Psvalue Wk14 (The Contemplative Life/Matters of the Heart)
Lent week 4: Jesus is Tempted ‘Short Cuts’
Dialogue
How are our Lenten practices going? Encourage one another. Share stories of how God is meeting is in our simplicity ot abstinence. Encourage those who are struggling with commitments to press on.
Reading of Scriptures from Psalm 119
(have various people read out there encouragements to love God’s word. * indicates a change in reader)
*1 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.
* 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 12 Praise be to you, LORD; teach me your decrees.
*24 Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors. 30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.
31 I hold fast to your statutes, LORD; do not let me be put to shame.
32 I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free. 40 How I long for your precepts! In your righteousness preserve my life.
*47 for I delight in your commands because I love them. 48 I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.
*54 Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge. 55 In the night, LORD, I remember your name, that I may keep your law.
56 This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.
*81 My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. 89 Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.
*103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
*159 See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, LORD, in accordance with your love.
Lenten Prayer
Lord open our eyes
And we shall behold Your glory.
Lord open our ears
And we shall hear Your call.
Lord open our hearts
And we shall know Your love.
Lord open our hands
And we shall show Your generosity.
Lord open our lives
And we shall reveal Your glory.
Scripture Reading
John 16: 31-33
You Shine
Why should I fear man when You made the heavens
Why should I be afraid when You put the stars in place
Why should I loose heart when I know how great you are
Why should I give up when Your plans are full of love
In this world we will have trouble
But You have overcome the world
You shine brighter than the brightest star
Your love purer than the purest heart
You shine, filling us with courage and strength to follow You
In this world we will have trouble
But You have overcome the world (repeat line)
You shine brighter than the brightest star
Your love purer than the purest heart
You shine, filling us with courage and strength to follow You
Your Love oh Lord
Your Love oh Lord reaches to the heavens
Your faithfulness stretches to the sky
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains
Your justice flows like the oceans tide
I will lift my voice to worship You my King
I will find my strength
In the shadow of Your wings
Prayer
Use these verses from Psalm 36 to guide your prayer time. Read one verse and then have each person respond with a short response in prayer.
5 Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
Come thou Fount
Come thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Your grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it Mount of Your redeeming love
Up till now my Lord you've shown me boundless mercy endelss love
Born in Christ's unfailing favour blessed forgiveness by his blood
O to find the words to tell it underserved gift of grace
Make my life a quill and tablet consecrated to Your praise
O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be
Let Your goodness, like a fetter bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, O take and seal it seal it for Your courts above
A Confession
(take a moment to reflect upon this prayer before we speak it out together)
Holy and strong One
Forgive our weakness
Holy and wise One
Forgive our foolishness
Holy and loving One
Forgive our hardness
Holy and generous One
Forgive our selfishness
Holy and faithful One
Forgive our fickleness
Holy and gentle One
Forgive our toughness
Forgive us Holy One
Forgive