ENROUTE

JEREMIAH 31:18 (GNT)
Bring us back;
we are ready to return to you,
the LORD our God.

ACTS 14:15 (NLT)
We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.

THE ESSENCE
Steer your life toward the living God because all other destinations are disappointing.  

DAILY FODDER
You can't turn to God and visit all kinds of worthless attractions along the way because there are no worthless attractions on the route to him. 

PRAYER
Merciful God, I'm grateful for the good news—the forgiveness and new life that is ours through Christ Jesus. Forgive us for zig zaging on our way back to you. Keep me on the straight and narrow so that I can experience the new life, even while I'm enroute. 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.

THE PROMISED LIGHT

PSALM 43:3 (CEB)
Send your light and truth—those will guide me!
Let them bring me... to your dwelling place.

LUKE 2:29-32 (NLT)
“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,
as you have promised.
I have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared for all people.
He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

THE ESSENCE
Jesus is the light, revealing God to all nations.  

DAILY FODDER
Luke 2:29-31 is a caution to all who would reduce or limit the light of God to a single group, nation, or tribe. Fundamental to our faith is: 1) Jesus is the light and 2) the light can't be contained.

PRAYER
Jesus, you are the promised light, revealing God to all the nations. Forgive me for being content to simply sit in your light here in my place. Share your passion for the world with me. Your light can't be contained. 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.

ACCESS

The First Sunday of Advent

JEREMIAH 31:34 (MSG)
   They will no longer go around setting up schools to teach each other about God. They’ll know me firsthand, the dull and the bright, the smart and the slow.

MATTHEW 21:15-16 (GNT)
   The chief priests and the teachers of the Law became angry when they saw the wonderful things he was doing and the children shouting in the Temple, “Praise to David's Son!” So they asked Jesus, “Do you hear what they are saying?”
   “Indeed I do,” answered Jesus. “Haven't you ever read this scripture? ‘You have trained children and babies to offer perfect praise.’”

THE ESSENCE
As Jesus reveals God's presence, even the simple, uneducated, and childlike have access to him, and insightful relationships with him. 

DAILY FODDER
Today is the first day in the season of Advent, when the focus is on preparation for the coming of Jesus — first as the God-in-the-flesh baby, and soon, his second coming to establish his kingdom as the global regime. In all of this coming he reveals himself as the relational God, who comes into our lives, delivering unprecedented access to the divine. 

PRAYER
God, you know our prayers before we even breathe them. Though you know my words help me to say them anyway, for I need to hear them. Thank you for declaring that infants and babies can know you just as much as scholars and priests. You were there for our first prayer and will be there for our last. 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.

PRESENCE

PSALM 84:10 (GNT)
One day spent in your Temple
is better than a thousand anywhere else...

LUKE 2:49 (CEB)
Jesus replied, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house?”

THE ESSENCE
A healthy relationship with God is characterized by time in his presence.  

DAILY FODDER
How do you regularly seek out God's presence? Does it involve a time, place, group of people, solitude, or a devotional practice that raises your ongoing awareness that he is present?  

PRAYER
Gracious God, I'm amazed at the way you are constatly seeking us out. You want to be with us, even though we are at best indifferent to your effort. Teach me to seek out your presence. When I do that, I'm told, I'll recognize that you are already here with me. Jesus, your are the presence of God in the world, and in my 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.