2025 06 22

The Holy Martyrs of Libya, also known as the 21 Coptic Martyrs of Libya, were a group of 20 Egyptian Coptic Christians and one Ghanaian Christian who were beheaded in Libya on February 15, 2015, by the Islamic State (ISIS) . They were executed for their Christian faith after refusing to renounce it. Their martyrdom has been commemorated by both the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, with the Coptic Church establishing their feast day on February 15th, and the Catholic Church adding them to the Roman Martyrology in 2023.
     Lord, there is a war going on. Keep us from just standing on the sidelines and watching it happen. Help us to be faithful witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ whatever the cost. Thank you.

A Word Received: I will show you the way; follow me.

Albany Intercessor

2025 06 21

An art school project in which we were to go to the University Museum and draw something using only dots and no lines.

At Jean’s 50th class reunion at Yale Divinity School we heard Philip Turner give a sermon in which he described visiting an elderly woman in his congregation. She told him that she had lately given up reading the New York Times for Jeremiah. She said, "The news is just as bad, but the perspective is different."
     Holy Spirit, please give us your perspective.

Genesis 1:10 New King James Version
10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
     LORD, the seas and all that live in them are your creation. Help us respect them.

Psalm 66:5-6 New King James Version
5 Come and see the works of God;
He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.
6 He turned the sea into dry land;
They went through the river on foot.
There we will rejoice in Him.
     Father, the seas and all their power are under your command.

Proverbs 8:29 New King James Version
29 When He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
     Jesus, please establish limits to the seas as we go into hurricane season.

Matthew 8:25-26 New King James Version
25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
     Jesus, please rebuke the raging storms and seas with your word of command.

A Word Received: Look to me for help in the storms of life.

Albany Intercessor

2025 06 20

A Word Received by Scott G. Roberts, Intercessor
You are My beloved child. I chose you before the foundation of the world, to walk with Me along paths designed uniquely for you. Concentrate on keeping in step with Me, instead of trying to anticipate My plans for you. If you trust that My plans are to prosper you and not to harm you, you can relax and enjoy the present moment.
Your hope and your future are rooted in heaven, where eternal ecstasy awaits you. Nothing can rob you of your inheritance of unimaginable riches and well-being. Sometimes I grant you glimpses of your glorious future, to encourage you and spur you on. But your main focus should be staying close to Me. I set the pace in keeping with your needs and My purposes.

On Christ The Solid Rock I Stand Lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GswGE6rQhmE&list=RDGswGE6rQhmE&start_radio=1

2 Corinthians 11:22-27 New King James Version
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—
     Jesus, please be with us when we go through times of trial and suffer. You carriied Paul through all of this, please carry us.

A Word Received: I went to the cross for you. I knnow the pain you are going through.

Albany Intercessor

2025 06 19

An art school project to copy a famous heightened drawing.
“Praying Hands” by Albrecht Dürer
Psalm 5:1-8 New King James Version

1 Give ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my meditation.
     LORD, please hear me when I cry out to you.

2 Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
     LORD, I pray to no one else.

3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.
     Morning by morning I come to you, to you only.

4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
     Jesus, you take no leasure in my failures, yet you still love me.

5 The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
     Lord, you hate those who do evil. Save me from doing evil.

6 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
     Father, there are those who speak falsely about your word.

7 But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
     Holy Spirit, please help me come into your presence day by day.

8 Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight before my face.
     Jesus, lead me onto your straight and narrow path.

A Word Received: Come to me all you are burdened and heavily laden, and I will refresh you.

Albany Intercessor

2025 06 18

This was the last lesson of the night office in the monastery. It inspired this silk screen design. The image I was after was that though the evil one tries to claw his way out, but he is bound by the limits that Jesus (the word) sets for him.

1 Peter 5:8 New King James Version
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
     Jesus, please help us to remain vigilant.

Ephesians 6:10-18 New King James Version
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
     Holy Spirit, please help us daily clothe ourselves with the full armor of God. Thank you.

A Word Received: Turn to me daily for my protection.

Albany Intercessor

2025 06 15

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 New King James Version
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
     Paul proclaims the transforming power of Jesus working through the Holy Spirit to change lives.
     Holy Spirit, let the power of the gospel change our lives and the life of your church today.

A Word Received: Wait on my Holy Spirit for new life in me.

Albany Intercessor

2025 06 14

ROYAL CHORAL SOCIETY: Worthy is the Lamb & Amen Chorus from Handel's Messiah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCcGqMHndxo&list=RDvCcGqMHndxo&start_radio=1

Revelation 5:8-10 New King James Version
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”
     Lord, you are worthy, help us to worship you as we ought.

A Word Received: Listen to the chorus that echoes through heaven.

Albany Intercessor