Sunday 5 October 2008<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><!--StartFragment-->
<p class="MsoNormal">DAILY LECTIONARY</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<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">Hosea 13:4-14</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Yet I have been the Lord your God</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>ever since the land of Egypt;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">you know no God but me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and besides me there is no saviour.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was I who fed* you in the wilderness,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the land of drought.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When I fed* them, they were satisfied;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they were satisfied, and their heart was proud;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>therefore they forgot me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So I will become like a lion to them,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>like a leopard I will lurk beside the way.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and will tear open the covering of their heart;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">there I will devour them like a lion,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>as a wild animal would mangle them.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will destroy you, O Israel;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>who can help you?*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Where now is* your king, that he may save you?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Where in all your cities are your rulers,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">of whom you said,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘Give me a king and rulers’?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I gave you a king in my anger,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and I took him away in my wrath.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Ephraim’s iniquity is bound up;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>his sin is kept in store.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The pangs of childbirth come for him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but he is an unwise son;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for at the proper time he does not present himself</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>at the mouth of the womb.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Shall I redeem them from Death?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O Death, where are* your plagues?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O Sheol, where is* your destruction?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Compassion is hidden from my eyes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1 Corinthians 2:6-16</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>nor the human heart conceived,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">what God has prepared for those who love him’—</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.*</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Those who are unspiritual* do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are discerned spiritually. Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘For who has known the mind of the Lord</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so as to instruct him?’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But we have the mind of Christ.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Matthew 14:1-12</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">At that time Herod the ruler* heard reports about Jesus; and he said to his servants, ‘This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.’ For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,* because John had been telling him, ‘It is not lawful for you to have her.’ Though Herod* wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, ‘Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.’ The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother. His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Psalm 118</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 118</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>his steadfast love endures for ever!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let Israel say,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let the house of Aaron say,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let those who fear the Lord say,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Out of my distress I called on the Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the Lord on my side I do not fear.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What can mortals do to me?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is on my side to help me;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is better to take refuge in the Lord</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>than to put confidence in mortals.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is better to take refuge in the Lord</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>than to put confidence in princes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All nations surrounded me;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the name of the Lord I cut them off!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the name of the Lord I cut them off!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They surrounded me like bees;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they blazed* like a fire of thorns;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the name of the Lord I cut them off!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I was pushed hard,* so that I was falling,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but the Lord helped me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is my strength and my might;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he has become my salvation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the right hand of the Lord is exalted;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I shall not die, but I shall live,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and recount the deeds of the Lord.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord has punished me severely,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but he did not give me over to death.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Open to me the gates of righteousness,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>that I may enter through them</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and give thanks to the Lord.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is the gate of the Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the righteous shall enter through it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I thank you that you have answered me</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and have become my salvation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The stone that the builders rejected</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>has become the chief cornerstone.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is the Lord’s doing;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>it is marvellous in our eyes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is the day that the Lord has made;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let us rejoice and be glad in it.*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We bless you from the house of the Lord.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and he has given us light.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bind the festal procession with branches,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>up to the horns of the altar.*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you are my God, I will extol you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for his steadfast love endures for ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Psalm 145</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 145</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will extol you, my God and King,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and bless your name for ever and ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Every day I will bless you,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and praise your name for ever and ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>his greatness is unsearchable.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One generation shall laud your works to another,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and shall declare your mighty acts.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the glorious splendour of your majesty,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and I will declare your greatness.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is gracious and merciful,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is good to all,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and his compassion is over all that he has made.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all your faithful shall bless you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and tell of your power,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to make known to all people your* mighty deeds,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the glorious splendour of your* kingdom.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and your dominion endures throughout all generations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is faithful in all his words,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and gracious in all his deeds.*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord upholds all who are falling,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and raises up all who are bowed down.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The eyes of all look to you,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and you give them their food in due season.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You open your hand,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>satisfying the desire of every living thing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is just in all his ways,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and kind in all his doings.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is near to all who call on him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to all who call on him in truth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He fulfils the desire of all who fear him;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he also hears their cry, and saves them.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord watches over all who love him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but all the wicked he will destroy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all flesh will bless his holy name for ever and ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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