A WORTHY PRAYER

Almighty GOD, the fountain of all wisdom, Thou knowest our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which-- for our unworthiness we dare not and for our blindness we cannot-- ask; through the worthiness of Thy Son JESUS CHRIST our LORD, Who+ lives and reigns with Thee and the HOLY SPIRIT, one GOD, now and forever. Amen.

This worthy prayer was found amongst the prayers in the Book of Common Prayer, Proper 11, Collect for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost.

DENYING GOD... When do we do this?

William Law... that single-minded Christian who exhorts us to walk in the ways of holiness for HIS+ name's sake... was quoted in a Continuing Anglican church newsletter recently. Brother Law said:

Whenever a man allows himself to have anxieties, fears, or complaints, he must consider his behaviour as either:

1. a denial of the wisdom of GOD,

or as

2. a confession that he is

out of HIS+ Will.

To be always in a thankful state of heart before GOD is NOT to be considered a HIGH PLANE of spirituality

but rather...

the normal attitude of one who believes that

"All things work together for good to them that love GOD, who are called according to HIS+ purpose."

Perhaps this holds true regarding all grumbling and complaining, also ?

SELF on the THRONE of your HEART

Here is real Christian art you won't find in an art gallery.

It is from a Brother who, early in his walk, discovered something: the worst enemy that the Christian must fight is... himself.

Self is what gets us into messes. Self is what keeps us from the humility required to walk with CHRIST. Self lauds the fleshly accomplishments which ... in reality... only hinder and distract us from walking with Our LORD. Self keeps us from closeness with HIM+ Who+ desires closeness with us more than all the good activities we fill our days doing. Self sets up our own "do good" program for CHRIST... instead of waiting before HIM+, staying with HIM+, listening to HIM+.

When Self is on the throne of our heart, we are sowing to the flesh instead of the Spirit. Let us not be in the Self-willed bundle, ready to be burned (John 15), who says, "LORD, LORD, didn't we prophesy in thy name... cast out devils... do many wonderful works in thy name?" HIS+ response (Matthew 7) is frightening and it gives a clue as to who will be wailing and gnashing their teeth in the judgment.

...A Self-Portrait, Indeed...

Myself, I would like to put this on as a self-portrait in my profile column... except I cannot figure out how to add a photo to it ! [ If anyone knows how to do this, please advise me in the comments.]

When I first saw his drawing, I literally GASPED! I thought he had drawn my very own face in this picture. Oddly enough, when he showed this picture to someone else, he (not she !) said he thought it looked just like himself .

Is it possible that the spirit of SELF make us all look alike?

[Now that's a frightening thing to ponder. ]

The OGS Ante-Nicene CREED.... a statement of the basic beliefs of the Early Christians, compiled from the earliest Christian Creeds

The Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+

An Ante-Nicene Creed

It was the custom of the Early Christians to rehearse a short, concise statement of the basic tenets of the Christian faith during worship services and especially, during a baptism. This was to teach the untaught and to re-affirm to the consecrated follower of The LORD JESUS CHRIST the basics of Christianity. There are several very early ones, as each church district compiled their own. They were mildly diverse, yet each agreed with and complemented the others, before the Nicene Council, around 325 A.D. After the Council of Nicea, splits and divisions and issues of control entered into the once-unified Christian church. Our Order compiled this Creed from Christian Creeds written before the first Council of Nicea, 325 A.D. Much of it will sound familiar to you. We include this Creed in our Evening Prayer.

I believe in

One GOD The FATHER ALMIGHTY,

Maker of the Heavens and the earth and of all things

visible and invisible;

And in one LORD JESUS CHRIST,

the Only-begotten SON of GOD,

begotten of His+ FATHER before all worlds.

GOD of GOD, LIGHT of LIGHT, Very GOD of Very GOD,

begotten, not made,

being of One Substance with The FATHER,

by WHOM+ all things were made.

WHO+, for us men and for our salvation,

came down from Heaven

through the Spirit and Power of GOD The FATHER,

descended into the Hebrew virgin, Mariam,

and was made man

and dwelt among us, full of Grace and Truth.

And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

HE+ suffered and was buried

and descended into the heart of the earth;

And the third day HE+ rose again, according to Scriptures,

and ascended into Heaven

and sitteth at the Right Hand of GOD The FATHER ALMIGHTY.

And HE+ shall come again, with glory,

to judge both the living and the dead;

Whose Kingdom shall have no end.

And, I believe in

the HOLY SPIRIT, The Paraclete, The Sanctifier,

sent by CHRIST from The FATHER,

WHO, with The FATHER and The SON together is worshipped and glorified;

WHO spake through the prophets.

And, I believe in

One Holy and Apostolic Church,

out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation.

I acknowledge One baptism for the forgiveness of sins;

And, I look for

the resurrection of the dead,

and the Life of the world to come

through JESUS CHRIST Our LORD.

Amen.

Proclaim the Greatness of The LORD our GOD !

Proclaim the Greatness of The LORD our GOD;
HE+ is the Holy ONE+

Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers:
* praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou for the name of Thy Majesty:
* praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy Holiness:
* praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou that beholdest the depths, and dwellest between the Cherubim:………………………...
* praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou on the glorious throne of Thy Kingdom:
* praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou in the firmament of the Heavens:
* praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
* praised and exalted above all for ever.


This is a morning laud for the prayerbook. This can be recited, chanted, or said as an antiphonal (responsive) reading, if you have others with you. May the name of The LORD be praised, magnified, glorified and lifted up forever ! Amen.