“O LORD and Maker of all things, whose creative power made the first ray of light, and who looked on the world’s first morning and saw that it was good, I praise you for this light that now streams through my windows to waken me to the life of another day.
Read MoreAnother beautiful and rich evening prayer of John Baillie’s to close out this week, which I’m sure will bless you very much! “O ETERNAL Being, you live in everlasting light; now as the world’s light fades, I seek the brightness of your presence.
Read More“Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords. 6 Let my soul come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to their company. For in their anger they killed men, and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.” (Gen. 49:5-7)
Read MoreJacob begins his prayers for his sons with Reuben, his firstborn son. In the first part of his prayer, Jacob describes Reuben. He doesn’t do this in all of his prayers for his sons. Sometimes, he just pronounces his benediction/prophecy. But in many cases, he gives a brief description of the son he is praying for. This description provides the basis for what benediction/prophecy he gives.
Read More"Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob, listen to Israel your father. 3 "Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. 4 Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father's bed; then you defiled it—he went up to my couch! (Gen. 49:2-4)
Read More“O GOD, you have proved your love for all people by sending us Jesus Christ our Lord, and you have illuminated our human life with the radiance of his presence. Thank you for this, your greatest gift.
Read MoreAnother evening prayer from John Baillie as we finish this week: “Almighty God, in this hour of quiet I seek communion with you. I want to turn away from the worry and fever of today’s work, from the world’s jarring noises, from the praise and blame of other people, from the confused thoughts and fantasies of my own heart, and instead seek the quietness of your presence. All day long I have been working and striving, but now in stillness of heart and in the clear light of your eternity, I want to think about the pattern my life has been weaving.
Read MoreAnd he blessed Joseph and said, "The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, 16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." (Gen. 48:15-16).
Read MoreAnd he blessed Joseph and said, "The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, 16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." (Gen. 48:15-16).
Read More15 And he blessed Joseph and said, "The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, 16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." (Gen. 48:15-16).
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