BELIEVING

RUTH 2:12 (TCEB)
Boaz said to Ruth, "I hope the LORD, Israel’s God, will show you some of the same kindness that you’ve shown to Naomi. I hope you find in God the protection and security you want."

HEBREWS 11:6 (MSG)
It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.

THE ESSENCE
God responds to those who show they believe in him by trusting him while making the practical decisions of life.

DAILY FODDER
Ruth threw her lot in with her mother-in-law Naomi, escorting her home to Israel. God rewarded her kindness with a new husband, Boaz, and a spot in the lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:5). There must have been lots of other great women who Matthew could have included but he chose Ruth, a non-Jewish relative of Jesus. What makes her so special?  

PRAYER
Kind God, thank you for responding to our steps of faith. I confess that I get discouraged and think about giving up when the tide turns against me. Show me how to be like Ruth, who took an incredible step of faith during a moment of incredible grief. She prepared the way for Jesus and received the care that truly reflects your kindness. 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

THE WORD

PSALM 56:10 (CEB)
God: whose word I praise.
The LORD: whose word I praise.

JOHN 1:14 (MSG)
The Word became flesh and blood,
   and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
   the one-of-a-kind glory,
   like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
   true from start to finish.

THE ESSENCE
God made his living word accessible so we can experience it.  

DAILY FODDER
What does God expect of us now that he has moved into the human neighborhood? How does his presence change things? 

PRAYER
Almighty God, you set-up your tabernacle tent in the midst of our human encampment and uncorked your glory for all to see. We admit, though, that we too often close our eyes to your generous presence. There is no good reason for that — just an unwillingness to accept anyone who might distract from our own self-constructed glory. Open our eyes so that we can start to see the benefis of your glorious presence. I believe you're doing it all for our own benefit. 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

SUCH A MYSTERY

Trinity Sunday

PSALM 139:17 (ABP)
God, I love the way you think, even though I don't pretend to understand what's going on in your mind.

ROMANS 11:33 (MSG)
Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out.

THE ESSENCE
God is such a mystery that we'll never figure him out. It is to your benefit to embrace the mystery.

DAILY FODDER
On this Trinity Sunday, we're reminded that the mystery of God is most evident in the eternal relationship between the three co-existing co-equal "persons" who make up the being of God. We can spin our wheels trying to figure it out, or we can enjoy his invitation to participate in that relationship in our limited capacity.

PRAYER
My God, I praise you for the enormity of your presence. The more you give, the more there is for everyone. I regret that I try to second-guess you, imposing on your children my own mistaken notions of your will. Free me from my smallness. Free me to worship in the huge tent that you pitch for us all.  Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

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

EXTREME FORGIVENESS

2 CHRONICLES 30:18-19 (TCEB)
May the good LORD forgive them all. They aren’t in line with our laws about ritual cleansing, but they have come here looking for the LORD and God of their ancestors.

LUKE 15:20 (TCEB)
So the young man left that pig farm and went back to his father. The young man was still a good distance from home, yet close enough for his father to see him coming. In that moment, his father melted into compassion. He raced to his son and collapsed onto his shoulders and neck, kissing him as he held him tight.

THE ESSENCE
Those who return to God receive the extreme forgiveness that he is known for. 

DAILY FODDER
What keeps people from turning to God? How might you reassure someone that God accepts and forgives them?

PRAYER
Merciful Father, your forgiveness knows no bounds. We confess that we project our own attitudes on you and assume that there must be a hidden catch. Free us from our reluctance so that we can turn to you each and every day. I don't understand how you can be so generous to such sinful people, but I'm going to enjoy the party anyway. 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