Today’s Bible readings

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens. — Psalm 68:19

Read 1 John 1:5-10

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

More thoughts for meditation

“Walk with me, my child, in the freedom of forgiveness. The path we follow together is sometimes steep and slippery. If you carry a burden of guilt on your back, you are more likely to stumble and fall. Give your burden of guilt to me. I have forgiven you, now it is time to forgive yourself.  And live in the freedom I have given you. Stand up straight and take in my grace so that no one can place more burden on your back. Look into my face and feel the warmth of my love shinning upon you. It is this unconditional love that frees you from both fears and sin. Spend time with me basking in the Light of my Love for you. “ – Sarah Young

Suggestions for action

A wise woman once told me that any guilt that lasts longer than 30 seconds is not worth having. Guilt can be crippling. It can keep us from loving and caring for others, from moving forward in our lives and in relationships. Is there unresolved guilt that is keeping you from living in the freedom Jesus so willingly gave his life for? If so, hold it to God in prayer. A simple breath prayer can suffice. Close your eyes and while breathing out slowly, imagine your guilt draining from your body, as you pray something like “Lord Forgive me”.  While breathing in slowly and deeply imagine God’s Grace and Forgiveness filling you while praying “your forgiveness brings new life.” One could also imagine Jesus looking at you as you pray with  a look of warmth and love.

Today’s Bible readings

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. — Proverbs 16: 3

Read Mathew 6:22-34

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

More thoughts for meditation

“Do not be weighed down by the clutter in your life: lots of chores to get done, meetings to go, and events to go to.  If you focus too much on these tasks, trying to get them all out of the way, you will discover that they are endless. They can eat up as much time as you devote to them.

Instead of try of trying to do everything at once, chose the ones that need to be done today. Let the rest slip into the background of your mind so you can be in the forefront of your awareness. Remember that your ultimate goal is to be living close to Me and love the people I have put into your life. As hard as it is don’t let the burden of your responsibilities rob you of the joy that can be found in my Love. being responsive to my attentiveness. Seek My face continually through this day. Let my presence bring order to your thoughts and actions. Find the joy in all you do. “ — Inspired by Sarah Young

Suggestions for action

If you feel weighed down by everything your responsible for and all you have to do, taking a moment to write it all down and prioritizing what needs to get done and what can wait can be very helpful. Especially if we feel like we don’t have time to prioritize. Give it a try. If you can just take one thing off you plate today that can bring relief.

Often when I have chores and such to do I try to either make it more enjoyable by listening to music or a pod cast. Or I try to rope one of my kids into doing it with me so what felt like just a chore becomes a time to be together, loving each other. And sometimes I just need to stop doing chores and spend time with people I love. That is one reason why I like living in the city. Often, I come home ready to start on my 15 item to do list and I am stopped in my tracks by my neighbor who wants to talk. I have learned that such interruptions are often the Spirit slowing me down and opening me up to be loved and to love others. What do you maybe need to put aside today so you have space to love and be loved? Who around you may need you to give them some of your time?

Today’s Bible readings

Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 8:38-39

More thoughts for meditation

“Let me bless you with my Grace and Peace. Open you heart and mind to receive all that I have for you. Do not be ashamed of your emptiness. Instead, view it as an optimal condition for being filled with My Peace.

It is easy to touch up our outward appearance, to look as if we have it all together. Your attempts to look good can fool most people. But I see straight though you, into the depths of your being. There is no place for pretense in your relationship with me. Rejoice in the relief of being fully understood. Talk with me about your struggles and feelings of inadequacy. Little by little, I will transform your weakness into strengths. Remember that your relationship with me is saturated with grace. Nothing that you do or don’t do can separate you from my Presence. “ — Sarah Young

Suggestions for action

Most of the time when I sit down to pray and dwell on God’s grace and peace, hoping to be filled, I find I am already quite filled-up. I am filled up with anxiety, guilt, self-doubt, depression and hurt. If I just dwell in this pool of self-destruction, I often go nowhere. I find if I start writing a prayer telling the Lord of my stress and heartache, my worried and doubts, the Spirit will move me to a better place. It’s as if all those thoughts and feelings leak out of me onto the paper, emptying me, moving me into a more optimal space to be filled. Often what starts out as complain ends in thankfulness and experiencing His Grace, being reminded of His love and finding a sense of Joy in the mist of my current struggle. If you have difficulty emptying yourself to be filled by God give this journaling prayer a try. If you have a practice that works better for you, then do it. I encourage you to make space today to be filled.

Today is George MacDonald Day! Honor his imagination and truth-telling at Celebrating Our Transhistorical Body.

Today’s Bible readings

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33

For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you. — Isaiah 41:13

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. — Philippians 4:13

More thoughts for meditation

“Do not long for the absence of problems in your life. That is an unrealistic goal since in this world you will have trouble. You have an eternity of problems-free living reserved for you in heaven. Rejoice in that inheritance, which no one can take away from you, but do not seek Heaven on Earth.

Begin each day anticipating problems, asking me to equip you for whatever difficulties you will encounter. The best equipping is my Living Presence, my hand that will never let go of yours. Discuss everything with me. Take a lighthearted view of trouble, seeing it as a challenge that you and I together can handle. Remember that I am on your side, and I have overcome the world. “ — Sarah Young

Suggestions for action

Spend time with Jesus reflecting on the current problems or troubles of today. When I look around at all the problems in our world and in my own life taking a “light-hearted view” seems quite impossible. Yet, it is a good reminder that the problems we face today will not last forever and we do not need to be over-burdened by them. How can we share our burdens? Spend some time in prayer giving our troubles over to Jesus.

One-way Jesus shares our problems is by giving us each other. Paul thanks the Philippians for sharing his burdens with him. If the mighty Paul needed others to get through life, so do we. If you are feeling alone in your problems, no matter how big or small they seem, reflect on who you can reach out to and then take that step. Call someone, go to cell, or a Sunday Meeting. If you feel like you have no one, I encourage you to call one of the pastors or any of the cell leaders of Circle of Hope. For, we are Jesus hands, feet and ears for each other.

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