But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the … Read More
Praying to Be Chosen and Appointed to Love
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything … Read More
Praying to Stay Put and Shine
“You are the light that shines for the world to see. You are like a city built on a hill that cannot be hidden. People don’t hide a lamp under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand. Then the light shines for everyone in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live … Read More
A Difficult Time When Fears and Change Impact Our Lives: Politics, Science, Education, and Values
Change may impact our lives in powerful ways, causing our welfare, joys, and safety to seem at risk from challenging new realities in our lives. That seems the case in many aspects of the current political season – global shifts in values cause new perceptions regarding gender, social behavior, and educational efforts to name a few of the issues in … Read More
Praying to Help Gather
Jesus saw the many people and felt sorry for them because they were worried and helpless—like sheep without a shepherd to lead them. Jesus said to his followers, “There is such a big harvest of people to bring in. But there are only a few workers to help harvest them. God owns the harvest. Ask him to send more workers … Read More
Praying to Be Led
In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. (Isaiah 11:6) Led by a child? The way Isaiah seems to have Jesus all figured out, hundreds of years before Bethlehem, … Read More
Praying to Hear God Call Me by Name
“Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” (Isaiah 40:16) I dearly love this picture of God that Isaiah paints. Isaiah says we learn something important about God … Read More
Praying to Come to Jesus
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29) Jesus meets needs. I send this Scripture out pretty often because I need it and maybe we … Read More
Praying for My Mouth and Heart
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14) It’s all about the flow from the inside to the outside. This is the last line of David’s magnificent psalm that begins “The Heavens declare the glory of God.” It’s a prayer to be “pleasing” to God … Read More
Praying for the Forgiveness of Jesus
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:33-34) This is why I love Jesus. Hanging on his cross — being tortured, humiliated and being made a wretched … Read More