Lent daybook, 33: I love the Lord

My Lent daybook for these 40 days of prayer. Join me, won't you? (see previous Lent daybook 2016 posts here)

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look

Mary's Gift

Daniel Bonnell

source

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John 12:1-8

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said,

"Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)

Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial.You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."

all readings for the day: 

Isaiah 43:16-21 • 

Psalm 126 • 

Philippians 3:4b-14 • 

John 12:1-8

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pray

Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (source)

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listen

I Love the Lord by Page CXVI

( I invite you to listen with me to my ever-evolving Lent playlist & Lent Spirituals playlist )

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do

Almsgiving is a traditional Lenten practice. Today pray that the Lord would show you his face in the most distressing of your neighbors, and lead you to ways that you can show compassionate mercy. (source)

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(see all Lent daybook posts from 2015 here)

Lent daybook, 25: when all hell breaks loose

My Lent daybook for these 40 days of prayer. Join me, won't you? (see previous Lent daybook 2016 posts here)

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look

A refugee prepares to hand over a toddler to a volunteer lifeguard as a half-sunken catamaran carrying around 150 refugees arrives after crossing part of the Aegean Sea last year. There were no casualties among the refugees who were travelling on the catamaran. source

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Psalm 32:6-11

Therefore let everyone who is godly
    offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
    they shall not reach him.
 You are a hiding place for me;
    you preserve me from trouble;
    you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
    which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
    or it will not stay near you.

 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
    but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
    and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

all readings for the day: Psalm 32; Exodus 32:7-14; Luke 15:1-10

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pray

Faithful God of love, you blessed us with your servant Son so that we might know how to serve your people with justice and with mercy.  

We gather the needs of ourselves and others, and offer them to you in faith and love, seeking to be strengthened to meet them.

Include prayers here for your family, friends, neighborhood and the world.  

Shape us and transform us by your grace, that we may grow in wisdom and in confidence, never faltering until we have done all that you desire to bring your realm of shalom to fulfillment. Amen. (source)

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listen

You Have Redeemed My Soul by Page CXVI

( I invite you to listen with me to my ever-evolving Lent playlist & Lent Spirituals playlist )

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do

last Lent when Brian and I prayed at the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, NM

Find a local church with a chapel open for prayer.  Sit in quiet, bring your requests, fears, anxieties, doubts, and grief to Christ in prayer.  Do not worry if your prayers seem weak or simple.  Do not worry if you can't even come up with words.  

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(see all Lent daybook posts from 2015 here)

Lent daybook, 14: for they were overthrown in the wilderness

My Lent daybook for these 40 days of prayer. Join me, won't you? (see previous Lent daybook 2016 posts here)

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When I Am Laid In Earth

mapping the melting away of the Lewis Glacier on Mt. Kenya

Simon Norfolk, 2015

source

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Psalm 105:7-15,42 / Numbers 14:11-19 / 1 Corinthians 10:1-7, 12-13

He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth. He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, ... For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham, his servant./ 

And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.” 

But Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for you brought up this people in your might from among them, and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O Lord, are in the midst of this people. For you, O Lord, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go before them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say, ‘It is because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to give to them that he has killed them in the wilderness.’  

And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, ‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.”/ 

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 

Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”... 

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

all readings for the day: Psalm 105:1-15,42; Numbers 14:10b-24; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

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pray

God of the covenant, in the glory of the cross your Son embraced the power of death and broke its hold over your people. In this time of repentance, draw all people to yourself, that we who confess Jesus as Lord may put aside the deeds of death and accept the life of your kingdom.  Amen. (source)

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listen

Come Thou Fount by Page CXVI

( I invite you to listen with me to my ever-evolving Lent playlist & Lent Spirituals playlist )

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do

Fast from at least one meal today.  Spend the time you would have been preparing and eating the meal in prayer and confession. Jesus died for our sin. Why then would we work to keep it alive? Pray for a sincere love for Christ, to the degree that compels you to walk away from sin where you can and get help where you cannot. 

Offer this prayer to Jesus: 

Savior, am I worshipping anything that you were crucified for? If so, I repent: forgive me, heal me, send help to me, and strengthen my love for You. When I am tempted, may I see Your cross, remember Your cost, and let love "bind my wandering heart to You." (source: 40 Days of Decrease)

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(see all Lent daybook posts from 2015 here)

Epiphany, week 1: I have called you by name, Beloved

My Epiphany daybook for these 5 weeks of witness. Join me, won't you? 

(Read here for a brief description of the liturgical season of Epiphany. See previous Epiphany daybook 2015 posts here)

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look

Baptism in the River Jordan during pilgrimage  Location widely considered to be where John baptized Jesus. source

Baptism in the River Jordan during pilgrimage 
Location widely considered to be where John baptized Jesus.
source

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Isaiah 43:1- 2 / Luke 3:16:  But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. / John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

all readings for the day: Isaiah 43:1-7  • Psalm 29  • Acts 8:14-17  • Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

also read: a sonnet for Epiphany by Malcolm Guite:

Beginning here we glimpse the Three-in-one;
The river runs, the clouds are torn apart,
The Father speaks, the Spirit and the Son
Reveal to us the single loving heart
That beats behind the being of all things
And calls and keeps and kindles us to light.
The dove descends, the spirit soars and sings
‘You are belovèd, you are my delight!’

In that quick light and life, as water spills
And streams around the Man like quickening rain,
The voice that made the universe reveals
The God in Man who makes it new again.
He calls us too, to step into that river
To die and rise and live and love forever

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pray

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (source)

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listen

Wash Me Clean

Page CXVI

Epiphany 1: Come to the Water playlist

(Also, feel free to listen with me to my ever-evolving Epiphany playlist.)

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do

Today is a good day to renew your baptism vows -- whether in your corporate worship service or in your family and personal prayer time. May I recommend this post from my son's baptism? It includes the Anglican baptism liturgy, but applicable for all followers of Christ.  

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Lent daybook, 40: Who is this King of Glory?

A Lent daybook for these 40 days of prayer. Join me, won't you? (see all Lent daybook 2015 posts here.)

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look

1. The Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, taken earlier in March - Christopher Simon/APP/Getty Images - source
2. At Pakarua Presbyterian the youth celebrate Palm Sunday in a traditional dance - source

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Psalm 24 / Zechariah 9:9-12: Who is this King of Glory? / righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey

{all readings for the day: Psalm 24; Zechariah 9:9-12, 12:9-13:9; 1 Timothy 6:12-16; Matthew 21:12-17 }

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pray 

Almighty and everliving God, in  your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. source

Hosanna, save us now, O Christ!

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listen

Hosanna
 Page CXVI

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