THE GOOD AND BAD TIMES

The Third Sunday after Epiphany

JOB 2:10 (MSG)
We take the good days from God—why not also the bad days?

ROMANS 8:28 (CEB)
We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.

SUMMARY SENTENCE

We gain confidence as we recognize that God weaves together both the good and bad things that happen to work out his plan.

DAILY FODDER
How have the difficult times in your life increased your confidence in God's planning?

PRAYER
Loving Father, it's good to know that from your eternal perch above the world, you're able to weave order from chaos. Even though I know this, it is still hard to accept that you're fully present in the hard times. Restore my sense of call so that the tough times don't drain me but recharge my faith in you. I'm going to trust you through the good and the bad times. 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.

THROUGH CHRIST

JEREMIAH 10:12 (CEB)
God made the earth by his might;
     he shaped the world by his wisdom,
     crafted the skies by his knowledge.

COLOSSIANS 1:17 (GNT)
Christ existed before all things, and in union with him, all things have their proper place.

SUMMARY SENTENCE

Through Christ, God shaped the world and he continues to hold it together.

DAILY FODDER
Why hasn't God given up on the world he created?

PRAYER
Thank you, Creator God, for the world in which we live. I confess, though, my frustration with the way things appear to be going. It's a mystery as to why you allow things to get so out of hand. Give me the wisdom to keep my whining mouth shut and the faith that you are working out all things according to the plan of Christ. I'm going to trust that you know what you are doing and that you are doing it. 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.

SATISFIED

PROVERBS 30:8 (CEB)
Don’t give me either poverty or wealth;
give me just the food I need.

1 TIMOTHY 6:7-8 (CEV)
We didn't bring anything into this world, and we won't take anything with us when we leave. So we should be satisfied just to have food and clothes.

SUMMARY SENTENCE

The wise person is satisfied with the basics.

DAILY FODDER
Are the basics for a content life different from place to place or at various stages in our lives? I live a fairly simple life but I have access to technology and comfort that even the wealthiest person of 200 years past would never have dreamt of. I need to live a simple life in the time and space in which God has placed me.

PRAYER
Generous God, you have given me more than enough. Yet, I struggle to be satisfied. My desire for more newer and better distracts me from my desire to know you more. Give me the wisdom needed to live a content life in this time and space. I think I'll be surprised at how little I actually need. 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.

SINGLEMINDEDNESS

1 KINGS 18:21 (CEB)
Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you hobble back and forth between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow God. If Baal is God, follow Baal.”

MATTHEW 6:24 (CEB)
You cannot serve God and wealth.

SUMMARY SENTENCE

Serve the Lord with singlemindedness.

DAILY FODDER
What or who competes with God for your allegiance?

PRAYER
Glorious God, you have proven that you are worthy of our focused attention. But I'm not so good at focusing on anything for more than a few seconds. I've allowed the disjointed world to shape how I deal with every relationship. Reshape my life at the foundational level so that I can become a consistent singleminded follower of 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.