Telling

I didn’t die. I lived! And now I’m telling the world what God did. ~ Psalm 118:17 (MSG)

When Paul and Silas had been severely beaten, the authorities threw them into prison... Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ~ Acts 16:23a, 25 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

Our witness comes through even during the dangerous times.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for rescuing us from bad people. Sometimes I get annoyed that you allow the bad people to continue on. I need to be reassured that your message goes out even during the difficult times -- perhaps with even more force than during the calm times. The fact is that in the end the resurrection wins. That's the message worth telling. Amen.

Joyful Praise

The 4th Sunday of Eastertide

My mouth is filled with your praise, glorifying you all day long. ~ Psalm 71:8 (CEB)

Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (GNT)

KEY IDEA:

Because of our close connection with Christ Jesus we can't help but praise God -- no matter how bad or good things are.

PRAYER:

Lord, you are worthy of all praise -- even the praise I forget to let come out of my mouth. Sometimes I'm better at complaining than I am at praising. This is because I let myself drift away from Jesus. Pull me back close to you and let the praises start again. Amen.

Worries and Cares

The protector of Israel never dozes or sleeps. ~ Psalm 121:4 (GNT)

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. ~ 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

Rely on God to take care of the problems.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord, for staying awake. I know that I need to trust you with all the problems. However, I like to hold onto them and find solutions on my own. That doesn't work out so well. Help me to get my strategy straight. I'm going to give all my worries and cares to you, for I know that you care about me. Amen.

The poor

When you are living in the land the Lord your God is giving you, there might be some poor people living among you. You must not be selfish. You must not refuse to give help to them. ~ Deuteronomy 15:7 (ERV)

If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear. ~ 1 John 3:17 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

God thinks that it is important that we be helping those in need. It is a high priority.

PRAYER:

Lord, 

THANKS: thank you for caring about me. I'm one of those needy people. 

REGRETS: I'm confused about myself, though. How is it that I'm so slow to show the kind of love that I have experienced? 

INTERCESSION: Please give me a heart for the poor -- those who are broken and in need. 

PURPOSE: I want to show the love of Jesus. 

Amen.