Awake My Soul: Recent Episodes
United Church
We believe in your process. We believe that everyone is on a journey to understand who God is, our own identity at its core, the intricacies of relationship with one another, and our own place in this world. This is a simple resource for our process together.
This is Holy Week.
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Mark 16.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
This is Holy Week.
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Mark 15.42-47
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
This is Holy Week.
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Mark 15.33-41.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
This is Holy Week.
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Mark 15.16-32
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
This is Holy Week.
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Mark 15.1-15.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
This is Holy Week.
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Mark 14.66-72.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
This is Holy Week.
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Mark 14.53-65.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
This is Holy Week.
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Mark 14.32-52.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
This is Holy Week.
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Mark 14.27-31
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
This is Holy Week.
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Mark 14.12-26.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
This is Holy Week.
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Mark 14.1-11
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
This is Holy Week.
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 22.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.169-176.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.161-168.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.153-160.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.145-152.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.137-144.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.129-136.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.121-128.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.113-120
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.105-112.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.97-104
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.89-96.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.81-88.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.73-80.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.65-72.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.57-64.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.49-56.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.41-48.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.133-40.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.25-32.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.17-24.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.9-16.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 119.1-8.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 121.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 130.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 139.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 141.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 143.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 51.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 6.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 7.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 13.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 17.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 25.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 28.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 31.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 32.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 43.
Feel free to download our daily passage list that we'll continue walking through this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast at unitedchurch.love/lent. There you'll find all of our resources and the Rule + Rhythm for this Lenten Season, including the BREAD journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 40.
If you haven't had a chance to walk through our Ash Wednesday Liturgy, it's not too late. Perhaps carve some time out for yourself this evening, or this weekend. You can find the liturgy at unitedchurch.love/lent.
At that location you'll also be able to download our daily passage list that we'll be walking through in this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast, as well as the BREAD Journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 38.
If you haven't had a chance to walk through our Ash Wednesday Liturgy, it's not too late. Perhaps carve some time out for yourself this evening, or this weekend. You can find the liturgy at unitedchurch.love/lent.
At that location you'll also be able to download our daily passage list that we'll be walking through in this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast, as well as the BREAD Journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 42.
If you haven't had a chance to walk through our Ash Wednesday Liturgy, it's not too late. Perhaps carve some time out for yourself this evening, or this weekend. You can find the liturgy at unitedchurch.love/lent.
At that location you'll also be able to download our daily passage list that we'll be walking through in this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast, as well as the BREAD Journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 46.
If you haven't had a chance to walk through our Ash Wednesday Liturgy, it's not too late. You can find it at unitedchurch.love/lent. At that location you'll also be able to download our daily passage list that we'll be walking through in this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast, as well as the BREAD Journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
Today's passage for reflection and connection comes from Psalm 90.
Today is Ash Wednesday, and we want to encourage you to download our At Home Ash Wednesday Liturgy at unitedchurch.love/lent. At that location you'll also be able to download our daily passage list that we'll be walking through in this season of the Awake My Soul Podcast, as well as the BREAD Journal to help guide you through the reflection.
If you have any questions or want to reach out and talk to someone, please feel free to email one of our pastors at unitedchurch.love.
Grace + Peace
A new season of the Awake My Soul Podcast to take us through the Lenten Season.
Check out unitedchurch.love/lent for all of the resources as well as to download the At Home Ash Wednesday Liturgy for February 17th!
This season we'll be walking through selected Psalms to help us connect with the heart of God.
May the grace and mercy of God guide us together. Amen.
Today's reading comes from Deuteronomy 6.4-5.
As always, please download our free journaling resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's reading comes from Deuteronomy 6.4-5.
As always, please download our free journaling resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's reading comes from Deuteronomy 6.4-5.
As always, please download our free journaling resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scripture comes from Deuteronomy 6.4-5
As always, you can download our free journaling resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's reading comes from Deuteronomy 6.4-5.
As always, please download our free journaling resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Merry Christmas!
Today's reading comes from Deuteronomy 6.4-5.
As always, please download our free journaling resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scripture comes from Luke 2.1-40
As always, you can download our free journaling resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scriptures come from Luke 6.31; Mark 12.31; Deuteronomy 6.5; Leviticus 19.18; Romans 5.8.
As always, you can download our free journal resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scriptures come from Psalm 105.43; Isaiah 51.11; Luke 2.10; Luke 10.21; Matthew 5.21
As always, you can download our free journal resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scriptures come from Isaiah 8.17; Psalm 130.5-7; Psalm 39.7; 1 Peter 1.3-4.
As always, you can download our free journal resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scriptures come from Isaiah 9.5-6; John 14.27; Romans 5.1-2; Ephesians 2.14-15; Colossians 1.19-20.
As always, you can download our free journal resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scripture comes from Acts 28.
As always, you can download our free journaling resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scripture comes from Acts 27.
As always, you can download our free journaling resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scripture comes from Acts 26.
As always, feel free to download our free journal resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scripture comes from Acts 25.
As always, feel free to download our free journal resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scripture comes from Acts 24.
As always, feel free to download our free journal resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scripture comes from Acts 23.
As always, feel free to download our free journal resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scripture comes from Acts 22.
As always you can download our free journaling resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scripture comes from Acts 21.
As always, feel free to download our free journal resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scripture comes from Acts 20.
As always, you can download our free journaling resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scripture comes from Acts 19.
As always, feel free to download our free journaling resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scripture comes from Acts 18.
As always, you can download our free journaling resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scripture comes from Acts 17.
As always, you can download our free journaling resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scripture comes from Acts 16.
As always, you can download our free journaling resource at unitedchurch.love/2020.
Today's Scripture comes from Acts 15.
As always, you can download our free journaling resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's reading comes from Acts 14.
Please take a moment to download our free journaling resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scripture comes from Acts 13.
As always, you can download our free journaling resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scripture comes from Acts 12
As always, you can download our free journaling resource at unitedchurch.love/2020
Today's Scripture comes from Acts chapter 11.
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Today's Scripture comes from Acts chapter 10.
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Today's Scripture comes from Acts 9.
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Today's reading comes from Acts 8.
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Today's reading comes from Acts 7.
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Today's reading comes from Acts 6.
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Today's reading comes from Acts 5.
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Today's reading comes from Acts chapter 4.
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Todays Reading comes from Acts chapter 3.
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Today's reading comes from Acts 2.
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Today's Scripture comes from Acts 1.
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Today's Scripture comes from Luke 24.
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Today's Scripture comes from Luke 23.
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Today's Scripture comes from Luke 22.
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Our Scripture for today is Luke 21.
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Today's Scripture comes from Luke 20.
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Today's Scripture comes from Luke 19.
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Today's Scripture comes from Luke 18.
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Today's Scripture comes from Luke 17.
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Today's Scripture comes from Luke 16.
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Today's Scripture comes from Luke 14.
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Today's Scripture comes from Luke chapter 13.
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Today's Scripture comes from Luke chapter 12.
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Today's Scripture comes from Luke chapter 11.
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Today's Scripture comes from Luke 10.
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Today's Scripture comes from Luke 9.
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Today's Scripture comes from Luke 8.
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Today's Scripture comes from Luke 7.
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Today's Scripture comes from Luke 6.
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Today Scripture reading comes form Luke 5.
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Today's Scripture is from Luke 4.
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Today's Scripture passage comes from Luke 3.
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Today’s Scripture is from Luke 2.
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Today's Scripture passage comes from Luke 1.
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Today’s Scriptures are from Psalm 146.7-9; Jeremiah22.3; Mark 12.28-34.
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Today's Scripture reading comes from Jeremiah 9.24; Genesis 18.18-19
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Today's Scripture reading comes fro Psalm 11.7; Psalm 33.5; Psalm 50.6; Psalm 103.6
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This season we are journeying through a new rule and rhythm of life together. Our hope and prayer as a community is that, together we’ll finish 2020 well. At the outset of this pandemic our prayer was to intentionally work to exit this season of life healthy in mind, body, spirit, and heart. That we would intentionally focus on these aspects of our life and find strength, together.
The first rhythm of our rule and rhythm, of which this podcast is apart: is to daily focus our minds, hearts, bodies, and spirit around Jesus. Daily apprenticing ourselves to his way through Scripture.
This podcast is designed to walk us well through the acronym BREAD — we’ll read and pray through Scripture offering pauses and moments for you to reflect and write down what you’re hearing God say to you in this space.
While you don’t have to, this podcast is designed to be used in tandem with our BREAD journal, which you can download at unitedchurch.love/2020
Join us for the Awake My Soul Conversation with Sam Wake with Movement Portland. We'll be discussing the protests in both Portland and Seattle, our cities being in the national spotlight, and how we’re all navigating church life during a pandemic.
Today Trevor walks through a Kairos moment he experienced this week. Join us as we walk through his process of deconstruction and reconstruction and how that has been re-ignited in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake.
For the next three episodes, Aaron and Trevor will be discussing a tool called “The Circle” and how they first felt about it, their process using it, and they will demonstrate it in real time for a real Kairos* moment.
*Explanation on what that is during the podcast!
God’s Promise to David
After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a houseof cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”
Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”
But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:
“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’
“Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you:When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son.When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be establishedforever.’”
Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.
The Coming Peace and Prosperity of Zion
And the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath.Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. Thus says the Lord of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the Lord of hosts? Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”
Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in, for I set every man against his neighbor. But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the Lord of hosts. For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”
For thus says the Lord of hosts: “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the Lord of hosts, so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not. These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.”
The River From the Temple
The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side.
As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”
Then he led me back to the bank of the river. When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedito En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”
For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng.
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God my Rock,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?”
My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!
Naomi Gains a Son
So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”
Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Naomi and Ruth Return to Bethlehem
When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.
Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.”
Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.”
But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!”
At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.
“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.”
But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.
A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
The king rejoices in your strength, Lord. How great is his joy in the victories you give!
You have granted him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips.You came to greet him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.He asked you for life, and you gave it to him— length of days, for ever and ever.Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.
Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes.When you appear for battle, you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace.The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and his fire will consume them.You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind.Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed.You will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow.
Be exalted in your strength, Lord; we will sing and praise your might.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Psalm 72Endow the king with your justice, O God,
the royal son with your righteousness.
May he judge your people in righteousness,
your afflicted ones with justice.
May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,
the hills the fruit of righteousness.
May he defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
may he crush the oppressor.
May he endure as long as the sun,
as long as the moon, through all generations.
May he be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.
In his days may the righteous flourish
and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.
Isaiah 40:1-11Comfort for God’s PeopleComfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.
A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,
and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”
You who bring good news to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,
lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him.
He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
John 1:19-28John the Baptist Denies Being the MessiahNow this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”
They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
John replied in the words of Isaia
Psalm 72:1-7; 18-19
Of Solomon.
Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.
May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.
Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory.Amen and Amen.
Isaiah 30:19-26
People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you!”
He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows. The oxen and donkeys that work the soil will eat fodder and mash, spread out with fork and shovel. In the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall, streams of water will flow on every high mountain and every lofty hill.The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.
Acts 13:16-25
Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country; for about forty years he endured their conduct in the wilderness; and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance. All this took about 450 years.
“After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. After removing Saul, he made David their king.God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
“From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’
Psalm 72:1-7; 18-19
Of Solomon.
Endow the king with your justice, O God,
the royal son with your righteousness.
May he judge your people in righteousness,
your afflicted ones with justice.
May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,
the hills the fruit of righteousness.
May he defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
may he crush the oppressor.
May he endure as long as the sun,
as long as the moon, through all generations.
May he be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.
In his days may the righteous flourish
and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.
Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds.
Praise be to his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen.
Isaiah 4:2-6
The Branch of the Lord
In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. Those who are left in Zion,who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.
Acts 1:12-17; 21-26
Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas,who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”
Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
Psalm 124A song of ascents. Of David.If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel say—
if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
the raging waters
would have swept us away.
Praise be to the Lord,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
Isaiah 54:1-10The Future Glory of Zion“Sing, barren woman,
you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy,
you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband,”
says the Lord.
“Enlarge the place of your tent,
stretch your tent curtains wide,
do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
your descendants will dispossess nations
and settle in their desolate cities.
“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.
Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth
and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
For your Maker is your husband—
the Lord Almighty is his name—
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
he is called the God of all the earth.
The Lord will call you back
as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit—
a wife who married young,
only to be rejected,” says your God.
“For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
In a surge of anger
I hid my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness
I will have compassion on you,”
says the Lord your Redeemer.
“To me this is like the days of Noah,
when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth.
So now I have sworn not to be angry with you,
never to rebuke you again.
Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Matthew 24:23-35At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time.
“So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightning&n
Psalm 124A song of ascents. Of David.If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel say—
if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
the raging waters
would have swept us away.
Praise be to the Lord,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
Genesis 9:1-17God’s Covenant with NoahThen God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
“But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.
“Whoever sheds human blood,
by humans shall their blood be shed;
for in the image of God
has God made mankind.
As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.”
Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenantbetween me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”
Hebrews 11:32-40And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreig
Awake My Soul is a journey through the Lectionary using the ancient spiritual practice called Lectio Divina. The Lectionary uses three passages every day: one from the book of Psalms, one from the Old Testament, and one from the New Testament. The Awake My Soul podcast will be using one of the three passages for the Lectio Divina practice. We’ve provided the other two in their entirety at www.awakemysoulpodcast.com
New International Version (NIV)
Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
New International Version (NIV)
May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests.
Now this I know:
The Lord gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
Lord, give victory to the king!
Answer us when we call!
New International Version (NIV)
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God,let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hopewe profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
New International Version (NIV)
Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,
who have ears but are deaf.
All the nations gather together
and the peoples assemble.
Which of their gods foretold this
and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me.
I, even I, am the Lord,
and apart from me there is no savior.
I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
No one can deliver out of my hand.
When I act, who can reverse it?”
This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“For your sake I will send to Babylon
and bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians,
in the ships in which they took pride.
I am the Lord, your Holy One,
Israel’s Creator, your King.”
New International Version (NIV)
But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your stead.
Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
nations in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
New International Version (NIV)
The Day of Atonement
The Lord said to Moses, “The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present a food offering to the Lord. Do not do any work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God. Those who do not deny themselves on that day must be cut off from their people. I will destroy from among their people anyone who does any work on that day. You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. It is a day of sabbath rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath.”
The Festival of Tabernacles
The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventhmonth the Lord’s Festival of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. For seven days present food offerings to the Lord, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present a food offering to the Lord. It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work.
(“‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing food offerings to the Lord—the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day. These offerings are in addition to those for the Lord’s Sabbaths and in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings you give to the Lord.)
“‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days;the first day is a day of sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of sabbath rest. On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to the Lord for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month.
New International Version (NIV)
Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the Lord’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.
Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
New International Version (NIV)
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Listen to the terms of this covenant and tell them to the people of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem.Tell them that this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Cursed is the one who does not obey the terms of this covenant— the terms I commanded your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the iron-smelting furnace.’ I said, ‘Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God. Then I will fulfill the oath I swore to your ancestors, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey’—the land you possess today.”
I answered, “Amen, Lord.”
The Lord said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: ‘Listen to the terms of this covenant and follow them. From the time I brought your ancestors up from Egypt until today, I warned them again and again, saying, “Obey me.” But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts. So I brought on them all the curses of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.’”
Then the Lord said to me, “There is a conspiracy among the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem. They have returned to the sins of their ancestors, who refused to listen to my words. They have followed other gods to serve them. Both Israel and Judah have broken the covenant I made with their ancestors. Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape.Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them. The towns of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they burn incense,but they will not help them at all when disaster strikes. You, Judah, have as many gods as you have towns; and the altars you have set up to burn incense to that shameful god Baal are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.’
“Do not pray for this people or offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress.
“What is my beloved doing in my temple
as she, with many others, works out her evil schemes?
Can consecrated meat avert your punishment?
When you engage in your wickedness,
then you rejoice.”
The Lord called you a thriving olive tree
with fruit beautiful in form.
But with the roar of a mighty storm
he will set it on fire,
and its branches will be broken.
The Lord Almighty, who planted you, has decreed disaster for you, because the people of both Israel and Judah have done evil and aroused my anger by burning incense to Baal.
New International Version (NIV)
King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.
Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weakand his knees were knocking.
The king summoned the enchanters, astrologers and diviners. Then he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”
New International Version (NIV)
You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you;
your right hand upholds me.
New International Version (NIV)
After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.
Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.
Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and said:
“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’
“But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.
Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”
Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his love endures forever.”
As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
New International Version (NIV)
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.
Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
you his servants, the descendants of Abraham,
his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
He is the Lord our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
He remembers his covenant forever,
the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.
He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
“To you I will give the land of Canaan
as the portion you will inherit.”
When they were but few in number,
few indeed, and strangers in it,
they wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.
He allowed no one to oppress them;
for their sake he rebuked kings:
“Do not touch my anointed ones;
do my prophets no harm.”
He called down famine on the land
and destroyed all their supplies of food;
and he sent a man before them—
Joseph, sold as a slave.
They bruised his feet with shackles,
his neck was put in irons,
till what he foretold came to pass,
till the word of the Lord proved him true.
The king sent and released him,
the ruler of peoples set him free.
He made him master of his household,
ruler over all he possessed,
to instruct his princes as he pleased
and teach his elders wisdom.
Then Israel entered Egypt;
Jacob resided as a foreigner in the land of Ham.
The Lord made his people very fruitful;
he made them too numerous for their foes,
whose hearts he turned to hate his people,
to conspire against his servants.
He sent Moses his servant,
and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
They performed his signs among them,
his wonders in the land of Ham.
He sent darkness and made the land dark—
for had they not rebelled against his words?
He turned their waters into blood,
causing their fish to die.
Their land teemed with frogs,
which went up into the bedrooms of their rulers.
He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,
and gnats throughout their country.
He turned their rain into hail,
with lightning throughout their land;
he struck down their vines and fig trees
and shattered the trees of their country.
He spoke, and the locusts came,
grasshoppers without number;
they ate up every green thing in their land,
ate up the produce of their soil.
Then he struck down all the firstborn in their land,
the firstfruits of all their manhood.
He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold,
and from among their tribes no one faltered.
Egypt was glad when they left,
because dread of Israel had fallen on them.
He spread out a cloud as a covering,
and a fire to give light at night.
They asked, and he brought them quail;
he fed them well with the bread of heaven.
He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
it flowed like a river in the desert.
For he remembered his holy promise
given to his servant Abraham.
New International Version (NIV)
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.
The Lord is God,
and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
The Message (MSG)
Blessed are you who enter in God’s name—
from God’s house we bless you!
God is God,
he has bathed us in light.
Festoon the shrine with garlands,
hang colored banners above the altar!
You’re my God, and I thank you.
O my God, I lift high your praise.
Thank God—he’s so good.
His love never quits!
New International Version (NIV)
Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenshipis in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
The Message (MSG)
Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.
But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ,
New International Version (NIV)
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
Though my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will receive me.
Teach me your way, Lord;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
New International Version (NIV)
In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blamelessand upright; he feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.
One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedgearound him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeansformed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry!
Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
From your presence let my vindication come!
Let your eyes behold the right!
You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night,
you have tested me, and you will find nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
My steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my words.
Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O Savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings,
from the wicked who do me violence,
my deadly enemies who surround me.
They close their hearts to pity;
with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
They have now surrounded our steps;
they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.
He is like a lion eager to tear,
as a young lion lurking in ambush.
Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him!
Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
from men by your hand, O Lord,
from men of the world whose portion is in this life.
You fill their womb with treasure;
they are satisfied with children,
and they leave their abundance to their infants.
As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.
The Message (MSG)
Listen while I build my case, God,
the most honest prayer you’ll ever hear.
Show the world I’m innocent—
in your heart you know I am.
Go ahead, examine me from inside out,
surprise me in the middle of the night—
You’ll find I’m just what I say I am.
My words don’t run loose.
I’m not trying to get my way
in the world’s way.
I’m trying to get your way,
your Word’s way.
I’m staying on your trail;
I’m putting one foot
In front of the other.
I’m not giving up.
I call to you, God, because I’m sure of an answer.
So—answer! bend your ear! listen sharp!
Paint grace-graffiti on the fences;
take in your frightened children who
Are running from the neighborhood bullies
straight to you.
Keep your eye on me;
hide me under your cool wing feathers
From the wicked who are out to get me,
from mortal enemies closing in.
Their hearts are hard as nails,
their mouths blast hot air.
They are after me, nipping my heels,
determined to bring me down,
Lions ready to rip me apart,
young lions poised to pounce.
Up, God: beard them! break them!
By your sword, free me from their clutches;
Barehanded, God, break these mortals,
these flat-earth people who can’t think beyond today.
I’d like to see their bellies
swollen with famine food,
The weeds they’ve sown
harvested and baked into famine bread,
With second helpings for their children
and crusts for their babies to chew on.
And me? I plan on looking
you full in the face. When I get up,
I’ll see your full stature
and live heaven on earth.
English Standard Version (ESV)For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
The Message (MSG)There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:
A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.
English Standard Version (ESV)“This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:
“‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices,
during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
You took up the tent of Moloch
and the star of your god Rephan,
the images that you made to worship;
and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’
The Message (MSG)“This is the same Moses whom they earlier rejected, saying, ‘Who put you in charge of us?’ This is the Moses that God, using the angel flaming in the burning bush, sent back as ruler and redeemer. He led them out of their slavery. He did wonderful things, setting up God-signs all through Egypt, down at the Red Sea, and out in the wilderness for forty years. This is the Moses who said to his congregation, ‘God will raise up a prophet just like me from your descendants.’ This is the Moses who stood between the angel speaking at Sinai and your fathers assembled in the wilderness and took the life-giving words given to him and handed them over to us, words our fathers would have nothing to do with.
“They craved the old Egyptian ways, whining to Aaron, ‘Make us gods we can see and follow. This Moses who got us out here miles from nowhere—who knows what’s happened to him!’ That was the time when they made a calf-idol, brought sacrifices to it, and congratulated each other on the wonderful religious program they had put together.
“God wasn’t at all pleased; but he let them do it their way, worship every new god that came down the pike—and live with the consequences, consequences described by the prophet Amos:
Did you bring me offerings of animals and grains
those forty wilderness years, O Israel?
Hardly. You were too busy building shrines
to war gods, to sex goddesses,
Worshiping them with all your might.
That’s why I put you in exile in Babylon.
English Standard Version (ESV)“Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’
The Message (MSG)“Forty years later, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, an angel appeared to him in the guise of flames of a burning bush. Moses, not believing his eyes, went up to take a closer look. He heard God’s voice: ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Frightened nearly out of his skin, Moses shut his eyes and turned away.
“God said, ‘Kneel and pray. You are in a holy place, on holy ground. I’ve seen the agony of my people in Egypt. I’ve heard their groans. I’ve come to help them. So get yourself ready; I’m sending you back to Egypt.’
Take a moment to be still. Breath. Recognize and take notice of your breath, the life that is within in, being sustained by the living God.
The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting.
We invite you to the observance of Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and reflection; and by reading and meditating on Scripture.
Let us pray.
"Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, lamenting our sins and acknowledging our brokenness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect forgiveness. You have created us out of the dust of the earth: may we remember our mortality and penitence; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
Hear these words from Psalm 51:
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
build up the walls of Jerusalem;
then will you delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
“Restore us, good Lord, and let your anger depart from us; Accomplish in us the work of your salvation, by the cross and passion of your Son our Lord. Amen."
We believe in your process. We believe that everyone is on a journey to understand who God is, our own identity at its core, the intricacies of relationship with one another, and our own place in this world. This is a simple resource for our process together.