MAINTAINING HOPE

1 CHRONICLES 29:15 (MSG)
As far as you’re concerned, we’re homeless, shiftless wanderers like our ancestors, our lives mere shadows, hardly anything to us.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:16 (MSG)
So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Through Christ we maintain hope in spite of our temporal, sometimes painful, lives.

DAILY FODDER
What tries to whittle away at your hope? How do you resist?

PRAYER
Eternal God, left to myself I am utterly hopeless. Praise and thanks to you, I am never left to myself. My life is gathered into the risen life of Christ. Alleluia! Inspire me to proclaim my great confidence in word and deed today, so that your peace may reign in other hearts, and your name be blessed. 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 in heaven.

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! 

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

PROVERBS 16:7 (CEV)
When we please the LORD,
even our enemies
make friends with us.

MATTHEW 5:44-45 (CEV)
But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you. Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
When we’re in sync with God and his ways we end up making friends out of enemies.

DAILY FODDER
Proverbs, such as 16:7, are intended to be rules of thumb rather than precise promises. But even if there are times when enemies succeed in resisting love, consider the overall positive impact that comes from loving our enemies.

PRAYER
Gracious God, while we were living as your enemies you were busy loving us and through Christ making a way for us to become a part of your family. I confess that I've been slow to adopt your approach to the negative people in my life.  It's really disruptive to my assumptions and attitudes. Give me a fresh vision for my enemies, and energy to pursue it. I'm going to do this Jesus' way. 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 in heaven.

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! 

SOLIDARITY

PROVERBS 31:8-9 (MSG)
“Speak up for the people who have no voice,
for the rights of all the misfits.
Speak out for justice!
Stand up for the poor and destitute!”

HEBREWS 13:3 (MSG)
Regard prisoners as if you were in prison with them. Look on victims of abuse as if what happened to them had happened to you.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Solidarity with the misfits is an important part of God's agenda for his people.

DAILY FODDER
Why does God seem so partial to misfits? Who are the most oppressed misfits of today? What is a small thing you can do today to start standing in solidarity with them? 

PRAYER
Merciful God, you clearly care about the marginalized and have spent so much of history standing in solidarity with misfits. Forgive me for being so partial toward those with power — those who in some way or another bolster my comfort level. Free me to break loose from my obsession with power. Give me eyes to see those who are oppressed and energy to stand in solidarity with them. I'm going to count on you for wisdom to do that in the most fruitful way. 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 in heaven.

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! 

PRAISE GOD, FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW

The 11th Sunday after Pentecost

JOB 9:10 (CEV)
Of all the miracles God works,
we cannot understand a one.

EPHESIANS 1:3 (NLT)
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
The gifts from God are too numerous to calculate and too deep to understand. Mystery.

DAILY FODDER
Why does God do things for us that we'll never be able to fully understand or appreciate? What does this suggest about how we pursue our relationship with him? 

PRAYER
Generous God, your activity is greater and deeper than what I realize. I admit that I try to appear to be a God-expert, pursuing and freely offering explainations. Sometimes I even convince myself that I know what you’re up to. But really, I'm pretty clueless. I do want to grow in appreciation so that I can better acknowledge your miracles, blessings, and generosity. Might such humble appreciation flow through my connection with Christ Jesus. 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 in heaven.

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!