Daily Devotion for November 12, 2014
And now, for something completely different . . . .
Prayers
Scripture
Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Prayer of Thanks for God's Creation
O Lord God of Israel and God of the nations, you are the only God in heaven above or the earth below. I walk before you with all my heart. I bless your name in the morning when I rise and in the evening when I sleep, and all the day when your creation fills my eye. Bless me to remember you this day. When I see and hear the thousand miracles of your creation, let me see them anew, recalling that you have made them, and no other; that I may live in your presence among the common miracles I take for granted. Through Christ I pray,
Prayer for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Christ Jesus, before ascending into heaven, You promised to send the Holy Spirit to Your apostles and disciples. Grant that the same Spirit may perfect in my life the work of Your grace and love, and that I may bear my cross with You and, with courage, overcome the obstacles that interfere with my salvation; Teach me to be Your faithful disciple and animate me in every way with Your Spirit.
Meditation
[Letting the Holy Spirit perfect our hearts in grace and love.]
Benediction
May I go in peace, with God and with his other children, and may we love one another as Christ taught us. May I follow the example of good men of old, and may God comfort and help me and all who believe in Him, both in this world and in the world which is to come.
Think of the day ahead in terms of God with you, and visualize health, strength, guidance, purity, calm confidence, and victory as the gifts of His presence.
Notes on the Scripture
You can probably figure out why the notes on the “Scripture” are in the left hand column today. With the constant study of Paul, we are going to need some relief from time to time, and we have decided to make Wednesday a special day, when we do something creative. Last Wednesday, we did have a Bible verse in the Scripture section, but the main focus was on the poem Love by George Herbert. Today, we wanted to show this fabulous graphic off!
So here is our schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: Our primary study of Paul's Epistles. Saturday, a normal Scripture and Notes, but non-Pauline, and usually non-epistolary. Sunday, Scripture and Commentary from Dr. Ken Boa (currently doing the Epistle of James). And on Wednesday — with apologies to Monty Python — something completely different! The Prayer and music sections will remain in normal format.
Special seasons will be treated specially, as always: Thanksgiving Day (U.S.), Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and the occasional special feast day.
