Sunday 15 February 2009<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>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Isaiah 62:6-12</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Upon your walls, O Jerusalem,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have posted sentinels;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">all day and all night</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they shall never be silent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You who remind the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>take no rest,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and give him no rest</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>until he establishes Jerusalem</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and makes it renowned throughout the earth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord has sworn by his right hand</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and by his mighty arm:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will not again give your grain</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to be food for your enemies,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and foreigners shall not drink the wine</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for which you have laboured;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">but those who garner it shall eat it</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and praise the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and those who gather it shall drink it</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in my holy courts.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Go through, go through the gates,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>prepare the way for the people;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">build up, build up the highway,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>clear it of stones,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>lift up an ensign over the peoples.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord has proclaimed</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to the end of the earth:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Say to daughter Zion,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘See, your salvation comes;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">his reward is with him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and his recompense before him.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They shall be called, ‘The Holy People,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The Redeemed of the Lord’;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and you shall be called, ‘Sought Out,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A City Not Forsaken.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1 John 2:3-11</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments. Whoever says, ‘I have come to know him’, but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says, ‘I abide in him’, ought to walk just as he walked.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in him and in you, because* the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says, ‘I am in the light’, while hating a brother or sister,* is still in the darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister* lives in the light, and in such a person* there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates another believer* is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness. ******************************************************************</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: Psalm 66, 67</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 66</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>sing the glory of his name;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>give to him glorious praise.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All the earth worships you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they sing praises to you,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>sing praises to your name.’</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 and see what God has done:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He turned the sea into dry land;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they passed through the river on foot.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There we rejoiced in him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>who rules by his might for ever,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">whose eyes keep watch on the nations—</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let the rebellious not exalt themselves.</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">Bless our God, O peoples,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let the sound of his praise be heard,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">who has kept us among the living,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and has not let our feet slip.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For you, O God, have tested us;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you have tried us as silver is tried.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You brought us into the net;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you laid burdens on our backs;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">you let people ride over our heads;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>we went through fire and through water;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will come into your house with burnt-offerings;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will pay you my vows,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">those that my lips uttered</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will offer to you burnt-offerings of fatlings,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will make an offering of bulls and goats.</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 and hear, all you who fear God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and I will tell what he has done for me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I cried aloud to him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and he was extolled with my tongue.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the Lord would not have listened.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But truly God has listened;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he has given heed to the words of my prayer.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Blessed be God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because he has not rejected my prayer</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>or removed his steadfast love from me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 67</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May God be gracious to us and bless us</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and make his face to shine upon us,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">that your way may be known upon earth,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your saving power among all nations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let the peoples praise you, O God;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let all the peoples praise you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for you judge the peoples with equity</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and guide the nations upon earth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let the peoples praise you, O God;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let all the peoples praise you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The earth has yielded its increase;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>God, our God, has blessed us.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May God continue to bless us;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let all the ends of the earth revere him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 19, 46</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 19</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The heavens are telling the glory of God;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the firmament* proclaims his handiwork.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Day to day pours forth speech,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and night to night declares knowledge.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is no speech, nor are there words;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>their voice is not heard;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">yet their voice* goes out through all the earth,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and their words to the end of the world.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the heavens* he has set a tent for the sun,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and like a strong man runs its course with joy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Its rising is from the end of the heavens,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and its circuit to the end of them;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and nothing is hidden from its heat.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The law of the Lord is perfect,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>reviving the soul;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the decrees of the Lord are sure,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>making wise the simple;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the precepts of the Lord are right,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>rejoicing the heart;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the commandment of the Lord is clear,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>enlightening the eyes;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the fear of the Lord is pure,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>enduring for ever;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the ordinances of the Lord are true</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and righteous altogether.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">More to be desired are they than gold,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>even much fine gold;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">sweeter also than honey,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and drippings of the honeycomb.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Moreover by them is your servant warned;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in keeping them there is great reward.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But who can detect their errors?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Clear me from hidden faults.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Keep back your servant also from the insolent;*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>do not let them have dominion over me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then I shall be blameless,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and innocent of great transgression.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>be acceptable to you,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 46</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<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">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<!--EndFragment-->