Monday, October 28, 2024

RESURRECTION

PSALM 16:10 (CEV)
You won't leave me in the grave...

JOHN 11:25-26 (CEB)
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though they die. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
In God's scheme of things death is not the final word.

DAILY FODDER
Practically speaking, how does the resurrection of Jesus affect your life today?

PRAYER
Resurrected Savior, I am relieved that death is not the final word. I do regret that so much of how I live now is shaped by the perspective of limited future. Open my eyes and heart to the reality of resurrection living. I want to become a credible witness to eternal life so that everyone in my web of relationships will give serious consideration to the new life that comes through Christ. Amen. 

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.
Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. 
Amen.

Sunday, October 27, 2024

ONE GOD, MANY WAYS

Reformation Sunday

DEUTERONOMY 6:4 (CEV)
Listen, Israel! The Lord our God is the only true God!

1 CORINTHIANS 12:6 (NLT)
God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
The one God works in many different ways.

DAILY FODDER
Why does diversity of Christian expression make us so uncomfortable?

PRAYER
Almighty God, on the Reformation Sunday we are reminded that you are constantly reforming your church. We need it. We've grown narrow-minded and are unwilling to adjust to different approaches. We'd be more comfortable if everyone worshipped in the way we do, had the same priorities, and all expressed their faith using our language. Break through our shortsightedness and give us a heart for your diverse work and your many kinds of people. I joyfully acknowledge that you are the one God but that you work in a plethora of ways. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.
Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. 
Amen.

Saturday, October 26, 2024

THE SHEPHERD

PSALM 23:1 (CEB)
The LORD is my shepherd.
I lack nothing.


JOHN 10:11 (MSG)
I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Jesus is my reliable shepherd.

DAILY FODDER
Why are sheep a good metaphor for people?

PRAYER
Because of you, Shepherd Jesus, I lack nothing. Forgive me for the times I mindlessly wander away searching for greener grass when I already have all I need. Keep an eye on me and I'll be alright. Amen. 

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.
Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. 
Amen.

Friday, October 25, 2024

HOLD TIGHT

PROVERBS 4:13 (MSG)
Hold tight to good advice; don’t relax your grip.
Guard it well—your life is at stake!


2 TIMOTHY 3:14-15 (CEB)
But you must continue with the things you have learned and found convincing. You know who taught you. Since childhood you have known the holy scriptures that help you to be wise in a way that leads to salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Hold tight to the things of Christ found in scripture and taught by the important people in your life.

DAILY FODDER
What might cause someone to let go of what they've been taught about Christ and his way of life?

PRAYER
God, your instructions are consistent and trustworthy. I thank you for everyone in my life who has instructed me in your ways —my parents, my Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, family, friends, and... There are so many that I can't count them all. Forgive me for allowing the messages that come from the corrupt world to influence me. Help me to hold tight to your instructions as I make daily decisions about how I'll handle the world around me. I want to be wise in the ways of Christ Jesus. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.
Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. 
Amen

DAILYTEXTS.ORG

*ABOUT THE
DAILY TEXTS

The Daily Texts have been published by the Moravian Church since 1731. In 2015 I started posting these Bible verses for my spiritual formation students at Pacific Islands University. In the process of responding to the verses, I found the rhythm of looking for a common thread and writing a prayer based on that key idea to be helpful for my own soul.

The prayers are more or less modeled on the TRIP method, which is what I ask my students to do in their journaling. ~ Brad Boydston

TRANSLATIONS

ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase -- a freestyle biblical adaptation -- somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon

CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)

CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)

EEB = EasyEnglish Bible (©2015, MissionAssist)

ERV = Easy-To-Read Version (©2006, World Bible Translation Center)

GNT = Good News Translation (©1992, American Bible Society)

MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)

NCB = New Catholic Bible (©2019 by Catholic Book Publishing Corp.)

NCV = New Century Version (©2005, Thomas Nelson Inc)

NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)

NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)

NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)

NRSV = New Revised Standard Version (© 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.)

NTE = New Testament for Everyone (©2011 Nicolas Thomas Wright.)

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