Earthquakes

List of earthquakes in the last seven days.

Proverbs 18:10 KJV
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

May it be so, dear Lord. May it be so. Amen.

Worthy is the Lamb

We believe . . . in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.” . . .
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
Nicene Creed, Revelation 5:10, 12

Maryland

We are praying for a state a week. The state motto of Maryland is “Fatti maschii, parole femine (Manly deeds, womanly words)”.

Daniel 11:32b-33a
The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many.

O Father,
May Your children in Maryland be strong and do exploits to the glory of Your name. Out of a godly understanding, may they instruct many. Raise up educational curricula and other media for the establishment of Your kingdom on earth. Amen.

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. (Philippians 3:17)
      Father, thank you for those faithful witnesses and mentors who provide godly examples for us to follow. Please raise up more of these in your church.

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: (Philippians 3:18 )
      Lord Jesus, we are surrounded in the church by such tares. Help us cherish and protect the wheat.

whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame–who set their mind on earthly things. (Philippians 3:19)
      Jesus, protect your little ones and all your faithful people so that we are not swept away by the lies which are being told to your people.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (Philippians 3:20)
      Come soon, Lord Jesus; come soon!

who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to his glorious body, according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things to himself. (Philippians 3:21)
      Jesus, please subdue my mind and my heart to your kingdom purposes.

Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. (Philippians 4:1)
      Holy Spirit, please help us stand fast in Jesus. Thank you.

Sunday: 8, 84; Genesis 41:14-45; Romans 6:3-14; John 5:19-24
Monday: 64, 65; Genesis 41:46-57; 1 Corinthians 4:8-20(21); Mark 3:7-19a

      Notes from the Front Line

***** For many years I have thought that Psalm 103:1 was Mary’s daily prayer while she was pregnant with Jesus.

Albany Intercessor

Without a shepherd?

When King Saul was seeking the lives of David and his men, they would sometimes hide in caves. Some of the most beautiful of the psalms were composed in those caves.
Once, King Saul unwittingly went alone into a cave where David and his men were hiding. David forbade them to harm the king because he was the LORD’s anointed. (1 Samuel 24)
If your congregation is without a shepherd or under a false shepherd, or if you are without a home congregation, you can follow David’s model. Organize a small group to meet in a home, not for the purpose of denigrating a false shepherd, but for the purpose of praising God. Who knows what fruit will be borne?–JW

Lent Quotes: Frederick Buechner – Christ’s love sees us with terrible clarity

Romantic love is blind to everything except what is lovable and lovely, but Christ’s love sees us with terrible clarity and sees us whole. Christ’s love so wishes our joy that it is ruthless against everything in us that diminishes our joy. The worst sentence Love can pass is that we behold the suffering which Love has endured for our sake, and that is also our acquittal. The justice and mercy of the judge are ultimately one.

– Frederick Buechner
image by Resclassic2

(With thanks and appreciation to Pat Dague at Transfigurations)

What an amazingly powerful quotation.  Pat posted this on Valentine’s Day, two weeks ago, but I’ve not been able to stop thinking about this.  Read these two lines again:

Christ’s love sees us with terrible clarity and sees us whole. Christ’s love so wishes our joy that it is ruthless against everything in us that diminishes our joy.

I’m reminded of a number of passages of Scripture:

Ps 139

Eph 2

– NOTHING in us is hidden from God’s sight, yet even though He sees the depths of our hearts, all the sinful ugly parts we try to hide, He still loves us.  He died for us when we were His enemies, hostile to Him, because He longed for us to be reconciled to Himself.  And while the unsanctified parts of our hearts may be desperately black and dark, they are not dark to Him.  His light and power will triumph there.  One day those of us who are in Christ will be like Him, perfect, spotless, and our joy will be complete!

Prayer Table Report

Christ Church Schenectady Prayer Table Report, February 27, 2010, 9:25 -10:30 AM Torre Bissell and Dave Carlson

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

It was a sloppy weather day with wet snow falling the whole time. Although we had long periods of time with no one passing by, there were many folks who did stop for prayer:

+ Christopher — asked for prayer for his family, friends, and his job

+ Esau and + Daniel (a teenager carrying a puppy) — we prayed for the Lord’s provision and protection in their lives

+ Marlene — believer who has stopped many times before for prayer – we prayed not only for physical provision, but for spiritual blessing; Marlene prayed out loud, agreeing with us in prayer and boldly praising the Lord

+ Doc — he asked for prayer for his friend + Seth who has kidney stones; he took a cross to give to Seth and he thanked God for His goodness toward him; took out his wallet to make a donation (we thanked him but let him know we don’t accept money for offering prayer)

+ Joe and + James — two men (brothers) drove up and parked across the street – they came specifically to visit the prayer table (asked us to pray for good health); Joe said he works at Northwood’s and was a caregiver for Father Hio while he was a patient there

+ Theresa – she and her husband were participating in the ’40 days for Life’ ministry in front of Planned Parenthood (to find out more about it, go to http://40daysforlife.com/schenectady/); she asked prayer for her daughter and her daughter’s family who are “in a bad way”

+ Helen – woman walking by with an umbrella, asked prayer for her health

Brown – young man in his 20’s who has stopped many times before – asked us to pray for “everything”

+ Mark – stopped for prayer as we were breaking down the table and chairs at the end – prayed for the Lord’s provision in his life

David

Albany Intercessor

Psalm 139:7-12

Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? (Psalm 139:7)
      Jesus, please help me run into your open and waiting arms.

If I ascend into heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there. (Psalm 139:8 )
      Jesus, wherever I go, you are there and you surround me with your witnesses. Thank you.

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. (Psalm 139:9-10)
      Jesus, help me to find my steadiness in you.

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” even the night shall be light about me; (Psalm 139:11)
      Lord, let your light shine on my path, and guide me by your word and your Holy Spirit.

Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from you, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to you. (Psalm 139:12)
      There is no darkness dark enough to hide me from your light, Father; thank you.

Saturday: 138, 139:1-17(18-23); Genesis 41:1-13; 1 Corinthians 4:1-7; Mark 2:23-3:6
Sunday: 8, 84; Genesis 41:14-45; Romans 6:3-14; John 5:19-24

Albany Intercessor

Lent Quotes: John Piper – Glorying in the Cross

I found this great excerpt from a talk given by John Piper in 2000 at the blog “A Cruciform Life”

All exultation in anything else should be exultation in the cross. If you exult in the hope of glory you should be exulting in the cross of Christ. If you exult in tribulation because tribulation works hope, you should be exulting in the cross of Christ. If you exult in your weaknesses, or in the people of God, you should be exulting in the cross of Christ.

Why is this the case? For this reason: for redeemed sinners, every good thing – indeed every bad thing that God turns for good – was obtained for us by the cross of Christ. Apart from the death of Christ, sinners get nothing but judgment. Apart from the cross of Christ, there is only condemnation. Therefore everything that you enjoy in Christ – as a Christian, as a person who trusts Christ – is owing to the death of Christ. And all your rejoicing in all things should therefore be a rejoicing in the cross where all your blessings were purchased for you at the cost of the death of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Go read the full entry here.

A Lenten Reflection: The Battle For Control

This is drawn from a blog A Ruach Journey, where it was posted in January.  I thought it would make a good Lenten Reflection.

“I believe that the essence of sin is the fear that God does not have our best interests at heart.” 97 So said Gary Moon in Apprenticeship with Jesus: Learning to live like the Master. I am currently in the section called “Know Yourself” and there are four chapters here, The Good, Bad, The Ugly and The Beautiful.  Naturally, I want to write about “The Bad.”

Moon says that when we begin to fear that God does not have our best interests at heart, we try to control things. Then, he concludes the chapter with some reflections and says, “Consider that apart from God’s presence and grace, your soul is lost and ruined.” He then asks us to consider what happens when God is not in control of your life and when he is not in control.

Three questions for reflection come out of this

What happens when I am in control of my

• • thoughts
  • emotions
  • will
  • behavior
  • relationships

What happens when God is in control of my:

• • thoughts
  • emotions
  • will
  • behavior
  • relationships

What can I do to allow God to be in control in my life?

The original entry is here.

Maryland

Preamble:
We, the People of the State of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty, and taking into our serious consideration the best means of establishing a good Constitution in this State for the sure foundation and more permanent security thereof, declare:

Declaration of Rights, Article 36:
That as it is the duty of every man to worship God in such manner as he thinks most acceptable to Him, all persons are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty;

Lord, we are indeed thankful to You for our civil and religious liberty.  We pray for the continued freedom of religion in the state of Maryland.  Amen.

A great Lenten Reflection on Why We Fast

WOW!  Over at Splendor in the Ordinary, Amy has a wonderful reflection on “Why We Fast”  It really is must reading in terms of helping us understand how “small” disciplines and sacrifices can actually allow the Lord to deal with big issues in our hearts.

Here’s an excerpt:

But personally, every Lent when I have chosen something related to eating and drinking for the Fast, it has hit me right where it hurts.  When I remove one of those little comforts, those easy over-the-counter panaceas, it doesn’t take long for my sin to flare. While I wouldn’t usually say I have a problem with anger, impatience, or bitterness, take away my morning coffee, (or X, Y or Z) and I do.

This leads me to justify my misbehavior:

These sins aren’t real, I’m the victim of my circumstances.

At other times, I begin the mental gymnastic:

Coffee, chocolate, dessert, whatever it may be…, these are gifts from God, He knows I’m weak that’s why He created these things, why am I taking it  upon myself to question this?!

But in the silence of Lent, I hear His Voice:

Pray. Be still. Take up your Cross. Follow Me.

GO READ IT ALL!

Mark 2:13-17

Then he went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to him, and he taught them. (Mark 2:13)
      Jesus, teach us as well!

As he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And he said to him, “Follow me.” So he arose and followed him. (Mark 2:14)
      Holy Spirit, please help each of us hear Jesus’ call to follow him; give each of us a heart to answer the call as Levi did.

Now it happened, as he was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many, and they followed him. (Mark 2:15)
      Jesus, we pray that you will come into our home and that all of our friends and family will be gather together to you.

And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to his disciples, “How is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” (Mark 2:16)
      Father we too are sinners who need Jesus. Thank you for sending him to us. Don’t let us be hindered by the scoffers and those who reject him.

When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Mark 2:17)
      Holy Spirit, move our hearts to lasting repentance. Thank you.

      Jesus, please help us throughout this diocese answer your call to repentance.

Friday: 51; Genesis 40:1-23; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23; Mark 2:13-22
Saturday: 138, 139:1-17(18-23); Genesis 41:1-13; 1 Corinthians 4:1-7; Mark 2:23-3:6

Albany Intercessor

Lent Quotes: Charles Spurgeon – being living biographies of Christ

A high calling to aspire this Lenten season.  May this season of penitence and seeking the Lord produce this Christ-likeness in us!

A Christian should be a striking likeness of Jesus Christ. You have read lives of Christ, beautifully and eloquently written, but the best life of Christ is his living biography, written out in the words and actions of his people. If we were what we profess to be, and what we should be, we should be pictures of Christ; yea, such striking likenesses of him, that the world would not have to hold us up by the hour together, and say, “Well, it seems somewhat of a likeness;” but they would, when they once beheld us, exclaim, “He has been with Jesus;”

-C. H. Spurgeon

Hat tip Eric Swensson at Awakenings

Fr. Nigel Update

Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 6:35 pm
From: “Fr. Nigel Mumford+”
Subject: Prayers please and a thank you

God-morrow my dear prayer warriors,

Please pray for Monday 1st when I go back to work part time for the first time in 5 months…and especially for the 10am Healing Service on Tuesday March 2nd. Where Lynn and I will be speaking. You know YOUR prayers work… neat egh… thank you dear friends… Thank YOU God… I so want to write the A word and the H word but, hey, it is Lent.

Lynn and I went to Saratoga ICU today to thank some more nurses… it was such a high… they were so excited to see me upright and walking. I was quite surprised to see the nurse that worked on me a lot to be so small… I had only seen her when I was lying down… I was amazed… I thought she was so tall! I suppose it is all a matter of perspective… You know that dynamite comes in small packages!

I was told by a nurse and the hospital chaplain that things had changed a lot in ICU since I was there. The change is prayer. They (the nurses) all now pray for the patients in the ICU thanks be to God... it is so good to have left a legacy. I have been asked back to the hospital
March 22nd to give my testimony to the staff.

They had all read the newspaper article I wrote to the editor. Gosh it was such a high to meet everyone and to properly say thank you… as I again thank you for your continued prayers.
Hope to see most of you on March 2nd…

It is so good to be alive….PRAISE THE LORD….

Much love to you all…

Be well.
God bless you,
Fr. Nigel+

The Rev. Nigel W D Mumford+
Director, The Oratory of Christ the healer,
Christ the King Spiritual Life Center
575 Burton Road, Greenwich, NY 12834

(518)692-9550
healing@ctkcenter.org
http://www.ctkcenter.org

Albany Intercessor