OUR PROTECTOR

The 6th Sunday of Easter

DANIEL 6:22 (NLT)
Daniel said, "My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me..."

JOHN 10:27-28 (NLT)
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me...

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God protects his people, leading them forward into full and eternal life.

DAILY FODDER
Recall some of the times in your life when you realized God's protection.

PRAYER
I'm grateful, God, that you protect your people. I acknowledge the presence of your angels in my life. There have been so many times when I should have died, but without explanation, the speeding cars and stray bullets have missed hitting me. I'm sorry for the times when I get anxious. If I think about all the ways you have taken care of me and others I'd be content to leave everything in your hands. But I don't think. Help me to fix my eyes on you and as I follow to forget about all the threats which vie for my attention. I know that you're here and that you are powerful so I'm not going to worry anymore. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

DON'T HESITATE

JEREMIAH 15:20 (NLT)
I am with you to protect and rescue you.
I, the LORD, have spoken!

HEBREWS 4:16 (ABP)
Since God is so gracious and accessible we should approach him without hesitation. As we do that we'll rediscover how merciful he is. God will generously help us when we need it most.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Since God is so gracious don't hesitate to approach him with your problems. 

DAILY FODDER
In what other religion is there a God who is so receptive to people and their problems?

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for being the faithful friend we can turn to — no matter how flakey we are. And I can be a real flake. Help me with all these problems on my plate — some of them are my own doing; some just seem to happen; and some have come because of things others have done. But I know that I can trust you to help me out. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

THE JOY OF REUNION

JEREMIAH 31:9 (NLT)
Tears of joy will stream down their faces,
   and I will lead them home with great care.
They will walk beside quiet streams
   and on smooth paths where they will not stumble.
For I am Israel’s father...

JOHN 16:22 (NLT)
So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.

SUMMARY SENTENCE 

There is incredible joy ahead as we are reunited with Christ Jesus our Savior.

DAILY FODDER
When we're going through tough times the promise of better times is recharging. Perhaps we might even say "joy inducing."

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for the promise of better days ahead. I confess that I allow the current challenges to suck the joy from my life. Renew my spirit through the promise of future reunion. I can endure the dark situation now knowing that joy comes in the morning. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

GOD OF MERCY

ISAIAH 65:8 (NLT)
“But I will not destroy them all,”
     says the Lord.
“For just as good grapes are found among a cluster of bad ones
(and someone will say, ‘Don’t throw them all away—
some of those grapes are good!’),
     so I will not destroy all Israel.
For I still have true servants there.

JOHN 3:17 (MSG)
God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.

SUMMARY SENTENCE

God has no interest in destroying -- only saving.

DAILY FODDER
If we understand that God's fundamental interest is in saving rather than destroying, how does that change the way we relate to him and his agenda?

PRAYER
Christ, each morning you recharge the world with enough goodness to get it through the day. Day in and day out you're reaching out to us with your saving grasp -- even though day in and day out we mostly ignore you and continue on trying to build our own little kingdoms. Deepen our understanding of your motivation so that we can more fully participate in your mission of mercy. I really want your mercy to define the core of who I am and what I do. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.