The Desert Shall Bloom
The desert shall rejoice and blossom;
it shall rejoice with gladness and singing.
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed:
and the majesty of our God.
Amen.
Old Testament Reading - A faithful governor
14I would like to mention that for the entire twelve years that I was governor of Judah — from the twentieth until the thirty-second year of the reign of King Artaxerxes — my aides and I accepted no salaries or other assistance from the people of Israel. 15This was quite a contrast to the former governors who had demanded food and wine and $100 a day in cash, and had put the population at the mercy of their aides who tyrannized them; but I obeyed God and did not act that way. 16I stayed at work on the wall and refused to speculate in land; I also required my officials to spend time on the wall. 17All this despite the fact that I regularly fed 150 Jewish officials at my table, besides visitors from other countries! 18The provisions required for each day were one ox, six fat sheep, and a large number of domestic fowls; and we needed a huge supply of all kinds of wines every ten days. Yet I refused to make a special levy against the people, for they were already having a difficult time. 19O my God, please keep in mind all that I’ve done for these people and bless me for it.
. . . . .Nehemiah 5:14-19Intercession
Please remember our Prayer Requests
O God, be merciful to us and bless us;
show us the light of your countenance and come to us.
Lord, have mercy. E te Ariki, kia aroha mai.
Let your ways be known upon earth,
your saving help among the nations.
Christ, have mercy. E te Karaiti, kia aroha mai.
Let the peoples praise you,
O God, let all the peoples praise you.
Lord, have mercy. E te Ariki, kia aroha mai.
Amen.