THE GIFT OF PEACE

PSALM 4:8 (CEB)
I will lie down and fall asleep in peace
because you alone, LORD, let me live in safety.

JOHN 14:27 (MSG)
I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Jesus is the source of the peace we all desire.

DAILY FODDER
Apparently not ALL actually desire peace. Some people major in disrupting the peace God gives; but because in the end he prevails we can still fall asleep in peace.  

PRAYER
Prince of Shalom! So many people desire peace—but only if it's on their terms—if their agendas dictate how the world functions. I admit that sometimes I, too, get sucked into this way of thinking. Afterall, I've got some pretty good ideas about how the world should operate. Save me from this kind of psuedo peace and let loose with your gifts. Take over the world and implement your peace—starting with me. I'm going to live without anxiety even as the opponents of your peace clamor for the limelight. 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.

OVERFLOW

The First Sunday in Lent

PSALM 105:3 (NRSV)
Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

ROMANS 15:13 (MSG)
Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Let Jesus fill you with so much joy, life-giving energy, hope, and peace that you overflow.

DAILY FODDER
So many people claiming to be Christians overflow with self-righteousness and self-confidence that it would seem the book of Romans must be on the do not read list. 

PRAYER
Lord, thank you for filling my life with your Holy Spirit. I confess, though, that I sometimes allow the insanity of this world to drain me. I'm going to trust that you'll fill me faster than the world can drain me. Fill me with your joy, life-giving energy, hope, and peace until I overflow—even in these crazy times. 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.

SEEK JESUS

AMOS 5:4 (CEB)
The LORD proclaims to the house of Israel:
Seek me and live.

JOHN 6:68 (CEB)
Simon Peter answered, "Lord, where would we go? You have the words of eternal life..."

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Seek Jesus, the source of life.

DAILY FODDER
How would Peter respond to the statement, "Well, Jesus is good, but he is one of many good choices."? 

PRAYER
Jesus, loving friend, there is nowhere to go but to you. I have tried other paths. They are deadends. You are the true way, my life's direction. Thank you for inviting me to look for you and be found in the light of your promises. Lord, let me reflect your light today onto the path of another forgiven seeker. 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.

LESS IS MORE

PROVERBS 10:19 (MSG)
The more talk, the less truth;
the wise measure their words.

MATTHEW 5:37 (MSG)
You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
More words don't equal more truth.

DAILY FODDER
One of my mentors, John Notehelfer, suggested the acronym T – H – I – N - K, as a way to decide what needs to be said and what should be left unsaid. "Is it true? Is it helpful? Does it inspire? Is it necessary? Am I kind about it?"

PRAYER
Lord God, your words are always true and appropriate for the moment. Mine on the other hand, are too full of me. Give me the wisdom to THINK and keep my mouth shut. I want to become a person of few, but helpful life-giving words. 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.