Sunday 28 February 2010<!--StartFragment-->
<p class="MsoNormal">DAILY LECTIONARY</p>
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<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">Genesis 41:14-45<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was hurriedly brought out of the dungeon. When he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.’ Joseph answered Pharaoh, ‘It is not I; God will give Pharaoh a favourable answer.’ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘In my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile; and seven cows, fat and sleek, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. Then seven other cows came up after them, poor, very ugly, and thin. Never had I seen such ugly ones in all the land of Egypt. The thin and ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows, but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had done so, for they were still as ugly as before. Then I awoke. I fell asleep a second time* and I saw in my dream seven ears of grain, full and good, growing on one stalk, and seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouting after them; and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. But when I told it to the magicians, there was no one who could explain it to me.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘Pharaoh’s dreams are one and the same; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, as are the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind. They are seven years of famine. It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. After them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; the famine will consume the land. The plenty will no longer be known in the land because of the famine that will follow, for it will be very grievous. And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. Now therefore let Pharaoh select a man who is discerning and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land, and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plenteous years. Let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming, and lay up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to befall the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. Pharaoh said to his servants, ‘Can we find anyone else like this—one in whom is the spirit of God?’ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has shown you all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command; only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.’ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.’ Removing his signet ring from his hand, Pharaoh put it on Joseph’s hand; he arrayed him in garments of fine linen, and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in the chariot of his second-in-command; and they cried out in front of him, ‘Bow the knee!’* Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.’ Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as his wife. Thus Joseph gained authority over the land of Egypt.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Romans 6:3-14</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. No longer present your members to sin as instruments* of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments* of righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">John 5:19-24</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father* does, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomsoever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgement to the Son, so that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Anyone who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him. Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms: Psalm 24, 29</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 24</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the world, and those who live in it;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for he has founded it on the seas,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and established it on the rivers.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And who shall stand in his holy place?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>who do not lift up their souls to what is false,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and do not swear deceitfully.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They will receive blessing from the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and vindication from the God of their salvation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Such is the company of those who seek him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>who seek the face of the God of Jacob.*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lift up your heads, O gates!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and be lifted up, O ancient doors!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>that the King of glory may come in.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Who is the King of glory?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The Lord, strong and mighty,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the Lord, mighty in battle.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lift up your heads, O gates!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and be lifted up, O ancient doors!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>that the King of glory may come in.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Who is this King of glory?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The Lord of hosts,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he is the King of glory.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 29</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>worship the Lord in holy splendour.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The voice of the Lord is over the waters;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the God of glory thunders,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the Lord, over mighty waters.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The voice of the Lord is powerful;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and Sirion like a young wild ox.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl,*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and strips the forest bare;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and in his temple all say, ‘Glory!’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the Lord sits enthroned as king for ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May the Lord give strength to his people!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>May the Lord bless his people with peace!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 8, 84</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 8</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, our Sovereign,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>how majestic is your name in all the earth!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You have set your glory above the heavens.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Out of the mouths of babes and infants</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to silence the enemy and the avenger.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the moon and the stars that you have established;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">what are human beings that you are mindful of them,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>mortals* that you care for them?</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yet you have made them a little lower than God,*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and crowned them with glory and honour.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you have put all things under their feet,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">all sheep and oxen,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and also the beasts of the field,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>whatever passes along the paths of the seas.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, our Sovereign,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>how majestic is your name in all the earth!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 84</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">How lovely is your dwelling place,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O Lord of hosts!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My soul longs, indeed it faints</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for the courts of the Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">my heart and my flesh sing for joy</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to the living God.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Even the sparrow finds a home,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the swallow a nest for herself,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>where she may lay her young,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">at your altars, O Lord of hosts,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my King and my God.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy are those who live in your house,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>ever singing your praise.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Happy are those whose strength is in you,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in whose heart are the highways to Zion.*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As they go through the valley of Baca</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they make it a place of springs;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the early rain also covers it with pools.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They go from strength to strength;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the God of gods will be seen in Zion.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>give ear, O God of Jacob!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Behold our shield, O God;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>look on the face of your anointed.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For a day in your courts is better</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>than a thousand elsewhere.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>than live in the tents of wickedness.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the Lord God is a sun and shield;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he bestows favour and honour.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">No good thing does the Lord withhold</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>from those who walk uprightly.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord of hosts,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>happy is everyone who trusts in you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
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