SUFFERING

ISAIAH 33:2 (CEV)
Make us strong each morning,
and come to save us
when we are in trouble.

REVELATION 7:13-14, 16 (CEV)
    "Do you know who these people are that are dressed in white robes? Do you know where they come from?"
    "Sir," I answered, "you must know."
   Then he told me:
"These are the ones
who have gone through
the great suffering.
They have washed their robes
in the blood of the Lamb
and have made them white.
They will never again be hungry or thirsty;
they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun."

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Our daily prayer is that God would give us the strength to endure without crumbling the suffering that comes. 

DAILY FODDER
Why bother with anything that involves suffering?

PRAYER
Savior God, you are at our sides when we endure suffering. You're the one who gets us through the hard times. Forgive us for thinking and acting as though the strength is ours. Help me to keep the attention where it belongs — on you. I'm going to gratefully live in your powerful shadow. 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 will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

FICKLE?

EZRA 8:22 (MSG)
Our God lovingly looks after all those who seek him, but turns away in disgust from those who leave him.

JOHN 6:67 (CEV)
Jesus then asked his twelve disciples if they also were going to leave him.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
People are fickle and in spite of all Jesus has done not everyone will stick with him. 

DAILY FODDER
What makes you think that you can stick with Jesus for the long haul? 

PRAYER
Generous God, you've done so much for us, yet, we're flakey disciples. And I include myself in that indictment. Please don’t give up on me. My desire is to be faithful even when I act and think otherwise. I'm trusting in your mercy and the ongoing renewal that your Holy Spirit is working out in my life. 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 will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

GO WITH JOY

JEREMIAH 31:16 (CEB)
The LORD proclaims:
Keep your voice from crying
and your eyes from weeping,
because your endurance will be rewarded,
declares the LORD.

JOHN 16:22 (CEB)
Jesus says, "You have sorrow now; but I will see you again, and you will be overjoyed. No one takes away your joy."

SUMMARY SENTENCE

Hang in there because whatever you're going through will pass and you'll experience a fresh wave of the Lord's joy. 

DAILY FODDER
But what if what you're going through is a terminal illness? How will you ever be able to experience the Lord's joy again?

PRAYER
Thank you, Jesus, for the joy you bring into my life. I confess that I let circumstances drain the joy sometimes. But you are a constant source. Help me to tap into your gift on an even deeper level. I want to be the kind of person who lets negative circumstances slide off my back, as water goes off a duck. I'm going to go with your joy. 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 will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

TESTING

Ascension Sunday

PSALM 66:10 (CEB)
But you, God, have tested us—
you’ve refined us like silver...

JOHN 21:17 (CEB)
   Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
   Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.”
   Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.’

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God often takes us along the more strenuous paths to build our spiritual endurance.

DAILY FODDER
How has God been testing you? What do you think he hopes to accomplish through this training regiment he's putting you through?

PRAYER
God, you are the great refiner. Amind my doubts and failures, you know my heart. Instead of tossing me aside, you expertly scrape away my impurities and seek your reflection in my melted metal. Thank you for purifying me through these trials. With your spirit, strengthen my faithfulness and restore me to serve you and your kingdom. 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 will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.