THE UNCONTAINABLE GOD

ISAIAH 40:13 (MSG)
Who could ever have told GOD what to do
or taught him his business?
What expert would he have gone to for advice,
what school would he attend to learn justice?

JOHN 3:8 (NLT)
The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
You can't keep God or his Spirit in a box.

DAILY FODDER
Does the unpredictability of God make you nervous or give you hope? How so?

PRAYER
Lord, I am thankful that you are God and I am not.  Forgive my desire to direct. When the Spirit moves, adjust my sails. When I struggle to discern and decide, Calm my inner whirlwind to a calmness of being.  Help me keep calm and carry on in you. 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.

SING!

PSALM 118:14 (MSG)
GOD’s my strength, he’s also my song,
and now he’s my salvation.

JAMES 5:13 (MSG)
Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Singing is a great response to God's blessings.

DAILY FODDER
Why are we told to sing?

PRAYER
It is good to give thanks to the Lord! I declare God's love every morning and seal the deal each night! Lord, transform my suffering into singing, my joy into praise. Be my strength and my song. Be my salvation in Jesus' name.  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.

INDULGE

AMOS 6:6 (MSG)
Woe to those addicted to feeling good—life without pain!
those obsessed with looking good—life without wrinkles!
They could not care less
about their country going to ruin.

EPHESIANS 5:18 (ABP)
Instead of overindulging on booze—which will be your demise—indulge on the Holy Spirit...

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Instead of overindulging on things that make you feel good temporarily, indulge on the things of the Spirit for long-term vitality.

DAILY FODDER
How do we replace short-term indulgences with long-term Spirit infused vitality? Practically speaking, what does that look like?  

PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for giving meaning and purpose to my life. Forgive me for undermining that meaning and purpose through frivilous flings with shallow short-term feel-good substitutes. Fill me with your Spirit and your divine ways. I'm going to allow you to reshape and redefine my life according to your perfect specs. 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.

PROTECTION

The Seventh Sunday after Epiphany

ZECHARIAH 9:8 (NLT)
I will guard my Temple
and protect it...

LUKE 8:24-25 (MSG)
Getting to his feet, he told the wind, “Silence!” and the waves, “Quiet down!” They did it. The lake became smooth as glass.

Then he said to his disciples, “Why can’t you trust me?”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God guards his own.  

DAILY FODDER
If God is guarding his own people—his own endeavors—how does that define our responsibility in the overall opreation? 

PRAYER
Watchful Savior, thank you for protecting us. I confess that I am easily sucked into the drama of the crazy world in which we live. Help me to trust your ongoing protection and to live accoding to your wisdom—engaged but not traumatized by the storms. I'm going to act in faith and chill-out as an act of divinely ordered resistance. 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.