Saturday 28 March 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>
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<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jeremiah 23:9-15</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">My heart is crushed within me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>all my bones shake;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have become like a drunkard,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>like one overcome by wine,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">because of the Lord</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and because of his holy words.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the land is full of adulterers;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because of the curse the land mourns,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the pastures of the wilderness are dried up.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Their course has been evil,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and their might is not right.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Both prophet and priest are ungodly;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>even in my house I have found their wickedness,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">says the Lord.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Therefore their way shall be to them</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>like slippery paths in the darkness,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>into which they shall be driven and fall;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for I will bring disaster upon them</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the year of their punishment,</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">says the Lord.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the prophets of Samaria</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I saw a disgusting thing:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">they prophesied by Baal</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and led my people Israel astray.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But in the prophets of Jerusalem</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have seen a more shocking thing:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">they commit adultery and walk in lies;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they strengthen the hands of evildoers,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so that no one turns from wickedness;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">all of them have become like Sodom to me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘I am going to make them eat wormwood,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and give them poisoned water to drink;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for from the prophets of Jerusalem</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>ungodliness has spread throughout the land.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Romans 9:1-18</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people,* my kindred according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah,* who is over all, God blessed for ever.* Amen.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all Israelites truly belong to Israel, and not all of Abraham’s children are his true descendants; but ‘It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named after you.’ This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants. For this is what the promise said, ‘About this time I will return and Sarah shall have a son.’ Nor is that all; something similar happened to Rebecca when she had conceived children by one husband, our ancestor Isaac. Even before they had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose of election might continue, not by works but by his call) she was told, ‘The elder shall serve the younger.’ As it is written,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘I have loved Jacob,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but I have hated Esau.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What then are we to say? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who shows mercy. For the scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.’ So then he has mercy on whomsoever he chooses, and he hardens the heart of whomsoever he chooses.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">John 6:60-71</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’* Jesus answered them, ‘Did I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.’ He was speaking of Judas son of Simon Iscariot,* for he, though one of the twelve, was going to betray him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms: Psalm 107:33-43, 108:1-13</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 107:33-43</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">He turns rivers into a desert,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>springs of water into thirsty ground,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">a fruitful land into a salty waste,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He turns a desert into pools of water,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>a parched land into springs of water.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And there he lets the hungry live,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and they establish a town to live in;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">they sow fields, and plant vineyards,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and get a fruitful yield.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By his blessing they multiply greatly,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and he does not let their cattle decrease.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When they are diminished and brought low</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>through oppression, trouble, and sorrow,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">he pours contempt on princes</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and makes them wander in trackless wastes;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">but he raises up the needy out of distress,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and makes their families like flocks.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The upright see it and are glad;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all wickedness stops its mouth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let those who are wise give heed to these things,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 108:1-13</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will sing and make melody.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Awake, my soul!*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Awake, O harp and lyre!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will awake the dawn.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and I will sing praises to you among the nations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For your steadfast love is higher than the heavens,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and let your glory be over all the earth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Give victory with your right hand, and answer me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so that those whom you love may be rescued.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">God has promised in his sanctuary:*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘With exultation I will divide up Shechem,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and portion out the Vale of Succoth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Ephraim is my helmet;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Judah is my sceptre.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Moab is my wash-basin;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>on Edom I hurl my shoe;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>over Philistia I shout in triumph.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Who will bring me to the fortified city?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Who will lead me to Edom?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Have you not rejected us, O God?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You do not go out, O God, with our armies.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O grant us help against the foe,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for human help is worthless.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With God we shall do valiantly;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>it is he who will tread down our foes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 33</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 33</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Praise befits the upright.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord with the lyre;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sing to him a new song;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>play skilfully on the strings, with loud shouts.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the word of the Lord is upright,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all his work is done in faithfulness.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He loves righteousness and justice;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all their host by the breath of his mouth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he put the deeps in storehouses.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let all the earth fear the Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For he spoke, and it came to be;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he commanded, and it stood firm.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he frustrates the plans of the peoples.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The counsel of the Lord stands for ever,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the thoughts of his heart to all generations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord looks down from heaven;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he sees all humankind.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From where he sits enthroned he watches</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>all the inhabitants of the earth—</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">he who fashions the hearts of them all,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and observes all their deeds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A king is not saved by his great army;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The war horse is a vain hope for victory,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and by its great might it cannot save.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>on those who hope in his steadfast love,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to deliver their soul from death,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and to keep them alive in famine.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our soul waits for the Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he is our help and shield.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our heart is glad in him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because we trust in his holy name.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>even as we hope in you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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