CARRIED

ISAIAH 63:9 (CEV)
The LORD was truly merciful,
so he rescued his people.
He took them in his arms
and carried them all those years.

LUKE 15:5 (ABP)
When the shephard finds the lost sheep, he is thrilled as he lifts it onto his shoulders and carries it to safety.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God carries us to safety.

PRAYER
Shepherding God, thank you for your love that carries us into life. You do not give up on your lost sheep. You pursue us and lift us out of our fears. Raise our vision that is stuck in the mire of our wants. Free us for wanting your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE MYSTERY

DEUTERONOMY 3:24 (MSG)
GOD, my Master, you let me in on the beginnings, you let me see your greatness, you let me see your might...

COLOSSIANS 1:27 (CEV)
God did this because he wanted you Gentiles to understand his wonderful and glorious mystery. And the mystery is that Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God’s glory.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God is full of wonderful mystery, some of which he shares with us.

PRAYER
Glorious God, thank you for sending Christ to live in us. I can't pretend to understand how that works nor all the implications of his presence. But it fills me with hope. Help me to slow down enough so that I can begin to see the wonder of your plan as you slowly pull back the curtain. I'm going to rely on you to show me exactly what I need to see. Amen.

FELLOWSHIP

GENESIS 18:3 (NLT)
"My lord," he said, "if it pleases you, stop here for a while."

LUKE 19:5 (CEB)
When Jesus came to that spot, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down at once. I must stay in your home today.”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God desires fellowship with all kinds of people.

PRAYER
Unassuming God, thank you for your desire to hang out with people like me. There is nothing special about me and if anything I'm the least worthy of your attention. But you continually show up anyway. Open my eyes to see your invitation and my heart to respond without hesitation. I'm looking forward to all the fellowship. Amen.

LOOKING BEYOND

Ash Wednesday

PSALM 65:5 (CEV)
You give hope to people
everywhere on earth,
even those across the sea.

1 JOHN 2:2 (CEV)
Christ is the sacrifice that takes away our sins and the sins of all the world’s people.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Christ is the hope of the world.

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for sending your Son Christ Jesus into the world to become the sacrifice that neutralizes our sin and its impact. Your vision is to be the hope of all people but I confess that my vision is to seek my own comfort. Instill within me a heart for the entire world. I'm going to start looking beyond. Amen.