LOOK NO FURTHER

2 CHRONICLES 15:2 (ABP)
GOD will be with you as long as you stay with him. If you look for him, you'll find him. But if you decide you don't need him he'll let you stumble around on your own.

JOHN 4:25-26 (MSG)
The woman said, “I don’t know about that. I do know that the Messiah is coming. When he arrives, we’ll get the whole story.”
“I am he,” said Jesus. “You don’t have to wait any longer or look any further.”

THE ESSENCE
Once you discover Jesus, there is no need to look further.

DAILY FODDER
Why stop looking when you've found Jesus? 

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for making yourself known through your Son. Forgive us for our mindless and endless search for all things new and novel. Help me to selttle down and fully embrace the greatest relationship there is. I know that I don't have to look any further and that I can rest with 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.

UNENDING PRAISE

DANIEL 2:20 (GNT)
God is wise and powerful!
Praise him forever and ever.

REVELATION 7:12 (GNT)
“Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!”

THE ESSENCE
We never finish our praise to God.

DAILY FODDER
What does your praise look like? If it needs to go on forever, how are you building the stamina to carry on that long?

PRAYER
Praise you, God, forever and ever. That's easy for me to say but I need more training to be able to sustain it forever. I get easily distracted. Help me to offer ongoing praise as I become aware of even the smallest expressions of your grace. As I consider your wisdom, power, and mercy, I want to be able to offer unending praise. 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.

CHOSEN

HOSEA 2:19-20 (MSG)
I’ll marry you true and proper, in love and tenderness.
Yes, I’ll marry you and neither leave you nor let you go.
You’ll know me, GOD, for who I really am.

JOHN 15:16 (NLT)
You didn’t choose me. I chose you.

THE ESSENCE
God the faithful chooses us.

DAILY FODDER
Have you ever been chosen for something you considered significant? Have you ever been chosen for something you considered insignificant or even undesirable? How do you feel knowing that you are among the chosen of God? How, if at all, does that change things for you?

PRAYER
Gracious and faithful God, I'm a bit overwhelmed when I consider that you include me in your chosen group. Forgive my confusion. I'm still stuck thinking that I can prove myself and earn your acceptance. Help me to realize in my heart and mind that you've accepted me preveniently — before I was even aware of the choice. It's good to be one of your chosen 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.

IN JESUS

The 18th Sunday after Pentecost

1 SAMUEL 12:22 (MSG)
GOD, simply because of who he is, is not going to walk off and leave his people. God took delight in making you into his very own people.

JOHN 17:26 (MSG)
I have made your very being known to them—
Who you are and what you do—
And continue to make it known,
So that your love for me
Might be in them
Exactly as I am in them.

THE ESSENCE
God reveals himself most fully in Jesus.

DAILY FODDER
If God reveals himself most fully in Jesus, living in solidarity with Jesus is the way to best relate to God.

PRAYER
Thank you, Father, for your Son. In Jesus, you have shown me that your love has no bounds. May your love so fill me that it pushes out anger and hate. Forgive me for the moments I cast away, the opportunities to serve and love that I squander. Use my words and actions today to make Christ known. 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.