ONLY GOD'S AGENDA

NUMBERS 22:18 (MSG)
Balaam answered Balak’s servants: "Even if Balak gave me his house stuffed with silver and gold, I wouldn’t be able to defy the orders of my God to do anything, whether big or little."

ACTS 5:29 (MSG)
Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than humans!"

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Take a stand to do only God's bidding.
 
DAILY FODDER
In your experience, how often do you have to put your foot down and say, "We must obey God rather than humans!"?

PRAYER
Almighty God, I'm grateful that you reveal enough of your will that we can discern what to do in most situations. I confess that sometimes I get sucked into advancing the agenda of the world—an agenda that is contrary to yours. Give me a spine to take a stand for you and wisdom as to the best way to do that. I'm here to advance YOUR agenda as revealed through Christ Jesus. 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.

JESUS-GENEROUS

PSALM 54:6 (CEV)

I will bring a gift

and offer a sacrifice

to you, LORD.

I will praise your name

because you are good.

MARK 12:42 (ABP)
A poor widow woman brought two measly coins and dropped them into the offering box.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Heartfelt generosity is an essential element of genuine faith.
 
DAILY FODDER
Would Jesus consider you to be a generous person?

PRAYER
Generous God, you've given us the greatest gift—your Son incarnate—our Risen Savior. On top of that, you continue to fill my life with good gifts. Yet, generosity seems like such an effort for me. Do I have trouble trusting you? Am I worried that your generosity will dry up leaving me in a pickle? Soften my heart and loosen my fingers. I want to become Jesus-generous. After all, because of your generosity, he lives in me. 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.

2024

ISAIAH 7:4 (MSG)
Listen, calm down. Don’t be afraid. And don’t panic...

LUKE 4:18-21 (MSG)
God’s Spirit is on me;
he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor,
Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and
recovery of sight to the blind,
To set the burdened and battered free,
to announce, “This is God’s time to shine!”

Jesus rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in, “You’ve just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place.”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Chill and expect 2024 to be a year for God to shine.
 
DAILY FODDER
There is a lot happening in the world that might induce panic. God wants us to calm down and trust him to do great things that line up with his kingdom.

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for getting me to this point and for taking care of all my needs. I do worry over the future and what it might bring – especially during this election year and with so much war around the world. I want to box up all of those fears and entrust them into your care. I'm going to focus instead on how you are shining in the midst of darkness. You're the best and I'm looking forward to doing 2024 with you. 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.

LOVE, MERCY, AND HOPE

The First Sunday after Christmas

ISAIAH 54:7 (CEB)
For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with great mercy I will bring you back.

2 THESSALONIANS 2:16-17 (CEV)
God our Father loves us. He treats us with undeserved grace and has given us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope. We pray that our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father will encourage you and help you always to do and say the right thing.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
When we're ready God pulls out all the stops to envelope us in his love and mercy so that we can live righteously.
 
DAILY FODDER
Why does God let us stray for a while?

PRAYER
Merciful God, even when I feel alone because I've drifted from you, it is comforting to know that you are circling back around to pour out your mercy again. Forgive me for thinking that I've been totally abandoned when it is actually me who has left you. Fill me with hope as we get reacquainted and I learn to trust you. I'm looking forward to a new year defined by the love, mercy, and hope that is mine in Christ Jesus. 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.