Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬-‭12.

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.

‬Paul writes to followers of Jesus in Rome with words of support. If you think it was tough to be a Christian in Israel, imagine what being faithful in the capital of the empire would be like. Persecution was a daily threat and many Roman Christians died for their faith.

He speaks of gifts that will help them endure the oppression they face – “Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer”. We also have these gifts from God available in our lives. Our task is to share them so that others may come to know God and be saved as well.

Our faith is important to keep us strong when life is difficult, knowing that all earthly things are temporary and we have been promised an eternal home with God. By serving Him here we are part of Christ’s Great Commission to us to “go and make disciples of all the world” (Matthew 28:19). God needs no help from us but He graciously calls us to be part of what He is doing in creation.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for all Your many gifts, none more important than our savior, Jesus Christ. Help us to remain faithful even when it is difficult, rejoicing in the hope that salvation brings. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Luke‬ ‭16‬:‭10‬-‭13.

Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

While Jesus is speaking about money in this passage, He is really teaching us about our character and the gifts we are given. We need to view all our gifts together as resources for God’s work and not focus on the amount of wealth we can collect. God doesn’t care about how much we have, but He is keenly interested in what we do with what we have.

Using the things we have – wealth, skills and time – are important to God and to the call He places in our lives. God has given us everything and He wants us to use these gifts to honor Him and help our brothers and sisters to know Him. We can always find a way to bring His love to others using what we have.

Having wealth isn’t a sin, but what we are willing to do in order to get it and what we use it for can distract us from God’s plan. Jesus says plainly “You cannot serve God and wealth”. Our resources are given by Him and we are charged with using them well in His world.

Loving Lord, help us to see the needs we can fill with the gifts You give us. May we love people and use resources to Your glory. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31‬:‭30.

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Yesterday we read about Queen Esther, today we have a verse about godly women in general. It’s easy to see that women were not given the status they deserve in many times and cultures, but scripture tells us this is wrong and there are numerous examples in God’s word to show us this lesson.

My first thought on this is who did Jesus first appear to after His resurrection? Mary Magdalene, not Peter or John or any of the disciples. Look back to the genealogy of Jesus and you will find godly women included during a time that women weren’t traditionally mentioned in these lists. In the Old Testament we hear of Deborah who was a Judge over Israel before the time of King David (Judges 4).

Even Paul, who sometimes said confusing things about women, relied on their help and ministry at the places he planted churches. He mentions numerous women in Romans 16, which begins “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae,” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬). I’d like to think that Paul changed his opinion about women as God led him on his missions. In any case, God has a place and a plan for all His children. We are all called to go in His name to share the Good News.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the way we divide ourselves according to our characteristics. Help us to see how much alike we all are and to understand our differences as gifts. Amen.

Friends, my apologies for being out of touch at times this weekend. I got back to Omaha last night. The retreat was invigorating and challenging, and I know many others who felt it as well.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Esther‬ ‭4‬:‭14.

For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.

I know the story of Esther but will admit I have never studied it deeply. Esther, a Jewish woman, was chosen by the king as one of his wives. When political intrigue threatens her people, she has the chance to save them, but only by disobeying the king’s edict, which could be punished by death.

How often do we face something this serious with consequences this severe? For most of us the answer is “never”. We have more opportunities to speak out about things than ever before in history. Like Esther, we must be willing to face the challenges of this world in order to do God’s will.

We may never be called to face earthly death for our faith, but it is and always will be a call to eternal life or eternal separation from God. Even when it is difficult or dangerous, we must be willing to stand against evil. God is with us always, and through His love we are strengthened.

Heavenly Father, help us to see what is important in eternity and strive for it, sharing Your love with the world. May we be brave and follow Jesus on the path You have set for us. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭19‬-‭20.

Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.

If we read this passage in context, we see that Jesus is speaking about disagreements and discipline in the church. This is a difficult subject but not one Jesus shied away from. Many times we hear Him stand against the Pharisees and other religious leaders, but He also corrects those closest to Him when necessary. Immediately following this we find instructions for offering forgiveness within the early church. Dealing with these as the body of Christ is essential to prevent the false teaching He warned about from becoming accepted, but also to remain faithful to what God has given us in love.

Heavenly Father, we know we are a family, prone to disagreement and differences. Help us to work through these issues, caring for each other as we do so, seeking Your truth and not our own. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬-‭27.

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God.”

Jesus tells us plainly that we must be prepared to face opposition from the world just as He did. He says “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” That is a heavy task, but one we must be prepared to do every day as the disciples of today. Jesus came to save us from our sins but it is up to us to follow Him to salvation.

Gracious God, we are thankful for the example we see in our savior. Help us to be faithful followers, loving everyone as You first loved us. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭6.

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Paul writes with joy to his friends in Philippi, glad that they are a spirit filled and active church. He tells them “that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns”. We can be confident that whatever God has planned for us, He will also be with us to see it through. God has called each of us for a purpose and gifted us accordingly. If we continue in faith, we can be assured of salvation when Jesus comes to take us home.

Loving Lord, we are humbled that You want us as part of what You are doing in creation. Help us to continue the good work that You began in us. Amen.

Friends, I am traveling again today to be part of the clergy team for a retreat in southwest Kansas. My availability will be somewhat limited and my phone is not working yet. I return to Omaha Monday and will catch up with everyone then. Prayers and blessings! ❤️🙏🏻

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91‬:‭1‬-‭4.

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

This psalm tells us of God’s love and watchful care. It reminds us that God wants to be our place of shelter and rest. In order for that to happen, we must turn to Him and trust His promises to us. God is aware of everything that happens in His creation. Jesus tells us “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins ? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬-‭7). Know that you are of infinite worth as one of His beloved children and that He stands ready to protect those who come to Him in repentance.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for all Your gifts to us, none more important than our savior, Jesus Christ. Help us to see how valuable we are to You and to value our brothers and sisters in the same way. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬-‭8.

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

Paul writes that God has adopted us, a voluntary action on His part that requires a response from us. Jesus came to show us how much God loves us and offered Himself as the payment for our sins. God wants us to be in relationship with Him, but we must accept the responsibility that goes along with it.

In order to show our love for Him, we love and care for each other, following what Jesus taught us. We offer God our prayers, praise and worship, but our love for Him is shown through our actions toward our brothers and sisters here. We must use the gifts we have been given wisely for the good of all people.

God gave up a part of Himself in order to free us from the grip of sin. We must be willing to give up our rebel ways, putting our human desires aside in order to become what He has created us to be. In giving up our selfishness we are blessed to be part of His work; called, equipped and sent into the world to show His love to everyone.

Gracious God, we are sorry for the times our willfulness interferes with our connection to You and others. We come in repentance, asking Your forgiveness. Make us whole again by Your mercy. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Proverbs 18:24.

There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

I remember a Sunday School teacher from my childhood explaining that the term Proverbs can be broken down into “pro” meaning good and “verbs” meaning words. That may be a little simplistic, but these “good words” along with the rest of the Good Book and the Good News continue to lead the faithful to salvation. 

Much from the Book of Proverbs is attributed to King Solomon, who was renowned for his wisdom. Many of these wise sayings, often a single verse, are short lessons in our humanity and our connection to God. Today’s reading speaks of the relationships we build with each other and that they are often as deep as family. However, the verse also warns they can be detrimental to our faith.

As with our thoughts and actions, we need to be careful in our relationships. We must cultivate those that lift us up and advance the work of the kingdom, and avoid those that lead us into sin. Our interactions with each other should be motivated by God’s love and not what we can get out of the relationship. Our connections are gifts from God and we give thanks for each other.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for the blessing of all our brothers and sisters. You have made us each to be different and unique, intended for Your purpose. Help us to work together in love, that all the world may know You. Amen.