Scripture Reading –   Hebrews 11:8-16 - NIV                  

⁸ By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. ⁹ By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰ For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. ¹¹ And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she^[a] considered him faithful who had made the promise. ¹² And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

¹³ All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. ¹⁴ People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Psalm Reading:  Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 - NIV       

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. A song.

¹ May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.

² May you blow them away like smoke—as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.

³ But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.

⁴ Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.

⁵ A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

⁶ God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

⁷ When you, God, went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, 

⁸ the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.

⁹ You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance.

¹⁰ Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor.

³² Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord,

³³ to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens, who thunders with mighty voice.

³⁴ Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the heavens.

³⁵ You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.  Praise be to God!

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Note: All Scriptures are New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted