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2 Thessalonians 1:3-6

09 Feb

Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you.

2 Thessalonians 1:3-6

Dear God, why was Paul so proud of this church? Because they were accomplishing great things? Because they were fighting for their rights and influencing their community? No, because they were worshipping you through the legitimate harassment and persecution by others.

And who was persecuting them? The Romans? No, probably not. Or if the Romans were involved it was because the local Jewish church was behind it. So, yes, it was the local Jewish church who was most likely behind the persecution. And why? because these people were doing it wrong. They were blaspheming. They were teaching heresy. Frankly, from their perspective, their attitude is understandable. If I had been them, I’d have probably done the same thing. Going back to the Disney Princess Theology, I’m probably not the Thessalonian Christians in this story. I’m probably the old Jewish guard.

So how might I accidentally be making mistakes like this now? Or, on the other hand, is there any chance I bend too far in an effort to not be like them. Or, how do I need to be more like the Thessalonian Christians who are simply persevering in their worship for you in the midst of struggles? Frankly, as American Christians, hardly any of us know what persecution for our faith really looks like. We think that the government telling us not to meet in large groups (just like they are telling every other group in the country) is persecution. We are soft.

Father, I’ve asked a whole lot more questions than I’ve given answers here, but I think it’s important to remember that the odds are just as good that I am the persecutor as much as the persecuted. Either way, if I am the persecutor, please open my eyes so I can see. Give me mercy. Give me love. Give me grace for others. And if I am the persecuted (which I’m pretty sure I’m not), give me the right perspective that my life is no longer mine. It is yours, and I embrace whatever you have for me fully.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on February 9, 2021 in 2 Thessalonians

 

Matthew 5:27, 31-34, 38-39, 43-44

08 Feb

“You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’

“You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’ But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.

“You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne.

“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

Matthew 5:27,31-34,38-39,43-44

Dear God, I wonder how many “You have heard…, but I say…” statements Jesus would have for us today. I won’t try to come up with my own list because I’m too tainted by errant teaching, but I’m sure influence throughout politics would be in there somewhere.

I was talking with someone yesterday, and I asked him if there was anything he had been learning spiritually. I thought maybe he’d say something along the lines of your perspective on this, that, or the other part of life, but he said he was learning to be present in the moment with you because the present moment is where you are. Yes, that is a pretty evolved stage of spiritual development and it makes sense that that is where he is. He’s been walking with you for over 40 years, and his discipleship seems to have reached a level where he is beyond the normal dos and don’ts teachings of Christianity. He is just trying to dig deeper and deeper into communion with you.

Father, I aspire to get to that level, but it’s a process and a journey. If I live as long as he has, maybe I’ll get there, but if I don’t, at least I’ll know that I’m closer to you and knowing what you say more than I was yesterday, and I’ll have the hope of being even closer to you tomorrow. Please help me on this journey.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on February 8, 2021 in Matthew

 

Mark 1:29-39

07 Feb

After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away. So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them. That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. The whole town gathered at the door to watch. So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak. Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.

Mark 1:29-39

Dear God, it seems like Jesus was always careful about lingering too long when the adoration became too much. Is that right? Let me think about that before I say that definitively. Is that what Jesus was doing as he went away to pray by himself?

I was thinking about this story in concert with the story about Jesus sending out the 72, and then, when they returned and told of their successes (your successes through them), he suggested they get away alone for a while. Of course, that was interrupted by the multitudes and he took one extra bit of compassion to teach them and eventually feed them, but he still got away by himself afterward. He still got away to pray.

I think Jesus knew that he had to walk a very fine line between being you and your essence, and keeping the humanness of himself submitted to you. In this story from Mark, it seems that Jesus got up early to go to “an isolated place to pray” because he knew he needed you. He knew he needed perspective. He simply could not do this without being completely connected to you.

I told my wife this morning that the crowd gathered at the door and that “everyone looking for [him]” the disciples referenced the next morning, reminds me of the people now who are looking for the COVID-19 vaccine. Some have received it and are thrilled. Others are looking for a place, any place, to get their shot. Frankly, my wife and I are among the lucky ones. Because of my work, I’m considered 1A and my wife’s arm happened to be in the right place at the right time when they had a few extra doses for a vial that needed to go somewhere or they would be wasted. And I remember the feeling I had when I saw her getting her shot. I was elated. I was grateful. I can only imagine how much more elated and grateful these people felt–to have run across the one man in the entire world who could heal their infirmities.

But Jesus apparently had something affirmed to him that morning in his prayer time with you. Healing was nice, fun, kind, and benevolent, but what he came to do was preach: “That is why I came.” So they left there. I am sure the people in the town were devastated. I would think the disciples’ families would have been upset, wondering why they couldn’t just keep Jesus in their home and to themselves. I’m sure some people started following him just to see if they could get access to him. Maybe a healing for themselves or a loved one. Later, the teaching will get hard and many will turn away. It’s not just fun and miracles anymore. They were going to be asked to stretch and grow. They were going to be asked to sacrifice.

Father, I am disheartened to see how similar I am to the disciples and the others. I want what is best for and benefits me. I like my luxuries and my toys. I like my home, my healthcare and benefits, and I want the same advantages for those I love as well. I don’t want to suffer or sacrifice. I do my best to avoid hurt and pain. So I am sorry. And when I do experience success, help me to remember that my first action should be to get by myself and pray to you instead of reveling in and marveling in the great things that you did through me. No, help me to always ask you, what am I doing here?

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on February 7, 2021 in Mark

 

Psalm 33:1-5

05 Feb

1 Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord;
it is fitting for the pure to praise him.
2 Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre;
make music for him on the ten-stringed harp.
3 Sing a new song of praise to him;
play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.
4 For the word of the Lord holds true,
and we can trust everything he does.
5 He loves whatever is just and good;
the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.

Psalm 33:1-5

Dear God, it’s interesting that this says your unfailing love fills the earth since it was written in a time before Jesus. Playing on the verses in Hebrews I prayed about yesterday, it was a time of Mount Sinai and not Mount Zion. Your favor was limited at that point to the Jewish people. At least that’s the way we understand it, although we are probably wrong about that. Heck, we don’t understand your ways. At the end of the day, I’m convinced that I’m going to be shocked at how much of my theology is wrong when I arrive in heaven. I’ll probably be embarrassed to know how I overlooked things that were very important to you and paid too much attention to things that weren’t important to you.

So the one thing I am sure of, or one of the few things I’m sure of, is that I need to worship you. I need to be thankful to you. I need to embrace the life you have given to me and live through it worshipping you. I need to be humble. I need to love others. I need to live beyond myself and my own selfish desires and realize that you are the God of the universe and I am just one of the billions and billions of people who have come and gone as part of your creation. My life is like a vapor, but you are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Father, I will give you all my worship. I will give you all of my praise. You alone, I long to worship. You alone are worthy of my praise.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on February 5, 2021 in Psalms

 

Hebrews 12:18-24

04 Feb

You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.” No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

Hebrews 12:18-24

Dear God, I was just having an email conversation with a friend about where we draw the line in what behavior we accept and what we reject as citizens of your kingdom. Where does your church draw the line on controversial issues such as abortion, gender identity, sexual orientation, gluttony, lust, drunkenness, etc.? Frankly, I don’t have a lot of good, definitive answers. I’m glad I am not a pastor and have to address these issues.

This passage reminds me that I am grateful for grace. I don’t have to be terrified to approach the mountain where you dwell. I am not approaching Mount Sinai. I’ve come to Mount Zion. Mount Zion is the place where you made it possible for me to worship you, learn more about you, and be accepted by you in spite of my foolish human selfishness and sin. You give me an opportunity to be refined and improved over time. My part is to humble myself, repent of the sins of which I’m aware, and move forward one step closer to you. And in the next moment, I do the same thing again. It’s a process. On a selfishness/self-indulgent scale of 1-10, last year I was probably an 8.5. Now I might be an 8.25. Still pretty bad, but at least I feel like I am moving in the right direction. I now at least have moment when I’m willing to do the right thing without worrying what I get out of it. That happened less before.

Father, thank you. Thank you that I can sit at my table right now and pray to you through the medium. Thank you that you hear my heart, thoughts, and words. That you that you see my motives, and are able to parse through the evil in my heart to see some raw material with which you might work to continue to refine me into someone you can use. Thank you for grace that allows me to walk away from my sins and not carry them around as shame. Thank you for providing Mount Zion and not staying on Mount Sinai, where I would never dare to tread.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on February 4, 2021 in Hebrews

 

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

01 Feb

“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Dear God, if I were Jewish I would know this verse and the verse that follow it by heart. It’s what Jesus went to when asked what the greatest commandment was. So what does it take to love you with all of my heart, soul, and strength?

  • Heart: I give my heart to so many things, and I confess that sometimes I get tired of dwelling on holy things. It can be fun to indulge my heart with the things of this world. It’s a little like drugs and excessive drinking. I watched an interview yesterday with David Harbor, an actor famous for Stranger Things, and he was talking about getting sober. He talked about how miserable he and everyone else he was doing drugs and drinking too much. One of the things he noticed when we went to a 12–step meeting was how friendly everyone was. How happy. So why do people do drugs and drink to excess? Because of the little temporary pleasure of unplugging from reality–the high–that you get in the moment. But the cumulative effect leaves you empty and knowing you need something more. It’s at that point you can choose to break the cycle, or try to see if one more round will numb the bad feelings out of you.
  • Soul: How do I find the definition for soul? What does it mean to love you with all of my soul? Especially in the pre-Jesus world in which this was written. I think it means, in this context, my inmost being. My core. My heart is my emotions, but my soul is my core. I need to love you with the core of who I am.
  • Strength; I think this one is about my self-discipline. I need to love you with effort. It can’t be a passive love. I can’t just sit around and say, “Oh, yeah. Me and God. We’re tight.” I need to discipline myself to love you. I need to show you love. I need to give all I have to be in this relationship with you because you deserve that.

Father, some people would read that last part I just wrote and say, “Well then, I don’t need a God that is going to make me work that hard,” but what they don’t understand is that there is peace and joy waiting in the midst of that effort. When I don’t love you with all of my heart, soul, and strength then I find myself drifting further and further from peace and joy. But when I do it, the grace you give me in return floods me and I find myself at peace. It passes understanding, but it’s real. Help me to love you like I should today.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on February 1, 2021 in Deuteronomy

 

John 3:1-21

31 Jan

There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

“What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

“How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.

Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

John 3:1-21

Dear God, I need some time with you this morning. I need some time to center myself back on you. I need to spend some time letting the Holy Spirit envelope my soul. For the last couple of days, I have not taken any time to really immerse myself in you, and I miss you. Oh, how grateful I am to miss you.

As I thought about finding some scripture through which I could try to hear your voice this morning, I thought about the rant that Jesus goes on in his conversation at night with Nicodemus. I was listening to a praise and worship song and watching the video on YouTube when I saw a slide that had the words for John 3:16-17. It reminded me that those verses are just a small part of this little speech Jesus gives to Nicodemus. Is it possible the words you had for Nicodemus 2,000 years ago are the same words you have for me this morning? Maybe so, maybe not, but there might just be something in here for me.

This starts with Nicodemus, a Pharisee, labeling Jesus as a teacher sent from God. Jesus implies back that Nicodemus cannot see (experience/enter into personally) your Kingdom because he has not been born again. Confused, Nicodemus asks him to explain.

Jesus explains that we must embrace being transformed into a new creation by your Spirit, the Holy Spirit, in order to know you and your kingdom. I cannot do it in my own power. Maybe that’s what I was missing this morning–doing it on my own for a couple of days and feeling the difference.

When Nicodemus presses for further explanation (verse 9) Jesus takes off. Here is an outline of where he goes:

  • You don’t believe me when I tell you things about earth and the realities here even though you can see them with your own eyes. How will you ever believe me about heaven?
  • The Israelites looked upon the bronze snake to save them from the snake bites in the wilderness. Jesus will save all of us in the same way. Ever since I preached on this passage two years ago, I have tried to remember that every time I see a cross or a crucifix. My savior.
  • John 3:16 and 17 are an extension of this thought. God gave Jesus to be my redemption. Redemption that comes through God’s power and not mine. He didn’t do this to condemn me, but to save me.
  • This is the part that is hard for me. To think of all of the people who do not believe. There are categories of those people. Those who have never heard of you so they don’t know to believe. Those who were raised in other religions and believe in that and not you. Those who were raised with no religion and have a hard time believing. And then those who were raised and trained in you and then walk away.
  • People loved the darkness more than the light. That can certainly be me at any given time. I heard Rich Mullins say one time that sometimes he just wanted you to turn away and ignore him so he could do what he wanted without your judgment–at least for a little while. But the truth is, it’s not your judgment we should fear as much on earth as it is the emptiness of walking away and the vicious cycle of hiding our shame that comes with walking away.
  • Hiding from the light and going towards the light. What an interesting message from Jesus to Nicodemus as they talked at night. I never thought of this before, but was this Jesus pointing out to Nicodemus that he was hiding from the light as he came to learn more from Jesus. Interestingly, Nicodemus would continue to follow Jesus in the shadows until Jesus’s death, when he broke ranks with the Pharisees and went to help Joseph of Arimathea to care for Jesus’s body and put him in the tomb.

Father, draw me close to you. Never let me go. I lay it all down again, to hear you say that I’m your friend. You are my desire. No one else will do. Because nothing can ever take your place. To feel the warmth of your embrace. Help me find the way. Bring me back to you. You’re all I want. You’re all I’ve ever needed. You’re all I want. Bring me back to you.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 31, 2021 in John

 

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Ephesians 6:12-18

27 Jan

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Ephesians 6:12-18

Dear God, before I can be reminded to make sure I’m wearing your armor (the Armor of God), it’s important to remember that I have to recognize the spiritual warfare around me. The attacks on our spirits. The real world beyond what we see. When I think of spiritual warfare I tend to only think of attacks on unity and relationships (and I think those account for most of the attacks), but I don’t think of just the way the demons will try to impact my thoughts regarding the physical challenges that come up like pandemics, financial struggles, etc. So what am I to do to combat these things? Well, I embrace:

  • Truth – It’s amazing how hard this first one can be because my temptation is to believe truth the aligns with my selfish interests and reject truth that inconveniences me. It’s important to somehow have people around me who are comfortable speaking inconvenient truths into my life.
  • Righteousness – Of course, there is none righteous, no not one. (Psalm 14:3) So that’s where I need to resist and do my best to keep myself pure and then put on my salvation for when I fail.
  • Peace – This is the one that I maintain can only come through connection with the Holy Spirit. I cannot manufacture peace. I cannot will myself to it. It only comes (at least to me) through communion with the Holy Spirit.
  • Faith – I’ve said for a long time that there is a fine line between living by faith and living in denial. Faith is showing up and doing the work everyday regardless of my planned outcome and trusting that you will do your will. My ultimate goals don’t matter. There are a couple of things that I pray for nearly every day that I see no evidence of coming to pass, but I keep showing up to pray for them anyway, and then the Holy Spirit gives me the peace I need to accept your outcome.
  • Salvation – This is what covers my lack of ability to be righteous. Because I am not righteous. Oh, thank you for my salvation. Thank you for choosing to relate to me anyway. Thank you, sweet Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  • Holy Spirit – Speaking of the Holy Spirit, I am sorry I still don’t acknowledge you like I should. You are where the rubber meets the road in my life. Thank you. You give me my love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, goodness, gentleness, kindness, and self control. You are my minister. You are my counselor. You are God’s presence in my heart. Thank you for protecting me.

Father, be with me today as I go through this day. Give me my armor against the divisiveness and destructiveness of this world. I give you all the glory for everything in my life. I trust you. I live for you. And I promise to fight for the rights of others more than I will fight for my own rights–for your glory and your glory alone.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 27, 2021 in Ephesians

 

Philippians 4:2-3

25 Jan

Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.

Philippians 4:2-3

Dear God, what would it be like to be these two women and have my dispute with someone else immortalized in scripture forever. Not that they ever knew it would be immortalized, but here it is. I’m sure if they looked at it now, whatever their quarrel was about, it would seem small and pointless. But in the moment I’m sure it felt very big and personal.

Of course, there are other quarrels captured in the Bible. I wonder how many of those are regretted. Paul himself had a quarrel with Barnabas over Mark. In the fog of a spiritual attack, a quarrel can seem so justified, but the truth is that most are very small.

Father, help me to recognize the pointless quarrels that exist in my life. Help me to humbly seek reconciliation when they happen. May it all be for unity in your Spirit and for your glory.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 25, 2021 in Philippians

 

James 1:1-4

25 Jan

This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings! Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

James 1:1-4

Dear God, it’s interesting that James geared the messages of this letter specifically to Jewish people who were now believers in Jesus. Was there something specifically about the Jewish faith that discounted the need for works? Anyway, I never noticed this before.

What would a modern prophet speaking on your behalf have to say to the American church (Catholic, mainline, or evangelical)? Lately, the feeling I’ve been getting is that our sin is grasping for political and cultural power. There was simply never a time when Jesus seemed to care about who the government or political leaders were. In fact, the only people who ever seemed to earn his ire were religious leaders and those who were hypocritical in their judgment of others. Yes, I’m convinced you would have a lot to say to American Christians of all stripes right now. We have sinned. I have sinned.

One of my sins is really paying as much attention as I do to politics and not thinking more about the immediate needs around me. Really, is there anything going on in the political leadership of our nation or state that warrants more than 5 minutes of my time a week?

Father, help me to focus on the right things. Help me to focus more on my sphere of influence than I focus on things that are outside of my control but easily distract me. In fact, this puts a new spin on the serenity prayer. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change (politics) the courage to change the things I can (my sphere of influence) and the wisdom to know the difference.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 25, 2021 in James

 
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