IMPOSSIBLE?

JOB 42:1-2 (MSG)
Job answered GOD:
"I’m convinced: You can do anything and everything.
Nothing and no one can upset your plans."

LUKE 1:37 (GNT)
There is nothing that God cannot do.

THE ESSENCE
There is nothing that God cannot do.

DAILY FODDER
A student trying to prove that the Bible is an unreliable source of information asked, "But can God make a rock that is too heavy for him to lift?" People often miss the point of the biblical emphasis—you can't box God into a corner and render him helpless. This is good news for us rather than a riddle to ponder. 

PRAYER 
Omnipotent Father, forgive me for thinking that these verses are a way of getting you to fulfill my desires. You cannot be manipulated into pleasing me. Turn my willfulness into willingness. Align my heart to your purposes. As I grow in love toward you, grant me the grace to believe that nothing is impossible with you. 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.

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.