Morning Prayer
O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
Inspiration
There are many ways one may think of prayer and worship, and one should feel encouraged in revamping them a little if it means one may serve better ones daily practices or routines. Singing God's praises isn't just for in Church time, it is wherever, whenever. It can be your own song or one you've committed to heart, it doesn't particularly matter; God doesn't think of it as a singing competition. What is important is ones intent, ones heart, ones willingness to rejoice! If singing is really not your thing, the definition could be widened; write a poem of praise or do a dance, whatever it is, it's the joy in celebrating our Lord that counts.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I wish to sing your praises, to rejoice in the name of the Lord and his only begotten Son. For you are the object of our affection, the source of all our light, and the giver of truth. Heavenly Father I pray that you may hear my psalms reverberate up in the highest reaches of heaven, for I love to rejoice with you Lord, as I love you. 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...
