GROWTH

All Saints Day

PSALM 119:6 (GNT)

If I pay attention to all your commands,

then I will not be put to shame.

LUKE 8:15 (MSG)
But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there’s a harvest.

THE ESSENCE
Whole heartedly attend to the matter of growth if you want a good harvest. 

DAILY FODDER
What, within your control, is hindering your spiritual development? What is something you can do today to minimize that hinderance? 

PRAYER
Gracious God, I'm grateful today for all the saints—the followers of Jesus—who have, persisted in faithful obedience, even when experiencing pushback for their faith. Forgive me for taking my faith development so casually. Please persist in tending to my soul, sending rain and sun to nuture the growth. I know that I can't grow myself, but I can obediently welcome your cultivation. No matter what happens, that's what I'm going to do. 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.

REFORMATION

Reformation Day

JEREMIAH 2:29 (NLT)
Why do you accuse me of doing wrong?
You are the ones who have rebelled,”

says the LORD.

ROMANS 3:22-24 (CEB)
God’s righteousness comes through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who have faith in him. There’s no distinction. All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, but all are treated as righteous freely by his grace because of a ransom that was paid by Christ Jesus.

THE ESSENCE
We are given the status of "righteous" by God. This gift is made possible through the generous redefining sacrifice of Christ Jesus. 

DAILY FODDER
If God gives his righteousness as a gift, what do we need to do to deserve or access it? 

PRAYER
Faithful Father, on Reformation Day I remember that my salvation is a gift from you. You know I am a slave to blame. I blame myself and even you for all the shortcomings around me. Forgive me, Lord. Pronounce again your verdict that I am justified by grace through faith so that I may overflow with your 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.

PASS IT ON

PSALM 6:4 (ABP)
Don't leave me hanging out here alone, GOD! I need to be rescued. I'm counting on you because of your faithfulness and love.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:4 (CEB)
He’s the one who comforts us in all our trouble so that we can comfort other people who are in every kind of trouble. We offer the same comfort that we ourselves received from God.

THE ESSENCE
We turn to Christ for relief, and then pass what we've received on to others who need relief. 

DAILY FODDER
How do you typically express your needs for comfort and relief to God? How have you seen him respond in the past?  

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for responding to my calls for help. You not only rescue me but you use the whole situation to build my faith. Forgive me for acting like a drama queen, using the situation to meet MY desire for attention. Given what I know about you, help me to turn my trials into relief for the others who are in distress. I'm eager to pass along your grace to those in need, without making it all about me. 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.

OBEYING

EXODUS 19:5 (CEB)
So now, if you faithfully obey me and stay true to my covenant, you will be my most precious possession out of all the peoples, since the whole earth belongs to me.

JOHN 15:10 (MSG)
If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.

THE ESSENCE
When we follow God's instructions our connection with him intensifies and we start to experience his love. 

DAILY FODDER
It's not that God loves his people more because they obey him but that his people can only grok his love as they obey him. 

PRAYER
Loving God, I'm grateful that you have called us to be in your life. I confess, though, that I've twisted your welcome. Sometimes I pour myself into proving my worth and at other times I act as though your welcome gives me free reign of the house. Help me to appreciate the value of your instruction and that I can only start to absorb your love when I'm acting according to your will. I want to become a living love sponge, oozing with gallons of charity for you and the world around me. 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.