Growth

The Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany

Their community will be established before me. ~ Jeremiah 30:20 (CEB)

Christ is the one who holds the building together and makes it grow into a holy temple for the Lord. ~ Ephesians 2:21 (CEV)

KEY THOUGHT:

Christ Jesus is the one who holds the church together as he grows it.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Jesus, for creating communities of faith and helping them to grow. I confess that I take too much responsibility for the growth of the church on myself. It's easy to do as I get passionate about your mission. Help me to better understand my role and to relax as I trust in your growing abilities. I'm going to let YOU grow me as you grow your church. Amen.

Self deception

You people of Israel accuse me of being unfair! But listen—I’m not unfair; you are! ~ Ezekiel 18:25 (CEV)

If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn’t in our hearts. But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. ~ 1 John 1: 8-9 (CEV)

KEY THOUGHT:

Self deception will get you nowhere.

PRAYER:

Gracious Lord, you accept us even though we're sinners. Yet, we, including I, minimize our sinfulness. Save me from my self deception so that I can full enjoy the grace that you have extended to us through Christ Jesus. Amen.

God cares for all that he has created

So God formed from the dirt of the ground all the animals of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the Man to see what he would name them. Whatever the Man called each living creature, that was its name. The Man named the cattle, named the birds of the air, named the wild animals... ~ Genesis 2:19-20 (MSG)

Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more than birds? ~ Matthew 6:26 (CEV)

KEY THOUGHT:

God cares for all that he has created.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Creator God, for calling us into life. You care for each creature. I often feel disconnected from that care. Help me to see that if you care for the critters of the world that you certainly care for me, too. I'm going to see the value in the animals so that I can undertand the greater value you place on people. Amen.

Hearing and doing

But I have spoken to you again and again, and you haven’t listened to me. ~ Jeremiah 35:14b (CEB)

Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” ~ Luke 11:28 (NLT)

KEY THOUGHT:

God expects us to listen and do.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for talking to us. I'm all ears -- but so often your words go in one ear and out the other. Help me to be a true doer of your true message. I'm going to really hear what you are saying. Amen.