Tag: Celtic Devotions

Time-Out Tuesday

As we journey through these early days of 2023……

At Liberton Kirk we usually set aside a Tuesday each week and provide a place with space – the UPPER ROOM – a place for time-out in our busy days above the Kirkgate Cafe. This is a safe place for you to be.

The Upper Room will be open once again this Tuesday…..and you are invited to take time-out with God at some point…7.30am – 7.30pm….and to pause with Him….reflecting…praying….

This is a quiet place…..a safe place for you and God to take time-out together

* A space for you to be still in a busy world
** To pause and pray with God at this significant time – the God of all comfort, wisdom, mercy and hope
* To listen to God – Father Son and Holy Spirit – in these times

There are opportunities to pause and pray with others at 8am, 12 noon and 7pm….and John and others gathered then will be happy to see you at any of these times…..or you can arrange to pray with the Prayer Team at some point suitable for you….

You are invited to visit the Offering House – beside the gates – 8am-5pm – there are several helpful reflections and prayers – and helpful leaflets and booklets about our faith and our Kirk. There is also a Prayer Request Box situated here for you to leave your own personal requests – our Prayer Team will prayerfully support those you name.

The Daily Devotions have been taking us to a daily time of considering God’s Good News with God’s written Word – and you may want to pause to pray with others at the start of each day as we consider the truths behind the words of this part of the Bible. During January we begin to focus on Telling Others the Good News from Matthew’s Gospel. This is available on the Kirk website blog and our social media pages on Facebook and Twitter from 7am- and in the church magazine.

And – don’t forget the brief Sunday morning Reflection at 8am…….and you can still revisit Thy Kingdom Come global prayer venture daily reflections on our YouTube channel…..from our Prayer Ministry Team providing a reflection over the 11 days period

May we each and all experience time-out with the Living and True God – whenever – wherever – as we journey through this January 2023.

Daily Devotions for Monday 16th January, 2023

Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from God, the Holy Spirit

Reading : MATTHEW chapter 5 verse 8

Meditation : take time to consider these words as your day starts.
The pure in heart.
Let the Holy Spirit speak with you about your inner being.

Then Pause to Pray in response to the LORD our God
With honest humility.

Pray your own words at the start of this day
Of praise and thanksgiving
Of confession and trust
For others
For our nation
For our world

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Midday
Pray God’s blessing on John and Lindsay and their family.
God of grace and mercy and rich blessing, hear our prayers we ask.

Evening
Reading : read these words again from MATTHEW chapter 5 verse 8 – in another version?
Reflect prayerfully on what you read and then pray to our God in response

True and Faithful One, hear my evening prayer
Have mercy
Purify my heart
As I lay myself and this world before you at the end of today
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sunday Evening Prayer with Others

As we journey into a new week….. with God – together – you may want to revisit today’s Daily Devotions from MATTHEW chapter 5 verse 7– as we start to consider TELLING OTHERS THE GOOD NEWS about Jesus through 2023.

We PAUSE with the Lord in prayer as the day closes

We REJOICE in the help and blessings He has given this particular Sunday – to us and to others

We ASK for His presence, peace and strength – for ourselves and for others in our church family and our nation and in our world at this time

We YIELD – say Yes – to His Kingdom ways for tomorrow

Thy Kingdom Come – 2023

As a Church we have been a part of the global prayer venture Thy Kingdom Come – each year over the 11 days leading up to and including Pentecost. TKC announced this week……..

The team are so excited to be back and well under way with planning for Thy Kingdom Come 2023, with some new changes ahead!

Through prayer and discernment, as Thy Kingdom Come goes into its 8th year, we are introducing several significant changes, to bring new life and in response to the current context we live in.

The need across the world for the transforming power and mercy of God is more stark than ever. How can we partner with God, in prayer and mission, to see more people encounter the love of Christ this year?

Firstly, we have introduced new daily themes for our resources. These themes focus on the character of God –‘Our Father in Heaven’ – the One to whom we are petitioning and inviting people to know, to love and to serve.

Secondly, this year we’re introducing a new sub-theme ‘Living the Kingdom’. Whilst Thy Kingdom Come will always have its focus as a call to prayer for evangelisation we want to invite participants to go one step further.

Mission always comes from the place of prayer, so how can we in this time go the extra mile, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to love and serve those we are praying for or others who are in need? This is about living the Kingdom – individually and corporately- in our context.

Finally, returning to the early days of TKC, we are sensing a call for Christians to gather together (in-person where possible) and collaborate ecumenically locally, regionally and nationally- being a truly united witness to the world.

It is never too early to be praying for God’s Kingdom Rule to be evident in our lives, our Church, our city, our nation, our world……will you be a part of this…..now?

Daily Devotions for Sunday 15th January, 2023

Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from the Living God

Reading : MATTHEW chapter 5 verse 7

Meditation : take time and consider this verse this particular Sunday morning.
The merciful.
What does it mean for you today?
What is God teaching/reminding you about His Kingdom ways?
Is there someone you can encourage today?

And then pray in response – using the verse as you turn to prayer
Come to Him with open arms. Receive His mercy and grace.
Naming others known to you who are merciful in their living

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Midday
Pray the Lord’s Prayer as your own midday prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your kingdom come
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory.
Now and for ever
Amen

Evening
Reading : read these particular words again from MATTHEW chapter 5 verse 7
Reflect on the words and images and then Pray in response to this God

I say to the LORD, “You are my God.”
Hear my cry for help, LORD!
My Sovereign LORD, my strong defender,
you have protected me in battle.

O LORD, hear our evening prayers we ask
As we thank you for the blessings of this Sunday
As we believe and trust in you
As we name others seeking your mercy and grace
As we pilgrimage on into this new week
In Jesus’ name, Amen.