Prayer & Praise
Collect
Almighty God, you gave your only Son to be for us both a sacrifice for sin and an example of godly living: Give us grace thankfully to receive his inestimable benefits, and daily to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Acts 4:5-14
On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.  And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men[c] by which we must be saved.”
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.
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 Psalm 98 or 98:1-5
O sing unto the Lord a new song, * for he has done marvelous things.
 With his own right hand and with his holy arm, * he has won for himself the victory.
The Lord declared his salvation; * his righteousness has he openly shown in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel, * and all the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God.
Show yourselves joyful in the Lord, all you lands; * sing, rejoice, and give thanks.
Praise the Lord with the harp; * sing with the harp a psalm of thanksgiving.
With trumpets also and horns, * O show yourselves joyful before the Lord the King.
Let the sea make a noise, and all that is in it, * the round world, and those who dwell therein.
Let the rivers clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, * for he has come to judge the earth.
With righteousness shall he judge the world * and the peoples with equity.
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1 John 1:1-2:2
 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—  the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our[a] joy may be complete.
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
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Luke 24:36-49
As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”  But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.  And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?  See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”  And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.  And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”  They gave him a piece of broiled fish and he took it and ate before them.
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,  and that repentance for[b] the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.  And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
I could use your prayers.
I’m having a procedure done this week because I’ve been having swallowing and coughing issues. I’m kinda nervous.
Pray that I’ll trust in God through it all and knowing if I don’t He isn’t giving up on me.
Thank you.
bob1, praying for you.
Praying here, too, bob – just had 4 surgeries on my nose removing benign tumors and rebuilding my nose – didn’t turn out too bad. 🙆
God keeo
Thanks, CK and Em!
There’s something comforting in knowing that you’re not the only one having to go through something unknown. I think it’s the “not knowing” that I don’t handle very well.
please remember in prayer…
bob1 – I’m having a procedure done this week because I’ve been having swallowing and coughing issues. I’m kinda nervous.
Michael – Tom Stipe has gone home to the Lord. Pray for his family and friends. We will all miss him.
Em – my daughter on City Council – the hassling continues… She supports the maintenance of their police dept. not a popular stance in much of the Puget Sound area these days, but i confess that i don’t see the benefit in eliminating law enforcement.
Linnea – every joint in my body in pain. It continued to get worse and initial blood tests show I may have an autoimmune disorder. I can’t get in to see a rheumatologist until the end of March and the pain has almost rendered me non-functional. Will you pray God relieves the pain? I can’t get in to see a rheumatologist until the end of the March. Please pray for my husband, too, as he’s taken over all my work.
Captain Kevin –Had a colonoscopy. Dr. found and removed 9 polyps. Follow-up with dr this coming Thursday to find out the pathology… job related difficulties, housing situation, pain everywhere, depression, I’ve lost 26 lbs in the last 5 months, and not because I’m trying. I had been wanting to lose weight, but not this way. Honestly, I’m afraid.
Michael – My heart is acting up
Everstudy – Update on my request…The daughter has been located, but told the police that she is not a missing person and does not want to be looked for. Because she is 18, the missing person case is closed. Understandably, the family is heartbroken, so prayers for all appreciated
sarahmorgan – recovering from surgery ,,,,awaiting test results…
Em – So me, big decisions loom calling for wisdom beyond my ken – if you think of it prayer for God’s guidance would be gratefully accepted
Bob Sweat – a church in Iowa has contacted me about a pastoral position. They have watched me teach via a Zoom session where I told them that the basis for me to accept a call to pastor them would not only be based on God’s direction but also the opportunity for my wife and me to meet the people. Their committee met and have unanimously agreed to fly us to Iowa. I am feeling both blessed and scared. I am posting this on PP because many of you have faithfully prayed and encouraged me over the years. Please pray that my passion to serve the Lord in this capacity would not cloud my judgement.
Em – Need prayer cover up here in the mountains – my daughter (nurse) went out to go to work and noticed what looked like oil on the ground. Someone had drained all the oil out of her car AND her truck She going to work in my car which just had a new engine installed – hoping they didn’t empty it also. We’ve got people moving up here now that aren’t good folk, to put it mildly… and we do need prayer for protection now
Duane Arnold – my mother is in assisted living.
Martin Luther’s Disciple – my 96 yr old mother in law is in a similar situation in SoCal.
Jlo – my niece’s husband Aaron is having a tougher time of it. Has a persistent cough and fever. He has new meds today so hopefully he has a breakthrough.
Em – Victoria, homeless with a cat, shelters won’t allow the cat in and the cat is all she has.
Erunner – Our brother in law who is in his early 50’s has learned that his carotid artery is 70% blocked. It appears he will be undergoing surgery. They have also found an issue with his heart. He’s a believer with a gentle and wise spirit.
Please pray for him, his wife, and their three grown children.
Raina R. – my sister-in-law. having horrible headaches and recovering from surgery
jtk – for our outreach to the university.many have considered suicide. This is so urgent in my heart and spirit.
Kelly -I have a real need to continue to see my counselor. In addition to the other reasons I see him for I have been having day long panic attacks, on top of the depression and PTSD-C symptoms.
Alissa -My sweet husband has Autism and was let go from his job.
Patrik -Pray for me, an ER nurse in Indianapolis.
Dan form Georgia – I work in aviation/transportation. We are getting hit HARD as many of you know. I am not even confident when I go into work everyday that it will be my last day (layoff or termination). Also struggling a lot with anxiety.
Chris -My wife started her second career as a nurse on the hospital floor that they treat the Covid patients.
Nancy – discernment of an unexpected opportunity to become a more public advocate for the homeless,
Em – daughter is healing from fracture spine
Linnea – for Greg, treated for an aggressive brain cancer and thought he was clear, but it has roared back. healing and that he and his wife come to know the Lord.
Paige – a family issue and the silencing of a lying gossip who is spreading slander about me to family members and others. It’s an on going issue that is quite perplexing, and apparently demonic. Twisted, delusional and strange.
cash – depression , PTSD
David H – Bell’s Palsy . Right side of my face is paralyzed. Prednisone and an antiviral.
Michael – heart aneurysm and a bad valve, bad back and neck issues.
JD – Marshal whose mother told him that she doesn’t love him
Linnea – Jon and Sarah. Please pray that they would know God’s love and would follow Him out of horrible lifestyles to freedom.
Michael, Rick, Joel, Dan, capt. Kevin, Owen – wand to hear from God in their prayer life
JTK – ongoing back issue.
David H – Aunt Ramona has Adenocarcinoma primary lung cancer.
Victor – chronic back pain
Linnea – sister salvation
Paige – 4 boys to be pleasing to God
I praise God, and I thank everyone here who kept me in prayer regarding my big surgery that was twice-delayed by covid numbers….I’ve finally completed the two-month recovery period, and I feel like I’m 95% back to normal, even though they took out a big piece of something I’ve always considered vital. I’ve also received definitive word that nothing was cancerous, and for that I’m very grateful. Continuing to pray for those here who are also looking at major medical events in the near future, that the Holy Spirit will walk each person through them with comfort, assurance, and encouragement.
Sarah, that’s wonderful news!! Thank You, Lord!!!
I’d like to thank this community for their prayers.
The thing I was concerned about, turns out after the surgeon examined the results of my endoscopy, there’s no cause for concern. I don’t do well with these procedures but I’m really glad my doctor encouraged me to get it done. So I’m thanking the Lord for His mercy.
And for you all.
bob1,
Blessed to hear it…