OzThoughts - Sunday Hymns and Psalms. Sunday 4th October 2009

OzThoughts - Sunday Hymns and Psalms. Sunday 4th October 2009

This day belongs to the LORD!
Let's celebrate
and be glad today.
(Psalm 118:24 Contemporary English Version)

So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into "the Holy Place." Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The "curtain" into God's presence is his body.
So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:19-25. The Message)


How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is!
He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him.
Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.
Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. (Ephesians 1:3-6 The Message)

Psalm 26 (The Message)
Psalm 26
A David Psalm
1 Clear my name, GOD; I've kept an honest shop.
I've thrown in my lot with you, GOD, and
I'm not budging.

2 Examine me, GOD, from head to foot,
order your battery of tests.
Make sure I'm fit
inside and out

3 So I never lose
sight of your love,
But keep in step with you,
never missing a beat.

4-5 I don't hang out with tricksters,
I don't pal around with thugs;
I hate that pack of gangsters,
I don't deal with double-dealers.

6-7 I scrub my hands with purest soap,
then join hands with the others in the great circle,
dancing around your altar, GOD,
Singing God-songs at the top of my lungs,
telling God-stories.

8-10 GOD, I love living with you;
your house glows with your glory.
When it's time for spring cleaning,
don't sweep me out with the quacks and crooks,
Men with bags of dirty tricks,
women with purses stuffed with bribe-money.

11-12 You know I've been aboveboard with you;
now be aboveboard with me.
I'm on the level with you, GOD;
I bless you every chance I get.

The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 53
Authors: Henry Williams Baker (1821-77)

[Listen: Piano: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1815.mp3
or
The Southern Singers: http://www.regalzonophone.com/audio/SAC5044%20-%2008%20-%20The%20King%20of%20Love%20My%20Shepherd%20Is.mp3

The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his
And he is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul he leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow
With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love he sought me,
And on his shoulder gently laid
And home rejoicing brought me.

In death's dark vale I fear no ill
With thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
Within thy house forever.

Prayer:

We pray for those who in this past week have been touched by the tragedy of earthquake, tsunami, hurricane, flood and fire. We pray for those who have lost loved ones and every possession they owned. We pray, too, for those who have the responsibility of ministering to the victims and their families. May the love of Jesus be seen clearly in the actions of your servants in the face of sorrow and loss. Amen.
Psalm 101 (The Message)
1-8My theme song is God's love and justice,
and I'm singing it right to you, GOD.
I'm finding my way down the road of right living,
but how long before you show up?
I'm doing the very best I can,
and I'm doing it at home, where it counts.
I refuse to take a second look
at corrupting people and degrading things.
I reject made-in-Canaan gods,
stay clear of contamination.
The crooked in heart keep their distance;
I refuse to shake hands with those who plan evil.
I put a gag on the gossip
who bad-mouths his neighbor;
I can't stand
arrogance.
But I have my eye on salt-of-the-earth people—
they're the ones I want working with me;
Men and women on the straight and narrow—
these are the ones I want at my side.
But no one who traffics in lies
gets a job with me; I have no patience with liars.
I've rounded up all the wicked like cattle
and herded them right out of the country.
I purged GOD's city
of all who make a business of evil.

The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 19
Authors: Joachim Neander (1650-80),
Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1827-78) and others

[Listen: Band: http://www.regalzonophone.com/audio/BAB3513%20-%2009%20-%20Praise%20to%20the%20Lord,%20The%20Almighty.mp3
or
Songsters: http://www.regalzonophone.com/audio/SMB115%20-%2001%20-%20Praise%20to%20the%20Lord,%20The%20Almighty.mp3 ]


Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation;
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation;
All ye who hear,
Brothers and sisters draw near,
Praise him in glad adoration.

2.
Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee;
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
He who with love doth befriend thee.

3.
Praise to the Lord, who, when tempests their warfare are waging,
Who, when the elements madly around thee are raging,
Biddeth them cease,
Turneth their fury to peace,
Whirlwinds and waters assuaging.

4.
Praise to the Lord, who, when darkness of sin is abounding,
Who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,
Sheddeth his light,
Chaseth the horrors of night,
Saints with his mercy surrounding.

5.
Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before him!
Let the amen
Sound from his people again;
Gladly for aye we adore him.


Prayer:

Gracious God and Father, we give you thanks
for the cross of Christ at the heart of creation,
the presence of Christ in our weakness and strength,
the power of Christ to transform our suffering . . .
for all ministries of healing,
all agencies of relief,
all that sets men free from pain, fear and distress . . .
for the assurance that your mercy knows no limit,
and for the privilege of sharing
your work of renewal through prayer. Amen.

Holy God, through your beloved Son you reconciled all things to yourself, making peace by the blood of his cross, fill us and those for whom we pray with your peace and love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(http://www.belfastcathedral.org/resources/prayer-source/item/35 )

Meditation: Box Hill Songsters: Spirit Divine:
http://www.regalzonophone.com/audio/SMB115%20-%2007%20-%20Spirit%20Divine.mp3


[If you have enjoyed this OzThoughts Sunday Hymns and Psalms – please pass it to others who may enjoy it. It is prepared particularly for those who cannot get to Sunday Worship as they loved to do.]

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