V 2 asks us to read the Bible every day,   'to have a burning love'   for the Word of God              Resolution

This plan follows the Sunday liturgy:    reading + psalm + reading + gospel            From www.simplebible.info 

O Holy Spirit, please guide me as I read these passages for today. 
May these passages give me hope, strength, wisdom, courage and peace for my daily life 

January 26, 2012   


Genesis 32

As Jacob returned to his own land of Canaan,
he feared that his brother Esau would  try to kill him.

So Jacob, always clever and wily, 
sent messengers ahead of him
to make friends with Esau.

The messengers reported  
that Esau was on his way to meet Jacob
and had 400 men with him.

This news increased Jacob's fears
so he divided his family and flocks into two groups,
thinking that if Esau attacked one group
then the other group could escape.

Jacob also prayed hard to God for protection.

Jacob sent gifts of animals to Esau,
hoping that Esau would be friendly to him.

On the night before Jacob and Esau met,
God appeared to Jacob
and gave him a new name: Israel.

Dear God, please help me to be kind and clever

Psalm 32

Happy is the person whose sin is forgiven.

For a while I refused to ask for forgiveness,
and my body paid the penalty.

But then I said "Lord, forgive me"
and my spirit and body revived.

Lord, when I do wrong,
 please give me the grace to say sorry and ask forgiveness

Acts 7

Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up and saw the glory of God,
and Jesus standing at God's right hand

"I can see heaven thrown open", he said,
"and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God"

At this, the religious leaders at the meeting covered their ears with their hands. They sent Stephen out of the city and stoned him. The false witnesses (who were required to throw the first stones) put down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul

As they were stoning him, Stephen prayed "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit". Then he knelt down and prayed "Lord, do not hold this sin against them". Then he died. Saul entirely approved of the killing

That day a bitter persecution started against the church in Jerusalem
and everyone except the apostles fled to the countryside

Saul  began working for the destruction of the church. He went from house to house arresting men and women and sending them to prison

Jesus, thank you for the example of Stephen who, like yourself,
forgave those who were killing him

Matthew  9

As Jesus walked along, two men who had become blind
followed after him calling out  "Son of David, please help us".

Jesus asked them "Do you believe I can help you?"
They said "Yes we do".

Then Jesus touched their eyes and said
"Your request made in faith is granted".

Immediately they were able to see again.
They told everyone they met  what Jesus had done for them.

Jesus, please heal my friend ........ who is blind