Devotion
Sing for as long as I live
David Jacobs
I have been fortunate to share my music ministry with many congregations since I was young. There is no activity that I have ever done where I received more praise than singing as a child soloist in my church. Decades later, I can still remember the eager looks in the pews of my church, staring up at me in anticipation of this music. The amount of joy that I brought to people's lives simply by singly a cute song in front of the church unabashedly was humbling, so humbling that I still remember that 'rock star' feeling that I got as a child to this day.
Prayer
Nobody sang the praises of God more loudly and more often than King David. He seemed to sing the praises of God with nearly every breath that he took, and much of the Old Testament is evidence of that. How many chances have we had to lift up our voices and sing in joyous worship of the Lord? The answer is at any time. Our entire life can be lived as a song of worship or a prayer of devotion to our God. Why do we not sing God's praises with every chance that we have? The sinners will live a life of temptation, ours will be a life of rejoicing. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Devotion
Culpability
Frances Taylor
This is an interesting passage because, among other things, it talks about sin and who is considered guilty of sin. Paul is talking about how he has been forgiven, how God has been merciful to him because his actions were committed in unbelief. In order for sin to be committed, one needs to know he is committing it. No one can commit sin in retrospect. Sin is always a deliberate act. This can be hard for some to understand. Actions can be considered sinful, even though the person committing them may not be culpable. For example, lying is a sin. However, is the two year old hiding behind the curtains sinning when he or she claims not to have broken the vase? No, because the child has no understanding of the difference between truth and lie. Those who do not have a relationship with God, who do not know the commandments, who have never heard of Jesus, may commit sinful actions, but are not guilty of sin. This is what Paul claims is his situation. Paul ...
Morning Prayer
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, ) full of grace and truth.
Inspiration
When the Lord sent his only Son, he sent also his word. For his body was this very word made flesh. Importantly this was not simply a manifestation of God's word, but also rather an 'animation' of it (meant here in the original Latin as 'animare' –'to instill with life or spirit'), an instance of God's love and divine grace in action, among us.
Prayer
Lord, I am grateful for your mercy in showing us your word made flesh so that we may be redeemed. Further, I am grateful to you for showing us your love and grace through your only begotten son. Let his body not have been torn and broken for no avail, but feed us now in the Eucharist. Let not his blood have...
