LOOK TO THE REVEALED LIGHT

ISAIAH 60:19 (CEB)
The sun will no longer be your light by day,
   nor will the moon shine for illumination by night.
The Lord will be your everlasting light;
   your God will be your glory.

JOHN 12:45-46 (MSG)
Whoever looks at me is looking, in fact, at the One who sent me. I am Light that has come into the world so that all who believe in me won’t have to stay any longer in the dark.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Look to the revealed light.

DAILY FODDER
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." — Martin Luther King, Jr.

PRAYER
Jesus, glory to you. My everlasting light. Praise to you, the one who brings light to my darkness. Thank you for revealing the light of love from our heavenly Father. Martin Luther King, Jr was a great example of bringing your light to oppressed people. Guide me to bring your light to those oppressed today. Glory to you, 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 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.

Sunlight

The Second Sunday after Epiphany

ISAIAH 60:1 (CEB)
Arise! Shine! Your light has come;
the LORD's glory has shone upon you.

LUKE 1:78-79 (MSG)
Through the heartfelt mercies of our God,
   God’s Sunrise will break in upon us,
Shining on those in the darkness,
   those sitting in the shadow of death,
Then showing us the way, one foot at a time,
   down the path of peace.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Wake up; God's sun is shining.

DAILY FODDER
Each day is a new experience of God's peace shining into our faces.  

PRAYER
The glorious light of your presence shines from heaven into our lives. Lord, we confess that sometimes it's hard to wake up and take on the day. Pry open my eyes so that I can see the wonder of your light and allow it to evict the darkness from my life. Great is your faithfulness. It is new every morning. 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.

CLOSE AND GENTLE

DEUTERONOMY 4:39 (MSG)
Know this well, then. Take it to heart right now: GOD is in Heaven above; GOD is on Earth below. He’s the only God there is.

PHILIPPIANS 4:5, 7 (CEB)
Let your gentleness show in your treatment of all people. The Lord is near... Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Let the closeness of the one God shape how you relate to people. 

DAILY FODDER
Would you use the word "gentle" to decsribe yourself? Why or why not? In the overall scheme of things how important is gentleness? Why? 

PRAYER
All-powerful God, the more we come to recognize your close presence, the more we are awestruck by your gentleness. You could easily squish us for walking out of line but you gently nudge us back to where we should be. I confess that l'm reluctant to operate as a gentle person. I want to impress people with my commanding presence, wit, and superior thinking. Show me how to stand-down and immitate your humility. I want to re-direct all attention your way. You are the one real God. 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.

WATCHFUL EYE

PROVERBS 5:21 (CEB)
The LORD’s eyes watch over every person’s path,
observing all their ways.

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
We live our lives under the watchful eye of God, who fully understands what's going on. 

DAILY FODDER
Does God's watchful eye creep you out or encourage you? Why so?  

PRAYER
All-seeing God, I am grateful that you love me in all my humanness. Bring to light the dark thoughts or habits of mine that need correction, and please give me the desire to listen and change. Help me to keep judgments to myself and to let you enlighten others of their need for change. 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 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.