Sunday, October 8, 2023

GOD'S GENEROSITY

The 19th Sunday after Pentecost

PSALM 16:6 (CEV)
You make my life pleasant,
and my future is bright.


2 CORINTHIANS 9:8 (NLT)
God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God consistently provides all we need, with plenty to share.

DAILY FODDER
How does God's limitless generosity affect how generous you are?

PRAYER
God of abundance, earthly freedom focuses on what I lack. The boundaries of your gracious kingdom bless me more abundantly than I can imagine. My brain can't make sense of it, yet my heart understands. Keep my eyes on your generous way, so I can share with others the abundance with which you bless each of us daily. 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! 

Saturday, October 7, 2023

FRESH STARTS

1 KINGS 18:37 (MSG)
Answer me, God; O answer me and reveal to this people that you are God, the true God, and that you are giving these people another chance at repentance.”

LUKE 22:32 (MSG)
Simon, I’ve prayed for you in particular that you not give in or give out. When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Pray for repentence.

DAILY FODDER
God seems eager for his people to experience fresh starts. Are you more eager to see people judged for their sins or to see them turn to God and get a fresh start?

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for inviting us to turn from sin to you and your ways. I confess that there are people I'd rather see burning in hell than experiencing fresh starts. Help me to turn from this self-focused narrow mindedness to your perspective. I'm praying for changes of heart and action. 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! 

Friday, October 6, 2023

JUST DO IT

JEREMIAH 7:23 (ABP)
Do as God says and you'll enjoy the benefts of his divine patronage. 

JOHN 8:31 (ABP)
Jesus: If you continue to do what I say to do, then you'll be one of my true followers.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Obedience is the thing that matters in our relationship with God.

DAILY FODDER
What keeps you from actually doing the things Jesus wants you to do?

PRAYER
God, I'm grateful that you want me as one of your followers. I know that you don't need me but you include me anyway. I, on the other hand, need you but often fail to include you as I make decisions and live my life. Continue to remind me of my call to live as one of your disciples. I'm going to prioritize doing what you ask me to do. 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! 

Thursday, October 5, 2023

GOD'S ACTIVITY REPORTS

JOSHUA 21:45 (MSG)
Not one word failed from all the good words God spoke to the house of Israel. Everything came out right.

LUKE 13:17 (NLT/alt)
...all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things Jesus did.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Get your daily lift by reviewing God's activity reports.

DAILY FODDER
What have you recently seen God do?

PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, that your word is good when you give it and reliable whenever I need it. I confess to having been more fickle than faithful in believing in your goodness and intentions toward me. Deliver me from my own "stinking thinking" that I might see and share with others how truly wonderful and faithful you are! 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! 

DAILYTEXTS.ORG

*ABOUT THE
DAILY TEXTS

The Daily Texts have been published by the Moravian Church since 1731. In 2011 I started posting these Bible verses for my spiritual formation students at Pacific Islands University. In the process of responding to the verses, I found the rhythm of looking for a common thread and writing a prayer based on that key idea to be helpful for my own soul.

The prayers are more or less modeled on the TRIP method, which is what I ask my students to do in their journaling. ~ Brad Boydston

TRANSLATIONS

ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase -- a freestyle biblical adaptation -- somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon

CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)

CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)

EEB = EasyEnglish Bible (©2015, MissionAssist)

ERV = Easy-To-Read Version (©2006, World Bible Translation Center)

GNT = Good News Translation (©1992, American Bible Society)

MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)

NCB = New Catholic Bible (©2019 by Catholic Book Publishing Corp.)

NCV = New Century Version (©2005, Thomas Nelson Inc)

NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)

NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)

NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)

NRSV = New Revised Standard Version (© 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.)

NTE = New Testament for Everyone (©2011 Nicolas Thomas Wright.)

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