Monday, December 18, 2023

GOD IN CHARGE

DANIEL 2:21 (CEB)
God is the one who changes times and eras,
who dethrones one king, only to establish another,
who grants wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those with insight.

LUKE 1:52 (CEV)
God drags strong rulers
from their thrones
and puts humble people
in places of power.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Humbly accept the fact that God has the final say.
 
DAILY FODDER
In some ways humility is the opposite of worry.

PRAYER
God, I accept that you are all powerful and all wise. But I confess that this doesn't stop me from worrying. There are so many powerful people abusing others. We need some strategic regime changes. Help me to accept your wisdom and timing. I'm going to continue to be concerned over the injustice but I'm going to trust you and leave all my worries in your hands.  Amen. 

Sunday, December 17, 2023

TRUSTWORTHY

The Third Sunday in Advent

NUMBERS 23:19 (CEB)
God isn’t a man that he would lie,
or a human being that he would change his mind.


2 CORINTHIANS 1:18-19 (NLT)
As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God is solid, so he is trustworthy.
 
DAILY FODDER
If God is trustworthy, his true agents should ooze with trustworthiness, too.

PRAYER
Faithful God, you keep your promises. Forgive me for being such a flake—trusting you one minute and then the next off trying to solve the problems of the world in my own way.  Help me to become your 110% reliable agent—pursuing your agenda in your way. I want to become an expression of your faithfulness representing Christ in our jaded world. 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.

Saturday, December 16, 2023

SATISFIED

JOEL 2:19 (CEV)
In answer to their prayers
he said,
“I will give you enough grain,
wine, and olive oil
to satisfy your needs"


MATTHEW 14:19-20 (NLT)
Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted...

SUMMARY SENTENCE
The Lord doesn't just string his people along with a survival diet but he provides all they need.
 
DAILY FODDER
God functions through an economy of abundance. How does this change the way that you relate to him?

PRAYER
Lord, I'm grateful that you are a generous patron and that you include me as both a receipent and a partner in generosity. I confess that I struggle with the mindset of scarcity that flows from a world and economy out of sync with you. Help me to receive and freely give without worry. I want to be that person who lives generously. 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, December 15, 2023

CHOPPY SEAS

PSALM 107:23-24,31 (NLT)
Some went off to sea in ships,
plying the trade routes of the world.
They, too, observed the LORD’s power in action,
his impressive works on the deepest seas...
Let them praise the LORD for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.


ACTS 28:1-2 (NLT)
Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. The people of the island were very kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
The Lord takes care of his people even in the wildest of places.
 
DAILY FODDER
What is the most powerful thing you have seen God do in your life?

PRAYER
Lord, make my life a Malta landing. So many people are adrift in this world, looking for a safe place to land. Cruel winds and unruly passengers crowd them to the edges of life. Make ma a harbor of hope or a vessel of kindness. Let your steadfast love burn brightly in my actions to welcome the weary. 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 2015 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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