SHARE

ISAIAH 58:7 (NLT)
Share your food with the hungry...

HEBREWS 13:16 (NLT)
And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
The thing that really pleases God is when we make a habit out of sharing with those in need.

DAILY FODDER
When was the last time you shared something with someone in need?

PRAYER
Generous God, you've been sharing from the beginning -- creation itself, then the responsibility to manage it with you, then when we botched things up, your Son made a big sacrifice to share new life with us. I learned to share small things as a child, but haven't really taken the whole sharing thing to an adult level, yet. Immerse me so much in the life of Christ that sharing with those in need becomes my second nature. I'm going to be looking today for someone in need. 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! 

PATIENCE

ISAIAH 49:4 (MSG)
I said, “I’ve worked for nothing.
I’ve nothing to show for a life of hard work.
Nevertheless, I’ll let God have the last word.
I’ll let him pronounce his verdict.”

JAMES 5:7 (CEV)
My friends, be patient until the Lord returns. Think of farmers who wait patiently for the autumn and spring rains to make their valuable crops grow.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Don't let the injustices of life drag you down but wait patiently for the Lord to make things right.

DAILY FODDER
What is challenging your patience right now? How will the coming of the Lord set things right in that regard?

PRAYER
Faithful God, encourage me by the spirit of Christ to rest in your creative power. Give me the patience of a wise farmer to trust in you to grant life in abundance. Help me to surrender my need to manipulate growth. Raise me up through Christ to abide in his love and to serve with his purpose and fullness. 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! 

COME TOGETHER

ISAIAH 49:3 (MSG)
GOD said to me, “You’re my dear servant,
Israel, through whom I’ll shine.”

ACTS 10:36 (MSG)
The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone. 

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God wants to shine through us all — whether we're old–schoolers or up and coming zoomers.

DAILY FODDER
If Christ is putting everything together again it follows that his people will be about coming together from all their different places. 

PRAYER
Thank you, Christ Jesus, for coming into the world to initiate radical reconciliation. You mended the connection between God and people so that we can be on talking terms again. And you've called us to step out of the established patterns and to be reconciled to each other. I admit that I'm prone to take the pathes of least resistance and to limit my relationships to the people most like me. Expand my vision until it is your vision of bringing everyone together under your banner. I'm going to initiate relationships with people who are unlike me so that what you've done will shine. 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! 

TASTE!

ISAIAH 63:7 (MSG)
I’ll make a list of God’s gracious dealings,
   all the things God has done that need praising,
All the generous bounties of God,
   his great goodness to the family of Israel—
Compassion lavished,
   love extravagant.

1 PETER 2:3 (ABP)
You've had a taste of the Lord's goodness.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Ours is to experience the outrageous goodness of God. Bon appetite!

DAILY FODDER
What are the first five items on the list of all the great things God has done for you today? 

PRAYER
Generous God, your gifts exceed any list I could make. But I know that I've got to stop using that overwhelming reality as an excuse for not trying. Show me how to regularly pause and savor your goodness. Let it shape who I am and the world I'm creating around me. I'm going to spend the rest of my eternal life celebrating all of what you've done that needs praising. 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!