STEP OUT OF THE WAY AND LET GOD...

Ascension Day

PROVERBS 19:21 (ABP)
We keep coming up with ideas and plans on how to improve things but in the end, it's God's agenda that prevails.

ACTS 1:6-8 (CEV)
While the apostles were still with Jesus, they asked him, “Lord, are you now going to give Israel its own king again?”

Jesus said to them, “You don't need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Don't get worked up over how things are unfolding because God will be the one taking care of it all. 

DAILY FODDER
If you were to tell God to fix something immediately, what would that be? How do you think he'd respond? Why?

PRAYER
Sovereign God, your plans and purposes stand firm forever. You know how I dislike it when plans do not work out as I had hoped. Yet, amid setbacks you open doors to wonderful opportunities for me. I trust you to fulfill your purposes for me. Make me a powerful witness of your goodness and your eternal kingdom. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

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.

PUNISHMENT?

PSALM 6:1 (CEV)
Don't punish me, LORD,
or even correct me
when you are angry!

1 THESSALONIANS 5:9-10 (MSG)
God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God isn't interested in punishing people and giving them what they deserve. To the contrary!

DAILY FODDER
Why do you think that God is busy looking for ways to punish people?

PRAYER
Gracious God, you treat us way better than we deserve. Yet, I still harbor some childhood thoughts about you being on the prowl looking for bad things in my life to punish me. Free me from this nonsense and show me how to allow you to intervene in my life where there is badness dragging me down. I'm going to trust that Jesus is my Savior and that he is about restoring life in me. 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 SAVES

PSALM 107:10, 13, 15 (NLT)
Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom,
    imprisoned in iron chains of misery.
“LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
Let them praise the LORD for his great love
    and for the wonderful things he has done for them.

MATTHEW 5:10 (CEV)
God blesses those people
   who are treated badly
   for doing right.
They belong to the kingdom
   of heaven.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God blesses his right-living people as he saves them from their ordeals.

DAILY FODDER
Have you ever suffered because you did the right thing? In the long run, how did that suffering turn into a blessing?

PRAYER
Merciful God, you bless us with more than we deserve.  But I'm short-sighted and usually fail to see the blessings that are coming my way because of difficulties in my life. I get all puffed up, especially when I think the drama is the result of doing the right thing. Help me to step back from the situation enough that I'm able to recognize some of the ways that you are blessing me. As a citizen of your heavenly kingdom, I'm going to approach the drama in a whole different way. 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 FUTURE IS FUSION

PSALM 107:3, 8 (MSG)
Then he rounded you up from all over the place,
from the four winds, from the seven seas...
So thank GOD for his marvelous love,
for his miracle mercy to the children he loves.

MATTHEW 8:11 (ABP)
Listen carefully, many outsiders will stream in from the east and the west — from every corner of the world. And they'll all be seated together at the Kingdom from Heaven kick-off feast alongside Jewish patriarchs such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
International and cultural borders are not barriers to the Kingdom from Heaven.

DAILY FODDER
How are you currently preparing for the God-designed cultural fusion event that will define the future?

PRAYER
God, I'm looking forward to the coming of your Kingdom, where your agenda will define what happens here on earth just as it currently happens in your heavenly headquarters. I confess that I'm not ready for the radical inclusivity of what's coming. Prepare me now for the cultural breadth that will be evident then. I don't want to be embarrassed by my chauvinism and lack of preparation. For it is all about your mercy and grace. 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.