MISERY

The Seventh Sunday in Eastertide

1 SAMUEL 1:11 (MSG)
Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably. Then she made a vow:
   Oh, God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
   If you’ll take a good, hard look at my pain,
   If you’ll quit neglecting me and go into action for me
   By giving me a son,
   I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you.
   I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline.

LUKE 1:57-58 (MSG)
When Elizabeth was full-term in her pregnancy, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives, seeing that God had overwhelmed her with mercy, celebrated with her.

THE ESSENCE
God responds to the miseries of the people striving to live according to his direction. 

DAILY FODDER
Is the author of 1 Samuel suggesting that we should feel free to negotiate with God when we are desperate, or that even when we succumb to the foolishness of trying to negotiate outcomes with him, he still hears and cares about us? How else might you interpret the point of this verse?

PRAYER 
Merciful God, I'm grateful that you are aware of our misery and are willing to intervene. Forgive me for presumptuously assuming I know the best outcomes for the situation. Grant me enough awareness that I can, with your help, align my purposes with yours. I'm not going to let the pain I'm experiencing distract me from seeking your desired outcomes. 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.

WEALTH

PSALM 112:5 (CEB)
Those who lend generously are good people—
as are those who conduct their affairs with justice.

1 TIMOTHY 6:17-19 (MSG)
Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.

THE ESSENCE
In God's eyes, the way we handle wealth is a tell-all.

DAILY FODDER
Why does the Bible say so much about wealth? Why so many reminders to use it generously and with justice in mind? Are you richer or poorer than the average person in the world? 

PRAYER 
Lord, help me make the right investments with my life. Let me spend my money and my time with an eye on your eternal return. You bought our worthless sins in exchange for your priceless forgiveness. With such riches, let me love with abandon. 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.

PURE JOY

PSALM 5:11 (CEB)
...all who love your name can rejoice in you.

ACTS 5:41-42 (MSG)
The apostles went out of the High Council overjoyed because they had been given the honor of being dishonored on account of the Name. Every day they were in the Temple and homes, teaching and preaching Christ Jesus, not letting up for a minute.

THE ESSENCE
Great joy accompanies identifying with the name of Jesus.  

DAILY FODDER
Even when we're hassled because of our love for Jesus, and our eagerness to lift up his name, there is still joy. In the case of the apostles, the joy came as they realized they were being dishonored in the same way Jesus was. There is joy in the solidarity.  

PRAYER 
Jesus, it is an honor to know you and a joy when people treat me as they treated you. It shows that my life is really connected to yours. Although, sometimes I suspect that I'm dishonored because of my cockiness and inconsistent behavior. I give you total access to remake me so that ultimately people will identify my name with yours. That would be pure joy. 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.

THE KINGDOM

Ascension Day

LEVITICUS 26:6 (MSG)
I’ll make the country a place of peace—you’ll be able to go to sleep at night without fear...

LUKE 11:20 (MSG)
But if it’s God’s finger I’m pointing that sends the demons on their way, then God’s kingdom is here for sure.

THE ESSENCE
God's kingdom is characterized by a peace that drives out fear along with all things of the devil.

DAILY FODDER
Jesus wants us to think of his kingdom as present and coming. Anywhere that people put themselves under the authority of the Annointed King (Messiah/Christ) the Kingdom of God is active and the devil is on the run. 

PRAYER 
Jesus, on this day we remember how after your resurrection you gave your followers a mission to represent you and your kingdom; and then you ascended back to heaven to represent us there. Forgive us for our failure to stay on mission. We get distracted by every fad and trend. We're so afraid of missing out on what the world system has to offer or what it might do to us. I pledge allegiance to you and your kingdom and ask that you send all other influences away so that your peace can reign. 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.