HEART TRANSPLANT

EZEKIEL 11:19-20 (MSG)
I’ll give you a new heart. I’ll put a new spirit in you. I’ll cut out your stone heart and replace it with a red-blooded, firm-muscled heart. Then you’ll obey my statutes and be careful to obey my commands.

LUKE 17:20-21 (CEB)
Pharisees asked Jesus when God’s kingdom was coming. He replied, “God’s kingdom isn’t coming with signs that are easily noticed. Nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ Don’t you see? God’s kingdom is already among you.”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
The presence of Jesus is the presence of God's new thing.

DAILY FODDER
Search no further than Jesus if you want to participate in the new thing God is doing.

PRAYER
Thank you, Father, for sending Jesus into the world to conquer the regime of death, initiating the new life. Forgive me for my stuborn heart and slowness to let go of the old ways. Equip me with a heart that beats in rhythm with your Kingdom. I'm going to live as someone who has truly had a heart transplant. 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.

HARVEST

MICAH 1:2 (MSG)
Listen, people—all of you.
Listen, earth, and everyone in it:
The Master, God, takes the witness stand against you...

GALATIANS 6:7 (NLT)
Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God guarantees that we harvest what we plant.

DAILY FODDER
If your life is a garden, what are you currently planting? 

PRAYER
Glorious God, as I read the Bible I see that partnering with you in the pursuit of justice is a high priority item on your agenda. Forgive me for pursuing my own interests as the highest priority. Might your indwelling Holy Spirit reprioritize the action items in my life so that my agenda fully aligns with yours. I want to join you in reaping a harvest that looks like the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 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.

ARE YOU RICH?

The 24th Sunday after Penrecost

PSALM 62:10 (NLT)
And if your wealth increases,
don’t make it the center of your life.

1 TIMOTHY 6:18 (CEV)
Remind the rich to be generous and share what they have.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Those who have a lot are called to spread the wealth.

DAILY FODDER
Why is it that we usually think of ourselves as being less than rich while holding and controlling more wealth than most other people in the world?

PRAYER
Generous God, you are extravagently generous. We admit that your approach to giving hasn't fully caught on with us. Our default is to look for ways to hold on to as much as we can while appearing respectfully generous. Help me to shift into the next gear of generosity so that giving is my first impulse. I want to live generously—following in the footsteps of Jesus, our Savior. 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.

GOD THE JUDGE

1 SAMUEL 26:23 (MSG)
It’s God’s business to decide what to do with each of us in regard to what’s right and who’s loyal.

1 CORINTHIANS 4:5 (MSG)
So don’t get ahead of the Master and jump to conclusions with your judgments before all the evidence is in. When he comes, he will bring out in the open and place in evidence all kinds of things we never even dreamed of—inner motives and purposes and prayers. Only then will any one of us get to hear the “Well done!” of God.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Let God, who has depth of insight and breadth of perspective, be the judge.

DAILY FODDER
What are the subtle ways in which we usurp God's position as judge?

PRAYER
Merciful God, only you know and understand enough to act as judge. I confess that hasn't stopped me from issuing damning opinons about everything from the food to the politicians. Show me how to shut down my internal judgment machine so that I'm regularly cutting others a lot of slack. I'm going to let you be the judge while I major in creating an environment that highlights your grace. 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.