CHOOSE LIFE

DEUTERONOMY 30:19 (CEB)
I have set life and death, blessing and curse before you. Now choose life—so that you and your descendants will live...

JOHN17:3 (MSG)
And this is the real and eternal life:
That they know you,
The one and only true God,
And Jesus Christ, whom you sent.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Choose to follow Christ if you desire to experience the real unending life that God offers.

PRAYER
Giver of life, God of all that lives! You know me way better than I can ever know you. Thank you for being in my life and filling it with richness beyond description. Help me to follow Christ in a more personal and intimate way so that his life takes over and transforms my life into something that goes on forever. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name; your Kingdom come; your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

CLOSE TO YOU

PSALM 16:8 (ABP)
I always stay close to GOD. I'm not worried about tripping up because he is right there to grab onto me if I stumble.

ACTS 26:22 (CEB)
God has helped me up to this very day. Therefore, I stand here and bear witness to the lowly and the great.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God stays close to help us carry on.

PRAYER
Your gospel, Lord, is solid ground on which my footing is secure, so I can proclaim your promises. Remind me that before I can stand, I kneel in gratitude for your salvation. And when I rise to speak, it is always in the shadow of the cross, the solid ground on which you gave me your life. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name; your Kingdom come; your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

PLEASING CHRIST

EZEKIEL 33:17 (MSG)
Your people say, “The Master’s way isn’t fair.” But it’s the way they’re living that isn’t fair.

EPHESIANS 5:10 (MSG)
Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
The fog clears as we focus on pleasing Christ.

PRAYER
Great God, you are full of mystery. Yet, your agenda is clear enough to act according to your will. How is it, then, that I continue to live so much of my life with head in the clouds or buried in the sand -- worried about how complicated things seem? Help me to refocus on pleasing Christ in all that I do. It's as simple as that. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name; your Kingdom come; your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

TOWARD PEACE

The 3rd Sunday after Pentecost

PSALM 71:20 (MSG)

You, who made me stare trouble in the face,
Turn me around;
Now let me look life in the face.

JOHN 14:27 (MSG)

I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
We can look to God to turn things around toward peace.

PRAYER

Jesus, Prince of Peace, you came into the world to turn things around. The older I get the more disconcerting I find the turmoil generated by the world. I admit that sometimes I get totally frustrated by it all. Forgive me for doubting the success of your mission. Encourage us with some news about how things are moving in your peace-loving direction. Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name; your Kingdom come; your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.