Lord, you say that no man may be drawn to you unless you draw him. Therefore, Lord, I pray that you will draw all people to you, regardless of how sinful they are. I never deserved to be drawn to you, Lord, and yet in your great mercy you drew me. If people around me know my great wickedness as you do, they would marvel at the great goodness you have shown to me. If you can make such an unworthy creature as me worthy to be your servant, then you can turn the lowest sinner into the highest saint. I beg that you will turn all sinners into saints. Amen.
(Margery Kempe)

1 The Lord is king!
Let the earth rejoice!
Let the farthest coastlands be glad.
9 For you, O Lord, are supreme over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.
10 You who love the Lord, hate evil!
He protects the lives of his godly people
and rescues them from the power of the wicked.
11 Light shines on the godly,
and joy on those whose hearts are right.
12 May all who are godly rejoice in the Lord
and praise his holy name!
Psalm 97 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
2 Kings 18:28-37 – 1 Corinthians 9:1-15 - Matthew 7:22-29

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen.
- Reinhold Niebuhr

1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Psalm 62 New Living Translation

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading): 2 Kings 18:9-25 – 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 - Matthew 7:13-21

Father,
You help me become more patient.
You know how impatient I can be. I want solutions to my problems and resolutions to my dilemmas right now -- right away. Teach me, Lord, to learn the lessons of the patient farmer waiting for his field to grow. As I wait for You to help me sort out my circumstances, place in me a patient and hopeful heart -- a heart that is pleasing to You. Amen.
(From "Everyday Prayers for Everyday Cares")

2 Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
3 I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
4 For great is your love, higher than the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
and let your glory be over all the earth.
6 Save us and help us with your right hand,
that those you love may be delivered
Psalm 62 New Living Translation

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
2 Chronicles 29:1-3; 30:10-27 – 1 Corinthians 7:32-40 - Matthew 7:1-12

Father,
You are the Source of real strength.
I know that I cannot place my security in the strength of armies and navies. They may seem invincible, able to conquer the world, and yet, they are nothing compared to You. Though they wield great power, they have no sway over the human heart. Their fortunes change day to day and are subject to changing circumstances and the whims of man. I will place my trust in You, Lord, and look to You for my strength and security. Amen.
(From "Everyday Prayers for Everyday Cares")

1 My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
3 How long will you assault a man?
Would all of you throw him down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4 They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse.
5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 62 New Living Translation

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
2 Kings 5:19-27 – 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 - Matthew 5:27-37

Father,
You bless my work.
Thank You for teaching me that I can take pride in my work because I do it for You. That keeps me working to faithfully do what needs to be done to the best of my ability. Sometimes, I know that I've done a good job and even though no one else seems to have noticed, I will not allow myself to become frustrated or discouraged because I know You noticed and You are pleased with me. Amen.
(From "Everyday Prayers for Everyday Cares")

1 I rejoiced with those who said to me,
"Let us go to the house of the LORD."
2 Our feet are standing
in your gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is built like a city
that is closely compacted together.
4 That is where the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD,
to praise the name of the LORD
according to the statute given to Israel.
5 There the thrones for judgment stand,
the thrones of the house of David.
Psalm 101 New Living Translation

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
2 Kings 1:2-17 – 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 - Matthew 5:11-16

Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is despair, hope,
Where there is darkness, light,
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much
seek to be consoled as to console,
not so much to be understood as to understand,
not so much to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we awake to eternal life.
- St. Francis of Assisi

1 I will sing of your love and justice, Lord.
I will praise you with songs.
2 I will be careful to live a blameless life— when will you come to help me?
I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.
3 I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar.
I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them.
4 I will reject perverse ideas
and stay away from every evil.
5 I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors.
I will not endure conceit and pride.
6 I will search for faithful people to be my companions.
Only those who are above reproach will be allowed to serve me.
Psalm 101 New Living Translation

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
1 Kings 22:29-45 – 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:15 - Matthew 5:1-10

God be in my head: and in mine understanding
God be in mine eyes: and in my looking
God be in my mouth: and in my speaking
God be in my heart: and in my thinking
God be in mine end: and at my departing
(From the Sarum Primer 1558)

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine upon us,
2 that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.
3 May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you.
4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples justly
and guide the nations of the earth.
5 May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you.
6 Then the land will yield its harvest,
and God, our God, will bless us.
Psalm 67 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
1 Kings 21:1-16 – 1 Corinthians 1:1-19 - Matthew 4:1-11