Extravagance

You treat me to a feast,
      while my enemies watch.
You honor me as your guest,
     and you fill my cup
     until it overflows.
~ Psalm 23:5 (CEV)

Jesus was at Bethany visiting the house of Simon, who had a skin disease. During dinner, a woman came in with a vase made of alabaster and containing very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke open the vase and poured the perfume on his head. Some grew angry. They said to each other, "Why waste the perfume?"

Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why do you make trouble for her? She has done a good thing for me." ~ Mark 14:3-4, 6 (CEB)

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Extravagant generosity happens when Jesus is present.

PRAYER
I'm thankful, God, that you are never stingy. Forgive me for being like the complainers who miss the bigger picture and pinch pennies. Create in me a generous and wasteful spirit. I'm going to pass along the blessings you pour out on me. Amen.

Ask!

The 12th Sunday after Pentecost

All you people: Trust in him at all times!
Pour out your hearts before him!
God is our refuge! ~ Psalm 62:8 (CEB)

This is the confidence that we have in our relationship with God: If we ask for anything in agreement with his will, he listens to us. ~ 1 John 5:14 (CEB)

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Ask away! God is generous and gives whatever we request that is consistent with his agenda.

PRAYER
I am thankful, God, for your generosity. I get frustrated with my asking, though, because I'm sure that I ask for stupid things that are inconsistent with your will. Give me the wisdom to see what I should be requesting and the stamina to continue to turn to you alone for solutions. In retrospect, I'm grateful that you haven't given me everything I've requested. Amen.

Honor

The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings..." ~ Daniel 2:47 (NLT)

So at the name of Jesus
     everyone will bow down,
          those in heaven, on earth,
               and under the earth.
~ Philippians 2:10 (CEV)

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Honor Jesus above all.

PRAYER
Jesus, you are awesome -- turning the world upside down -- dying and rising to save us -- plotting a new course for all creation. Yet, we still give too much honor to the minor powers who are desperate for our adulation. Even, I, aware of their fallacies, still get sucked into enabling their pathologies. Guide me through this difficult terrain so that it is clear that I honor you -- and you alone. I bow before you. Amen.

Experts

You are weary from all your consultations... ~ Isaiah 47:13 (CEB)

About this time the disciples came to Jesus and asked him who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus called a child over and had the child stand near him. Then he said:
     I promise you this. If you don’t change
    and become like a child, you will never
    get into the kingdom of heaven.
~ Matthew 18:1-3 (CEV)

SUMMARY SENTENCE

Consult the humble if you want to know what God is up to.

PRAYER

Gracious God, you are worthy of all praise, for you sent your Son into the world, setting aside his position of power, to serve and die among us -- and for us. I confess that I revere the opinions of the world "experts" -- of which there seems to be no end -- rather than looking to the humble for direction. I, too, am weary of all these pundit consultations. Help me to focus on Jesus and the people he is drawing to his side. I'm going to let you shape my perspective on the situation. Amen.