GOD CANCELS DYSFUNCTION

PSALM 27:13 (ABP)
I'm confident that even in this present life, I'll live to see an outpouring of GOD's goodness.

JAMES 5:15 (NLT)
Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.

THE ESSENCE
The dysfunction of the world isn't the final word when God is involved. 

DAILY FODDER
What are the dysfunctions you're facing? How does the presence of Jesus cancel them out?

PRAYER 
Lord, you are so good, and you are the center of healing in this world and in my life. I confess that I allow the dysfunctions of the world to shape my life. But I'm counting on your goodness to trump the pain, the brokenness, and the sin. Heal me from it all. I know that through Christ you have the final word, and that's the way I want to live. 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.

BIG PICTURE ACTION

The 17th Sunday after Pentecost

JEREMIAH 42:6 (MSG)
Whether we like it or not, we’ll do it. We’ll obey whatever our GOD tells us. Yes, count on us. We’ll do it...

MARK 6:37 (GNT)
“You yourselves give them something to eat,” Jesus answered.

THE ESSENCE
Sometimes the things God asks us to do seem unreasonable to our small minds. But we obey anyway. 

DAILY FODDER
In Mark 6, Jesus tells his disciples to feed a huge crowd, even though they had no food. How do you think they were feeling in the midst of that? How did they feel when they saw all the leftovers? 

PRAYER 
Lord, I'm grateful that you can see the bigger picture and that you challenge us to do more than we think is possible. Forgive my reluctance to obediently move forward. Teach me how to embrace your perspective and all the abundance it contains. Who do you want me to "feed" today?  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 IS FAITHFUL

1 KINGS 8:24 (GNT)
You have kept the promise you made to my father David; today every word has been fulfilled...

1 THESSALONIANS 5:24 (NLT)
God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

THE ESSENCE
Since God is faithful, we can trust him with our lives.

DAILY FODDER
What is God asking of you that depends on his faithfulness?

PRAYER 
I'm grateful, Lord, that I can count on you. While I trust you, I can get impatient if I'm not seeing things unfold as I'd like. Forgive me. Teach me to be more trusting and patient. I know you are faithful, and that changes how I approach life. 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.

WITNESSES

ISAIAH 53:1 (MSG)
Who believes what we’ve heard and seen?
Who would have thought God’s saving power would look like this?

JOHN 20:18 (MSG)
Mary Magdalene went, telling the news to the disciples: “I saw the Master!” And she told them everything he said to her.

THE ESSENCE
We, too, are called to be witnesses of what has been seen and heard of Jesus, as strange as it all may sound.

DAILY FODDER
Yes, we pass along the witness accounts of the early disciples, but we also share about our own encounters with him. 

PRAYER 
Risen Lord, you are the promise keeper. Forgive me for allowing this world's empty promises to leave me jaded. Heal my wounded spirit. You fulfilled your promises through your resurrection. Renew my sense of wonder, so that like Mary, I too will share the gospel news of your resurrected love. 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.