GOOD FRUIT

PSALM 85:9-10 (TCEB)
For those who respect him,
Rescue is almost here.
Our nation is getting its honor back.
Loving kindness and truth will shake hands.
Goodness and peace will politely kiss.

EPHESIANS 5:9 (NLT)
For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

THE ESSENCE
The presence of Christ in our lives produces good fruit.

DAILY FODDER
What kind of fruit does your life produce. How does it reflect the presence of Christ?  

PRAYER
Savior, thank you for releasing me from a life of futile busyness, idle talk, and darkness. On my own, I'm discouraged, but through your eyes I can see the goodness in all you have created. Your love shows me how to move forward in love, righteousness, peace, steadfastness, and faithfulness. Help me to reflect your saving love 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.

THE DOOR

LAMENTATIONS 3:25 (TCEB)
The LORD is good to those who trust his timing,
To those who want what he wants.

REVELATION 3:20 (NLT)
Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

THE ESSENCE
Those who welcome Jesus and his agenda will enjoy his company.

DAILY FODDER
Praying to invite Jesus into your life is a good thing. But it's not really what Revelation 3:20 is talking about. Beyond saying a prayer, how exactly does one welcome Jesus into their life? 

PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for coming to me. Forgive my slow response to your knocking. Help me to embrace your presence in my life in such a way that your will becomes my will—that your priorities become my priorities—that your agenda becomes my agenda—that your love becomes my love. I'm going to enjoy spending time with you and those you bring alongside you. 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.

SEEDS OF GOODNESS

PSALM 97:11 (MSG)
Light-seeds are planted in the souls of God’s people,
Joy-seeds are planted in good heart-soil.

LUKE 14:13-14 (MSG)
Then he turned to the host. “The next time you put on a dinner, don’t just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. You’ll be—and experience—a blessing. They won’t be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned—oh, how it will be returned!—at the resurrection of God’s people.”

THE ESSENCE
The future is bright for those who nurture the seeds of goodness God has implanted in us.

DAILY FODDER
How are you nurturing the seeds of goodness, planted in your life by God? How do they grow?  

PRAYER
I'm very grateful that you plant the seeds of your goodness into us. Forgive me for ignoring them at times—focusing not on people who need to experience your goodness, but on those who might advance my life. Sometimes it's hard to discern the best way to go about inviting the misfits. God, give me the kind of wisdom and drive needed to nurture the seeds of your goodness. I want to be a blessing in the name of Christ Jesus, the tree of life. 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.

BUBBLEGUM

JOSHUA 24:18 (TCEB)
We’re sticking with the LORD. He is our God.

LUKE 5:27-28 (CEB)
Afterward, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at a kiosk for collecting taxes. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
Levi got up, left everything behind, and followed him.

THE ESSENCE
Leave everything behind and stick with Jesus.

DAILY FODDER
I learned an expression from one of my Micronesian students. She was talking about her close friend and said, "We're bubblegum." When I asked what that meant, she said, "We stick together." That's a great picture of our relationship with Jesus. We're stuck to him like bubblegum because he's so very sticky.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank you for making yourself so sticky. I want to adhere to you like bubblegum, even though I allow other influencers to try and pull us apart. That's painful, but you hold tight. Today, I'm celebrating your stickiness. 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.