LISTEN TO THE SAINTS

All Saints Day

DEUTERONOMY 32:7 (MSG)
Read up on what happened before you were born;
dig into the past, understand your roots.
Ask your parents what it was like before you were born;
ask the old-ones, they’ll tell you a thing or two.

2 TIMOTHY 1:5 (CEB)
I’m reminded of your authentic faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice. I’m sure that this faith is also inside you.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
As you consider how you are going to live out your faith make sure you listen to the voices of the saints who have preceded you. 

DAILY FODDER
How do we short-change our spiritual ancestors by ignoring their voices? How should we be listening to these saints?

PRAYER
God, I'm thankful today for all the saints who have preceded us in faith. Forgive my historical indifference, acting as though I have to reinvent the wheel in order for it to be genuine. School me in listening to those who have gone before us in faith. I recognize that your Spirit was at work long before I arrived on the scene. 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! 

UNWORTHY BUT...

Reformation Day

ISAIAH 64:6 (CEV)

We are unfit to worship you;

each of our good deeds

is merely a filthy rag.

LUKE 15:21-22 (NLT)
   His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.
   “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him.'

SUMMARY SENTENCE
The sooner we recognize our unworthiness to relate to God, the sooner we're in a healthy relationship with him.

DAILY FODDER
Notice the paradox. It's only as we recognize how unworthy we are to be in a relationship with God that we can be in relationship with him. Why is that? What does this tell us about God?

PRAYER
Loving God, in spite of our unworthiness you run to us and embrace us. Forgive my hesitation to return your embrace. It doesn't feel right until it does. Help me to fully embrace the mystery of your grace. I'm going to live a life defined by your mercy. 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! 

CHRIST IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

ISAIAH 32:17 (CEB)
The fruit of righteousness will be peace,
and the outcome of righteousness,
calm and security forever.

1 JOHN 2:29 (NET)
If you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by him.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Since Christ Jesus is the embodiment of righteousness, all who are related to him practice his righteousness.

DAILY FODDER
Since it's the life of Christ flowing through us, we are trusting that life to flower as righteousness in our lives. This frees us from trying to come up with right living on our own but it also means that it won't happen if we drift from him.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, you are our "go to man" for righteousness and justice. Please forgive me for trying to make it all happen apart from you. There is no way to live right apart from you. Draw me closer so that your righteousness flows freely through me. I'm eager to experience and share the peace that comes from living out your righteousness. 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! 

ADOPTED

The 22nd Sunday after Pentecost

ISAIAH 57:11 (MSG)
“Who talked you into the pursuit of this nonsense,
leaving me high and dry,
forgetting you ever knew me?
Because I don’t yell and make a scene,
do you think I don’t exist?

ROMANS 8:15 (NLT)
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Live as an adopted child of God.

DAILY FODDER
What difference does having God as your father make in your daily life?

PRAYER
Our Father, thank you for including me in your family. I didn't even have to do anything to impress you or gain your attention. Help me to live as an adopted child. I'm going to allow you to build me a new identity around the family name. 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!