“If the church of today does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authentic ring, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century” ~ Martin Luther King Jr. – 1963

Pastor Roger from St. Timothy in east Cincinnati does a regular blog. Last week his post HERE entitled Avoiding Irrelevancy includes the above quote from MLK Jr.. When/if you have time, please read Pastor Roger’s blog post.

POSSIBLE ACTIONS: What ways can you and your community capture the same energy and sacrificial nature that was shared during MLK Jr’s ministry for social justice?

PRAYER: Creator God, help our communities to stand up against injustice while raising the next generations to do the same. Selah. May we engage with society to feed, clothe, visit and love our neighbors, known and unknown. Selah.    Amen!  [NOTE: prayer components from Pastor Roger’s post]

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 2, 2020:

• Micah 6:1-8 
• Psalm 15 
• 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 
• Matthew 5:1-12

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

“and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the U.S. sparks nice tributes. It also provides reminders of how far our planet’s inhabitants still must go for justice, kindness and humility.

Thanks to CP friend Joan for sharing the video (HERE) of Dr. King’s daughter, Bernice. In this 3 1/2 minute video, Dr. Bernice King discusses her upbringing and how the  Micah 6:8 scripture was spoken about and lived out. Her parents certainly embodied so many of these traits and the legacy continues…

PRAYER: Creator God, as we follow you all our days, help us to share with you our praise. Strengthen our doing; nurture within us an even more loving presence; and awaken a growing willingness to be your humble servants in all we say and do. Amen.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 2, 2020:

• Micah 6:1-8 
• Psalm 15 
• 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 
• Matthew 5:1-12

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

Praise the LORD! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. … Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre. He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills. … His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner; but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Praise the LORD!  ~ Psalm 147:1-11, 20c (selections)

The hymn Praise Ye The Lord feels like it partially talks about this Psalm and it’s sung HERE if you want to hear it. And HERE’S a little history of this hymn in case you’re interested (fascinating how sometimes those who receive credit for a song are the ones who write the harmonies?)

ACTION: go about your day, spurred on to help heal the brokenhearted and in all things to Praise Ye the Lord!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 26, 2020:

• Isaiah 9:1-4 
• Psalm 27:1, 4-9 
• 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 
• Matthew 4:12-23

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

Movin’ and prayin’ can be a wonderful way to experience God.

One example is this palms up/down format that Bob Buford mentions in the book Halftime

{Put your PALMS UP – arms outstretched in front of you}

Spend a minute or two praying about giving your life back to God, describing the various ways you can do that…

{Move to PALMS DOWN – arms outstretched in front of you}

Now pray about some ways you intend to release your cares to God…

Close this prayer with a statement like: “In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

ACTION: Did the palms up/down movements enhance your prayer? If so, maybe you’ll want to try another of the “movin’ and prayin’ ” prayers (LINK HERE) today or in the days ahead?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 26, 2020:

• Isaiah 9:1-4 
• Psalm 27:1, 4-9 
• 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 
• Matthew 4:12-23

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

Listening and watching Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” message is a stirring experience still today. HERE is some video of that speech, with a longer video HERE. We are privileged to have this holiday to remember the progress made and the present-day opportunities for growth.

Prayers of strength and support today can include those still dealing with injustice in so many ways. We must not be satisfied. May we endeavor to seek justice and peace worldwide for all, NOT allowing race, economic status, religious conviction, gender identification and/or other “stereotyping” to fully define any person or group.

Let freedom ring from every mountaintop … from everywhere!

Enjoy the day, energized for social justice action, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 26, 2020:

• Isaiah 9:1-4 
• Psalm 27:1, 4-9 
• 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 
• Matthew 4:12-23

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

As people attempting to follow the loving example of Christ Jesus, we’re going to fall down every once in a while. We’re only human, after all. In fact, that’s part of the “forgiveness equation,” isn’t it?

When you have a few minutes, take a listen to this song – We Fall Down But We Get Up. Years back it was a suggestion by a member of another church’s jail ministry worship team.

“Get back up again!” is sung in such an encouraging way in this song. When you make one of the “suitable number of mistakes” in trying to follow your faith and the Spirit … “Get back up again!”

As the song suggests, “For a saint is just a sinner who fell down and got up.”

ACTIONS: step out in faith, “falling down” every once in a while with confidence in grace and mercy

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 19, 2020:

• Isaiah 49:1-7 
• Psalm 40:1-11 
• 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 
• John 1:29-42

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

Friends and family members can be treasures. Hopefully each of us has enjoyed time with some of these blessed folks over the recent holiday period.

While those holiday memories are fresh, consider listening to this online, six minute Daily Prayer Audio with a focus on Friends and Family. These few minutes of guided prayer can provide a reflective, active time to recognize prayer requests for these special people in your life.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 19, 2020:

• Isaiah 49:1-7 
• Psalm 40:1-11 
• 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
• John 1:29-42

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

“So may the words I say      And the things I do

Make my Lifesong sing      Bring a smile to you”

~ Lifesong (Casting Crowns)

Take a listen to the Casting Crowns song Lifesong HERE. Was there a particular word or phrase that particularly captures your attention (the words can sometimes be difficult to hear – the lyrics to the song are HERE in case you’d like to read the poetry?)

So….how does your Lifesong sing?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 12, 2020:

• Isaiah 42:1-9 
• Psalm 29 
• Acts 10:34-43 
• Matthew 3:13-17

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

In his CAC post called “Diverse Discipleship,” Brian McLaren describes the need for a faith movement that is “decentralized and diverse rather than centralized and uniform” (NOT an institution!)

Towards the end of the CAC post are these words…

In dangerous times like these, . . . we have to produce generations of dedicated, courageous, and creative contemplative activists who will join God to bring radical healing and change to this damaged world, before it’s too late. ~ CAC Diverse Discipleship blog post 2020-01-02

Thinking of the future generations who are growing up with more technological ways to communicate with those around the world, this seems a clarion call for active, contemplative Jesus-followers to embrace technology all the more in intentional ways to heal and change this damaged world.

ACTION: Now…how do we embrace technology with our faith more effectively? Think about this and share ideas with thought-leaders in your faith tradition (and/or with Christian Playbook at salong_now @ yahoo.com)

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 12, 2020:

• Isaiah 42:1-9 
• Psalm 29 
• Acts 10:34-43 
• Matthew 3:13-17

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

We’ve admired Beth Richardson from afar for many years, ever since her extremely effective Alive Now efforts. She blogs at All the Wonders and her post for today (HERE) is yet another example why we appreciate her so. She mentions the “God timing” of The Ecumenical Prayer Cycle focusing on Iran, Iraq and Syria on this critical week.

ACTION: Please consider checking out Beth’s post above and allow her prayers along with these related intercessions (HERE) to merge with yours…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

P.S. It’s not clear this will work – – AMATEUR RUNNING THIS BLOG! 🙂 – –  at the bottom of this post may include The Ecumenical Prayer Cycle’s country information!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 12, 2020:

• Isaiah 42:1-9 
• Psalm 29 
• Acts 10:34-43 
• Matthew 3:13-17

<div style="border:solid 1px #ddd; width:150px; background-color:#fff;">
<h4 style="text-align:center;">This week we pray for</h4>
<iframe src="http://www.oikoumene.org/en/currentprayercycle.html" allowTransparency="true" width="150" height="235" scrolling="no" frameborder="0">Your browser doesn't display Frames</iframe>
</div>

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE