Creative Generosity

You’re the one,
   God, you alone;
You made the heavens,
   the heavens of heavens, and all angels;
The earth and everything on it,
   the seas and everything in them;
You keep them all alive;
   heaven’s angels worship you!
~ Nehemiah 9:6 (MSG)

But he showed that he was there by the good things he did. God sends rain from heaven and makes your crops grow. He gives food to you and makes your hearts glad. ~ Acts 14:17 (CEV)

KEY THOUGHT:

Creation is evidence of God's creative generosity.

PRAYER:

God, you're THE ONE -- you alone. Thank you for all that you do for us. Thank you for the world in which we get to live. We confess a certain indifference to that very creation. We've become exploitive rather than creative. Renew your creativity in me so that as I begin to wonder again at the creation I might honor you the creator. Amen.

Mystery solver

The 4th Sunday in Lent

There is a God in heaven who solves mysteries... ~ Daniel 2:28a (MSG)

All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. ~ Colossians 2:3 (MSG)

KEY THOUGHT:

Christ is our window into the mysteries of God and his creation.

PRAYER:

Glorious God, you are the source of all knowledge -- of all that is wise. I'm honored that you would welcome me in your circle of friends. That, of course, is a mystery, too. I confess my complacency. Yes, I'm eager to tap into your treasury of knowledge and wisdom -- when it appears to be to my immediate benefit. Help me, then, to go deeper into what you choose to make available. I want to live my life in light of who you are and what you know. Amen.

God makes peace

The Lord said: I’ll make the country a place of peace—you’ll be able to go to sleep at night without fear... ~ Leviticus 26:6 (MSG)

Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel. ~ Philippians 4:7 (CEV)

KEY THOUGHT:

You can live with courage when you allow the peace of Christ to control your life.

PRAYER:

Lord God, thank you for making peace while most of the world wants to make trouble. I confess that I let it all get to me at times. Forgive me for failing to lean on you and flood my life with the peace that flows from Christ. I'm going to be soaking in your blessings! Amen!

Overcoming

In times of trouble, you will protect me. You will hide me in your tent and keep me safe on top of a mighty rock. ~ Psalm 27:5 (CEV)

Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:10 (MSG)

KEY THOUGHT:

Consider all the troubles in your life to be opportunities for the power of God to shine.

PRAYER:

Lord, I'm grateful that you are way more powerful than all the problems I face. I wish that I'd recognize this in the instant that each new problem emerges. But I'm dense and miss connecting the dots. I allow myself to get caught up in the drama of the moment. Settle me down and through the Holy Spirit give me clarity of thought so that I, too, can take it all in stride -- for the honor of Christ Jesus who overcomes all. Amen.