Shine!

Our Lord, you bless those who join in the festival and walk in the brightness of your presence. ~ Psalm 89:15 (CEV)

So act like people of the light and make your light shine. Be good and honest and truthful... ~ Ephesians 5:8-9 (CEV)

KEY THOUGHT:

As people formed by the light of Christ we reflect his brightness.

PRAYER:

Thank you, God, for your shining presence. You are here -- glorious pulsating light. Forgive me for my ho-hum response. Continue to remake me in the light of your brightness. I'm going to shine the light of Christ through my life. Amen.

Wait for it

O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. ~ Psalm 71:17 (NLT)

Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God,
“Lord, I am your servant,
   and now I can die in peace,
   because you have kept
   your promise to me.
With my own eyes I have seen
   what you have done
   to save your people..." 
~ Luke 2:28-30 (CEV)

KEY THOUGHT:

Those who wait it out will see the wonders of God.

PRAYER:

Lord God of peace, thank you for bringing us salvation. This is a day to honor you and lift up your greatness. You have kept us in the faith from the time of our baptism and opened our eyes to see all you have accomplished in Jesus. Until our eyelids close, may we always give you thanks. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)

Joy

I will... be glad about my people. No one will ever hear the sound of weeping or crying in it again. ~ Isaiah 65:19 (CEB)

So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. ~ John 16:22 (NLT)

KEY THOUGHT:

Jesus is the source of our joy.

PRAYER:

Compassionate God, thank you for being here for us in the midst of trying times. I confess that I let it all get to me sometimes and I get discouraged. Fill me with the joy that comes through Jesus -- the joy which transcends even pandemics. I'm going to allow your joy to overcome the sadness and discouragement. Amen.

A new kind of temple

People from far away will come and build the Lord’s temple... ~ Zechariah 6:15a (CEB)

Christ is building you into a place where God lives through the Spirit. ~ Ephesians 2:22 (CEB)

KEY THOUGHT:

Christ is building us all, people from across the world, into a new temple -- a dwelling for himself.

PRAYER:

God, everytime I become anxious about the problems of the world, I thank you for coming here to set things right. Toward that end you've called us together to be a diverse community faithful to the presence of Christ. Sometimes, though, we, including me, are a part of the problem. We're eager to build temples to honor ourselves. So help us to recapture our purpose. I'm going to become a block in the life changing temple you're building. Amen.