O Eternal God, who hast taught us by thy holy Word that our bodies are temples of thy Spirit: Keep us, we most humbly beseech thee, temperate and holy in thought, word and deed, that at the last we, with all the pure in heart, may see thee and be made like unto thee in thy heavenly kingdom; through Christ our Lord.
Morning pic.twitter.com/R50FqOF6na
— Veritatis Cupitor (@English1Maiden) February 28, 2024
Almighty God,
lead us by your Spirit that by the prayer and discipline of Lent
may we enter into the mystery of Christ’s sufferings,
and by following in his Way
come to share in his glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen (slightly edited; KSH).
Morning everyone hope you are well. A nicely framed Blencathra overlooking Derwentwater. Have a great day. #LakeDistrict @keswickbootco pic.twitter.com/n1dq0NrOuL
— Rod Hutchinson (@lakesrhino) February 27, 2024
Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities that may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Good Morning pic.twitter.com/X1DebsJ86e
— philip jackson (@pajacksonartist) February 26, 2024
O LORD Jesus Christ, who as on this day didst rise from the dead: Teach us to reverence this thy holy day, and give us grace so to use it that we may rise to newness of life; to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God world without end.
It was pastel pink pre-sunrise this morning. pic.twitter.com/H89CYyZPKW
— Steve Carter (@HighlandRampage) February 25, 2024
Almighty and everlasting God, who for the well-being of our earthly life hast put into our hearts wholesome desires of body and spirit: Mercifully increase and establish in us, we beseech thee, the grace of holy discipline and healthy self-control; that we may fulfill our desires by the means which thou hast appointed, and for the ends thou ordainest; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Wonderful weekend to you all pic.twitter.com/RUXL4YTd2x
— Veritatis Cupitor (@English1Maiden) February 24, 2024
Almighty and eternal God, who has so made us of body, soul and spirit, that we live not by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from thee: Make us to hunger for the spiritual food of thy Word; and as we trust thee for our daily bread, may we also trust thee to give us day by day the inward nourishment of that living truth which thou hast revealed to us in thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Thank goodness its Friday! I did see this on the way to the office which was nice anyways
hope you ha e a good day ahead! #FridayFeeling @StormHour @JonMitchellTV @Hudsonweather #rainbow pic.twitter.com/BIvgp1r6QX
— David Oxtaby (@Disc_light) February 23, 2024
O God, who willest not the death of a sinner: We beseech thee to aid and protect those who are exposed to grievous temptations; and grant that in obeying thy commandments they may be strengthened and supported by thy grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Dusting of snow on the tops – Eilean Donan Castle, Lochalsh, Scotland
22/02/24 @angie_weather @ThePhotoHour @StormHour @VisitScotland pic.twitter.com/n4qAur0ccc
— James MacInnes (@Macinnesplant) February 22, 2024
O Heavenly Father, subdue in us whatever is contrary to thy holy will, that we may know how to please thee. Grant, O God, that we may never run into those temptations which in our prayers we desire to avoid. Lord, never permit our trials to be above our strength; through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
It's #WaterfallWednesday! #HullPot in #Ribblesdale is a collapsed cavern measuring 91 metres (300 ft) long by 18 metres (60 ft) wide by 18 metres (60 ft) deep.
In wet weather, the stream runs over the edge
Just be careful standing close to the edge!
Chris Wicks pic.twitter.com/kii7xo71VT
— Yorkshire Dales National Park (@yorkshire_dales) February 21, 2024
O Lord our God, grant us, we beseech thee, patience in troubles, humility in comforts, constancy in temptations, and victory over all our spiritual foes. Grant us sorrow for our sins, thankfulness for thy benefits, fear of thy judgment, love of thy mercies, and mindfulness of thy presence; now and for evermore.
Good morning all and a happy Tuesday! pic.twitter.com/4THo81pgl8
— David Oxtaby (@Disc_light) February 20, 2024
Blessed Lord, who wast tempted in all things like as we are, have mercy upon our frailty. Out of weakness give us strength; grant to us thy fear, that we may fear thee only; support us in time of temptation; embolden us in time of danger; help us to do thy work with good courage, and to continue thy faithful soldiers and servants unto our life’s end.
‘Bora da Pwllheli’
‘Good morning Pwllheli’@sixteenthCgirl @AledHall @hooson21 @ItsYourWales @Ruth_ITV @bootlegger1974 @StormHour @ThePhotoHour @sianharries_ @HCynwal @EleriSion @LouiseTalks @S4Ctywydd @DerekTheWeather @NickyZJohn @hawley_caroline pic.twitter.com/vQrq5Ze2Fx
— Llelo Gruffudd (@Llelo2801) February 19, 2024
“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil.”
Then. When? After the descent of the Spirit, after the voice that was borne from above, and said, “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And what was marvellous, it was of the Holy Spirit; for this, he here saith, led Him up. For since with a view to our instruction He both did and underwent all things; He endures also to be led up thither, and to wrestle against the devil: in order that each of those who are baptized, if after his baptism he have to endure greater temptations may not be troubled as if the result were unexpected, but may continue to endure all nobly, as though it were happening in the natural course of things.
Yea, for therefore thou didst take up arms, not to be idle, but to fight. For this cause neither doth God hinder the temptations as they come on, first to teach thee that thou art become much stronger; next, that thou mayest continue modest neither be exalted even by the greatness of thy gifts, the temptations having power to repress thee; moreover, in order that that wicked demon, who is for a while doubtful about thy desertion of him, by the touchstone of temptations may be well assured that thou hast utterly forsaken and fallen from him; fourthly, that thou mayest in this way be made stronger, and better tempered than any steel; fifthly, that thou mayest obtain a clear demonstration of the treasures entrusted to thee.
For the devil would not have assailed thee, unless he had seen thee brought to greater honor. Hence, for example, from the beginning, he attacked Adam, because he saw him in the enjoyment of great dignity. For this reason he arrayed himself against Job, because he saw him crowned and proclaimed by the God of all.
How then saith He, “Pray that ye enter not into temptation.” For this cause he doth not show thee Jesus simply going up, but “led up” according to the principle of the Economy; signifying obscurely by this, that we ought not of ourselves to leap upon it, but being dragged thereto, to stand manfully.
And see whither the Spirit led Him up, when He had taken Him; not into a city and forum, but into a wilderness. That is, He being minded to attract the devil, gives him a handle not only by His hunger, but also by the place. For then most especially doth the devil assail, when he sees men left alone, and by themselves.
–The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom, Homily 13
Philips Augustijn Immenraet, 'Temptation of Christ' pic.twitter.com/JFkWhwgKUt
— Christopher
(@ChriXCoenen) January 30, 2022
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations, and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The orchard #silentsunday pic.twitter.com/YfiYAFNWhI
— Hayley Twigs in Hair Howard (@HayleyhHoward) February 18, 2024
O Lord our God, who art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity: Have mercy upon us, we beseech thee, for our sins accuse us, and we are troubled by them and put to shame. We have done wrong to ourselves in ignorance, and to our brethren in willfulness, and by our selfish and faithless ways have grieved thy Holy Spirit. Forgive us, we humbly pray thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
—Prayers for the Christian Year (SCM, 1964)
Time for some green therapy pic.twitter.com/DqZzuG7cp8
— Hayley Twigs in Hair Howard (@HayleyhHoward) February 17, 2024
O Lord and heavenly Father, who hast given unto us thy people the true bread that cometh down from heaven, even thy Son Jesus Christ: Grant that throughout this Lent our souls may so be fed by him that we may continually live in him and he in us; and that day by day we may be renewed in spirit by the power of his endless life, who gave himself for us, and now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.
Good morning from Norway. Amazing lights over Tromsø very active. pic.twitter.com/rmqlAWOjKn
— Morten (@helifliMorten) February 16, 2024
O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst take upon thee the form of a servant, humbling thyself and accepting death for us, even the death of the cross: Grant that this mind may be also in us; so that we may gladly take upon ourselves the life of humility and service, and taking up our cross daily may follow thee in thy suffering and death, that with thee we may attain unto the power of thy endless life. Grant this, O Christ, our Saviour and our King.
Good Morning All
May today’s journey be a trouble free one… pic.twitter.com/3oaHwb0BmL
— Cloudymamma (@cloudymamma) February 15, 2024
The idea of national repentance seems at first sight to provide such an edifying contrast to that national self-righteousness of which England is so often accused and with which she entered (or is said to have entered) the last war, that a Christian naturally turns to it with hope. Young Christians especially-last-year undergraduates and first-year curates- are turning to it in large numbers. They are ready to believe that England bears part of the guilt for the present war, and ready to admit their own share in the guilt of England. What that share is, I do not find it easy to determine. Most of these young men were children, and none of them had a vote or the experience which would enable them to use a vote wisely, when England made many of those decisions to which the present disorders could plausibly be traced. Are they, perhaps, repenting what they have in no sense done?
If they are, it might be supposed that their error is very harmless: men fail so often to repent their real sins that the occasional repentance of an imaginary sin might appear almost desirable. But what actually happens (I have watched it happening) to the youthful national penitent is a little more complicated than that. England is not a natural agent, but a civil society. When we speak of England’s actions we mean the actions of the British government. The young man who is called upon to repent of England’s foreign policy is really being called upon to repent the acts of his neighbor; for a foreign secretary or a cabinet minister is certainly a neighbor. And repentance presupposes condemnation. The first and fatal charm of national repentance is, therefore, the encouragement it gives us to turn from the bitter task of repenting our own sins to the congenial one of bewailing-but, first, of denouncing-the conduct of others.
–-C.S. Lewis, “Dangers of national repentance”
Blessed Ash wednesday!
May this Lenten season bring us all closer to the King of Kings.
—
"Christ in the desert" by Ivan Kramskoj. pic.twitter.com/yGU80ndGNX
— † (@____xn) February 14, 2024
O Lord and heavenly Father, who hast given unto us thy people the true bread that cometh down from heaven, even thy Son Jesus Christ: Grant that throughout this Lent our souls may so be fed by him that we may continually live in him and he in us; and that day by day we may be renewed in spirit by the power of his endless life, who gave himself for us, and now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.
'for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return'. Robert and Isabella Brampton in their shrouds, 1468 at Brampton, Norfolk.
And so it begins. Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Forty days plus six Sundays, ending at the great feast of Easter on the last day of… pic.twitter.com/jNgzsE2q0q
— Simon Knott (@SimoninSuffolk) February 14, 2024
“Confess your faults one to another” (Jas. 5:16). He who is alone with his sin is utterly alone. It may be that Christians, notwithstanding corporate worship, common prayer, and all their fellowship in service, may still be left to their loneliness. The final break-through to fellowship does not occur, because, though they have fellowship with one another as believers and devout people, they do not have fellowship as the undevout, as sinners. This pious fellowship permits no one to be a sinner. So everybody must conceal his sin from himself and the fellowship. We dare not be sinners. Many Christians are unthinkably horrified when a real sinner is suddenly discovered among the righteous. so we remain alone with our sin, living in lies and hypocrisy. The fact is that we are sinners!
But it is the grace of the Gospel, which is so hard for the pious to understand, that it confronts us with the truth and says: You are a sinner, a great, desperate sinner; now come as the sinner that you are, to God who loves you. He wants you as you are; He does not want anything from you, a sacrifice, a work; He wants you alone. “My son, give me thine heart” (Prov. 23:26). God has come to you to save the sinner. Be glad! This message is liberation through truth. You can hide nothing from God. The mask you wear before men will do you no good before Him. He wants to see you as you are, He wants to be gracious to you. You do not have to on lying to yourself and your brothers, as if you were without sin; you can dare to be a sinner. Thank God for that; He loves the sinner but He hates sin.
–-Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together
Today, most Western Christian denominations celebrate #AshWednesday, the first day of the season of Lent. pic.twitter.com/tn5JKDiYIG
— National Churches Trust (@NatChurchTrust) February 14, 2024
O God, who by thy care and counsel for mankind hast moved thy Church to appoint this holy season wherein the hearts of those who seek thee may receive thy help and healing: We beseech thee so to purify us by thy discipline, that, abiding in thee and thou in us, we may grow in grace and in the faith and knowledge of thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
'Because I know that time is always time
And place is always and only place
And what is actual is actual only for one time
And only for one place
I rejoice that things are as they are and
I renounce the blessed face'— Ash Wednesday pic.twitter.com/dPrxISpzNt
— T. S. Eliot Foundation (@eliotfoundation) February 14, 2024
But in order to arrive at its full meaning, we must suppose that David felt an inward struggle and opposition, which he found it necessary to check. Satan had raised a tumult in his affections, and wrought a degree of impatience in his mind, which he now curbs; and he expresses his resolution to be silent. The word implies a meek and submissive endurance of the cross. It expresses the opposite of that heat of spirit which would put us into a posture of resistance to God. The silence intended is, in short, that composed submission of the believer, in the exercise of which he acquiesces in the promises of God, gives place to his word, bows to his sovereignty, and suppresses every inward murmur of dissatisfaction.
–From his commentary on the Psalms
Ash Wednesday, 1860 by Carl Spitzweg pic.twitter.com/jLCqSjIMrI
— Marysia (@marysia_cc) February 14, 2024
Almighty and everlasting God,
you hate nothing that you have made
and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent:
create and make in us new and contrite hearts
that we, worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may receive from you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent.
Today, many Christians will attend church services and have a cross of ash traced on their foreheads. This acts as a reminder of our mortality and need for reconciliation with God.#AshWednesday pic.twitter.com/HaooKIZ68P
— The Church of England (@churchofengland) February 14, 2024
Most merciful God,
who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ
delivered and saved the world:
grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross
we may triumph in the power of his victory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Good Morning pic.twitter.com/Kz62cxrbSB
— philip jackson (@pajacksonartist) April 1, 2023
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who didst devote thy life and thy death to our most plenteous redemption: Grant that what thou hast wrought for us may also be wrought in us: that, growing into thy likeness, we may serve and share thy redeeming work; who livest and reignest in the glory of the eternal Trinity now and for evermore.
—A Procession of Passion Prayers, ed. Eric Milner-White (London: SPCK, 1952)
#rain #darksky and #dàffodils #FridayVibes #loveukweather #lincs pic.twitter.com/vFuDHUsgB3
— ianW (@ianwillson14) March 31, 2023
Almighty and most merciful God, who hast given thy Son to die for our sins and to obtain eternal redemption for us through his own blood: Let the merit of his spotless sacrifice, we beseech thee, purge our consciences from dead works to serve thee, the living God, that we may receive the promise of eternal inheritance in Christ Jesus our Lord; to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be honour and glory, world without end.
Happy Thursday
#goodmorning #sunrise #Dublin pic.twitter.com/Sp6IL1e9CG
— The Wild Massy
(@TheWildMassy) March 30, 2023
Thanks be to thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which thou hast given us, for all the pains and insults which thou hast borne for us. O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother, may we know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, and follow thee more nearly, now and for evermore.
"The Aurora Tree" pic.twitter.com/uBTEhMquIj
— simon c woodley (@simoncwoodley) March 29, 2023
O God, who by the example of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ hast taught us the greatness of true humility, and dost call us to watch with him in his passion: Give us grace to serve one another in all lowliness, and to enter into the fellowship of his sufferings; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.
O God, who by the cross and passion of thy Son Jesus Christ didst save and deliver mankind: Grant that by steadfast faith in the merits of that holy sacrifice we may find help and salvation, and may triumph in the power of his victory; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of this world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Merciful Lord,
absolve your people from their offences,
that through your bountiful goodness
we may all be delivered from the chains of those sins
which by our frailty we have committed;
grant this, heavenly Father,
for Jesus Christ’s sake, our blessed Lord and Saviour,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Bright Blue Skies. 12°C and a keen Southwesterly breeze. Daffodils pic.twitter.com/f027R9N0M7
— Yorkshire Wolds Weather (@WeatherWolds) March 22, 2023
Almighty God, who has taught us in thy holy Word that the law was given by Moses, but that grace and truth came by Jesus Christ: Grant that we, being not under the law but under grace, may live as children of that Jerusalem which is above, and rejoice in the freedom of our heavenly citizenship; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
–The Rev. James Mountain (1844-1933)
« Vive le Printemps…». #chasseurdebeauté pic.twitter.com/gDZI6pgwKU
— Catherine Benoist (@benoistart) March 20, 2023
