THE GIVING GOD

PSALM 37:4 (GNT)
Seek your happiness in the LORD,
and he will give you your heart's desire.

MATTHEW 7:11 (GNT)
As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

THE ESSENCE
God gives good things to those who ask of him. 

DAILY FODDER
What is one good thing that you are asking God for? How do you know it is good? How soon do you think you need it? 

PRAYER
Holy One, you teach me what I should desire. Set me free from wanting those things that I see others desiring. Move my heart, Lord, to seek the things above: truth, justice, and compassion. All these bring your peace and joy to my life. 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.

GET READY

JUDGES 10:10 (MSG)
The People of Israel cried out to God for help: “We’ve sinned against you! We left our God and worshiped the Baal gods!”

MATTHEW 3:2 (ABP)
John the Baptizer's message was to the point: “Change how you think and live so you can fit into God’s heavenly kingdom, which is just around the corner.”

THE ESSENCE
The arrival of God's Kingdom is impending, so we need to get our lives ready and queue up.

DAILY FODDER
How does one get ready for God's Kingdom? Start living according to the ways of that kingdom rather than the existening kingdom order. Practically speaking, what does that look like?

PRAYER
Awesome God, the arrival of your new world order is exciting. I confess, though, that I'm not ready for the transition. I'm still too tied to the old order and all its associated values. Help me make the transition before it's too late. I want to be 100% ready for the Kingdom of Heaven. 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.

MULTI-CULTURAL

PSALM 22:27 (MSG)
From the four corners of the earth
people are coming to their senses,
are running back to GOD.

MATTHEW 8:11 (NLT)
Jesus: And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.

THE ESSENCE
Surprise! People from all over the world, even non-Jews, will be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven festivities. 

DAILY FODDER
If God's Kingdom will be multi-cultural, what does that suggest about our current priorities? How will people who have segregated themselves into mono-cultural ghettos feel when they're seated next to believers from so many places?

PRAYER
Gracious God, it is so radical — so heart-warming — to hear that your planned future is trans-cultural. Forgive me for setting my sights so narrowly that I don't even notice the brothers and sisters from the four corners of the world. Nurture my love for other cultures and peoples so that I'm prepared for the Kingdom of Heaven. I love foreigners! 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.

HOW TO LOVE GOD

The Second Sunday in Lent

JOSHUA 23:11 (CEB)
For your own sake, be very careful to love the LORD your God.

1 JOHN 5:3 (MSG)
The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome.

THE ESSENCE
Obeying God's commandments is how we demonstrate our love for him. 

DAILY FODDER
Anything less than obedience is faux-love. In your experience, what does faux-love for God look like? How do you keep yourself from slipping into the fake look-alike alternatives to obedience?

PRAYER
Loving God, I'm grateful that your love for us does not depend on our obedience. We confess, though, that the way I express my confessed love for you is inconsistent. Foster genuine obedient faithful love in me. I'm going to love you by following Jesus' command to love my neighbors. 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.