SHEPHERD

The 11th Sunday after Pentecost

PSALM 79:13 (GNT)
Then we, your people, the sheep of your flock,
will thank you forever
and praise you for all time to come.

JOHN 10:14 (CEB)
I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me...

THE ESSENCE
We have a shepherd-sheep relationship with God.  

DAILY FODDER
What can we learn from the shepherd-sheep relationship. How is it a picture of how God relates to us? 

PRAYER 
Thank you, Good Shepherd, for choosing me to be one of your sheep. I am delighted to be in your flock where you know me better than I know myself. I am sorry that I sometimes stray, looking for greener pastures. When I get stuck or lose my way, thank you for always wecoming me back into your fold. 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.

24/7 FORGIVENESS

ISAIAH 43:24-25 (ABP)
The only thing you've been generous with is the load of sins you've committed. Your wrongdoing is wearing me out. Yet, I'm not weary of forgiving. It's who I am—the God who forgives. I'm not going to hold your many sins against you.

JOHN 5:17 (ABP)
Jesus replied to the confrontational authorities,“My Father continues to work on the Sabbath, so I too am busy doing his work.”

THE ESSENCE
Jesus keeps on 24/7 with his work of forgiving us.

DAILY FODDER
In what sense is Jesus a workaholic? What drives his unrelenting efforts? 

PRAYER 
Merciful God, I am grateful for the forgiveness established by Jesus through his death and resurrection. And he's still at it—pleading our case in your courtroom. I'm way too ho hum about all this. Help me to walk through the day aware of what Jesus does on our behalf. I'm going to share this good news and invite all who will accept it to receive this forgivness. Your mercy has no boundaries. 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.

WHAT PLEASES CHRIST

2 CHRONICLES 19:7 (ABP)
Honor GOD by acting with integrity and justice. For he will not tolerate corruption, preferential treatment, or payola.

EPHESIANS 5:10 (MSG)
Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.

THE ESSENCE
Act according to the way of Christ.

DAILY FODDER
Which is more of a challenge for you, figuring out what pleases Christ or doing what pleases Christ? Why so?

PRAYER 
Gracious God, I'm thankful for the responsibilities you have entrusted to me. I confess that sometimes I use what you've given to me to advance myself—my status, my comfort. Forgive my malfeasanse and renew my energy to function according to and for the glory of Christ. I'm going to be a doer rather than just a hearer of your word. 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.

BUMPER CROPS

GENESIS 3:19 (GNT)
You will have to work hard and sweat to make the soil produce anything, until you go back to the soil from which you were formed. You were made from soil, and you will become soil again.

GALATIANS 6:7-8 (MSG)
What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.

THE ESSENCE
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit we can reap bumper crops of eternal significance. 

DAILY FODDER
What does God want you to plant today? 

PRAYER 
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for your ongoing presence and guidance in my life. Forgive me for planting things that are contrary to that guidance and of little or no eternal signifance. I want everything I grow in my life to be in perfect accord with your direction. Help me in my gardening. I want to be one of your eternal success stories. 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.