THE GOOD LIFE

AMOS 6:6 (MSG)
Woe to those addicted to feeling good—life without pain!
those obsessed with looking good—life without wrinkles!
They could not care less about their country going to ruin.

1 TIMOTHY 6:17-19 (MSG)
Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Pursue "God's good" over the "good life" and you'll end up with a real life.

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for the great life that you have given to me. Forgive me for the times when I obsess on things that are related to the appearance of wealth and security. Walk me through the process of becoming extravagantly generous. I'm going to focus on the kinds of riches that matter most. Amen.

FOR ALL

PSALM 98:3 (MSG)
The whole earth comes to attention.
Look—God’s work of salvation!

MARK 4:21 (NTE)
Jesus said to them, ‘When you bring a lamp into a room, do you put it under a bucket, or under a bed? Of course not! It goes on a lampstand."

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God's salvation isn't just for an elite group that really gets into some kind of esoteric spiritual experience or has religious knowledge.

PRAYER
Lord God, thank you for putting your good news out there for everyone. Forgive me for my smug and insular mindset which subtly makes everything about my relationship with you. Expand my vision and passion for the people of the world. Help me to become outwardly focused with your good news, which is for all people -- everywhere. In Jesus' name, Amen.

GOD'S COMPASSION

ISAIAH 57:15 (CEB)
I live on high, in holiness,
     and also with the crushed 

     and the lowly,
     reviving the spirit of the lowly,
     reviving the heart of those who have been crushed.

MARK 6:34 (MSG)
When Jesus arrived, he saw this huge crowd. At the sight of them, his heart broke—like sheep with no shepherd they were. He went right to work teaching them.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God is full of compassion for the crushed and disoriented.

PRAYER
Good Shepherd God, thank you for seeing how needy I am. Thank you for reaching out -- for sending Christ into the world to shepherd us. I confess that in spite of your care I let things get to me. There is so much discouragement in the world and I focus on it rather than on you and your compassionate protection. Open my eyes. Revive my heart. Lift my spirit. I'm going to move forward under your watchful eye. Amen.

ONE

Christ the King Sunday

ISAIAH 43:11 (MSG)
I, yes I, am GOD.
I’m the only Savior there is.

EPHESIANS 4:5-6 (MSG)
You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Stick with the one God.

PRAYER
God, it's clear that you are the one who matters and you rule over everything. But I have wandering eyes. Save me from drifting away from you and your salvation. I'm going to be satisfied with the one and only solution to a fragmented life. Amen.