The great things God has done

With our own ears we have heard it, O God— our ancestors have told us about it, about the great things you did in their time, in the days of long ago. ~ Psalm 44:1 (GNT)

What else can I say? There isn’t enough time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Their faith helped them conquer kingdoms, and because they did right, God made promises to them. They closed the jaws of lions and put out raging fires and escaped from the swords of their enemies. Although they were weak, they were given the strength and power to chase foreign armies away. ~ Hebrews 11:32-34 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

God has done great things through our ancestors.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you so much for all that you have done for us in the past. I confess, though, that I am feeling a bit anxious about the challenges we're all facing now. Please give me the faith to trust you to conquer the current enemies. Even though I'm weak I know that I can rely on you. Amen.

Global reconciliation through Christ

Everyone he has brought from the east and the west, the north and the south... you should praise the Lord for his love and for the wonderful things he does for all of us. ~ Psalm 107:3,8 (CEV)

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. ~ Colossians 1:19-20 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

God has made a global peace for the world through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus.

PRAYER:

We thank you, Lord, for your sacrifice on our behalf. We confess, though, that we don't pay so much attention to reconciliation. I mean, I appreciate how you have made peace with us through the cross. However, I conveniently overlook how that peace is supposed to happen throughout all of the creation. Give me eyes to see your peace at work and a heart for people from other cultures and places. I'm going to honor my Savior Jesus by living out the peace he has made with everything in heaven and on earth. Amen.

He's here

I chose you to bring justice, and I am here at your side. ~ Isaiah 42:6 (CEV)

Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.” ~ John 8:12 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

God walks with us to make the way forward clear.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord, for reassuring me of your presence. Sometimes I feel that I'm having to walk alone and in the dark. I think it's because I am not looking around to see you. Open my eyes, I want to see Jesus and the light that he brings to every situation. Help me to trust him -- especially with the complicated situation I'm in right now. I going to look around and follow your light. Amen

Beyond hopelessness

The 17th Sunday after Pentecost

Lord All-Powerful, I am your servant, but I am so miserable! Please let me have a son. I will give him to you for as long as he lives, and his hair will never be cut. ~ 1 Samuel 1:11 (CEV)

We call Abraham “father” not because he got God’s attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn’t that what we’ve always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, “I set you up as father of many peoples”? Abraham was first named “father” and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. ~ Romans 4:17 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

God often turns the hopeless situation into an example of power. So put your trust in him.

PRAYER:

Lord, our spiritual ancestors Abraham, Sarah, and Hannah all had to trust you for children. It appeared at first that nothing was going to happen. But because it was a part of your plan you turned hopeless situations into examples of your power. I wish I had that kind of faith to trust you. My faith is weak. Please make it stronger. I'm going to start by trusting that you will build up my faith. And then I am confident that you will be able to turn what is hopeless into a parade of hope. Thank you in advance for what you are going to do in my life. Amen.