God's loyalty

The 17th Sunday after Pentecost

You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! ~ Psalm 27:9b (NLT)

Jesus said: And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. ~ John 6:39 (NLT)

Kind Master,

THANKS: It's funny that we worry so much that you would abandon us. But you have never abandoned your people. People abandon you, but you are loyal.

REGRETS: I'm one of those people who worries. But when I think about it, my worry is that you will not bless me with what I want. And that feels like abandonment. I understand that you wouldn't really leave me high and dry. But I have the notion that things will not move the direction I want. Maybe in the long run that is a good thing.

INTERCESSION: Help me to chill with the worry. I need to quite thinking so much about what I want and to look toward what you want.

PURPOSE: I'm going to live in confident faith that you are here with me -- no matter what happens. And that is enough.

Amen.

Have pity on me

When wrongdoings become too much for me, you forgive our sins. ~ Psalm 65:3 (CEB)

The tax collector stood off at a distance and did not think he was good enough even to look up toward heaven. He was so sorry for what he had done that he pounded his chest and prayed, “God, have pity on me! I am such a sinner.” ~ Luke 18:13 (CEV)

Gracious God, thank you for your mercy. It never ends. I wish that I could say the same for my sinful ways. I still do and think stupid things that I should have left behind years ago. It is so frustrating to see how long it has taken to make even a little progress. Have pity on me. I'm such a jerk. No matter what, though, I'm going to continue to trust in your mercy. Amen.

Water, fire, and storms

When you cross deep rivers, I will be with you, and you won’t drown. When you walk through fire, you won’t be burned or scorched by the flames. ~ Isaiah 43:2 (CEV)

Jesus got up and ordered the wind to stop. He said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down. And it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? ~ Mark 4:39-40a (NIRV)

Lord,

THANKS: I've been through a lot of scary things in my life. Yet, you have been there and have gotten me through them. Thank you.

REGRETS: I forget and start to worry. Sometimes I am afraid of the future. I get stressed out.

INTERCESSION: I'm not so much asking that you keep me out of the storms but that you calm ME down as I anticipate them. 

PURPOSE: I'm going to walk through fire with you.

Amen.

Mercy, Praise, Proclamation

Sing your song of praise, ‘The Lord has saved his people.’ ~ Jeremiah 31:7 (part) (GNB)

But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” ~ Mark 5:19 (NLT)

Lord, it seems that the natural response to what you do is praise and proclamation. When we've been saved -- when we've been made whole -- we want to acknowledge you and share the news with others. How, then, is it that after awhile we start to deal with your mercy in such a routine and unexcited way? Renew in me a passion to praise and proclaim. I want the whole world to experience your mercy, too. Amen.