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.

ARROGANCE

PROVERBS 16:18 (MSG)
First pride, then the crash—
the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.

MARK 7:20 (CEB)
“It’s what comes out of a person that contaminates someone in God’s sight,” he said.

THE ESSENCE
Arrogance crashes our lives and our relationship with God. 

DAILY FODDER
Do you think arrogant people are self-aware of their arrogance? How do we grow in awareness of unhealthy attitudes and actions that are so much a part of who we are that we can't recognize how they flaw us?  

PRAYER
My dear Lord, I need a home makeover within my own heart. My private closets of pride and inner rooms of selfishness need cleaning and reordering. Thank you for helping me to see my true inner condition. I surrender to your correction so that my private world will be reflected to the the public world where you can use me. 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.

GENEROSITY

PSALM 145:15-16 (GNT)
All living things look hopefully to you,
and you give them food when they need it.
You give them enough
and satisfy the needs of all.

LUKE 3:11 (NLT)
John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.”

THE ESSENCE
When we're generous toward the needy, we're participating in God's care mission. 

DAILY FODDER
Who are the needy around you? If there aren't any needy people around you, what are you doing wrong? 

PRAYER
Creator God, all living things look to you, anticipating your generosity. You've commissioned people like me to be a part of your care team. But, like so many others, I have lost sight of the mission because I'm so busy minding my stuff. Open my eyes to the needy around me and spur me to live generously. I want all to experience your generosity. 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.

CARE AND RESPECT

Reformation Sunday

PROVERBS 3:27 (GNT)
Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it.

JAMES 2:2-4 (GNT)
Suppose a rich man wearing a gold ring and fine clothes comes to your meeting, and a poor man in ragged clothes also comes. If you show more respect to the well-dressed man and say to him, “Have this best seat here,” but say to the poor man, “Stand over there, or sit here on the floor by my feet,” then you are guilty of creating distinctions among yourselves and of making judgments based on evil motives.

THE ESSENCE
Care and respect for the poor is God's way.   

DAILY FODDER
Why is it that God seems so partial to the poor and marginalized?  

PRAYER
Gracious God, I'm grateful that you extend your care and respect to those who can't earn it. That's how I'm included in your family. Forgive me for living as though I have some kind of status that justifies ignoring or excluding anyone else. We're so shallow! Help us to see every single person as they are in your sight. I'm going to go out today looking for ways to do good, in Jesus' name, to those who need it. That's his way! 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.