BOUNDLESS LOVE

PSALM 103:11 (CEB)
As high as heaven is above the earth,
that’s how large God’s faithful love is for those who honor him.

ROMANS 5:20-21 (MSG)
All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn’t, and doesn’t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it’s sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that’s the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life—a life that goes on and on and on, world without end.

THE ESSENCE
God's love and grace is so great that you can't out sin it. 

DAILY FODDER
If God's grace is so great, what prevents people from abusing it—from saying, "It doesn't matter because God will forgive me anyway"? 

PRAYER 
Your love, O God, is greater than we can comprehend. Your grace has no bounds. Yet, we struggle to take you seriously. Forgive us for loving the wrong things in life. Renew me so that through Christ Jesus my life is lived in total alignment with your faithful love. I expect that such a life will be boundless. 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 COMMANDMENTS

 PROVERBS 7:2 (MSG)
Do what I say and you’ll live well.
My teaching is as precious as your eyesight—guard it!.

MATTHEW 19:20 (NLT)
“I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”

THE ESSENCE
The irony is that we seem to be incapable of actually living up to God's expectations, on our own.

DAILY FODDER
Was the question in Matthew 19 one of exasperation or genuine inquiry? His statement "I've obeyed all these commandments..." suggests a lack of self-awareness. 

PRAYER 
Thank you, God, for your commandments. Sometimes they feel like a burden, especially when I fail to keep them. Yet, I know that they open the door to life, if just to help me realize my lack of discipline. Forgive me and train me to become a faithful follower of Jesus. I want to be someone who consistently follows your instructions, something that can only happen through your intervention. I depend on you. 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.

SING OF GOD'S SAVING POWER

PSALM 21:13 (NCV)
Be supreme, LORD, in your power.
We sing and praise your greatness.

LUKE 19:37 (CEB)
As Jesus approached the road leading down from the Mount of Olives, the whole throng of his disciples began rejoicing. They praised God with a loud voice because of all the mighty things they had seen.

THE ESSENCE
Our lives are figurative (and often literal) songs of praise, singing about the great things God has done. 

DAILY FODDER
What is something new today for which you are praising God? 

PRAYER 
What a joy it is to praise you, Lord Jesus, for all you have done for me! Shouts of joy come from the depths of my soul as I give thanks for salvation. Like the crowd who welcomed you, I easily turn away. Forgive me. Remind me of your forgiveness  and help me to sing of your saving power. 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.

TAKING GOD SERIOUSLY

EXODUS 20:7 (ABP)
Don't casually use or abuse GOD'S name, as if it were of no significance. He will certainly convict offenders in his courtroom.

MATTHEW 6:9 (ABP) 

Our Father in Heaven, we hold your name in the highest regard.

THE ESSENCE
Take God and his name seriously.  

DAILY FODDER
This is more than an admonition to avoid cursing.  

PRAYER 
Great and glorious God, the one who is called "I AM," you deserve total respect through our words and actions. Forgive us for the casual way we talk about you—even turning you into a curse. Show us what it means to hold your name in the highest regard. I want to take you seriously but I'm going to need some training. 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.