Wednesday 31 December 2008<span style="mso-spacerun:
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<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">Isaiah 26:1-9</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We have a strong city;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he sets up victory</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>like walls and bulwarks.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Open the gates,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so that the righteous nation that keeps faith</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>may enter in.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in peace because they trust in you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Trust in the Lord for ever,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for in the Lord God *</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you have an everlasting rock.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For he has brought low</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the inhabitants of the height;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the lofty city he lays low.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He lays it low to the ground,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>casts it to the dust.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The foot tramples it,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the feet of the poor,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the steps of the needy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The way of the righteous is level;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O Just One, you make smooth the path of the righteous.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the path of your judgements,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O Lord, we wait for you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">your name and your renown</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>are the soul’s desire.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My soul yearns for you in the night,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my spirit within me earnestly seeks you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For when your judgements are in the earth,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2 Corinthians 5:16-6:2</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view;* even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view,* we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself,* not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As we work together with him,* we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘At an acceptable time I have listened to you,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and on a day of salvation I have helped you.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">John 8:12-19</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’ Then the Pharisees said to him, ‘You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.’ Jesus answered, ‘Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards;* I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgement is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father* who sent me. In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf.’ Then they said to him, ‘Where is your Father?’ Jesus answered, ‘You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Psalm 46, 48</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 46</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">God is our refuge and strength,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>a very present* help in trouble.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">though its waters roar and foam,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>though the mountains tremble with its tumult.</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">There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the holy habitation of the Most High.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">God is in the midst of the city;* it shall not be moved;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>God will help it when the morning dawns.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he utters his voice, the earth melts.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord of hosts is with us;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the God of Jacob is our refuge.*</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">Come, behold the works of the Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>see what desolations he has brought on the earth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he burns the shields with fire.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Be still, and know that I am God!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am exalted among the nations,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am exalted in the earth.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord of hosts is with us;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the God of Jacob is our refuge.*</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">Psalm 48</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the city of our God.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>is the joy of all the earth,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mount Zion, in the far north,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the city of the great King.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Within its citadels God</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>has shown himself a sure defence.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then the kings assembled,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they came on together.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As soon as they saw it, they were astounded;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they were in panic, they took to flight;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">trembling took hold of them there,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>pains as of a woman in labour,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">as when an east wind shatters</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the ships of Tarshish.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As we have heard, so have we seen</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the city of the Lord of hosts,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">in the city of our God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>which God establishes for ever.</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">We ponder your steadfast love, O God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the midst of your temple.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your name, O God, like your praise,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>reaches to the ends of the earth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your right hand is filled with victory.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Let Mount Zion be glad,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">let the towns* of Judah rejoice</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because of your judgements.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Walk about Zion, go all around it,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>count its towers,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">consider well its ramparts;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>go through its citadels,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">that you may tell the next generation</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>that this is God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">our God for ever and ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He will be our guide for ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 90</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 90</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Lord, you have been our dwelling-place*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in all generations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Before the mountains were brought forth,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>or ever you had formed the earth and the world,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>from everlasting to everlasting you are God.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You turn us* back to dust,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and say, ‘Turn back, you mortals.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For a thousand years in your sight</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>are like yesterday when it is past,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>or like a watch in the night.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You sweep them away; they are like a dream,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>like grass that is renewed in the morning;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the evening it fades and withers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For we are consumed by your anger;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>by your wrath we are overwhelmed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You have set our iniquities before you,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>our secret sins in the light of your countenance.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For all our days pass away under your wrath;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>our years come to an end* like a sigh.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The days of our life are seventy years,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>or perhaps eighty, if we are strong;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">even then their span* is only toil and trouble;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they are soon gone, and we fly away.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Who considers the power of your anger?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due to you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So teach us to count our days</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>that we may gain a wise heart.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Turn, O Lord! How long?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Have compassion on your servants!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and for as many years as we have seen evil.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let your work be manifest to your servants,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and your glorious power to their children.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and prosper for us the work of our hands—</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O prosper the work of our hands!</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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