Christ Fulfills the Law.

A Reading from the Book of Matthew, Chapter 5, Verse 17 - 20

17. "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
18. "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
19. "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so,
shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20. "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Believers are Salt and Light

A Reading from the Book of Matthew, Chapter 5, Verse 13 - 16

13. "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

14. "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15. "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

16. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Beatitudes

A Reading from the Book of Matthew, Chapter 5, Verse 1-12

1. And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.

2. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
7. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10."Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11."Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12. "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets
      who were before you.

Proverbs - Chapter 9

The Way of Wisdom

1. Wisdom has built her house,

She has hewn out her seven pillars;

2. She has slaughtered her meat,
She has mixed her wine,
She has also furnished her table.
3. She has sent out her maidens,
She cries out from the highest places of the city,
4. “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
5. “Come, eat of my bread
And drink of the wine which I have mixed.
6. Forsake foolishness and live,
And go in the way of understanding.
7. “He who reproves a scoffer gets shame for himself,
And he who rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blemish.
8. Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you;
Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will still be wiser;
Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
10. “ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11. For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you alone will bear it.”

The Way of Folly

13. A foolish woman is clamorous;

She is simple, and knows nothing.

14. For she sits at the door of her house,

On a seat by the highest places of the city,
15. To call to those who passes by,
Who go straight on their way;
16. “ Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”;
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17. “Stolen water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant,”
18. But he doesnot know that the dead are there,
That her guests are in depths of hell.

A Prayer for Divine Scrutiny and Redemption

Psalms 26
A Prayer for Divine Scrutiny and Redemption


1. Vindicate me, O Lord,
For I have walked in my integrity.
I have also trusted in the Lord;
I shall not slip.
2. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me;
Try my mind and my heart.
3. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes.
And I have walked in Your truth.
4. I have not sat with idolatrous mortals,
Nor will I go in with hypocrites.
5. I have hated the congregation of evildoers,
And will not sit with the wicked.
6. I will wash my hands in innocence;
So I will go about Your altar, O Lord,
7. That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,
And tell of all Your wondrous works.
8. Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house,
And the place where Your glory dwells.
9. Do not gather my soul together with sinners,
Nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10. In whose hands is a sinister scheme,
And whose right hand is full of bribes.
11.But as for me, I will walk in my integrity;
Redeem me and be merciful to me.
12.My foot stands in an even place;
In the congregations I will bless the Lord.

The Lord the shepherd of His People

The Lord the shepherd of His People

A Psalm of David.

1.The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2. He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3.He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For his name’s sake.
4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cups runs over.
6.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

Plea for Relief from Bitter Foes

Plea for Relief from Bitter Foes

A song of Ascents.

1.In my distress I cried unto the Lord,
And he heard me.
2.Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips
And from deceitful tongue.
3. What shall be given to you,
Or what shall be done to you,
You false tongue?
4.Sharp arrows of the warrior,
With coals of the broom tree!
5.Woe is me, that I sojourn in Meshech,
That I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
6.My soul has dwelt too long
With one who hates peace.
7. I am for peace;
But when I speak, they are for war.

When You Want Courage for a Task.

God the Help of Those Who Seek Him --- Psalms 121


1.I WILL lift up my eyes to the hills
From whence comes my help?
2.My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
3.He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4.Behold, He who keeps Israel,
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5.The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6.The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7.The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
8.The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

When You Leave Home For Labor or Travel.

God the Help of Those Who Seek Him --- Psalms 121

1.I WILL lift up my eyes to the hills
From whence comes my help?
2.My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
3.He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4.Behold, He who keeps Israel,
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5.The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6.The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7.The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
8.The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

When You Have Sinned - A Prayer for Repentance

1.Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
2.Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
3. For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
4.Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in your sight -----
That You may be found just when You speak.
And blameless when You judge.
5. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6.Behold,y ou desire truth in the inward parts.
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
7.Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8.Make me to hear joy and gladness,
That the bones which You have broken may rejoice.
9. Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my inquities.
10. Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11. Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take your Holy Spirit from me.
12. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me with Your generous Spirit.
13.Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
14. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
The God of my salvation.
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
15. O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
16.For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart ----
These, O God, You will not despise.
18. Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19. Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,
With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.