The Spirit

You sent your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not stop giving them manna from heaven or water for their thirst. ~ Nehemiah 9:20 (NLT)

I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you.. ~ John 14:26 (MSG)

SUMMARY SENTENCE

God not only sends us what we need to survive but he sends his Spirit to live among us so we can thrive.

PRAYER

Again, God, I thank you for taking care of me through this difficult time. I confess that I don't understand what's really going on and sometimes I let it all get to me. I demand more control. Calm me with your gentle Spirit so that I can begin to hear what you're saying through all of this. I trust that you, Friend, are still speaking -- even through the ancient words of scripture. Amen.

Live it!

The 6th Sunday in Eastertide

May the Lord help us obey him and follow all the laws and teachings... ~ 1 Kings 8:58a (CEV)

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. ~ Colossians 2:6-7 (MSG)

SUMMARY SENTENCE

Live out your faith in the ordinary -- tangible and intangible -- happenings of life.

PRAYER

Thank you, dear God, for the gift of Christ and all that he means to me. I confess, though, that at times my faith is no more than emotional attachment to him. Help me to go deeper and wider so that Christ defines every aspect -- every moment -- every thought -- every interaction -- of my life. I'm going to live according to him and it's going to spill over with more thanksgiving than I can contain. Amen.

Invest in what lasts

Look up at the skies,
   ponder the earth under your feet.
The skies will fade out like smoke,
   the earth will wear out like work pants,
   and the people will die off like flies.
But my salvation will last forever,
   my setting-things-right will never be obsolete.
~ Isaiah 51:6 (MSG)

Jesus said: The sky and the earth won’t last forever, but my words will. ~ Luke 21:33 (CEV)

SUMMARY SENTENCE

Invest in what lasts.

PRAYER

God, you have given me so much for which I am grateful. Even though many of the gifts are temporal in nature your generosity is unending -- like your salvation and your message to us. I confess that I get overly attached to the temporary aspects of life and don't emphasize enough that which is unending. Continue to school me in how to invest my life in what lasts. I'm going to go after the things which matter most to you. Amen.

Just call

The LORD heard our call. God saw our misery, our trouble, and our oppression. ~ Deuteronomy 26:7b (CEB)

Won’t God provide justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he be slow to help them? ~ Luke 18:7 (CEB)

SUMMARY SENTENCE

The Lord responds to the cries of his people.

PRAYER

Thank you, God, for listening. Forgive me for doubting when things aren't happening as fast or in the manner I expect. Help me to trust you and your timetable. I'm going to move forward today with confidence that you're involved in making things right. Amen.