Sunday 29 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>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jeremiah 23:16-32</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thus says the Lord of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you; they are deluding you. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They keep saying to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to all who stubbornly follow their own stubborn hearts, they say, ‘No calamity shall come upon you.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For who has stood in the council of the Lord</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so as to see and to hear his word?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Who has given heed to his word so as to proclaim it?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Look, the storm of the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Wrath has gone forth,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">a whirling tempest;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>it will burst upon the head of the wicked.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The anger of the Lord will not turn back</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>until he has executed and accomplished</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the intents of his mind.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the latter days you will understand it clearly.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I did not send the prophets,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>yet they ran;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I did not speak to them,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>yet they prophesied.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But if they had stood in my council,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>then they would have proclaimed my words to my people,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and they would have turned them from their evil way,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and from the evil of their doings.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Am I a God near by, says the Lord, and not a God far off? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back—those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart? They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal. Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the Lord. Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? See, therefore, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who steal my words from one another. See, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who use their own tongues and say, ‘Says the Lord.’ See, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, says the Lord, and who tell them, and who lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or appoint them; so they do not profit this people at all, says the Lord.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1 Corinthians 9:19-27</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I might by any means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable garland, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mark 8:31-9:1</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel,* will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words* in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ And he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with* power.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms: Psalm 118</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 118</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>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><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: Psalm 145</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<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>
<!--EndFragment-->