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January 17, 2015Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot    Reading 1 Heb 4:12-16 The word of God is living and effective,sharper than any two-edged sword,penetrating even between soul and spirit,joints and marrow,and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.No creature is concealed from him,but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of himto whom we must render an account. Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God,let us hold fast to our confession.For we do not have a high priestwho is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,but...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Character Studies From The Bible Joseph New International Version (NIV) 39 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar...

January 16, 2015Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Heb 4:1-5, 11 Let us be on our guardwhile the promise of entering into his rest remains,that none of you seem to have failed.For in fact we have received the Good News just as our ancestors did.But the word that they heard did not profit them,for they were not united in faith with those who listened.For we who believed enter into that rest,just as he has said: As I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter into my rest,” and yet his works were accomplishedat...

Pray For Our American Heroes and Our Nation So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 (NIV) ----

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Character Studies From The Bible Joseph New International Version (NIV) 12 Now his brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks near Shechem, 13 and Israel said to Joseph, “As you know, your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I am going to send you to them.” “Very well,” he replied. 14 So he said to him, “Go and see if all is well with your brothers and with the flocks, and bring word back to me.” Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron. When Joseph arrived at Shechem, 15 a man...

Pray For Our American Heroes and Our Nation Stand Firm Psalm 143:8-10 (ESV) Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to you for refuge! Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

January 15, 2015»Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Heb 3:7-14 The Holy Spirit says:Oh, that today you would hear his voice,“Harden not your hearts as at the rebellionin the day of testing in the desert,where your ancestors tested and tried meand saw my works for forty years.Because of this I was provoked with that generationand I said, ‘They have always been of erring heart,and they do not know my ways.’As I swore in my wrath,‘They shall not enter into my rest.’”Take care, brothers and sisters,that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful...

Cincinnati Bengals player Devon Still has been keeping us posted on his daughters battle with cancer through his Instagram account since they first got the news that doctors found a tumor in her abdomen. Last June the tumor was removed and she started chemotherapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells. A few days ago Devon took her to the hospital for a routine checkup and posted the heartbreaking results. Via Instagram: I wanted to hear so bad that my daughter’s cancer was gone and when I didn’t it hurt me bad. I couldn’t even bring myself to tell my family...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Character Studies From The Bible Joseph New International Version (NIV) 37 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. 2 This is the account of Jacob’s family line. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an...

January 14, 2015Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Heb 2:14-18 Since the children share in blood and Flesh,Jesus likewise shared in them,that through death he might destroy the onewho has the power of death, that is, the Devil,and free those who through fear of deathhad been subject to slavery all their life.Surely he did not help angelsbut rather the descendants of Abraham;therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before Godto expiate the sins of the people.Because he himself...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Character Studies From The Bible Jacob New International Version (NIV) 33 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants. 2 He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. 3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. 4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and...

. . . weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15 In Memory of: SSGT Andrew Philip Stevens; June 1, 1987 – January 2, 2015

Hi, my Buster had a serious tummy ache - gas pains - tonight that required me working on him almost three hours with gas drops and manual massage to finally get him back to normal. Not quite sure why he developed it as his eating and drinking has been good and normal lately. If you feel moved to offer up a prayer request for him I'd appreciate it. He's my little'guy that lost his left'front leg to cancer 7 month ago, and had a second tumor removal - very isolated in a node - one month ago and has been...

January 13, 2015Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Heb 2:5-12 It was not to angels that God subjected the world to come,of which we are speaking.Instead, someone has testified somewhere: What is man that you are mindful of him,or the son of man that you care for him?You made him for a little while lower than the angels;you crowned him with glory and honor,subjecting all things under his feet. In “subjecting” all things to him,he left nothing not “subject to him.”Yet at present we do not see “all things subject to him,” but we...

Psalm 116:5 Gracious is the LORD, and Righteous; Yea, our God is Merciful.

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Character Studies From The Bible Jacob New International Version (NIV) 22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the...

January 12, 2015Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Heb 1:1-6 Brothers and sisters:In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he spoke to us through the Son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being,and who sustains all things by his mighty word.When he had accomplished purification from sins,he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,as far superior...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Character Studies From The Bible Jacob New International Version (NIV) 32 Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim. 3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 He instructed them: “This is what you are to say to my lord Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. 5 I have cattle...

January 11, 2015The Baptism of the Lord    Reading 1 Is 42:1-4, 6-7 Thus says the LORD:Here is my servant whom I uphold,my chosen one with whom I am pleased,upon whom I have put my spirit;he shall bring forth justice to the nations,not crying out, not shouting,not making his voice heard in the street.a bruised reed he shall not break,and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,until he establishes justice on the earth;the coastlands will wait for his teaching. I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,I have grasped you by the hand;I formed you, and...