LIFTING

PSALM 146:8 (ABP)
GOD gives sight to those who are blind.
He gives a hand to those who are weighed down by life.
And he loves those who are doing the right thing.

LUKE 7:22 (TCEB)
Jesus told John’s disciples, "Go and tell John exactly what you’ve seen and heard. The blind can see. The crippled can walk. Lepers are cleansed of the disease. The deaf can hear. The dead come back to life. The poor have finally heard the good news they’ve been waiting for."

THE ESSENCE
God's agenda involves lifting those who have been pushed down; and the righteous are those people who partner with him to carry out his mission. 

DAILY FODDER
When you walk into a room, do you look for ways to lift those in that room, or do you look for ways to get everyone to do what's important to you? Are you aware of what you're doing?

PRAYER
God, you've called us to righteousness and have shown us that this involves caring for those have been pushed down by diseases, oppressive situations, or nasty people. Forgive me for looking for your approval as I assert my own agenda. I want to be working in harmony with you and I need your direction. I'm eager to celebrate as you lift your precious people. 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

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