Genesis 35:6,7,14 (NIV)
Jacob and all the people with him came to Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan. There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel, because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother. . . . Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it.

Triune Lord, You are the God of Bethel.

Proverbs 3:19-20 (NIV)
By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.

Father in heaven,
You are the God of hydrology, meteorology, and ecology, the Creator of heaven and earth. Your knowledge and understanding extends to every dimension and realm, both seen and unseen.
Have mercy on us, for we are arrogant and sinful. Have mercy on us for we do not perceive the unseen. If the drought-stricken land is cursed due to our sinfulness, then we humbly ask You to reveal to the Body of Christ what must be done.
Stir the hearts of the people in the drought-stricken area to read Holy Scripture. No drought of God’s Word!
Teach us how to pray so that our nation can come into a right relationship with You. You are our heart’s desire.
We pray for restoration of faith and hope. We speak love to the drought-stricken land and atmosphere. We declare a double portion of love and blessings to Texas.
We bless the processes of evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, and collection. We bless the the wind and the clouds, the sun and the moon. We bless the land and every body of water in the drought-stricken areas. We bless the governments, the farmers, the churches, the businesses, the media, the schools, and the arts and entertainment. We bless the families.
Let it rain, Lord. Let it rain. Amen.

“Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal on him.” (John 6:27)
      Jesus, please help us labor for what is enduring to everlasting life.

      Father, you set the seal of your Holy Spirit upon Jesus. Seal us with that same Spirit. I know that Jesus received the Holy Spirit without measure and that I cannot because of the sin in my life and my fallen nature, but I ask for as much of your Spirit as I can receive. Thank you.

Then they said to him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he sent.” (John 6:28-29)
      Father, please help us believe in Jesus whom you have sent to us.

Monday: 56, 57, [58] * 64, 65; Gen. 19:1-17(18-23)24-29: Heb. 11:1-12: John 6:27-40
Tuesday: 61, 62 * 68:1-20(21-23)24-36; Gen. 21:1-21: Heb. 11:13-22: John 6:41-51

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Start now reading and reflecting on the lessons for Sunday so that you can receive all that God has for you (Mark 1:29-39; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23; 2 Kings 4:(8-17)18-21(22-31); Psalm 142).

***** Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 06:12:37 -0500
From: Nigel Mumford
Subject: Daily Quote
      Brethren try to focus on the good in people. Actively look for the positive and kind things about others. Try not to put people down, either to someone’s face or behind their back, even in you mind. Get out of that habit please. If you hear someone putting someone down do not be drawn into the conversation. “No” is a complete sentence! Philippians 4: 8 writes; “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”

[Note from Torre on Nigel's quote: Some years ago a pastor put me onto this verse: For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. (2 Corinthians 10:12) His free translation was that "it is stupid to compare yourself with others. When you do that, someone almost always gets put down, and the person who usually gets put down is yourself." He said, to me, "You are putting down someone that Jesus died for and that is a sin and you need to repent of that!"]

***** Prayer requests from Willowfield parish in Belfast, Northern Ireland:
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012
From: Ronnie O’Neill
Subject: Fw: Prayer update on “Y”
      Just in from Mark and Liz: Hi all, quick update on “Y” whom many of you have been praying for. As some will have heard in church this morning; “Y” is still in protective care and rehabilitaion, however we’ve heard in the past couple of days that her younger sister who had been sold into the brothel to replace “Y” has been rescued and is now also in protective care – praise the Lord and thank you for your prayers!!! Her mother has alos been found work that provides some income and should reduce the risk of other “Y”‘s other siblings being sold. Thanks to you all once again for your prayers and to God for his mercy, grace and protection. Cheers and God bless, Mark and Liz…

Albany Intercessor

Actually it is in Christ that we learn who we truly are. In Him our personality is not annihilated; in Him our personality is brought to fruition. The ultimate aim of the Christian mystic is union with Christ.

And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Mark 1:22)
      Holy Spirit, please help us recognize and heed all teaching that authentically comes from Jesus. Let the words that he speaks cut us to the heart.

Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” (Mark 1:23-25)
      Jesus, whenever evil spirits manifest themselves in our lives or in our parishes, rebuke them and cast them out.

And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. (Mark 1:26)
      Father, please help us persevere through to victory in the fight with what is evil in your sight.

Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” (Mark 1:27)
      Father, help the clergy and people of this diocese recognize and accept the authority with which Jesus speaks to us.

And immediately his fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee. (Mark 1:28 )
      Jesus, we pray that the news of what you are doing in our congregations will spread throughout our communities. Thank you.

Sunday: 24, 29 * 8, 84; Gen. 18:16-33: Gal. 5:13-25: Mark 8:22-30
HC: Mark 1:21-28; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 111
Monday: 56, 57, [58] * 64, 65; Gen. 19:1-17(18-23)24-29: Heb. 11:1-12: John 6:27-40

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Start now reading and reflecting on the lessons for Sunday so that you can receive all that God has for you (Mark 1:29-39; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23; 2 Kings 4:(8-17)18-21(22-31); Psalm 142).

***** Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012
From: Nigel Mumford
Subject: Daily Quote…
      Someone once said that if you are right about something; keep quiet about it. On the flip side if you are wrong about something; apologize. This might be a good equation in life within marriage, with friends and family. Jesus said, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Albany Intercessor

Father,
By Your wisdom, the creatures of this world live and move and have their being. By Your provision, the quail flew into Israel’s camp in the wilderness. You instructed Balaam’s donkey to speak and commanded the ravens to feed Elijah and gave Nehemiah’s horse wisdom to travel at night around the walls of Jerusalem.
Your Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords, entered Jerusalem in triumph, yet lowly, sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. Jesus instructed the disciples to cast their nets on the right side of the boat to bring in a multitude of fish.
We thank You that in their service to man, these animals served You. Your kingdom come, Your will be done in the lives of the animals of Israel today. Establish Your kingdom, Lord, from Dan to Beersheba, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River. Amen.

Prayed for a man walking on theother side of the street limping.

+Nancy — She is traveling by bus to Pennsylvania and by plane to California. We prayed for travel mercies and that her “family will keep together.”

+Luke (young man from Haiti) — We prayed for a job and then confessed his sins and once again accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior and accepted God’s forgiveness. We also prayed for a wife for him and that he would not make any more “mistakes” about the women he goes out with.

+Thomas — He asked prayer for his daughter Zayana who is 8 months old and has been sick at least half of that time. He said, “It is getting over-whelming.” We prayed he would know how to be the man and the father God is calling him to be.

+Joe — We prayed for him and his girlfriend for good health. He has a job interview this week.

+H Darius — He asked prayer for a new beginning and gave his life to Jesus.

+Christopher — He asked prayer for peace and for a friend who just died.

+HH Gary — He asked prayer for a renewed relationship with his sons.

Joseph — for his daughter Evea

+Christopher — He asked prayer for relaxation. He then gave his burdens to Jesus.

++Eric — He asked prayer for health for him and his family.

Desdemona — She was on her way to the Macedonia 7th Day Adventist Church on Swan St. with her adult son +Louis who goes to a “Sunday” church in New York City. We prayed for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Macedonia and on Christ Church.

++Ethel – She asked prayer for her fianceé and for peace.

+Dale — He asked prayer for his 5 grandchildren.

. . . Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”

Genesis 30:37-39 (NIV)
Jacob, however, took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white stripes on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches. Then he placed the peeled branches in all the watering troughs, so that they would be directly in front of the flocks when they came to drink. When the flocks were in heat and came to drink, they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.

Triune God,
Our eyes behold the streaked, speckled, spotted dimensions of Your glory.

GLORY be to God for dappled things—
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough;
And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.

We bow low before You. If we have found favor in Your eyes, do not pass us by.
Jesus is our living water. Jesus is the bread of life. Jesus is life.
Let us drink deeply of Your goodness that new life may abound. Amen.

The blockquote is a stanza of “Pied Beauty” by Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.” They said, “Do as you have said.” (Genesis 18:1-5)
      Father, Son and Holy Spirit, come into my home and dwell there. Do not pass me by.

And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” (Genesis 18:13-14)
      Holy Spirit, help me excamine myself and clear away all doubt about what you can do in my life.

A word received: You are in my care.

Saturday: 55 * 138, 139:1-17(18-23); Gen. 18:1-16: Heb. 10:26-39: John 6:16-27
Sunday: 24, 29 * 8, 84; Gen. 18:16-33: Gal. 5:13-25: Mark 8:22-30
HC: Mark 1:21-28; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 111

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Start now reading and reflecting on the lessons for Sunday (Mark 1:21-28; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 111) so that you can receive all that God has for you.

***** Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012
From: Nigel Mumford
Subject: Daily Quote…
      Have “Good grief” in your life. Lucy got it right in Peanuts, as she said, “Good grief Charlie Brown!” Grieve well my friends. Invite Jesus into the grief. Go just a little bit deeper with Him into your grief. He will help you. Blessed are those who grieve for you will be comforted by the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 5:4)

Albany Intercessor

Psalm 19:1 (NKJV)
The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Father, we give You thanks for the safety of air travelers and the beauty of the auroras. Amen.