God gives
Once again you will have all the food you want,
and you will praise the Lord your God... ~ Joel 2:26 (NLT)
God was always there doing the good things that prove he is real. He gives you rain from heaven and good harvests at the right times. He gives you plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” ~ Acts 14:17 (ERV)
God, in spite of the chaos in the world, the rain falls, food still grows, and there is more than enough for everyone. We confess, though, that we (including me) are greedy and horde more than we need. That makes it hard for others and muffles their joy. Forgive my overindulgence. And please give me a heart for others so that I can point them to you and the way that you are providing for all of us. You don't just give us all the food we need but you sent Jesus the bread of heaven to nourish our souls. Your care is extravagant. Thank you. Amen.
Challenging Words
- chaos -- the opposite of order
- horde -- to keep or save -- especially when it is unnecessary or at the expense of others
- overindulgence -- to eat or drink more than you should
- extravagant -- Someone who gives more than he needs to give is said to be extravagant. A gift that is bigger than necessary or expected is extravagant.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
NRSVue = New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (© 2021 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.) NTE = New Testament for Everyone (©2011 Nicolas Thomas Wright.)
REB = Revised English Bible (© 1989 Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press) TCEB = The Casual English Bible (© Stephen M. Miller)