Scripture and Prayer on Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Pastor David reads Jeremiah 18:1-11 and offers a prayer from the Syrian Rite:

O God, the Father of our Savior Jesus Christ, whose name is great, whose nature is blissful, whose goodness is inexhaustible, God and Ruler of all things, who are blessed forever; before whom stand thousands and thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand, the hosts of angels and archangels:
Sanctify, O Lord, our souls and bodies and spirits, search our consciences, and cast out from us every evil thought, every base desire, all envy and pride, all wrath and anger, and all that is contrary to your holy will. And grant us, O Lord, Love of men and women, with a pure heart and contrite soul to call on thee, our holy God and Father who art in heaven.

Posted by Mt. Haley Church of God on Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Scripture and Prayer on Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Pastor David reads Jeremiah 17:19-27 and offers a reflection and prayer from Frederick Douglass:

Sunday was my only leisure time. I spent this under some large tree, in a sort of beast-like stupor between sleeping and walking. At times I would rise up and a flash of energetic freedom would dart through my soul, accompanied with a faint beam of hope that flickered for a moment, and then vanished. I sank down again, mourning over my wretched condition. I was sometimes tempted to take my life and that of Covey, but was prevented by a combination of hope and fear. My sufferings, as I remember them now, seem like a dream rather than like a stern reality.

Our house stood within a few rods of the Chesapeake Bay, whose broad bosom was ever white with sails from every quarter of the habitable globe. Those beautiful vessels, robed in white, and so delightful to the eyes of freemen, were to me so many shrouded ghosts, to terrify and torment me with thoughts of my wretched condition. I have often, in the deep stillness of a summer’s Sabbath, stood all alone upon the banks of that noble bay, and traced, with saddened heart and tearful eye, the countless number of sails moving off to the mighty ocean. The sight of these always affected me powerfully. My thoughts would compel utterance; and there, with no audience but the Almighty, I woudl pour out my soul’s complaint in my rude way with an apostrophe to the multitude of ships:

“You are loosed from your moorings, and free. I am fast in my chains, and am a slave! You move merrily before the gentle gale, and I sadly before the bloody whip. You are freedom’s swift-winged angels, that fly around the world; I am confined in bonds of iron. O, that I were free! O, that I were one of your gallant decks, and under your protecting wing. Alas! betwixt me and you the turbid waters roll. Go on, go on; O, that I could also go! Could I but swim! If I could fly! O, why was I born a man, of whom to make a brute! The glad ship is gone: she hides in the dim distance. I am left in the hell of unending slavery. O, God, save me! God, deliver me! Let me be free! – Is there any God? Why am I a slave? I will run away. I will not stand it. Get caught or get clear, I’ll try it. I had as well die with ague as with fever. I have only one life to lose. I had as well be killed running as die standing. Only think of it: one hundred miles north, and I am free! Try it? Yes! God helping me, I will. It cannot be that I shall live and die a slave. I will take to the water. This very bay shall yet bear me into freedom.”

Posted by Mt. Haley Church of God on Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Scripture and Prayer on Friday, March 12, 2021

Pastor David reads Jeremiah 11:1-8, 14-20 and 13:1-11, and offers a prayer from St. Augustine:

O Lord our God, good and merciful, I acknowledge all my sins which I have committed every day of my life, in thought, word and deed; in body and soul alike. I am heartily sorry that I have ever offended you, and I sincerely repent; with tears I humbly pray to you, O Lord: of your mercy forgive me all my past transgressions and absolve me from them. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to amend my way of life and to sin no more; that I may walk in the way of the righteous and offer praise and glory to the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Posted by Mt. Haley Church of God on Friday, March 12, 2021

Scripture and Prayer on Thursday, March 11, 2021

Pastor David reads Jeremiah 10:11-24 and offers a prayer from Philipp Melanchthon:

We give you thanks, omnipotent, ever-living God of truth, eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Creator of heaven and earth, of people, and of all creatures, Sustainer of all things, Giver of all life, order, and wisdom, unfailing Source of help; and to your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, your Word and eternal Image; and to your Holy Spirit, with whom you endowed the apostles at Pentecost. We give thanks to you, O God of holiness, and truth, wisdom and goodness, justice and mercy, purity and loving kindness, for with goodness and wisdom unmatched you revealed yourself to us, sending your Son into the world, destined to assume human nature and to become a sacrifice for us.
We give thanks to you, O God, for gathering your eternal church, for guarding the ministry of your Word, for granting your Holy Spirit, and for giving everlasting life. We thank you, O God, because you gave us all good things, because you alleviated and removed the chastisement we justly deserve, because you bestowed on us all the blessings of soul and body. To you be all glory, honor, praise, and thanksgiving, forever and ever.

Posted by Mt. Haley Church of God on Thursday, March 11, 2021

Scripture and Prayer on Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Pastor David reads Jeremiah 7:21-34 and offers a prayer from David Livingstone:

O Lord, I am yours. Do what seems good in your sight, and give me complete resignation to your will.

Posted by Mt. Haley Church of God on Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Scripture and Prayer on Thursday, March 4, 2021

Pastor David reads Jeremiah 4:9-10, 19-28 and offers a prayer from William Bridge:

Ah Lord, my prayers are dead, my affections dead, and my heart is dead: but you are a living God and I commit myself to you.

Posted by Mt. Haley Church of God on Thursday, March 4, 2021

Scripture and Prayer on Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Pastor David reads Jeremiah 3:6-18 and offers a prayer from the 16th century:

Lord, for your tender mercies’ sake, lay not our sins to our charge, but forgive what is past and give us grace to amend our lives; to decline from sin and incline to virtue, that we may walk with a perfect heart before you, now and evermore.

Posted by Mt. Haley Church of God on Wednesday, March 3, 2021