Friday 22 August 2008<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><!--StartFragment-->
<p class="MsoNormal">DAILY LECTIONARY</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Email Evangelism, forward to a friend: http://www.dailylectionary.org</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Job 2:1-13</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">One day the heavenly beings* came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan* also came among them to present himself before the Lord. The Lord said to Satan,* ‘Where have you come from?’ Satan* answered the Lord, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.’ The Lord said to Satan,* ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil. He still persists in his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him for no reason.’ Then Satan* answered the Lord, ‘Skin for skin! All that people have they will give to save their lives.* But stretch out your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.’ The Lord said to Satan,* ‘Very well, he is in your power; only spare his life.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So Satan* went out from the presence of the Lord, and inflicted loathsome sores on Job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. Job* took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still persist in your integrity? Curse* God, and die.’ But he said to her, ‘You speak as any foolish woman would speak. Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now when Job’s three friends heard of all these troubles that had come upon him, each of them set out from his home—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to go and console and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him, and they raised their voices and wept aloud; they tore their robes and threw dust in the air upon their heads. They sat with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great. ******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Acts 9:1-9</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ The men who were travelling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">John 6:27-40</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’ Then they said to him, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’ So they said to him, ‘What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” ’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which* comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.’ ******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Psalm 140, 142</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 140</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Deliver me, O Lord, from evildoers;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>protect me from those who are violent,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">who plan evil things in their minds</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and stir up wars continually.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They make their tongue sharp as a snake’s,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and under their lips is the venom of vipers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>protect me from the violent</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>who have planned my downfall.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and with cords they have spread a net;*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>along the road they have set snares for me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I say to the Lord, ‘You are my God;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>give ear, O Lord, to the voice of my supplications.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, my Lord, my strong deliverer,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you have covered my head in the day of battle.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>do not further their evil plot.*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Those who surround me lift up their heads;*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let burning coals fall on them!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Let them be flung into pits, no more to rise!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do not let the slanderer be established in the land;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let evil speedily hunt down the violent!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I know that the Lord maintains the cause of the needy,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and executes justice for the poor.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the upright shall live in your presence.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 142</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">With my voice I cry to the Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>with my voice I make supplication to the Lord.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I pour out my complaint before him;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I tell my trouble before him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When my spirit is faint,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you know my way.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">In the path where I walk</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they have hidden a trap for me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Look on my right hand and see—</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>there is no one who takes notice of me;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">no refuge remains to me;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>no one cares for me.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I cry to you, O Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I say, ‘You are my refuge,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my portion in the land of the living.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Give heed to my cry,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for I am brought very low.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Save me from my persecutors,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for they are too strong for me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bring me out of prison,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so that I may give thanks to your name.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The righteous will surround me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for you will deal bountifully with me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Psalm 141, 143:1-12</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 141</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>give ear to my voice when I call to you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>keep watch over the door of my lips.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do not turn my heart to any evil,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to busy myself with wicked deeds</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">in company with those who work iniquity;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>do not let me eat of their delicacies.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let the righteous strike me;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let the faithful correct me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Never let the oil of the wicked anoint my head,*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for my prayer is continually* against their wicked deeds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When they are given over to those who shall condemn them,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>then they shall learn that my words were pleasant.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Like a rock that one breaks apart and shatters on the land,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol.*</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But my eyes are turned towards you, O God, my Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenceless.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and from the snares of evildoers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let the wicked fall into their own nets,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>while I alone escape.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 143:1-12</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hear my prayer, O Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>answer me in your righteousness.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do not enter into judgement with your servant,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for no one living is righteous before you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the enemy has pursued me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>crushing my life to the ground,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>making me sit in darkness like those long dead.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Therefore my spirit faints within me;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my heart within me is appalled.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I remember the days of old,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think about all your deeds,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I meditate on the works of your hands.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I stretch out my hands to you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Answer me quickly, O Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my spirit fails.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do not hide your face from me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for in you I put my trust.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teach me the way I should go,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for to you I lift up my soul.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Save me, O Lord, from my enemies;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have fled to you for refuge.*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teach me to do your will,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for you are my God.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let your good spirit lead me</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>on a level path.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In your righteousness bring me out of trouble.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In your steadfast love cut off my enemies,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and destroy all my adversaries,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for I am your servant.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
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