Tuesday, September 10, 2024

PTL

PSALM 111:1 (MSG)
Hallelujah!
   I give thanks to GOD with everything I’ve got—
   Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation.


REVELATION 19:5 (CEV)
From the throne a voice said,
   “If you worship
   and fear our God,
   give praise to him,
   no matter who you are.”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
When we praise God today we're preparing for the great day of praise that's on the way. 

DAILY FODDER
How do you rehearse for praising God?

PRAYER
Praise you, Lord! There is nothing more fundamental for living in your regime. Forgive me for all the times I neglect praise rehearsals. Change the way that I prioritize my life so that I can naturally recognize the opportunities for praise and thaksgiving. I want to be warmed up and ready to join the choir at the marriage feast of the Lamb. 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.

Monday, September 9, 2024

TRUST JESUS

PSALM 40:4 (CEV)
You bless all of those
who trust you, Lord...

JOHN 1:41 (CEV)
The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother and tell him, “We have found the Messiah!”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
You have to trust Jesus the Messiah in order to experience his blessing. 

DAILY FODDER
Practically speaking, what does trusting Jesus as the Messiah look like in today's world? (Answer using non-church words.)

PRAYER
Lord, thank you for reaching out to people like me through others who have discovered the joy of trusting you. Forgive me for the ways I make your invitation overly complicated and conditional. Send me out with the enthusiasm of Andrew. I not only trust you but I want to help others experience the blessing that comes with following Jesus the Messiah. 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.

Sunday, September 8, 2024

SENSELESS DISCUSSIONS

The 16th Sunday after Pentecost

PSALM 119:66 (MSG)
Train me in good common sense;
I’m thoroughly committed to living your way.

2 TIMOTHY 2:23 (MSG)
Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Sensible people refuse to get sucked into senseless exchanges.

DAILY FODDER
What are the top ten topics in modern inane discussions?

PRAYER
Lord, help me to be like you, full of good judgment and knowledge, a lover of your commandments. Forgive me when I am stupid and senseless, stirring up controversies and quarrels.  Show me how to listen to others and understand them. Give me wisdom for when to speak and how to act. Today, make me a peacemaker. 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.

Saturday, September 7, 2024

CHOOSE WISDOM

1 KINGS 3:5-6, 9 (MSG)
   GOD appeared to Solomon in a dream: God said, “What can I give you? Ask.”
   Solomon said, "Here’s what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil."

MATTHEW 4:8-10 (MSG)
   For the third test, the Devil took him to the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth’s kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said, “They’re yours—lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they’re yours.”
   Jesus’ refusal was curt: “Beat it, Satan!” He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
When given the choice, and you will be, stay focused and ask for a "God-listening heart." 

DAILY FODDER
How do the events of Matthew 4:8-10 echo those of 1 Kings 3:5-9? How is Satan so  presumptuous? How is Jesus so wise?

PRAYER

Almighty God, you are the only one worthy of our attention and allegiance. I admit that I sometimes entertain the devil's invitations, unaware of the source or the situation. So, I would echo Solomon in asking you to equip me with your wisdom. I want to make a difference in the world around me so I need a level of discernment that can't be found anywhere but with you. 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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