GOD THE (COMPASSIONATE) FATHER

MALACHI 1:6 (MSG)
Isn’t it true that a son honors his father and a worker his master? So if I’m your Father, where’s the honor? If I’m your Master, where’s the respect?

2 CORINTHIANS 1:3 (CEB)
May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed! He is the compassionate Father and God of all comfort.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God is the compassionate Father, worthy of all honor. 

DAILY FODDER
It's interesting that the Apostle Paul says God the Father is worthy of praise because of his compassion and comfort. So often fathers want to be respected for their stature and absolute authority. But even God's approach to parenting is different. 

PRAYER
Thank you, merciful Father, for granting grace to love our fathers. Relationships such as these are often strained. We need help to forgive. Bond us in your great love that consoles and redeems us with mutual honor and respect. As we live in the land of forgivin' livin', find us on our knees in worship to 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.

GOD DELIVERS

PSALM 146:7 (ABP)
GOD delivers justice to the oppressed
and food to the hungry.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:10 (CEV)
God gives seed to farmers and provides everyone with food. He will increase what you have, so you can give even more to those in need.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God delivers.  

DAILY FODDER
If God is the one who delivers what we need, what is our role in the process? 

PRAYER
Generous God, thank you for all you've done and are doing for us. I regret how I get frustrated when the deliveries I've ordered from you aren't exactly what shows up. Help me to recognize how what I'm receiving is better than what I'm requesting. I trust you so much that I'm going to freely give to those in need. 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.

THANKFULNESS

PSALM 145:10 (CEB)
All that you have made gives thanks to you, LORD;
all your faithful ones bless you!

COLOSSIANS 3:16 (CEB)
Sing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
To be all that we were made to be, we need to allow gratitude to ooze from our lives—especially as we relate to God.

DAILY FODDER
What blocks the free flow of gratitude in your life? How do you address that blockage? While I strive to be thankful all the time I find it helpful to designate one day a week to be especially thankful. So, for me Thursday is always Thanksgiving Thursday. (I have similar designations on others days. For example, Fridays are for praying for my Family.)

PRAYER
Thank you, generous God, for the way that you have created the world and shaped my life. Forgive me for dashing along without so much as a thankful thought. Fill me with songs of gratitude. I'm  going to let thansgiving freely flow everyday. 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'S UNIVERSAL JUSTICE

The Fourth Sunday in Lent

PSALM 105:7 (ABP)
GOD, our God, exercises his judicial authority throughout the whole earth.

MATTHEW 5:10 (ABP)
Blessings on you who are harassed because you've embraced God’s regime and are doing the right thing. The kingdom of heaven is yours!

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Embrace God's ways and receive God's blessing.

DAILY FODDER
How is God's approach to doing right different from what is commonly understood as right?

PRAYER
God, from your headquarters in Heaven, you oversee an alternative kingdom that shakes the world system to the core. Forgive me for living according to the ways of the world system. Show me how to do right in a system that is misaligned. I'm trusting your indwelling Holy Spirit to use your Word to transform me and how I do things so I'm completely aligned with the Kingdom of Heaven. My neighbors may not be happy with that transformation but I'm looking for your blessing, not theirs. 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.