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 Ephesians 2:14 Christ Our Peace 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,    The New King James Version . Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982. Print.

  Reflect & Pray What “fireworks” are shattering the calm in your life? When you give them to God in prayer, what peace do you feel? Comforting God, when life’s fireworks shock and unsettle me, draw me to Your peace.

  Today's Scripture Ephesians 2:12–18 ( NIV ) Insight  The process of bringing people into the family of God is the work of all three persons of the Trinity—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The book of Ephesians begins with high praises to God, “who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” ( 1:3 ) and has sealed believers in Jesus with the Holy Spirit ( vv. 13–14 ). The work of Jesus is featured in chapter 2 . Ironically, His violent death on the cross is the means through which Jews and gentiles are reconciled, and all of sinful humanity can be at peace with God: “Now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ” ( v. 13 ). Note also that the mission of the Son includes bringing us to the Father through the work of the Holy Spirit: “For through him we . . . have access to the Father by one Spirit” ( v. 18 ).

By: Rev. Lynwood F. Mundy Ephesians 2: 12-18 that at that time, you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Christ Our Peace 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,  15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, to create in Himself one ( Gal. 6:15 )  new man from the two, thus making peace,   16 and that He might ( 2 Cor. 5:18; [ Col. 1:20–22 ])  reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby [ Rom. 6:6 ]  putting to death the enmity.  17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.  18 For ( John 10:9 )  through Him, we ...

  Guardian Angels Lady was a big, black, beautiful German Shepherd mix. Susan got her for “free.” You know what that means don’t you? The owner says: “If you pay for the shots, feed her, build her a house, repair the yard she destroys and mend the fence she breaks, I’ll not charge you to take her off my hands.” Free—that word should not be allowed about an animal. She was our first family dog; we all loved her. She was less than a year old, Jamie was entering Kindergarten … I suppose they were about the same age in “dog years.” Lady had a terrible habit of digging in the back yard or crawling under the fence to run in the cornfield across the road from our house. Eventually, we bought a “doggie” fence that zzzzzzzzzzzzaped her when she tried to escape. One sunny afternoon I got a call from Susan. “Jim, the lady got out and Jamie went chasing after her … I don’t know where they are.” I know it made perfect sense to Jamie to chase after the dog. After all, he was SIX years ...

  Thursday, December 31, 2020, | Octoechos Thirty-First Thursday after Pentecost Bright Vestments On the same date: Leavetaking of Nativity Epistle James 1:19–27 Gospel Mark 11:27–33 (32nd Thursday)   Byzantine Lectionary (Gregorian) . Faithlife; Bellingham, WA, 2015; 2015. Print. Thu, Dec 31, 2020 (Dec 18, 2020) | Octoechos Thirtieth Thursday after Pentecost Dark Vestments Epistle Hebrews 10:35–11:7 Gospel Mark 9:10–16   Byzantine Lectionary (Julian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2016. Print. Thursday, December 31, 2020, | Octoechos Thirtieth Thursday after Pentecost Bright Vestments On the same date: Leavetaking of Nativity Epistle Hebrews 10:35–11:7 Gospel Mark 11:27–33 (32nd Thursday)   Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) . Faithlife; Bellingham, WA, 2015; 2015. Print.

  Thursday, December 31, 2020, | Christmas December  31 Year 1 On the same date: Eve of Holy Name Psalms (Morning) Psalm 46, 48 Old Testament Isaiah 26:1–9 New Testament 2 Corinthians 5:16–6:2 Gospel John 8:12–19  The Episcopal Church. Book of Common Prayer Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2010. Print. Thursday, December 31, 2020, | Christmastide December 31 Morning Prayer On the same date: December 31, Evening Prayer Psalm Psalm 147 First Reading Isaiah 62 Second Reading 1 John 2:18  Episcopal Church. Book of Common Prayer (1928) Daily Office Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2016. Print. Thursday, December 31, 2020, | Christmas Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas Years 1 & 2 | Roman Missal | Lectionary On the same date: Saint Sylvester I, Pope First Reading 1 John 2:18–21 Response Psalm 96:11a Psalm Psalm 96:1–2, 11–13 Gospel Acclamation John 1:14a, ...

December 31: From Beginning to End Lamentations 4:1–5:22 ; Romans 16:1–27 ; Proverbs 31:10–31 Endings are always difficult. But when they’re new beginnings, they’re revitalizing. At the end of Paul’s letter to the Romans, we see Paul the apostle and Paul the empathetic and concerned pastor. Paul knows that if dissension or temptation rules over the Roman church, they will fail in their ministry, so he warns them ( Rom 16:17–19 ) and offers them a word of hope: “And in a short time the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you” ( Rom 16:20 ). Here, Paul is echoing God’s words to Adam, Eve, and the serpent after the fall, when, instead of carrying out God’s request to bring order to creation (as He had done in the beginning), humanity turned from Him, defacing His image ( Gen 1:1–2, 27–28; 3:14–20 ). But while Gen 3:15 merely depicts Satan biting the heel of humanity and being struck on the head in return ( Gen 3:15 ), Paul depicts ...

 By: Rev. Lynwood F. Mundy Exodus 34:1-7 Moses Makes New Tablets 34:1 And the Lord said to Moses,  [ Ex. 24:12; 31:18; 32:15, 16, 19; Deut. 4:13 ]  “Cut two tablets of stone like the first ones, and ( Deut. 10:2, 4)  I will write on these tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke.   2 So be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself to Me there ( Ex. 19:11, 18, 20 )  on the top of the mountain.   3 And no man shall ( Ex. 19:12, 13; 24:9–11 )  come up with you, and let no man be seen throughout all the mountain; let neither flocks nor herds feed before that mountain.” 4 So he cut two tablets of stone like the first ones . Then Moses rose early in the morning and went up Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him; and he took in his hand the two tablets of stone. 5 Now the Lord descended in the ( Ex. 19:9 )  cloud and stood with him there, and (   Ex....

  The Greatest Gift Matthew 2:11 NASB “And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary, His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him, and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Angie Flaute of Celina, Ohio, made sure that her children knew the real meaning of Christmas by telling them the Biblical narrative of Jesus’ birth. She explained that after he was born, three wise men brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh for the infant Jesus. Her six-year daughter thought about what she heard and responded, “a Wise-Woman would have brought diapers.” I think the little girl is right; diapers would have been a far more practical gift, but what they gave was far more worshipful. What is more fitting than gold? A present fit for a King! What about frankincense? Why did they give it to Jesus? Frankincense was the scent used in temple worship by the priests to cover the smell of the sacrifices. Jesus was the king of k...

  Wednesday, December 30, 2020, | Octoechos Thirty-First Wednesday after Pentecost Bright Vestments Epistle James 1:1–18 Gospel Mark 11:23–26 (32nd Wednesday)   Byzantine Lectionary (Gregorian) . Faithlife; Bellingham, WA, 2015; 2015. Print. Wed, Dec 30, 2020 (Dec 17, 2020) | Octoechos Thirtieth Wednesday after Pentecost Dark Vestments Epistle Hebrews 10:1–18 Gospel Mark 8:30–34   Byzantine Lectionary (Julian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2016. Print. Wednesday, December 30, 2020, | Octoechos Thirtieth Wednesday after Pentecost Bright Vestments Epistle Hebrews 10:1–18 Gospel Mark 11:23–26 (32nd Wednesday)   Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) . Faithlife; Bellingham, WA, 2015; 2015. Print.

  Wednesday, December 30, 2020, | Christmas December  30 Year 1 Psalms (Morning) Psalm 20, 21:1–7 (8–13) Psalms (Evening) Psalm 23, 27 Old Testament Isaiah 25:1–9 New Testament Revelation 1:9–20 Gospel John 7:53–8:11  The Episcopal Church. Book of Common Prayer Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2010. Print. Wednesday, December 30, 2020, | Christmastide December 30 Morning Prayer On the same date: December 30, Evening Prayer Psalm Psalm 33 First Reading Isaiah 59:1–3, 15b–21 Second Reading 1 John 2:1–17  Episcopal Church. Book of Common Prayer (1928) Daily Office Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2016. Print. Wednesday, December 30, 2020, | Christmas Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas Years 1 & 2 | Roman Missal | Lectionary First Reading 1 John 2:12–17 Response Psalm 96:11a Psalm Psalm 96:7–10 Gospel Acclamation Text Gospel Luke 2:36–40   Cat...

  December 30: The Proverbs 31 Woman Lamentations 3:1–66; Romans 15:22–33; Proverbs 31:1–19 A Proverbs 31 woman is hard to find, but it isn’t for lack of effort. She’s been the topic of more than a few Bible studies. She can be recognized by her many positive traits—strong, courageous, and trustworthy. She is hardworking, discerning, giving, dignified, business savvy, wise, and kind. If we’re looking for vice or an Achilles heel, we’ll have to turn to another passage in the ot (we’re sure to find more failures than achievers within its pages). As we look through the list of qualities, though, it’s hard to check them all off, even for Type-A personalities. But the key to understanding the list of characteristics isn’t found in what we can attain. It’s found in the last verse—the crux of the poem. The crown of the woman’s wisdom isn’t her charm or her beauty or even her ability to “get things done.” It is her fear of Yahweh. This relationship with God guides all of her actions. ...