THE BUILDER

ISAIAH 44:24 (MSG)
GOD, your Redeemer,
who shaped your life in your mother’s womb, says:
“I am GOD. I made all that is.
With no help from you I spread out the skies
and laid out the earth.”

HEBREWS 3:4 (TCEB)
There’s a builder for every house built. But God made the builders. He made everything else too.

THE ESSENCE
The Lord is the architect, engineer, and construction manager behind all building projects. 

DAILY FODDER
Why does the Bible want its readers to acknowledge that God is behind all that exists? What does it matter to you? 

PRAYER
Mighty God, you are the master presence behind all creation and re-creation — including the remaking of my life through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Forgive the cavalier attitudes that place us at the center of everything. Shift our focus and our confidence to you and your infallible experience. Even when things feel a bit crazy, I'm going to continue trusting that you know exactly what you're doing. 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.

CHEERFUL GIVING

GENESIS 28:22 (NRSVue)
Of all that you give me I will surely give one-tenth to you.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:7 (NRSVue)
God loves a cheerful giver.

THE ESSENCE
God loves it when our generosity flows from a happy place. 

DAILY FODDER
The reason we give "cheerfully" is that we recognize we're giving from the abundance God has given us. That awareness changes everything.

PRAYER
What a generous God you are! Thank you for all the blessings you have showered upon me. Every good thing comes from you. Grant me wisdom to use all I have in ways that bring glory to you. May I give open handily out of your amazing abundance. Thank you for allowing me to bless others today. 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 THE FOODIE

The 14th Sunday after Pentecost

1 KINGS 19:7 (GNT)
The LORD's angel returned and woke him up a second time, saying, “Get up and eat, or the trip will be too much for you.”

ACTS 27:34 (TCEB)
Come on now and take some food. You’re going to need it to survive. And you are going to survive this. You’re not going to lose even one measly hair from your head.

THE ESSENCE
God is concerned about our basic physical needs, such as hunger. 

DAILY FODDER
Sometimes we talk as though God's only real concern is spiritual; or if he is interested in our physical needs, it's so he can advance a spiritualized agenda. Indeed, God is interested in matters of the spirit, but it's hard to miss his overwhelming interest in the phyical wellbeing of people. It pops up throughout the whole biblical storyline. 

PRAYER
Our Father in Heaven, I'm grateful for your ongoing interest in our physical needs, such as hunger. Forgive me for reducing our relationship to pie in the sky. Help me to enjoy the pie that you provide for me now. I bless you for giving us the physical and spiritual food we need each day. 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.

CONTENT

PSALM 40:17 (GNT)
I am weak and poor, O Lord,
but you have not forgotten me.

PHILIPPIANS 4:12-13 (GNT)
I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little. I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.

THE ESSENCE
When we’re living by faith we experience supernatural contentment.

DAILY FODDER
In some religious traditions contentment is the end game. But here contentment is an expression of a greater faith — faith that God is faithful — faith that he has the resources to provide — faith that he knows exactly what I really need at any given moment and will provide accordingly.  

PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for remembering me. I confess that sometimes when things aren't going according to my plans I get frustrated and feel forgotten. Help me to release my plans so your will has a place to park in my life. Only then will I experience contentment, in both the ups and downs. 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.