Our Lady of Angels Association

by Michael January 9, 2013

Princes persecute me without reason, but my heart reveres only your word.
I rejoice at your promise, as one who has found rich soil.
Falsehood I hate and abhor; your teaching I love.
Seven times a day I praise you because your edicts are just.

Lovers of your teaching have much peace; for them there is no stumbling block.
I look for your salvation, Lord, and I fulfill your commands.
I observe your decrees; I love them very much.
I observe your precepts and decrees; all my ways are before you.

Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5:11

My eager expectation and hope is that I shall not be put to shame in any way, but that with all boldness, now as always, Christ will be magnified in my body whether by life or by death. For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose. I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit. And this I know with confidence, that I shall remain and continue in the service of all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound on account of me when I come to you again.

Philippians 1:20-26

The Lord reached down from on high and seized me; drew me out of the deep waters. He rescued me from my mighty enemy, from foes too powerful for me. They attacked me on a day of distress, but the Lord came to my support. He set me free in the open; he rescued me because he loves me.

Psalm 18 continued – verses 17-20

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

James 1:26-27

Your word, Lord, stands forever; it is firm as the heavens. Through all generations your truth endures; fixed to stand firm like the earth. By your edicts they stand firm to this day, for all things are your servants. Had your teaching not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts; through them you give me life. I am yours, save me, for I cherish your precepts. The wicked hope to destroy me, but I pay heed to your decrees. I have seen the limits of all perfection, but your command is without bounds.

Psalm 119 continued – verses 89-96

… let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood. You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons: “My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.”

Hebrews 12:1-6

How good to celebrate our God in song; how sweet to give fitting praise. The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem, gathers the dispersed of Israel, heals the brokenhearted, binds up their wounds, numbers all the stars, calls each of then by name. Great is our Lord, vast in power, with wisdom beyond measure. The Lord sustains the poor, but casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; with the lyre celebrate our God, who covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, makes grass sprout on the mountains, who gives animals their food and ravens what they cry for. God takes no delight in the strength of horses, no pleasure in the runner’s stride. Rather the Lord takes pleasure in the devout, those who await his faithful care.

Psalm 147: 1-11

Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord; cry out to the rock of our salvation. Let us greet him with a song of praise, joyfully sing out our psalms. For the Lord is the great God, the great king over all gods, Whose hand holds the depths of the earth; who owns the tops of the mountains. The sea and dry land belong to God, who made them, formed them by hand. Enter, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the Lord who made us. For this is our God, whose people we are, God’s well-tended flock.

Psalm 95:1-7

Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak; I looked for compassion, but there was none. for comforters, but found none. Instead they put gall in my food; for my thirst they gave me vinegar. But I am afflicted and in pain; let your saving help protect me, God, that I may praise God’s name in song and glorify it with thanksgiving. My song will please the Lord more than oxen, more than bullocks with horns and hooves: “See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, take heart! for the Lord hears the poor, does not spurn those in bondage. Let the heavens and the earth sings praise, the seas and whatever moves in them.”

Psalm 69 continued – verses 21-22; 30-35

One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek: To dwell in the Lord’s house all the days of my life, to gaze on the Lord’s beauty, to visit his temple. For God will hide me in his shelter in time of trouble, will conceal me in the cover of his tent and set me high upon a rock. Even now my head is held high above my enemies on every side! I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and chant praise to the Lord.

Psalm 27 continued – verses 4-6