glory to the ends of the earth, each morning and evening.

Psalm 65: 5-8

5 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas;
6 the one who by his strength established the mountains,
being girded with might;
7 who stills the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples,
8 so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.

***

Almighty Father, the schemes of man are as insignificant as dust to be brushed away compared to the awesomeness of Your majesty and power.   Lord Jesus, You commanded the roaring waves and winds of the Sea of Galillee to be stilled.  Still our hearts today and help us to stand in awe and thanksgiving of and for Your glory.  Still the tumult and confusion of the ACC meeting and demonstrate to all present that You reign.  Comfort and encourage the hearts of those who feel trampled on and help them to find strength in Your steadfast love and faithfulness.  May all who love You be reminded of Your sovereignty and Your promise that You will build Your church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  May we be working to see Your kingdom established even to the ends of the earth and today be proclaiming Your glory and Your victory.

Perspective from the Scriptures

These passages from today’s lectionary spoke to my heart and gave me needed perspective regarding the ACC meetings:

Psalm 45:6
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;

Psalm 48:9-11
9 We have thought on your steadfast love, O God,
in the midst of your temple.
10 As your name, O God,
so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Let Mount Zion be glad!
Let the daughters of Judah rejoice
because of your judgments!

Colossians 1:15-20
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

***

Father, I confess to being dismayed by earthly power struggles and what appear to be unrighteous decisions even within Your Church.  Thank You that You are the Righteous Judge, and that You are the head of Your Church.  You hold all authority and dominion.

Help me, help all of us who are praying about the ACC meetings today think on Your steadfast love and be encouraged and reminded of what is eternal.  Your steadfast love never fails.  Your mercies are new every morning.  I praise You for Your faithfulness, even when I am unfaithful, even when Your people are unfaithful.  May I place my hope in Your unfailing love and trust in Your righteousness alone.  Amen.

Anglican Consultative Council

The ACC is scheduled to meet in May, in Kingston, Jamaica. The city is sited on the Liguanea Plain, an alluvial plain located next to the Hope River.

Psalm 146:5 (New International Version)

 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
       whose hope is in the LORD his God,

O Lord,

May Your Holy Spirit flow through the Anglican Consultative Council meeting.  May each member place his hope in You, and may their work be blessed.  Amen.

Communion Partners

Anglicanism: A Gift in Christ , A Two Day Conference of the Anglican Communion Institute and Communion Partner Primates, Bishops and Rectors will be held April 16 and 17 at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Houston, TX.

Ezekiel 37

 ¹ The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. ² He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. ³ He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
      I said, “O Sovereign LORD, you alone know.”

 

Sovereign Lord,

You alone know if the Episcopal Church can live.  Stir the Communion Partners to prophesy over this church and say, “Hear the word of the Lord.”  Amen.

Sanctity of Life Resolution

The Diocese of Louisiana is voting on a resolution regarding the sanctity of life at its convention.

The Spirit gives life. John 6:63a

Holy Spirit, we plead. Speak to the voting delegates at the Louisiana diocesan convention. If their ears are plugged, then unplug them. Speak life! May their hearts be open to You, the Giver of life. Amen.

Diocesan conventions

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

O Father,
You exercise kindness, justice and righteousness on earth. We pray that the diocesan conventions of Louisiana and Delaware will be filled with those who love You. Open their hearts to know and understand Your purpose for them and show Your delight in them. Amen.
Jeremiah 9:23-24

American Anglican Council

The AAC is hosting a meeting–Blueprint for the New Church.

Lord, we thank You for the Righteous Branch from David’s line, Jesus Christ. We pray that the Anglican diaspora in North America will look to Him as King and call Him The Lord our Righteousness. Amen.
Jeremiah 23:5-6

Covenant Design Group

The Covenant Design Group will meet March 29-April 2 in Cambridge, England.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:24-25a

O Father,
What a wretched church we are! Who will rescue us from this body of death?
We give thanks to You for Your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
who descended into hell,
rose from the dead,
ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
The Covenant Design Group has been toiling against a contrary wind. We pray that they are willing to take Jesus into their toil and that they immediately reach the shore where they are heading. If there are any members of the group that are unwilling to take Jesus in, then we cry out for a change of heart or a change of personnel. Amen.
John 6:21, Apostles Creed

Madagascar

Most Rev. Ian Ernest, Archbishop of the Province of the Indian Ocean, has called for prayers for Madagascar, which is undergoing political upheaval.

He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations—
Psalm 66:7a

Turn Your eyes to Madagascar, dear Lord, and make Your face to shine upon Your people. Amen.

Bishop consecration, Northwest Texas

On Saturday, March 21, Rev. Scott Mayer will be consecrated in Lubbock.

Dear Heavenly Father,
We pray that Rev. Mayer will be enslaved to You, bearing the fruit of holiness and receiving the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Romans 6:22-23

Long Island bishop election

On Saturday, March 21, the Episcopal diocese of Long Island elects a bishop coadjutor. The candidates are: the Rev. Ronald G. Abrams, rector, St. James’ Church, Wilmington, N.C.; the Very Rev. Peter Eaton, dean, St. John’s Cathedral, Denver, Colo.; the Rev. Titus Presler, sub-dean, The General Theological Seminary, New York, N.Y.; the Rev. Lawrence Provenzano, rector, St. Andrew’s, Longmeadow, Mass.; the Rev. Canon Petero Sabune, Episcopal chaplain, Sing Sing Correctional Facility, Ossining, N.Y.; the Rev. Caroline Stacey, rector, St. Luke in the Fields, New York, N.Y; The Rt. Rev. Johncy Itty, Bishop of Oregon from 2003-2008.

Dear Heavenly Father,
We pray that the bishop coadjutor-elect will be bound to You , body, soul, and spirit, for Your renown and praise and honor. Amen.
Jeremiah 13:11

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops is convened in Kanuga.

Jeremiah 7:2-15

” ‘Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the LORD.  This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!”  If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly,  if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever.  But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.
 ” ‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, [a] burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, 10 and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”-safe to do all these detestable things?  Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD. 

 ” ‘Go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for my Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel.  While you were doing all these things, declares the LORD, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer.  Therefore, what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears my Name, the temple you trust in, the place I gave to you and your fathers.  I will thrust you from my presence, just as I did all your brothers, the people of Ephraim.’

O Lord,

We pray that the bishops do not trust in deceptive words that are worthless.  Open their ears to hear Your voice.  Amen.