It took a year to read the Bible, then almost 9 months to read the Apocrypha. Now, I'm going to try to offer reflections on the Narrative Lectionary. But, I won't be posting daily--at least, for a while.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Daily Prayer, Sunday, November 13, 2011

To you I lift up my eyes,
   O you who are enthroned in the heavens!


Morning
Invitatory Psalm Sun 67
God, be gracious to us and bless us
and make your face to shine upon us,
that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.
May God continue to bless us;
let all the ends of the earth revere you.



Psalm 32
Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, 
whose sin is covered.
Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
While I kept silence, my body wasted away 
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; 
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
Then I acknowledged my sin to you, 
and I did not hide my iniquity; 
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” 
and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them.
You are a hiding place for me; 
you preserve me from trouble; 
you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah

I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; 
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, 
else it will not stay near you.
Many are the torments of the wicked, 
but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.



Daily Lectionary Reading, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
We don’t need to write to you about the timing and dates, brothers and sisters. 2 You know very well that the day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night. 3 When they are saying, “There is peace and security,” at that time sudden destruction will attack them, like labor pains start with a pregnant woman, and they definitely won’t escape. 4 But you aren’t in darkness, brothers and sisters, so the day won’t catch you by surprise like a thief. 5 All of you are children of light and children of the day. We don’t belong to night or darkness. 6 So then, let’s not sleep like the others, but let’s stay awake and stay sober. 7 People who sleep sleep at night, and people who get drunk get drunk at night. 8 Since we belong to the day, let’s stay sober, wearing faithfulness and love as a piece of armor that protects our body and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 God didn’t intend for us to suffer his wrath but rather to possess salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 Jesus died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with him. 11 So continue encouraging each other and building each other up, just like you are doing already.


Today's Prayer: O Lord, keep us mindful that you are with us, with us through our hard times and our good times, and you will always be with us. Strengthen us to follow your will. Calm our fears. And, O Lord, help us to reach out to others, to support them, to encourage them. Amen.

Evening
Psalms 44, 45

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