OUT OF THE GRAVE

 The 7th Sunday of Eastertide

PSALM 30:3 (MSG)
GOD, you pulled me out of the grave,
gave me another chance at life
when I was down-and-out.

JOHN 11:43-44 (TCEB)
When Jesus finished talking with the Father, in a loud voice he said, “Lazarus, come out!” Out came the dead man, walking. He wore strips of cloth over his body, which also covered his feet and hands. A cloth covered his face as well.

Jesus told the people, “Take those burial cloths off of him and let him go.”

THE ESSENCE
The good news for us is that God pulls people out of the grave. 

DAILY FODDER
What do you think Lazurus felt when Jesus called him from the grave? Stiff? Confused? Happy? 

PRAYER
Lord of life, I'm  grateful for the demonstrated promise that death is not the final word. Forgive me for living as though there is no future — despairing, irresponsible... Help me to live today in light of the sure hope we have of an uninterrupted life with you. I'm going to step foward in confident faith because Jesus has blazed the trail. 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.

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE

JOB 9:4 (CEB)
His wisdom is profound, his power is vast.
Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?

1 PETER 5:5 (CEB)
God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.

THE ESSENCE
God honors those who humbly accept him and his direction. 

DAILY FODDER
We're free to resist God and do our own thing but ultimately that's a pointless excercise. 

PRAYER
Wise and winsome God, you are my power, my strength. I regret when my heart is proud, for human pride has no place with you. Your signs are mercy and grace. Help me see through foolish pride in myself and others. Let "Humility" and "Grace-Received" be my names today as I share your way of promise and love. 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.

BUILDING OUT YOUR FAITH

JEREMIAH 50:5 (TCEB)
They’ll face Jerusalem as they pray,

Asking God to show them how to get there.

Then they’ll make an agreement with the Lord

That will never end—

A covenant no one will ever forget.

2 PETER 1:5-7 (MSG)
So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others.

THE ESSENCE
Build out your faith. 

DAILY FODDER
When you read the list of essential qualities of a spiritual house in 2 Peter 1:5-7, which one is your primary focus these days? Which ones have you more or less mastered? 

PRAYER
Loving God, thank you for turning my face toward you. You are the source of all good gifts — faith, resilience, friendship, and love that moves mountains. I gladly receive your everlasting promise. Thank you for intervening when I've wandered. You set me on a sunlit path, your way of blessing a broken world that needs your enduring care. 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.

FORGIVENESS

Ascension Day

Proverbs 23:17 (GNT)
Don't be envious of sinful people; let reverence for the Lord be the concern of your life.

Luke 24:46-48 (TCEB)
Jesus said, “So you can see now that it was written a long time ago that the Messiah had to suffer like this and rise from the dead on the third day.

“It was written, too, that there’s a message to deliver to people all over the world, starting in Jerusalem. The message comes with the Messiah’s authority: Stop sinning, express regret for sins committed, and accept forgiveness. You are the witnesses of what has happened here."

THE ESSENCE
Reject sinfulness and live into the resurrection life. 

DAILY FODDER
We embrace Jesus and his message by rejecting sin, and in doing so we become a part of his new world order based on forgiveness. 

PRAYER
Merciful God, I am grateful that you have established a new world order based on the forgiveness Jesus obtained. I admit that I'm not always quick to live into that forgivenss, let alone act as a witness to it. It's hard to acknowledge the sinfulness of some aspects of my life. Help me to get real so that I can fully and consistently embrace your forgiveness. I am thankful that your Holy Spirit is active in my life bringing all this to fruition. 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.