FACING TROUBLE

ISAIAH 25:4 (ABP)
When tyrants blast us like a hurricane, you, O GOD, are the strong shelter protecting vulnerable people from the wind and the rain. You are the hiding place during such storms—shade during intense heat.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:11 (MSG)
We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives!

SUMMARY SENTENCE
The resurrection life of Jesus is evident in our lives as we face troubles.

DAILY FODDER
How do the trials in your life highlight the resurrection life?

PRAYER
I'm grateful, God, that you are a shelter during challenging times. Forgive me for allowing the fear of difficulty to dominate my thinking. I get so annoyed with our political leaders and I engage in worry over my place in society. Free me from such thinking so that I immediately turn and trust in your emergency management skills. I know that you are the most trustworthy solution. 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! 

APPROVAL

ZEPHANIAH 3:12 (MSG)
I’ll leave a core of people among you
who are poor in spirit—
What’s left of Israel that’s really Israel.
They’ll make their home in God.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:28-29 (MSG)
Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Quit tooting your own horn to build up your image; because God chooses to work through the nobodies of the world.

DAILY FODDER
Whose approval matters to you?

PRAYER
Gracious God, thank you for choosing to partner with people like me  — people who slide under almost everyone's radar. Forgive me for thinking that if I could only have more of an approving audience I could have more impact for you. Help me to become comfortable and confident in a humble spot of service. I'm going to be happy with your approval. 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! 

TAMING THE DESIRE FOR WEALTH

PROVERBS 10:2 (NLT)
Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life.

LUKE 19:8 (CEV)
Later that day Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “I will give half of my property to the poor. And I will now pay back four times as much to everyone I have ever cheated.”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
The only kind of wealth that has any value in God's economy is that which emerges from right living.

DAILY FODDER
Why in the Bible is right living so often characterized as the opposite of being wealthy?

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for granting me the fullness of life that truly satisfies and rearranges my priorities. Deliver me from my excessive need for things, especially the desires that cause them. Show me where my choices offend or hurt others so I may come clean and learn to restore with joy what has been lost by my actions. 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! 

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!