Online Ministry for the Week 08/21 - 08/27 2017

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

Loving God, call us together as your people; transform us with your love. Transform our hearts, that we may love generously. Transform our eyes, that we may see your grace. Transform our hands, that we may serve others. Transform our spirits, that we may be the body of Christ. Amen.

DAILY READING

• Monday, August 21, 2017: Psalm 130; Genesis 43:1-34; Acts 15:1-21
• OR Psalm 87; 2 Kings 5:1-14; Acts 15:1-21
• Tuesday, August 22, 2017: Psalm 130; Genesis 44:1-34; Romans 11:13-29
• OR Psalm 87; Isaiah 43:8-13; Romans 11:13-29
• Wednesday, August 23, 2017: Psalm 130; Genesis 45:16-28; Matthew 8:1-13
• OR Psalm 87; Isaiah 66:18-23; Matthew 8:1-13
• Thursday, August 24, 2017: Psalm 124; Genesis 49:1-33; 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
• OR Psalm 138; Ezekiel 28:11-19; 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
• Friday, August 25, 2017: Psalm 124; Genesis 49:29-50:14; 2 Corinthians 10:12-18
• OR Psalm 138; Ezekiel 31:15-18; 2 Corinthians 10:12-18
• Saturday, August 26, 2017: Psalm 124; Genesis 50:15-26; Matthew 16:5-12
• OR Psalm 138; Ezekiel 36:33-38; Matthew 16:5-12
• Sunday, August 27, 2017: Proper 16 (21)

PSALM 124

124:1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side -- let Israel now say --

124:2 if it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when our enemies attacked us,

124:3 then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us;

124:4 then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us;

124:5 then over us would have gone the raging waters.

124:6 Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth.

124:7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped.

124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

 

ABUNDANT HEALTH

Facing Failure
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 (NLT)


Failure does not automatically grow your character. Failure only builds your character when you respond to it correctly, when you learn from it, when you grow from it, when you say, “What didn’t work here, and what can I change?” When you think about failure and setbacks like this, your heart softens. Then you can bolster your next steps off what you learned.


—The Daniel Plan Team
—The Daniel Plan brief excerpt from The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a HealthierLife by Rick Warren, DMin; Daniel Amen, MD; & Mark Hyman, MD (Zondervan). © 2013 by The Daniel Plan. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Living God, we are grateful for your faithful care of all that you have created. We are so glad to rely on your steadfast love. Today, we lift up those who are vulnerable, in physical danger, or caught in addiction. Set them free, like a bird released from a trap. Strengthen our church’s caring ministries through our gifts and offerings. May we assist others to embrace the new life that you provide through Christ our risen Lord. Amen.