BELIEVE

ISAIAH 33:13 (MSG)
If you’re far away,
get the reports on what I’ve done,
And if you’re in the neighborhood,
pay attention to my record.

JOHN 11:40 (CEB)
Jesus replied, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see God’s glory?”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Believing is seeing.

DAILY FODDER
Define believe.

PRAYER 
Glorious God, you continue to do great things in a troubled world. Forgive me for allowing the problems to distract me from daily believing. My faith is so up and down. Stabilize it and fill me with trust and expectancy.  I'm seeing your glory in the midst of an unbelieving world. 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.

EVENTUALLY

LAMENTATIONS 3:31-32 (MSG)
Why? Because the Master won’t ever
   walk out and fail to return.
If he works severely, he also works tenderly.
His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.

LUKE 1:63-64 (MSG)
Asking for a tablet, Zachariah wrote, “His name is to be John.” That took everyone by surprise. Surprise followed surprise—Zachariah’s mouth was now open, his tongue loose, and he was talking, praising God!

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Eventually God's loving voice comes through. 

DAILY FODDER
Can you identify a season in your life when it felt like God was absent? What did you learn in that silence?  

PRAYER 
Compassionate God, I praise you. May you be glorified every time I open my mouth, and may your love and compassion pour out of me today. Make me steadfast, loyal, and unswerving in my faith. I praise you for who you are and what you are doing in my life. You give abundantly good things. 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'S STRENGTH

The Third Sunday in Eastertide

EXODUS 15:1-2 (MSG)
I’m singing my heart out to GOD—what a victory!
He pitched horse and rider into the sea.
God is my strength, GOD is my song,
and, yes! GOD is my salvation.

LUKE 1:51 (NTFE)
Powerful things he has done with his arm:
he routed the arrogant through their own cunning.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God is so powerful that he can use the strength of all who oppose him against them.

DAILY FODDER
Why are you needing to rely on God's strength today?

PRAYER 
God, you are so strong that no one can oppose you and survive. Forgive me for getting anxious about how strong the evil people in this world seem to be. I pray that you rout the arrogant through their own cunning. And give me the ability to give up all my worries. You are my strength! You are my song! 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.

FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS

PSALM 119:36-37 (MSG)
Give me an appetite for your words of wisdom,
   and not for piling up loot.
Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets,
   invigorate me on the pilgrim way.

TITUS 2:7-8 (MSG)
But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself, trustworthy in your teaching, your words solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Seek to enrich yourself with God's wise words, matched with consistetly wise living.  

DAILY FODDER
How would an objective observer describe the kind of "loot" you are piling up?

PRAYER 
Gracious God, your message is the doable and sustainable source of life, for which I'm grateful. However, I live as though I'm hedging my bets, pouring some of my energy into the pursuit of pleasurable toys and trinkets. Help me to focus all my energy on living into your word. I want to be known as a wise-living follower of Jesus. 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.