JOY

ISAIAH 66:10 (GNT)
Rejoice with Jerusalem; be glad for her,
all you that love this city!
Rejoice with her now,
all you that have mourned for her!

LUKE 19:37 (GNT)
When he came near Jerusalem, at the place where the road went down the Mount of Olives, the large crowd of his disciples began to thank God and praise him in loud voices for all the great things that they had seen...

THE ESSENCE
God is the source of joy.

DAILY FODDER
Some people are so intensely serious about their faith that they look down on any faith expressions that are not intense and serious. It is interesting at how often God's activity recorded in the Bible is accompanied by a joyous response. 

PRAYER
Glorious God, I'm so thankful that you're not a sourpuss. The joy that flows from you is contagious — although, I confess, that sometimes I feel like I've been vacinated against an outbreak of joy. Help me to not take my self or my circumstances so seriously that I miss the exit to Joy Road. I want to honor you with the kind of joy that mirrors who you are. 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 REAL DEAL

PSALM 12:6 (GNT)
The promises of the LORD can be trusted;
they are as genuine as silver
refined seven times in the furnace.

JOHN 18:37 (MSG)
Then Pilate said, “So, are you a king or not?”
Jesus answered, “You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice.”

THE ESSENCE
Jesus is the genuine article, the real deal.

DAILY FODDER
On a scale of 1-10, how passionate about the truth are you? (10 being the most extreme) How can you tell if truth is a genuine passion in your life?

PRAYER
Promise-keeper, you deliver on all your promises. All your words are pure and true. Too often, I listen to every other voice but yours. Have mercy on me. Grab my attention. Unstop my ears. Speak to me what I need to hear loud and clear. Use your living word to move me to act. 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.

INSTEAD OF WRATH...

The 8th Sunday after Pentecost

PSALM 6:1 (GNT)
LORD, don't be angry and rebuke me!
Don't punish me in your anger!

2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 (GNT)
Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.

THE ESSENCE
Instead of turning against sinful people, God embraced us so that we could share in his righteousness. 

DAILY FODDER
How is this message good news for you? 

PRAYER
Gracious God, I'm grateful that instead of sending down your wrath you sent your Son Jesus to deal with our sin and initiate a new start for us. I regret that at times I live in fear of your anger, even though you've made it clear that because of Christ's solidarity with us you deal with us as righteous people. Allow this mind boggling reality to totally transform who I am and how I live. I want to share this good news with all. 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.

HONORING OTHERS

GENESIS 5:2 (ABP)
God created people, male and female, blessing them with the name "human."

ROMANS 12:10 (TCEB)
Love each other like brothers and sisters who actually get along. Honor one another like there’s no tomorrow. Take it to the limit.

THE ESSENCE
At the created core of our humanity is the need to exercise extreme selfless love. 

DAILY FODDER
If God created us to honor others "like there is no tomorrow," how is it that we so naturally strive for self, "like there is no tomorrow?" What can be done about this program corruption?

PRAYER
Creator of the universe and creator of me. You bless me. Too often, I criticize and attack others who were also created and blessed by you. Forgive me and transform me. Instead, empower me to honor, encourage, and lift up others. Give me an opportunity today. 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.