Monday, June 3, 2024

FOR ALL PEOPLE

2 KINGS 19:15 (NLT)
You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth.

ROMANS 10:12 (CEV)
...no matter if that person is a Jew or a Gentile. There is only one Lord, and he is generous to everyone who asks for his help.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God is the creator and savior of all.

DAILY FODDER
What drives Christians to become so tribalistic? 

PRAYER
Precious Savior, thank you for stretching out your hands on the cross for the sins of all people. I am sorry that I often develop a club mentality and forget that forgiveness is for everyone. Help me to keep your name always on my lips both to praise you and proclaim your mercy to the nations. Amen. (Daily TextsGround 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.

Sunday, June 2, 2024

DAILY

The Second Sunday after Pentecost

PSALM 23:6 (CEB)
Yes, goodness and faithful love
will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the LORD’s house
as long as I live.


ACTS 2:46-47 (CEB)
Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Interacting with God and his goodness isn't just a Sunday activity for the followers of Jesus.

DAILY FODDER
What does meeting together daily in the temple and sharing food together look like in 2024?

PRAYER
God, you are good—all the time. Forgive me for blocking your hospitality as you've sought to extend it through me. I know that ultimately your goodness will cut fresh channels for the flow. Help me to live daily in your presence so that I can be a part of that flow. I want to live in the house of the Lord forever so that your goodness flows forever through 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 will protect us from all forms of evil. 
Amen.

Saturday, June 1, 2024

OUTPOURING

1 SAMUEL 1:15 (NLT)
I was pouring out my heart to the LORD.

LUKE 7:38 (CEB)
Standing behind him at his feet and crying, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured the oil on them.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God isn't rattled when we pour ourselves out to him.

DAILY FODDER
Why does it feel both awkward and natural to pour our hearts out to God?

PRAYER
Dear Lord, I feel so blessed to be able to worship you. Thank you for allowing me to be so close to you, to share my life with you, and to serve you. When I feel dried up, you pour out your mercy upon me. Renew me today with your holy presence. In your precious name, I pray.  Amen. (Daily TextsGround 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.

Friday, May 31, 2024

ACCOUNTABILITY

ISAIAH 45:24 (ABP)
    All who have ranted and raved against GOD will be put to shame when they have to answer to him.

MARK 14:61-62 (NLT)
    Then the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
    Jesus said, “I AM. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
There is no avoiding divine accountability.

DAILY FODDER
The good news is that all who partner with Jesus will be able to claim his righteousness as their own at the point of accountability.

PRAYER
Almighty God, there is no escaping your powerful judgment. We pretend that what we do has no real consequence. Forgive us for that insult and help us to find relief through the righteousness of the resurrected Christ. Thank you for his advocacy on our behalf. I'm going to move forward with confidence, according to his ways, because I trust him. 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.

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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