NEW SONG

PSALM 96:1 (MSG)
Sing GOD a brand-new song!
Earth and everyone in it, sing!
Sing to GOD—worship GOD!

LUKE 19:37-38 (MSG)
The whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed:
   Blessed is he who comes,
      the king in God’s name!
   All’s well in heaven!
   Glory in the high places!

SUMMARY SENTENCE
We join the psalmist in singing a brand new song.

DAILY FODDER
Assuming that this new song is more than a literal piece of music, what exactly is the new song? How do you sing it if you are not particularly musical?

PRAYER
You, O God, are worthy of fresh new music; for you are constantly refreshing our receptive hearts. But there are times when I am less than receptive to new music. I'm stuck in the oldies and the old familar ways that revolve around me and my antiquated tastes. Give me a new song that is so compelling I can't help but join the crowd of disciples who welcomed you into Jerusalem. Glory in the high places! 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.

LIVE EXPECTANTLY

PSALM 119:166 (MSG)
I wait expectantly for your salvation;
GOD, I do what you tell me.

REVELATION 22:20 (NCV)
Jesus, the One who says these things are true, says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Our calling is to live expectantly.

DAILY FODDER
The second half of Revelation 22:20 contains a phrase which appears to be a translation of the Aramaic phrase maranatha! It appears without translation in 1 Corinthians 16:22. And it can be either a prayer ("Come soon, Lord Jesus.") or a declaration ("The Lord Jesus is coming soon."). Either way it is a call for us to live expectantly of the second grand appearance of Christ Jesus.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank you for your promised return to finish setting the world right. I admit that I get so caught up in the current drama that I'm not living expectantly. I'm satisfied with temporary cultural wins. Shift my focus back on to you and your ultimate agenda. I'm going to live expectantly today and from now on. 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.

THE GIFT OF TRUST

The 12th Sunday after Pentecost

EZEKIEL 20:41-42 (NLT)
I will display my holiness through you as all the nations watch. Then when I have brought you home to the land I promised with a solemn oath to give to your ancestors, you will know that I am the LORD.

HEBREWS 11:8 (CEB)
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out without knowing where he was going.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
We live to demonstrate God's faithfulness to the world.

DAILY FODDER
How does your life display God's faithfulness?

PRAYER
Lord, the older I get, the less I seem to know for sure. Thank you for the gift of trust. I rejoice that a time for knowing is coming when I will stand in the company of the redeemed in your presence. How I long for that day's arrival. Come quickly, Lord Jesus! 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.

SHARING CONCERNS

ISAIAH 61:8 (CEB)
I, the LORD, love justice;
I hate robbery and dishonesty.

1 THESSALONIANS 4:6 (MSG)
Don’t run roughshod over the concerns of your brothers and sisters. Their concerns are God’s concerns, and he will take care of them.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
The injustices which concern your neighbor also concern God, and should concern you, too.

DAILY FODDER
What are the concerns pressing heavily on your neighbors?

PRAYER
Serving God, when I turn away from my neighbors in need, my heart begins to grow cold toward you though I hardly realize it at the time. Have mercy on me so that I may share your compassion with others, and together we may praise and glorify your name forever. 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.