Daily Devotions for JULY 2023

“You are witnesses of these things.
And I myself will send upon you what my Father has promised.
But you must wait in the city until the power from above comes down upon you.”

Luke 24 verses 48 and 49

During 2022 we were looking daily at the theme of GOOD NEWS as we journeyed with Paul through his letter to the ROMANS.
In 2023, we are looking at TELLING OTHERS THE GOOD NEWS with Matthew, Mark, Luke and John…..and pausing at our times of Midday Devotion to pray for others in our church family, our city and our world.

In June and July we journey with LUKE and his Gospel.

We are all invited to listen for God’s voice and make our response as we journey together in our ‘rhythm of devotion’ in 2023.

These Devotions are but one way to feed on God’s Word in the morning, at midday, in the evening… to pray with Him continually through the day and even to share with others the treasures or hurdles you discover.
The Church website and Facebook page (even on a handy mobile) provide a fuller daily devotional page. However it all follows the pattern below which the information provided fits into, based on the Kirk’s origins of the Celtic and Northumbrian traditions which we started as a church family in 2015.

Morning
Reading and Meditation on the content and Prayer of response
Midday
Prayer – mostly for others
Evening
Verse(s) from the morning reading
Reflection and Prayer at the end of the day

A Prayer for the Month of JULY

Lord, there are times when we feel overwhelmed by life
and do not know what lies ahead.
But Your gracious leadership shows us how to keep going
even though we may be confused or hurting.
Please continue to grant us your encouragement.
Amen

The Lord’s 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

Midday Prayer with Others

On this last Tuesday in June – you are invited to pause and pray where you are with those gathered in the Upper Room today

P-ause with God
R-ejoice in His blessings given
A-sk for the needs of our church family, the SEECoS churches, our nation and our world at this time – especially the people and leaders of Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen and Syria
Y-ield to His Kingdom ways

Daily Devotions for Tuesday 27th June, 2023

Upper Room day and evening Gathering for Prayer

Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from Jesus, Saviour and Lord

Reading : LUKE 12 verses 1-12
Warnings and Encouragements.
What words or images stay with you?
What is God teaching/reminding you today?

Pray in response to what you have read
Taking time to pause and listen for God’s answer to you

I call to the LORD for help;
I plead with him.
I bring him all my complaints;
I tell him all my troubles.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Midday
Take time to listen for God to speak with you at this time of day
Ask, seek, knock….hear!
Father God…thank you.

Evening
Reading : read LUKE 12 verses 1-12 again – in another version?
Reflect on the words…. and then Pray….to the LORD our God

I call to the LORD for help;
I plead with him.
I bring him all my complaints;
I tell him all my troubles.

In Jesus’ name.
Amen and Amen.

Tuesday July Upper Room Kirk Pathway Meg’s

As we journey through these closing days of June 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….
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….

This is a quiet place…..a safe place for you and God to take time-out together.
Please note – the Room will not re-open until Tuesday 8th August. HOWEVER Meg Milne is opening her home on Tuesdays 11, 18 and 25 July – to provide space and time for reflections and prayers with others – 11am – 2pm. You are very welcome to come along – 161 Alnwickhill Road, EH16 6JW.

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

You are also invited to walk round the Kirk, pondering some of the words laid out at the various stations from the Bible……or to visit the Offering House – beside the gates – 8am-5pm each day – 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.

Our Prayer Team also invite you to Prayer for Healing – a safe place with a small trained team – each Tuesday in June at this time. This will be available in the McDonald Room (near the cafe foyer) 1-2pm and 6.30-7.30pm. If however, you wish someone to pray with/for you over the summer weeks please do contact Alastair, Hazel or Susan.

You are also encouraged to use the bench at the top left of the Kirkyard (under the large tree – weather permitting!) to pause and pray – to be still with God – to ask, seek, knock, wait and receive.

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 June and July our focus will be on Luke’s Gospel as we continue on the theme of Telling Others the Good News . 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 the Thy Kingdom Come global prayer venture daily reflections on our YouTube channel….from members of our Church Family providing a reflection over the 11 days period. This year the venture ran 18-28 May. Will you still be praying for 5??

May we each and all experience time-out with the Living and True God – whenever – wherever – as we journey through the month of June and into July 2023.

Thy Kingdom Come

As we move onward from Thy Kingdom Come 2023….so we keep praying!!

Each Sunday at Midday we will re-visit the daily themes – including the Cheeky Pandas in a few weeks for the younger members of our Church Family!

Here was the Day 4 post for us to ponder afresh…..God Creates!

Daily Devotions for Sunday 25th June, 2023

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

Reading : LUKE 11 verses 1-13
Meditation : take time and consider this part of the chapter this Sunday morning.
Jesus’ teaches about Prayer.
What is God teaching/reminding you about Himself and His ways?
What words stay with you?

And then pray in response – using the words of verses 2-4 as you turn to prayer

O God our heavenly Father
We bow before you
We believe in you
We trust in you
We offer you our prayers
This new day
In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Midday
Pray the Lord’s Prayer as your 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 verses again from LUKE 11 verses 1-13
Reflect on the words and images and then Pray in response to this God

O God our Father, 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 pilgrimage on towards tomorrow
In Jesus’ name, Amen.