I really like the psalms. When we read them, and especially when we worship with them, we are connecting with people who have done the same since well before the time of Jesus. In fact, Jesus himself, would’ve used the psalms as a part of his worship experience in the synagogues. I have many favourites amongst the psalms, they’ll vary according to how I’m feeling at the time. But one that is always close to the top of the list, is Psalm 139. Here are the first six verses:

O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
   you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
   and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
   O Lord, you know it completely.
You hem me in, behind and before,
   and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
   it is so high that I cannot attain it.

In some ways it can be quite a disconcerting thought, to think that God knows each of us so intimately. We can’t lie to God; he already knows the truth. He does, in fact, know us far better than we will ever know ourselves. He knows all about our daily lives, when we sit, and when we rise. He knows all our ways, our mannerisms and character traits, our motives and goals. He even knows what we’re going to say and think, even before we do. That can be a disconcerting thought indeed.

But it can be a comforting thought too. We don’t have to put on airs and graces or pretend with God; he already knows us. We don’t have to try and be the person we think others want us to be; he already knows who we really are. It’s the real person deep down inside that God wants, and calls into his service.

Despite him knowing us so intimately, knowing all the bad things in our lives and character as well as the good, already knowing the things about us that we’re ashamed of, as well as those we’re proud of, he still loves us. God loves the real us, the real me — warts and all!

It’s because of that love that we can rely on him in strength, and rest on him in weakness.

Almighty God,
you search us and know us:
may we rely on you in strength
and rest on you in weakness,
now and in all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Additional Collect for The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

The longest of the psalms, Psalm 119, is a hymn of praise to the value of the Scriptures. We read in verse 127 the words, “Truly I love your commandments more than gold, more than fine gold.” The Holy Bible is worth its weight in gold. That’s because those who have studied it and try to live by it find it the most precious thing in life.

The Last Sunday after Trinity, today, is celebrated in some Churches as Bible Sunday, when we thank God for the gift of the holy Scriptures.

The Holy Bible is worth its weight in gold. That’s because the Bible contains the very word of God. God himself inspired the writers, and when you read the Bible, the Creator of the universe is speaking directly to you.

The Bible advises us how to live, how to pray, and how to inherit eternal life. Through the words of the Bible we learn how to know the love of our heavenly Father, have Jesus as our friend and brother, and receive the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us how to live life triumphantly and joyfully, following the example of Jesus, resisting temptation and walking in the way that God has planned for us.

The teaching of Jesus shows us the importance of love in our treatment of others, and the danger of surrounding ourselves with a hard, unforgiving attitude, cutting ourselves off from our neighbours and from God.

The Bible’s teaching on prayer, and the examples of prayer in the Psalms and the Gospels, builds a habit of daily intimate communication with our loving heavenly Father. Reading the Bible each day helps us to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, so that the love of God may fill us and work through us to spread God’s caring compassion to our neighbour.

There’s an old saying that before using any gadget, you should always read the maker’s instructions. God is the maker of our body and sould, our life and the world we inhabit. To know how to use those things effectively, we should unfailingly read the Maker’s instructions. Truly we should love God’s commandments more than gold, more than fine gold.

Merciful God,
teach us to be faithful in change and uncertainty,
that trusting in your word
and obeying your will
we may enter the unfailing joy of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Additional Collect for The Last Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

I really like the psalms. When we read them, and especially when we worship with them, we are connecting with people who have done the same since well before the time of Jesus. In fact, Jesus himself, would’ve used the psalms as a part of his worship experience in the synagogues. I have many favourites amongst the psalms, they’ll vary according to how I’m feeling at the time. But one that is always close to the top of the list, is Psalm 139. Here are the first six verses:

O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
   you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
   and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
   O Lord, you know it completely.
You hem me in, behind and before,
   and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
   it is so high that I cannot attain it.

In some ways it can be quite a disconcerting thought, to think that God knows each of us so intimately. We can’t lie to God; he already knows the truth. He does, in fact, know us far better than we will ever know ourselves. He knows all about our daily lives, when we sit, and when we rise. He knows all our ways, our mannerisms and character traits, our motives and goals. He even knows what we’re going to say and think, even before we do. That can be a disconcerting thought indeed.

But it can be a comforting thought too. We don’t have to put on airs and graces or pretend with God; he already knows us. We don’t have to try and be the person we think others want us to be; he already knows who we really are. It’s the real person deep down inside that God wants, and calls into his service.

Despite him knowing us so intimately, knowing all the bad things in our lives and character as well as the good, already knowing the things about us that we’re ashamed of, as well as those we’re proud of, he still loves us. God loves the real us, the real me — warts and all!

It’s because of that love that we can rely on him in strength, and rest on him in weakness.

Almighty God,
you search us and know us:
may we rely on you in strength
and rest on you in weakness,
now and in all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Additional Collect for The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

Trusting in your word

The longest of the psalms, Psalm 119, is a hymn of praise to the value of the Scriptures. We read in verse 127 the words, “Truly I love your commandments more than gold, more than fine gold.” The Holy Bible is worth its weight in gold. That’s because those who have studied it and try to live by it find it the most precious thing in life.

The Last Sunday after Trinity, today, is celebrated in some Churches as Bible Sunday, when we thank God for the gift of the holy Scriptures.

The Holy Bible is worth its weight in gold. That’s because the Bible contains the very word of God. God himself inspired the writers, and when you read the Bible, the Creator of the universe is speaking directly to you.

The Bible advises us how to live, how to pray, and how to inherit eternal life. Through the words of the Bible we learn how to know the love of our heavenly Father, have Jesus as our friend and brother, and receive the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us how to live life triumphantly and joyfully, following the example of Jesus, resisting temptation and walking in the way that God has planned for us.

The teaching of Jesus shows us the importance of love in our treatment of others, and the danger of surrounding ourselves with a hard, unforgiving attitude, cutting ourselves off from our neighbours and from God.

The Bible’s teaching on prayer, and the examples of prayer in the Psalms and the Gospels, builds a habit of daily intimate communication with our loving heavenly Father. Reading the Bible each day helps us to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, so that the love of God may fill us and work through us to spread God’s caring compassion to our neighbour.

There’s an old saying that before using any gadget, you should always read the maker’s instructions. God is the maker of our body and sould, our life and the world we inhabit. To know how to use those things effectively, we should unfailingly read the Maker’s instructions. Truly we should love God’s commandments more than gold, more than fine gold.

Merciful God,
teach us to be faithful in change and uncertainty,
that trusting in your word
and obeying your will
we may enter the unfailing joy of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Additional Collect for The Last Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

You search us and know us

I really like the psalms. When we read them, and especially when we worship with them, we are connecting with people who have done the same since well before the time of Jesus. In fact, Jesus himself, would’ve used the psalms as a part of his worship experience in the synagogues. I have many favourites amongst the psalms, they’ll vary according to how I’m feeling at the time. But one that is always close to the top of the list, is Psalm 139. Here are the first six verses:

O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
   you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
   and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
   O Lord, you know it completely.
You hem me in, behind and before,
   and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
   it is so high that I cannot attain it.

In some ways it can be quite a disconcerting thought, to think that God knows each of us so intimately. We can’t lie to God; he already knows the truth. He does, in fact, know us far better than we will ever know ourselves. He knows all about our daily lives, when we sit, and when we rise. He knows all our ways, our mannerisms and character traits, our motives and goals. He even knows what we’re going to say and think, even before we do. That can be a disconcerting thought indeed.

But it can be a comforting thought too. We don’t have to put on airs and graces or pretend with God; he already knows us. We don’t have to try and be the person we think others want us to be; he already knows who we really are. It’s the real person deep down inside that God wants, and calls into his service.

Despite him knowing us so intimately, knowing all the bad things in our lives and character as well as the good, already knowing the things about us that we’re ashamed of, as well as those we’re proud of, he still loves us. God loves the real us, the real me — warts and all!

It’s because of that love that we can rely on him in strength, and rest on him in weakness.

Almighty God,
you search us and know us:
may we rely on you in strength
and rest on you in weakness,
now and in all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Additional Collect for The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

Ryan Ferguson recites Psalm 22

Ryan Ferguson doing what Ryan Ferguson does best — bringing the text of the Bible to life in his dramatic recitation of Psalm 22 from the ESV. This video was recorded at the WorshipGod08 Conference in the summer of 2008.

Psalm 22 is the psalm set for today, Good Friday, in the Common Worship lectionary. It starts with the words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me”, the words Jesus says just before dying on the cross.