Psalm 134

Behold, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who by night stand in the house of the LORD! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. (Psalm 134:1-2)
      LORD, please help us lift up our hands in the sanctuary and praise you. Lead us into true worship which is pleasing to you.

The LORD who made heaven and earth bless you from Zion! (Psalm 134:3)
      LORD, everything we have comes from you — it is your gift and the sign of your love for us. Thank you.

A word received: Receive my peace.

Friday: 16, 17 * 134, 135; Exod. 16:23-36: 1 Pet. 3:13-4:6: John 16:1-15
Saturday: 20, 21:1-7(8-14) * 110:1-5(6-7), 116, 117; Exod. 17:1-16: 1 Pet. 4:7-19: John 16:16-33

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Start now reading and reflecting on the lessons for next Sunday so that you can receive all that God has for you (Psalm 98 or 98:1-5; Acts 4:5-12 or Micah 4:1-5; 1 John 1:1-2:2 or Acts 4:5-12; Luke 24:36b-48 ).

Albany Intercessor

Schenectady City Mission Prayer Table Report

Schenectady City Mission Prayer Table Report, Thursday, April 19, 2012, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.. Torre Bissell, Richard Barratiere and Chuck Rinaldo from Christ Church Schenectady. This took place during the evening meal at the City Mission.

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

Chuck — He and his wife Theresa are recovering from food poisoning. We prayed for a speedy and full recovery.

Torre — He had an automobile accident on Cape Cod last Thursday. We prayed that his car would be fixed quickly (it is still in Massachusetts).

Rich — We prayed the full armor of God on him as he continues making his recovery.

Dan — He has three daughters that don’t get along well. We prayed that they would see Jesus as Lord as well as Savior.

Peter — We prayed for his brother George who holds political office that he would speak God’s truth to all. We also prayed that all of the brothers would be men of prayer together in Christ Jesus.

Melissa — We prayed for peace for her in the midst of the storm.

Bryan — He asked prayer for a good job.

June — We prayed that God would prepare a place for her in Delaware. Her friends Sue and Jim there have to be out of their present apartment by the end of this month and their new apartment won’t be ready until May 15th. We prayed that Jesus would bridge the gap.

+Jerry — He is a 2-year survivor of brain cancer. He has been given a gift of intercession for other veterans. We also prayed for his 12-year-old grandson +Jared who has no immune system.

+Arlene — She is a baby Christian (she just accepted the Lord on Palm Sunday) She started to cry when we gave her the cross.

+Eugene — We prayed that God would lead him to the right job.

Praying for Bishop Elections this weekend

Fr. Rob Eaton has a reminder that there are THREE bishop elections on Saturday April 21.

1) Western Louisiana (Diocesan)

2) TEC Pittsburgh Diocese (Diocesan)

3) Virginia (Suffragan)

Rob+ has all the links for more info at his blog.

Below are four excellent prayers for bishops that I first compiled back in April 2004 from the 1928 BCP prayers for the ordination of a bishop – they can easily be adapted to pray for the ELECTION of a bishop with these qualities of faithfulness… (I’ve put in a suggested adaptation for the first prayer as an example…)

ALMIGHTY God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy holy Apostles many excellent gifts, and didst charge them to feed thy flock; Give grace, we beseech thee, to [the diocese of _______ that they will elect a Bishop, and Pastor of thy Church, who will] diligently preach thy Word, and duly administer the godly Discipline thereof; and grant to the people, that they may obediently follow the same; that all may receive the crown of everlasting glory; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, giver of all good things, who by thy Holy Spirit hast appointed divers Orders of Ministers in thy Church; Mercifully behold this thy servant, now called to the Work and Ministry of a Bishop; and so replenish him with the truth of thy Doctrine, and adorn him with innocency of life, that, both by word and deed, he may faithfully serve thee in this Office, to the glory of thy Name, and the edifying and well-governing of thy Church; through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, and most merciful Father, who, of thine infinite goodness, hast given thy only and dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, to be our Redeemer, and the Author of everlasting life; who, after that he had made perfect our redemption by his death, and was ascended into heaven, poured down his gifts abundantly upon men, making some Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, some Pastors and Doctors, to the edifying and making perfect his Church; Grant, we beseech thee, to this thy servant, such grace, that he may evermore be ready to spread abroad thy Gospel, the glad tidings of reconciliation with thee; and use the authority given him, not to destruction, but to salvation; not to hurt, but to help: so that, as a wise and faithful servant, giving to thy family their portion in due season, he may at last be received into everlasting joy; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.

MOST merciful Father, send down, we beseech thee, upon this thy servant thy heavenly blessing; and so endue him with thy Holy Spirit, that he, preaching thy Word, may not only be earnest to reprove, beseech, and rebuke, with all patience and doctrine; but also may be, to such as believe, a wholesome example in word, in conversation, in love, in faith, in chastity, and in purity; that, faithfully fulfilling his course, at the latter day he may receive the crown of righteousness, laid up by the Lord Jesus, the righteous Judge, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Praying for the FCA / GAFCON gathering in London

Cherie Wetzel at Anglicans United has a post with information about how to be praying for the FCA / GAFCON leaders gathering in London.

About 200 Anglican leaders from 26 countries and 22 Provinces are meeting in London in from April 23-27th.

The full article is here.

Here are key prayer points:

Again we ask for your partnership in this conference, through your prayers. In particular please pray for:

• Resolution of any remaining travel matters for delegates (e.g., visas)
• Safe travel and good health of delegates
• Faithful and Spirit-filled teaching from the Scriptures
• Heartfelt unity and fellowship
• A God-given vision for the future of Anglicanism, in light of the current challenges
• Clear goals and a common mind in service of Christ

J.I. Packer: Paul struggled with sin because he was a saint

A great insight from Dr. J.I. Packer on Romans 7:

How can the regenerate Paul—man of God that he is, and author of Romans 6 and 8—be experiencing such a struggle with sin as we see in Romans 7?

Packer gently leaned over the table, looked me in the eye, and said, “Young man, Paul wasn’t struggling with sin because he was such a sinner. Paul was struggling because he was such a saint. Sin makes you numb. People who sin over and over again become desensitized to sin. The reason Paul’s “struggle” was so intense was not because he was caught in a web of sin, or because he thought of himself as hopelessly doomed to giving into the temptations that he faced. Rather, it was because Paul lived a life so sensitive to the Holy Spirit and passionate about the glory of God that he intensely felt his sins whenever he became aware that he had committed a sin (since he was not, of course, sinlessly perfect).”

The full article is here.

(H/T Trevin Wax at Kingdom People blog)

John 15:12-17

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
      Holy Spirit, work in our hearts to bring forth this kind of love — it is not something we can do on our own.

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
      Father, please help us show forth your love and ours by laying down our lives for others.

“You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.” (John 15:14)
      Jesus, help us enter into this life of friendship with you by doing what you ask of us. Help us hear your commands clearly.

“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15)
      Jesus, even though you call us friends, please help us serve you and those you send to us.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.” (John 15:16)
      Jesus, please help us to be vigorous and sturdy and fruitful in old age. Thank you for choosing us. (See Psalm 92:12-14)

      Father, please help us for Jesus’ sake to get our car fixed and back to us and help us with the other challenges we face.

“These things I command you, that you love one another.” (John 15:17)
      Let the Diocesan Convention overflow with love for you and for one another. Help us show forth your love for those who do not know you. Give us the courage to step forth in faith to show what you have done for us. Thank you.

A word received: You are still in my care.

Thursday: 18:1-20 * 18:21-50; Exod. 16:10-22: 1 Pet. 2:11-25: John 15:12-27
Friday: 16, 17 * 134, 135; Exod. 16:23-36: 1 Pet. 3:13-4:6: John 16:1-15

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Start now reading and reflecting on the lessons for next Sunday so that you can receive all that God has for you (Psalm 98 or 98:1-5; Acts 4:5-12 or Micah 4:1-5; 1 John 1:1-2:2 or Acts 4:5-12; Luke 24:36b-48 ).

Remember those who have served and pray for the Welcome Home Initiative.

Albany Intercessor

I needed these words…

I was blessed to head over to Anglican Daily Prayer just now and read the opening sentence and collect for the day. Let’s just say, they were very needed and appropriate on a day I am easily distracted, too focused on “things below,” and thinking a lot about “covenants” and “the ministry of reconciliation.”

I’m so thankful for the daily Lectionary and how God uses it so often to speak powerful words of truth and encouragement at just the right time.  His Word IS living and active!

***

Opening Sentence

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1

Collect of the Day

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Praying for grace to abide in Christ today and keep my mind fixed on Him, and that I might live what I profess.

Christ’s Resurrection Destroys Fear

The following devotional is from the Barnstorming blog, which posted some fantastic Lenten devotionals this year.  This post, No Fear, appeared in Lent, but focuses on Christ’s words to His disciples following His resurrection: “Do Not Be Afraid,” so I’ve been saving it as an Easter entry.  May we indeed find that the power of Christ’s love and the assurance of His victory over the forces of sin, death and hell will destroy fear in our lives and make us bold witnesses for Him.

***

Rembrandt: Supper at Emmaus

Art Credit: Web Gallery of Art

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear
1 John 4:18

The community of faith and community of life in the first love was marked by the risen Christ–the Christ who had said, “I am with you always.” Everything depends on seeing the mystery of the risen Christ as unconditional love. In Christ, God’s love is put into practice.
Eberhard Arnold

Of course there was plenty to fear. There had been a brutal arrest in a garden, facilitated by one of His own. The rest ran or actively denied involvement. There was a hasty hearing, and a trial of sorts, and then beatings and condemnation by acclamation. There was the impossible task of lugging a heavy cross up hill, then being attached by nails, hung, dehydrated, denigrated, left to die.

Plenty, plenty to fear. Those who loved Him were terrified.

When they returned after the Sabbath to care for His body, still concerned for their own safety, they heard again very familiar words: “Do not be afraid.” He was conceived and born under those words, and after His death, those were among the first words they heard the risen Christ say, and He repeated them as often as they needed to hear them, which was often.

Do not be afraid.

Perfect love casts out fear. As we are so flawed, so incapable of perfect-anything, we fear, and fear desperately. But because He is capable of perfect unconditional love, He demonstrates that love tangibly and palpably: breaking bread, breaking Himself, pouring wine, pouring out Himself. He creates an everlasting community of love by promising to be with us always. So we put it into practice with each other, and especially with those who are strangers and enemies.

Why fear any longer? He is walking alongside us illuminating our minds and filling our hearts, He is at the table feeding us, He is holding us as we pass into His arms.

Perfect
mysterious
unending
unprecedented
unconditional
love has no fear
forever.

***

You can find the Barnstorming Easter devotional reflections here.

1 Peter 2:1-5

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, (1 Peter 2:1-2)
      Holy Father, please change the desires of our hearts so that they are in accord with your will for us.

if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1 Peter 2:3)
      Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; (Psalm 34:8 ). LORD, help us daily put our trust in you and enter into your blessing.

Coming to him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, (1 Peter 2:4)
      Jesus, you are my living stone of remembrance (see Joshua 4). Remind me daily by your Holy Spirit of all the good you have done for me.

you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)
      Holy Spirit, make me into a living stone that builds up the Body of Christ, your church. Thank you.

A word received: Keep looking to me.
A word received: Don’t be afraid.

Wednesday: 119:1-24 * 12, 13, 14; Exod. 15:22-16:10: 1 Pet. 2:1-10: John 15:1-11
Thursday: 18:1-20 * 18:21-50; Exod. 16:10-22: 1 Pet. 2:11-25: John 15:12-27

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Start now reading and reflecting on the lessons for next Sunday so that you can receive all that God has for you (Psalm 98 or 98:1-5; Acts 4:5-12 or Micah 4:1-5; 1 John 1:1-2:2 or Acts 4:5-12; Luke 24:36b-48 ).

Albany Intercessor

Easter Quotes: Jesus is alive, normal is dead!

Kendall Harmon has posted an excerpt of the Rev. Patrick Allen’s Easter Sermon – what a WONDERFUL summary of the truth of what Christ’s resurrection means – “normal is dead.”  Hallelujah!

Easter means that Jesus is alive and normal is dead. Nothing, not even death, is certain, and in fact death is defeated, has met its match in Love Himself.

The tomb is empty – empty as in vacant; empty as in powerless. Death – life’s great certainty; the most normal, expected, routine, trustworthy thing going, in fact a sure thing, has come untrue in Christ.

The full sermon is here (text) or here (audio)

John 14:23

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23)
      Holy Spirit, please help us daily keep Jesus’ word.

      Father, we depend on your love for us.

      Jesus, come with your Father and your Holy Spirit and make your home in our hearts.

      LORD, let the river of your Spirit flow through this diocese.

Praying The Nicene Creed
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins;
      Jesus, thank you for washing away my sins. Thank you for baptizing me with your Holy Spirit. Please help me to live day by day in the hope of the resurrection. Thank you.

Tuesday: 5, 6 * 10, 11; Exod. 15:1-21: 1 Pet. 1:13-25: John 14:18-31
Wednesday: 119:1-24 * 12, 13, 14; Exod. 15:22-16:10: 1 Pet. 2:1-10: John 15:1-11

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Start now reading and reflecting on the lessons for next Sunday so that you can receive all that God has for you (Psalm 98 or 98:1-5; Acts 4:5-12 or Micah 4:1-5; 1 John 1:1-2:2 or Acts 4:5-12; Luke 24:36b-48 ).

Albany Intercessor

An Easter Prayer: May Your Resurrection Power Break Forth

May your resurrection power break forth in newness of life

May all that is broken be transformed

May all that is distorted be renewed and made whole

– Another of Christine Sine’s Easter Prayers, from her blog Godspace.

Celebrating 5000 entries at Lent and Beyond!

It was just over a year ago that Jill wrote a post celebrating 4000 entries at Lent & Beyond.  Today, we reach the 5000 post milestone on this version of the blog.  (Actually we’ve published more than 8500 posts, when you count in the 3500+ posts at our original blogsite!)

It’s fun that I’m in a short season of renewed blogging and get to commemorate it myself and highlight some of my favorite posts from the past 8 years!  I never could have imagined when I first started a Lent prayer campaignand associated blog in Feb. 2004 all that God would do in the years ahead, or that I’d still be blogging, albeit sporadically, 8 years later.

Celebrating 5000 Blog Entries (Part 2) – Some of the special prayer series we’ve done over the years

As part of our celebration of 5000 blog entries on this site, I thought it would be helpful to pull together at least a partial listing of some of our special prayer series.

Apart from the special menus and compilations of Advent, Lent and Easter devotional posts and resources, we’ve done a number of special prayer campaigns in recent years.  Below are just a few of the menus of prayers or links to special prayer collections we’ve compiled since 2006, or category listings where you can find all the prayers posted in conjunction with a specific event or topic.

Anglican Intercession – Upcoming Anglican Events for the Prayer Calendar

We’ve gotten away somewhat in recent years from a focus on intercessory prayers for upcoming Anglican / Episcopal events, but there is a lot going on in coming months, so, perhaps it is a season to refocus on such intercession.

Below are some topics / events that come to mind.  For now I’m just going to post bullet points and dates, and then perhaps we’ll be posting prayers here as God leads and brings these events to mind.

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April 2012 events:

The first event is in just a few days:  APRIL 21:  The election of a bishop in the Diocese of W. Louisiana (one of the few remaining quite strong orthodox dioceses within TEC). (details).  Please be praying for God to raise up a Godly and strong bishop to lead this diocese.

GAFCON/FCA Leadership Conference, London.  April 23 – 27 (details)

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June  & July 2012 events

ACNA Assembly and Youth Gathering, June 7 – 9  (details)

PEARUSA Open Forum with Abp Rwaje.  June 11-13 (details)

Episcopal Church General Convention. July 5 – 12, Indianapolis.  (details)

Note:  we hope to help facilitate some special intercessory prayer for the Episcopal Church General Convention, if you’re interested in learning more or being part of this, please leave a comment, making sure a valid email address is entered in the comment box. (Your address will only be visible to the L&B admin, not to other commenters).

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Later in the Year:

Of course, later in the year is the selection of a new Archbishop of Canterbury.  (procedures for his appointment) (related Thinking Anglicans thread,  the related T19 thread)

Also, The Anglican Consultative Council will be meeting in Auckland, NZ from 27 October – 7 November

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If you know of an event / issue that affects many Anglicans and Episcopalians and for which we should be praying, please leave a comment with details.  Thanks!