DEEPER

PSALM 119:77 (ABP)
Flood my life with your compassion so that I can live.

PHILIPPIANS 1:9 (NLT)
I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Ask God to flood your life with his love and mercy so that you can float into a full life.

DAILY FODDER
What are you asking God to do with your life? 

PRAYER
Loving God, today I'm grateful for how your love grows in my life. I feel good about that but I recognize that I need to grow a lot more. Help me live according to your love so that your compassion and mercy will overflow from my life into others around me. I recognize that Jesus is the source. Because of what you've done through him my life has meaning. 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 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.

SHARING GOOD NEWS

The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

PSALM 22:22 (ABP)
GOD, I will raise your great name with my brothers and sisters when we gather.

GALATIANS 1:11 (CEB)
Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that the gospel I preached isn’t human in origin.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Our lives are about sharing the good news of Jesus.

DAILY FODDER
How are you sharing the good news today? 

PRAYER
Your name and your word are so beautiful, Father. Thank you for the many ways you provide for me to share the gospel with those around me. Sometimes this means with words, other times with my hands and feet, and at other times with my time and talents. Prepare me to express your gracious love to my neighbors today.  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 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.

COME TO JESUS

PSALM 6:2-3 (CEB)
Have mercy on me, LORD,
   because I’m frail.
Heal me, Lord...
My whole body is completely terrified!

MATTHEW 11:28 (NLT)
Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Let Jesus carry you.

DAILY FODDER
What is the main thing weighing you down today? How can you turn that over to Jesus?

PRAYER
Jesus, thank you for the offer of carrying our loads. Forgive me for trying to grab things back again after turning them over to you. You know what weighs heavy on my heart these days. I'm giving it all to you and trusting for your healing touch. Save me from  trying to take that burden back during those moments when the news isn’t so good. 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 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.

LOVING

EXODUS 20:13 (CEV)
Do not murder.

JOHN 15:12 (CEB)
This is my commandment: love each other just as I have loved you.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Jesus' expectations (loving as Jesus loves) exceed those of the Law (not murdering).

DAILY FODDER
How can Jesus expect us to love people who hate us? 

PRAYER
I thank you, God, for your love. You've given us some solid rules for life but then you went way beyond and sent us Jesus, to live out perfect love. I confess that I'm inclined to focus on the tangible rules like not murdering. But this idea of loving people instead of murdering them is harder to swallow. I need the power of your love active in my life to make that happen. I can't do it alone but I trust that you will be the source of love 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 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.