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.

ZOOM OUT

PSALM 143:5 (GNT)
I remember the days gone by;
I think about all that you have done,
I bring to mind all your deeds.

LUKE 1:50 (GNT)
Mary said, "...from one generation to another he shows mercy to those who honor him."

THE ESSENCE
When considering God's merciful activity, it makes sense to sometimes zoom out and look at the bigger, multi-generational picture.  

DAILY FODDER
How are you benefiting from the mercy that God has shown to a previous generation?  

PRAYER
Merciful God, you have been faithful to us for generations. Forgive my short-sightedness, as though the only thing that matters is what you've done for me here and now. Help me to appreciate the grander picture of generational mercy. I'm going to work on connecting the dots. 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.

GOD REIGNS

The 20th Sunday after Pentecost

JUDGES 8:23 (MSG)
Gideon said, “I most certainly will not rule over you, nor will my son. God will reign over you.”

JOHN 20:28 (CEB)
Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”

THE ESSENCE
Despite our propensity to look for manageable leadership, God remains on the throne. Adjust accordingly.

DAILY FODDER
What is the primary way that you acknowledge God's sovereignty in the world and your life? 

PRAYER
Dearest Lord, I am grateful that you have given me the desire to choose life under your rule. Forgive me for compromising your standards and replacing them with precepts fashioned by humanity. Open the eyes of my heart to see your power and majesty. Choose me and I will run passionately after you and share your goodness with others! 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.

ALL-POWERFUL

NUMBERS 11:23 (ABP)
GOD answered Moses, "So, do you think I'm powerless?"

MARK 4:41 (CEB)
Overcome with awe, they said to each other, "Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!"

THE ESSENCE
Our problems are not beyond God's power. 

DAILY FODDER
What is an overwhelming problem you're currently face? Let God intervene.  

PRAYER
Awesome all-powerful God, you are worthy of our faith. I regret, though, that when the storms hit, I still panic. Intervene into my situation and calm my heart. I want to grow in faith now so that when I'm facing squals I can relax and trust you without hesitation. I pray in the name of Jesus, who calms the wind and the sea. 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.

CHRIST FOR THE DEFENSE

ISAIAH 50:9 (GNB)
The Sovereign LORD himself defends me—
   who, then, can prove me guilty?
All my accusers will disappear;
   they will vanish like moth-eaten cloth.

ROMANS 8:34 (MSG)
Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.

THE ESSENCE
With Christ defending us, no one will dare accuse us before God.

DAILY FODDER
In the hands of Christ, all of our guilt, real and imagined, vaporizes. We're freed to live new lives unencumbered by the weight of our brokenness.

PRAYER
Thank you, Jesus, for your costly advocacy. Forgive me for digging up the old guilt and the old patterns that no longer matter to God. Bury what I'm unable to let go of so that I can live in freedom now and forever. 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.

PATIENCE

HABAKKUK 2:3 (GNT)
Put it in writing, because it is not yet time for it to come true. But the time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true. It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed.

JAMES 5:7 (GNT)
Be patient, then, my friends, until the Lord comes. See how patient farmers are as they wait for their land to produce precious crops. They wait patiently for the autumn and spring rains.

THE ESSENCE
Be patient; Jesus is coming to make things right. 

DAILY FODDER
If you needed to make a list, what would you include as the top five characteristics of a patient person? How many of those characteristics are currently evident in your life? What triggers impatience in your life? 

PRAYER
Infinite Lord, thank you for reminding me that you rule over all time and space. Forgive me for my impatience and wanting to rush results. You, who see all things, will bring about what needs to happen just in the right time. Release me from the need to control and give me a sense of your infinite power. 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.

PURSUE GOOD FOR OTHERS

AMOS 5:14 (TCEB)
If you want to enjoy life
Chase the good instead of the bad.
That way, you’ll have good company,
The LORD of everyone.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:15 (CEB)
Make sure no one repays a wrong with a wrong, but always pursue the good for each other and everyone else.

THE ESSENCE
When we're pursuing good on behalf of others, we're always in the best of company. 

DAILY FODDER
What does it mean to pursue good for others? Why did the prophets and apostles feel it necessary to remind good people to pursue good for others? 

PRAYER
Good God, I'm grateful that we can count on you to extend your goodness to us. I confess that I only partially grasp what it means to live out your goodness. I still filter the world through lenses that look primarily for my own advantage. Show me how to set aside the competative spirit and to pursue what is best for others. I really want to live out the good that you have extended to me. 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.

LEANING INTO JESUS' RESURRECTION

PSALM 25:20 (CEB)
Don’t let me be put to shame
because I take refuge in you.

JOHN 14:19 (CEB)
Jesus: Because I live, you will live too.

THE ESSENCE
Our identity and future is tied to what Jesus does. 

DAILY FODDER
How does tying our lives to what Jesus does throttle our personal ambition? How does it feed ambition? 

PRAYER
Jesus, thank you for being the God of restoration from our shame, pain, and circumstances. I can become paralyzed in my embarrassment. You come beside me and help me to see beyond pain and death into new life in you. As I lean into the resurrected life with you, may it inspire those struggling 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.

YOUR VOICE IS WELCOME

GENESIS 18:27 (TCEB)
   Abraham said, "Since I’ve had the chutzpah to speak up before the Lord, even though I’m not worthy of being heard, allow me to ask this."

MATTHEW 15:27-28 (MSG)
   She was quick: "You’re right, Master, but beggar dogs do get scraps from the master’s table."
   Jesus gave in. "Oh, woman, your faith is something else. What you want is what you get!" 

  Right then her daughter became well.

THE ESSENCE
In God's world the "unworthy" are allowed voice.

DAILY FODDER
How much bolder would you be every day if you knew that your voice would be received? Which issues in life would you tackle? What’s stopping you from talking about these things with God?  

PRAYER
Lord, I'm grateful that you're interested in what I have to say. Forgive me for holding back. I know that I often don't know what I'm talking about but you welcome me into the conversation anyway. I trust that my place at your table, a gift from you, will change how I see things and who I am. You graciously save me from embarrassment. 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.

YOUR MISSION

The 19th Sunday after Pentecost

NEHEMIAH 9:5 (MSG)
On your feet! Bless GOD, your God, for ever and ever! Blessed be your glorious name, exalted above all blessing and praise!

1 CORINTHIANS 10:31 (GNT)
Well, whatever you do, whether you eat or drink, do it all for God's glory.

THE ESSENCE
Your fulltime mission in life is to do everything in such a way that it honors God.

DAILY FODDER
How much effort does it take to do everything in such a way that it brings honor to God? Does it ever become second nature? How does one go about training for this mission? 

PRAYER
Lord of abundance, my life has been filled with so many opportunities that I exhaust myself trying to keep up. I regret that I no longer live to your glory but to my own satisfaction. Turn me around to be a blessing. In thanksgiving, I offer my glory and praise to you in each moment of my day. 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.

ALIGNED HEARTS

ISAIAH 29:13 (NLT)
And so the Lord says,
"These people say they are mine.
They honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me."

MATTHEW 15:11 (MSG)
“Listen, and take this to heart. It’s not what you swallow that pollutes your life, but what you vomit up.”

THE ESSENCE
Talk is often cheap. What matters are the actions that flow from our hearts — our lives. 

DAILY FODDER
In the ancient Hebrew worldview the heart served as a metaphor for the central processing unit of a person's life. Everything we think, feel, and do is controlled by the heart. What do your daily activities and actions reveal about the condition of your heart?

PRAYER
Loving God, you are worthy of all my devotion. I confess, though, that I allow ungodly influences into my heart. Renew my heart so that my words, and my actions, all completely align with my stated devotion to you. That alignment is what you care about. 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.

LISTENING

1 SAMUEL 3:9 (CEB)
Speak, LORD. Your servant is listening.

MATTHEW 7:24 (CEB)
Everybody who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise builder who built a house on bedrock.

THE ESSENCE
The wise person listens to the Lord's direction and then acts accordingly.

DAILY FODDER
How has God spoken to you? What is he saying today? 

PRAYER
Thank you again, Lord, for sharing your wisdom with us. I regret that I am so busy trying to run my life that I often miss what you're saying. Teach me how to listen. Come run my life so that I can better listen and participate in your messaging to the world you love. May your words fill me and shape the way I live, bringing full honor to Christ Jesus, your living Word. 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.

RESCUE AND REVIVE

PSALM 71:20 (CEB)
You, who have shown me many troubles and calamities, will revive me once more.

2 PETER 2:9 (CEB)
These things show that the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from their trials...

THE ESSENCE
The Lord is a rescue and revival specialist.

DAILY FODDER
After the firefighter rescues someone from a burning building, she turns her attention to reviving the victim with oxygen or CPR. In addition to fighting fires, firefighters are both rescue and revival specialists. Both rescue and revival are essential during a crisis. 

What in your life is dragging you down right now? How do you tap into the Lord's specialty to reset your life? 

PRAYER
Lord, how comforting to know that your eyes are upon me daily. Forgive me when I try to manage trials and troubles on my own and forget to turn toward you for help. You have promised to rescue and revive me when challenged by daily life — thank you! I turn to you, Lord, seeking wisdom, strength,  and encouragement. 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.

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.