Rules and Joy

When the righteous see God in action they’ll laugh, they’ll sing, they’ll laugh and sing for joy. ~ Psalm 68:3 (MSG)

God’s kingdom isn’t about eating and drinking. It is about pleasing God, about living in peace, and about true happiness. All this comes from the Holy Spirit. ~ Romans 14:17 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Joy doesn't come from keeping all the religious or family rules -- but from pleasing God through a Holy Spirit directed life.

PRAYER:

Lord, it is a real joy when I see you in action. Your Spirit makes me sing. However, I'm still tied to the rule book. I know that rules can be good but I also know that rule-keeping isn't what really pleases you. Help me to be less concerned about rules and appearances and more into letting the Holy Spirit give me direction. I'm committed to living out the Kingdom of God. Amen.

Love, kindness, compassion

Be true to your name, Lord God! Show your great kindness and rescue me. ~ Psalm 109:21 (CEV)

So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. ~ Luke 15:20 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

The Lord is full of love, kindness, and compassion.

PRAYER:

Lord, I am thankful to be the recipient of your love, kindness, and compassion. You freely embrace sinners. I confess that while I am grateful to receive your kindness, I can be a bit like the older son in the prodigal son story that Jesus told in Luke 15 . I don't get as excited when other people receive your mercy and compassion. I desperately want to see people get what they deserve. Please give me a fresh glimpse of your love so that I begin to grasp how deep and wide it is -- so that I'm changed -- so that I am filled with love, kindness, and compassion for sinful people. That is what I want to characterize my life. Amen.

Comforting

The Master, God, has given me a well-taught tongue, So I know how to encourage tired people. He wakes me up in the morning, Wakes me up, opens my ears to listen as one ready to take orders. ~ Isaiah 50:4 (MSG)

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:4 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

The comfort we receive from God should be passed along to others.

PRAYER:

Lord, I am so grateful for meeting me in my times of trouble. The world around me is crazy but you give me comfort and hope. Sometimes, though, I get caught up in the despair and ignore the hope and comfort -- getting all riled up instead. I end up saying harsh and hurtful things rather than offering hope and comfort. Help me to control my anger and to spend my energy comforting rather than always confronting. I'm going to trust you to work out the details so that I feel free to comfort the hurting. In Jesus' name I prayer, Amen.

The God who delievers

Pentecost Sunday

I’m still your God, the God who saved you out of Egypt. I’m the only real God you’ve ever known. I’m the one and only God who delivers. ~ Hosea 13:4 (MSG)

This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He’s given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. ~ 1 John 4:13-14 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

God still delivers us.

PRAYER:

Generous God, you have been leading your people from day one. And you have been saving us -- delivering us from evil -- the whole time. Jesus is my Savior so I know that I'm saved, but I'm also stubborn. And I resist being led. Save me from myself. You are the only God I've ever known and through your Holy Spirit I am going to live my life connected to you. Amen.