ETERNAL WATER

ISAIAH 49:10 (CEV)
They won't go hungry
   or get thirsty;
they won't be bothered
   by the scorching sun
   or hot desert winds.
I will be merciful
   while leading them along
   to streams of water.

JOHN 4:15 (CEV)
The woman replied, “Sir, please give me a drink of that water! Then I won't get thirsty and have to come to this well again.”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God's water is eternally satisfying.

DAILY FODDER
Why is water such a rich metaphor for what God has to offer?

PRAYER
Great God, you are a reservoir of refreshment. Forgive me for looking for other solutions to my thirst. Everything else is so temporal and I'm too willing to accept short-lived satisfaction. Show me what it means to have an eternal solution to my needs. I want to be able to share your living water with everyone around 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.

HONORING GOD

PSALM 18:49 (CEV)
I will praise you, LORD,
and I will honor you
   among the nations.

REVELATION 15:4 (CEV)
Lord, who doesn't honor
   and praise your name?
You alone are holy,
   and all nations will come
   and worship you...

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Honoring and praising God is trending among the nations; so get with it.

DAILY FODDER
What is the single most important way you honor God? 

PRAYER
Glorious God, even on the most chaotic of days you are worthy of all praise and honor. I admit that I'm not very exuberant in my woship until the conditions all feel perfect. The music has to be just right and the gathering time perfect — and I have to be feeling really good. Teach me to worship in a way that will fully honor you even if it's not convienent or my style or I'm not feeling well. Perhaps the honor I extend to you during the off moments is the best received. 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.

NO SWORDS

2 SAMUEL 2:26 (MSG)
Abner called out to Joab, "Are we going to keep killing each other till doomsday? Don’t you know that nothing but bitterness will come from this?"

MATTHEW 26:52 (MSG)
Jesus said, "Put your sword back where it belongs. All who use swords are destroyed by swords."

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Jesus calls his followers to op-out of the cycle of violence that does nothing to advance his Kingdom.

DAILY FODDER
Words can be as violent as swords. And if we want to eliminate the violent actions we can start by eliminating cutting words.

PRAYER
Prince of Peace, thank you for invading the world to establish a regime defined by shalom. Forgive my failure to fully embrace your peace agenda. Transform my heart and mind so that non-violent peace becomes my default response to evil. Grant me, too, practical assistance in implementing shalom. I'm putting away all my swords so I can tune in to how you're working this out. I want to become a weapon of your peace. 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.

NO SECOND-CLASS

The 19th Sunday after Pentecost

LEVITICUS 19:34 (CEB)
Any immigrant who lives with you must be treated as if they were one of your citizens. You must love them as yourself...

COLOSSIANS 3:11 (CEB)
In this image there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all things and in all people.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
In God's prescribed method of living, there is no pecking order and all are welcomed. 

DAILY FODDER
Why is God so concerned about the plight of immigrants?

PRAYER
You've created a world, God, with tremendous diversity. Forgive me for the subtle ways I treat people who are different from me as second-class. Light a fire within me to serve the displaced of the world — the immigrants who are the brunt of so much political rhetoric. Show me how to stand up for them. I recognize that everyone receives a warm welcome when you're around — even sinners like 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.