1 Thessalonians:10-12 and Isaiah 1:24-31

You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians:10-12)
      Holy Father, please help us walk worthy of your grace; help us answer your call into your kingdom. Father, thank you for your apostolic ministers who have been models for us of Jesus’ love and humility. Please help us to be faithful and effective witnesses to your grace. Thank you.

Therefore the Lord says, the Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, “Ah, I will rid myself of my adversaries, and take vengeance on my enemies. I will turn my hand against you, and thoroughly purge away your dross, and take away all your alloy. I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.” (Isaiah 1:24-26)
      Jesus, please come among us with your justice and mercy and righteousness. Please restore our civic life to the holiness you desire in us and for us.

Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her penitents with righteousness. The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed. For they shall be ashamed of the terebinth trees which you have desired; and you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens which you have chosen. For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades, and as a garden that has no water. The strong shall be as tinder, and the work of it as a spark; both will burn together, and no one shall quench them. (Isaiah 1:27-31)
      Holy Spirit, we have become an unwatered garden; come soon and refresh us. Move throughout this diocese and cleanse and renew us. Move our hearts to reach out to the lost and the least. We pray for your little ones that they will find a home and a shelter near your altar. (See Psalm 84:3)

A word received: Pray for my people to hold steady in me.

Tuesday: 5, 6 * 10, 11; Isaiah 1:21-31; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Luke 20:9-18
Wednesday: 119:1-24 * 12, 13, 14; Isaiah 2:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20; Luke 20:19-26

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2010
From: Forest Rittgers
Subject: Amazing at Seaway Mall in Welland
Here’s another one.
Forest
      Here’s something to start off your Holiday season…..I hope you enjoy this wonderful piece of Handel’s Messiah performed in a food court in Australia! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE

***** Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2010
From: Fr. Nigel Mumford+
Subject: correction
I correct my comment: “There is nothing in the mall that you can buy for your soul.” I am wrong! There is one thing in the mall that you can buy for your soul, and that is found in a book shop: “The Bible.”
Be well, God bless you, Fr, Nigel+

Albany Intercessor

Testimonies from the Internet

Testimony of healing of myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.)
Testimony of healing of blind Muslim man in Mozambique through missionary Heidi Baker’s ministry
Testimony of healing of an addiction
Testimony of healing of autism
Testimony of healing of autism
Testimony of healing of schizophrenia

Agents of blessing

Our Father in heaven,
Holy Scripture teaches us that if we ask anything according to Your will, You hear us and give us what we ask. Yet, how are we to pray?
A day is like a thousand years to You, and a thousand years is like a day. Your thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are Your ways our ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are Your ways higher than our ways and Your thoughts than our thoughts.
Open our eyes and our ears to receive Your Holy Spirit, so that we may understand what You have freely given us. Teach us to lay aside the natural things and pick up the eternal things of the Spirit. Teach us to ask not in words taught by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, Spirit-taught words grounded on spiritual realities.
You are the King, the Lord of hosts, and we are a people of unclean lips. Wash our tongues and make them clean. Use our words as agents of blessing.
Forgive us for our stinging words–words of cynicism and judgmentalism. Forgive us for our cutting words–words of anger and hate. Forgive us for words that imprison–words that lie and words spoken in ignorance.
Grant us words of forgiveness and charity, of truth and light. Fill our mouth with words that point to Jesus–He is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Amen.
1 John 5:14-15, 2 Peter 3:8, Isaiah 55:8, 1 Corinthians 2:12-13, Isaiah 6:5, 1:16

Wyoming

The largest coal mine in the USA is Black Thunder located near Wright, Wyoming.

Father, we pray that Your dunamis power will break loose and flow from Wyoming over the United States of America. Amen.

SHOUT

Isaiah 40:9-11 (New Living Translation)
O Zion, messenger of good news,
shout from the mountaintops!
Shout it louder, O Jerusalem.
Shout, and do not be afraid.
Tell the towns of Judah,
“Your God is coming!”
Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power.
He will rule with a powerful arm.
See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd.
He will carry the lambs in his arms,
holding them close to his heart.
He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

In an earlier post, I commented on the pattern of high praise followed by God’s governance. This Advent passage follows the same theme, the shouts of God’s coming followed by His appearance in power.

Lord Jesus,
In Your temptation, the devil took You to a very high mountain and showed You all the kingdoms of the earth in their splendor. You proclaimed from that high mountain,”Worship the Lord Your God and serve Him only.”
We join our voices to the angels and say

Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!

We shout it louder,

AMEN!
PRAISE AND GLORY
AND WISDOM AND THANKS AND HONOR
AND POWER AND STRENGTH
BE TO OUR GOD FOR EVER AND EVER.
AMEN!

Come, Lord Jesus. Come to Joseph, Sally, Chris, Lauren, Gaenor, Mark, Samuel, Erin, Isabella, Christy, Nick, Alan, and David. Come in power and bring Your reward to them. Feed them, carry them, and hold them close to Your heart. Amen.
Matthew 4:8-10, Revelation 7:12

Luke 20:1-8

One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” (Luke 20:1-2)
      Lord Jesus Christ, please help the chief priests and elders of the Episcopal Church to recognize and accept your authority and the authority of your Father who sent you. We ask you to move in the life of the congregations of this diocese and preach and teach the gospel among us. Thank you.

He answered them, “I also will ask you a question; now tell me, Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?” (Luke 20:3-4)
      Holy Spirit, help us hear and respond to your call to repentance. Thank you.

And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know whence it was. (Luke 20:5-7)
      Father, please help the leaders and teachers of the Episcopal Church to stop their weasel word answers. We ask as Elijah, your prophet asked the people, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.” (1 Kings 18:21)

And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (Luke 20:8 )
      Jesus, please help the leaders and teachers of the Episcopal Church hear your warning to the church of the Laodiceans: “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16)

A word received: Bless what I AM doing among you.

Monday: 1, 2, 3 * 4, 7; Isaiah 1:10-20; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Luke 20:1-8
Tuesday: 5, 6 * 10, 11; Isaiah 1:21-31; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Luke 20:9-18

      Notes from the Front Line

***** For the redemption of their souls is costly, (Psalm 49:8a)
Date: Sun, 28 Nov 2010
From: Fr. Nigel Mumford+
Subject: soul healing, a shared thought.
“There is nothing in the mall that you can buy for your soul.”
      I am writing a chapter in my new book and that verse just came to me. The chapter is titled “Therapy” The book is titled, “Post Trauma Healing.”
Be well, God bless you, Fr, Nigel+

***** His Name Shall Be Called Wonderful – Carroll Roberson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7nGuo5ti-M
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoPlwPUYWaw
Praise, my soul the King of heaven http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyRIVbdsi4c&feature=channel
Thine is the Glory http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK0I9vj2QlI
Hark the herald angels sing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCt1s44cfMM&feature=channel

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
“Hymn For Christmas Day”
Words: Hark How All The Welkin Rings, Charles Wesley (1707-1788 ), Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1739
Amended by
George Whitfield (1714-1770), 1753
Martin Madan (1726-1790), 1760
And Others

Music: “Mendelssohn,” Felix Mendelssohn, 1840, as part of a cantata honoring printer Johann Gutenberg titled “Festgesant” (“Festival Song”) [and specifically “Gott ist Licht” (“God is Light”)] Arranged by William Hayman Cummings; first presented Christmas Day, 1855

Lyrics:

1. Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise.
Join the triumph of the skies.
With angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King.”

2. Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ the everlasting lord
Late in time behold him come,
Off-spring of the virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail th’ incarnate deity
Pleased as Man with men to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.
Hark the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born king!”

3. Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace,
Hail, the Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His throne on high,
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark the herald angels sing,
Glory to the new-born king.

4. Come, Desire of nations come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Oh, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born king;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”

5. Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Alternate Third Verse

3. Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that men no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Risen with healing in his wings,
Light and life to all he brings,
Hail! The Sun of Righteousness!
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn king.

Alternate Fourth Verses

4. Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conquering Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

4. Come, Desire of nations come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the Woman’s conquering Seed,
Bruise in us the Serpent’s head.
Adam’s likeness now efface:
Stamp Thine image in its place;
Second Adam, from above,
Reinstate us in thy love.
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,
Glory to the Newborn King.

4. Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conquering seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface;
Stamp Thy likeness in its place;
Oh, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.

Albany Intercessor

Wyoming

The Bighorn River is a tributary of the Yellowstone, approximately 461 miles long, in the western United States in the states of Wyoming and Montana. The upper reaches of the Bighorn, south of the Owl Creek Mountains in Wyoming, are known as the Wind River. The two rivers are sometimes referred to as the Wind/Bighorn. The Wind River officially becomes the Bighorn River at the Wedding of the Waters, on the north side of the Wind River Canyon.

Father, send Your Holy Spirit and Your full authority down the Bighorn valley. Revive this state and make her Your bride. Amen.

Isaiah 2:1-5

The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:1)
      LORD, please help us heed your word to us.

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. (Isaiah 2:2)
      Father, establish the rule and reign and majesty of your son’s house in our hearts.

      Jesus, be exalted in our midst.

      Holy Spirit, guide the footsteps of your people so that they flow into the house of the LORD.

Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; he will teach us his ways, and we shall walk in his paths.” (Isaiah 2:3a)
      Jesus, please help us to be rooted in your promises to the patriarchs, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Teach us your ways and help us walk in your paths.

For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3b)
      Holy Spirit, please let your law and your word go forth throughout this diocese and all who intercede for it. Thank you.

He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; (Isaiah 2:4a)
      Jesus, you are the righteous judge; please rebuke us as needed and help us turn our anger into your righteous ways. Please help us beat our swords into plowshares and our spears into pruning hooks.

Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. (Isaiah 2:4b)
      Jesus, Prince of Peace, bring this nation to your peace; rule and reign in our hearts.

O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the LORD. (Isaiah 2:5)
      Jesus, thank you for being the light to bring us through this time of darkness in the church and in the nation. Please help us take each step by your light and your word (you are the Word). Please shut the lions’ mouths as you did for Daniel and stop the strife of tongues. (See Psalm 31:20)

A word received: Look to me: I AM Lord of the battle. Keep your eyes, your attention on me and not on the battle. I AM Lord of the battle — I will fulfill my purposes. Keep your attention on me.

Sunday: 146, 147 * 111, 112, 113; Isaiah 1:1-9; 2 Peter 3:1-10; Matthew 25:1-13
      HC: 122; Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 24:37-44
Monday: 1, 2, 3 * 4, 7; Isaiah 1:10-20; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Luke 20:1-8

Albany Intercessor

An escape tunnel

When lightning strikes sandy soil, the sand along the path of lightning is melted to form a tube called fulgurate.

Father,
You have bestowed upon Joseph, Sally, Chris, Lauren, Gaenor, Mark, Samuel, Erin, Isabella, Christy, Nick, Alan, and David all that is needful for life and godliness. Your promises are precious. Your promises are exceedingly great.
You are the great escape. Extend Your goodness like a bolt of lightning into the ground of their being. By the heat of Your love, melt that which is corrupt and rotten to create an escape tunnel –a tunnel of love out of their prison of illness, despair, and impairment. In the name of Jesus, we beseech You. Amen.
2 Peter 1:3-4

Prayer Table Report

Christ Church Schenectady Prayer Table Report, November 27, 2010, 9:20 -10:30 A.M. Torre Bissell and Bob Baker from Christ Church Schenectady, and Mark Plasko, Carol MacNaughton and Sue Plaske from St. Michael’s Colonie and Larry Skramstad. With six people we were able to run two prayer tables: one on State Street and on Albany Street.

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

State Street:

+Danny — for my dad, William, that he will live another thirty years.

+Fred — help and health

+Umaa (man)

+Dorothy and +Arthur (husband and wife) — Dorothy asked prayer “that I will get a house and that my credit will go up.” Arthur came from Poland and “believes in God” and not much else.

+(Woman)

+Patrick — came up joyfully and thankfully and said that he had been blessed by coming to the prayer table. He said that he had been able to get a part-time job after we prayed for him earlier in the year. We prayed that he would now get a full-time job.

+Jonathan — (boy about 10 or 11) — asked prayer that he would be able to see his mom who is temporarily in Canada. He is staying with his father.

+Ed (man on a bicycle) — stopped and asked that we pray for the government and the protection of the President.

Albany Street:

+Titi and +Jesi — “watch over Lisa all week”

+Showell and +Slevia — general blessing

Fred — blessed from across the street

+Joseph — needs some help

+Carl — Blessing

+Rachel and Jason (2 months old) — help, overwhelmed

+Jahci, +Missik — prayers for his mom.

++++Jenny and +++Anthony (her son) — these two came so the team prayed for the entire list: Tara (a friend), Mary (Tara’s mom), Carmon (ill, and her mom), Miguel (her father), Olga (sister)

+Dayron — Blessing

Speak

Genesis 1:3 (Amplified Bible)
And God said, Let there be light; and there was light.

Father God,
You speak, and order breaks through chaos. Your word establishes joy over despair.
Speak over Joseph, Sally, Chris, Lauren, Gaenor, Mark, Samuel, Erin, Isabella, Christy, Nick, Alan, and David. Speak faith, hope, and love. Call forth more grace, mercy, and peace. Decree healing, deliverance, and restoration. Declare financial provision. We stand in agreement with Your word.
Speak over Your children, Lord. Speak. Amen.

Philippians 2:1-5

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. (Philippians 2:1-2)
      Sweet Jesus, bring us your consolation; comfort us with your love.

      Holy Spirit, bring this whole diocese into fellowship with one another.

      Father, please help us manifest your affection and mercy to one another.

      Jesus, help us fulfill the joy of Bishop Bill and all the faithful shepherds you have placed over us by being like minded and having the love you have, and being in one accord, of one mind.

      Holy Trinity, one God, thank you for drawing us into you fellowship and life together.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. (Philippians 2:3)
      Holy Spirit, please help us lay aside all selfish ambition and conceit; help us truly esteem others better than ourselves. Thank you.

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 2:4-5)
      Lord Jesus, please help us have your mind toward others; help us look out for their interests as well as our own. Help us by your Holy Spirit to have your mind about ourselves and others. Thank you.

Saturday: 137:1-6(7-9), 144; * 104; Zechariah 14:12-21; Philippians 2:1-11; Luke 19:41-48
Sunday: 146, 147 * 111, 112, 113; Isaiah 1:1-9; 2 Peter 3:1-10; Matthew 25:1-13
      HC: 122; Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 24:37-44

Albany Intercessor

But You do

I don’t understand the continuum of space-time
Or the distortions produced by dense objects
Or worm holes
Or black holes.
But You do.

I don’t understand how a vanquished foe
Wielding broken spears held together by Scotch tape
Wreaks havoc
And mayhem.
But You do.

I don’t understand the ravages of disease
Unravelling this cloak of sinew and light,
Hope deferred
Like clipped wings.
But You do.

Straighten this fabric of space-time
Folded into a blindfold by the density of my sins.
Teach me to
Understand
As You do.

Romans 15:7-13

Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. (Romans 15:7)
      Jesus, you received us while we were still sinners; please help us receive everyone you send us so that we may bring glory to our God and Father.

Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, (Romans 15:8 )
      Holy Spirit, please help us become servants of Christ to all you send us to.

and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: “For this reason I will confess to you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” (Romans 15:9)
      Father, please help us confess and sing the praises of Jesus’ name wherever we go.

And again he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people!” (Romans 15:10)
      A word received 8/12/10: Rejoice!

And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud him, all you peoples!” (Romans 15:11)
      Holy Trinity, one God, we laud and praise your name!

And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; and he who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In him the Gentiles shall hope.” (Romans 15:12)
      Jesus, take root in our hearts and fill us with hope.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
      Come, Holy Spirit, fill us with hope and joy in God’s love for us through his son Jesus Christ. Thank you. Amen.

Words received for Lectionary A, First Sunday of Advent
Gospel: Matthew 24:36-44: A word received: What are you doing to be ready for my coming?

Epistle: Romans 13:8-14: A word received: Your job is to be about my (underline my) business. I want you to build one another up in me.

Old Testament: Isaiah 2:1-5: A word received: Pray for my people to learn my ways. I long for them to come to me and for my word to take root in their hearts. You can only know my (underline my) peace by coming to me.

Psalm: Psalm 122: A word received: Come, stand in my courts. Let me make you glad with my presence.

Friday: 140, 142; * 141, 143:1-11(12); Zechariah 14:1-11; Romans 15:7-13; Luke 19:28-40
Saturday: 137:1-6(7-9), 144; * 104; Zechariah 14:12-21; Philippians 2:1-11; Luke 19:41-48

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Prayer requests from Willowfield parish in Belfast, Northern Ireland:
Date: Thu, 25 Nov 2010
From: HUGH BOWMAN
Subject: Website – Prayer Request
Details of Prayer Request: Helen Lowry commencing Chemotherapy next week.

***** Question: Does your parish website have a place where people can enter prayer requests to be circulated to your parish prayer line for prayer?

Albany Intercessor

Like a mural on a wall

God Almighty,
You are Sovereign Lord. You are El Olam and see the end from the beginning. You are Jehovah-jireh, the God of all provision. You are Jehovah-mekaddishkem, and You sacrificed Your Son Christ Jesus for for my sins.
Extend Your peace into my heart. Release Your sweet, sweet peace to rest within its chambers like a mural on a wall.
I rest upon You, Lord. Let the weight of Your peace rest upon the tablets of my heart. Amen.