GOD IS HERE

PSALM 74:2 (MSG)
Refresh your memory of us—you bought us a long time ago.
Your most precious tribe—you paid a good price for us!

MATTHEW 18:20 (MSG)
And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
We may be a small group of misfits but God still remembers us, his precious people.

DAILY FODDER
What's wrong with thinking that in the church bigger is better? What's right in thinking that in the church bigger is better?

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for being present with us—even though we're an unimpressive lot. Forgive us for thinking that we don't amount to much because we are a rag tag crew struggling to hold things together. Help us to recognize your presence and respond accordingly. We're not much to look at but because you're with us we can be a part of your operation to remodel the world through Christ. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
We hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening there.

Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil.
Amen!

GOD'S ACTIONS

PSALM 150:2 (CEV)
Praise our God!
His deeds are wonderful,
too marvelous to describe.

ROMANS 1:20 (CEB)
Ever since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities—God’s eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through the things God has made. So humans are without excuse.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God's actions through creation speak loudly (to those willing to listen).

DAILY FODDER
How has the created environment spoken to you today about who God is?

PRAYER
All earth and heaven sing of your glory, O God. I am grateful to join the chorus of creation. I regret that I don't always pause to enjoy the holy harmony that hums around me. In this moment, help me to listen to the ways the environment surrounding me sings your praise. Maybe that's enough for today. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
We hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening there.

Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil.
Amen!

SELECTIVE LISTENING

HOSEA 8:12 (MSG)
I write out my revelation for them in detail
and they pretend they can’t read it.

MATTHEW 7:24 (CEB)
Everybody who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise builder who built a house on bedrock.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
When it comes to God stuff what matters is that we listen and act accordingly.

DAILY FODDER
When I was a child my mother chided me by saying, "You only hear what you want to hear." Selective listening can be a sign of immaturity or a matter of survival in a world with a cacophony of input. To whom are you as an adult selectively listening?

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for the gift of instruction. I confess that I don't consistently pay attention, though, because your words always require changing something. Give me ears to hear and energy to act accordingly. I'm not going to tune you out or be afraid of change. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
We hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening there.

Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil.
Amen!

TRANSFORMING SADNESS

The 7th Sunday after Pentecost

ISAIAH 25:8 (MSG)
GOD will wipe the tears from every face.

JOHN 16:20 (MSG)
...your sadness will develop into gladness.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
If you stick with him long enough, you realize God is in the business of transforming our frustration and grief into gladness.

DAILY FODDER
It's really difficult to receive the promise of transformation when we're surrounded by a dark cloud of sadness. This is why we begin the process of absorbing this information prior to the arrival of tough times. Of course, we can't really grok what it all means until the cloud sets in. 

PRAYER
Compassionate Comforter, you know my anguish and take the burden of my pain as your own. Thank you for the great exchange of my grief for your grace, my sadness for your joy. Help me to let go of guilt and shame and live as a beloved child of God so I may share your joy with others. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
We hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening there.

Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil.
Amen!