Online Ministry for the Week 9/4 - 9/11 2016

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

God of abundant grace, may your Holy Spirit be with us now as we worship you this day. Open our eyes to truly see one another, that we might discover your presence in the smile of a neighbor. Open our ears to the needs of the world, that we might hear your wisdom in the words spoken around us. And open our hearts to your grace and love, that we might find guidance and strength for the journey, for ourselves and for one another. Amen.

The Upper Room daily devotional: DAILY RITUALS

 

DAILY READING

• Monday (September 5, 2016): Psalm 2; Jeremiah 18:12-23; 1 Timothy 3:14-4:5 OR Psalm 101; 2 Kings 17:24-41; 1 Timothy 3:14-4:5
• Tuesday (September 6, 2016): Psalm 2; Jeremiah 19:1-15; 1 Timothy 4:6-16 OR Psalm 101; 2 Kings 18:9-18; 1 Timothy 4:6-16
• Wednesday (September 7, 2016): Psalm 2; Jeremiah 20:1-18; Luke 18:18-30 OR Psalm 101; 2 Kings 18:19-25; 19:1-7; Luke 18:18-30
• Thursday (September 8, 2016): Psalm 14; Jeremiah 13:20-27; 1 Timothy 1:1-11 OR Psalm 51:1-10; Genesis 6:1-6; 1 Timothy 1:1-11
• Friday (September 9, 2016): Psalm 14; Jeremiah 4:1-10; 2 Peter 2:1-10a OR Psalm 51:1-10; Genesis 7:6-10; 8:1-5; 2 Peter 2:1-10a
• Saturday (September 10, 2016): Psalm 14; Jeremiah 4:13-21, 29-31; John 10:11-21 OR Psalm 51:1-10; Genesis 8:20-9:7; John 10:11-21

ABUNDANT HEALTH

Exercise You Will Love. Today's reading is a brief excerpt from The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life by Rick Warren, DMin; Daniel Amen, MD; & Mark Hyman, MD (Zondervan). © 2013 by The Daniel Plan. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)

Despite all the research surrounding the benefits of regular exercise, the only one that will make a difference is the program you do consistently. Once you find movement you enjoy, doing that type of exercise (or play) will help you look and feel younger, ramp up a sluggish metabolism, reduce and manage your weight, boost your energy, enhance creativity and productivity, increase cardiovascular endurance, improve muscular tone and strength, enhance sleep, reverse heart disease and high blood pressure and diabetes, reduce stress, and bring joy and youthfulness back to your life.

—Exercise Physiologist Sean Foy

NIV DAILY

Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved. The concept of God being rich in mercy and grace (Hebrew hesed) is an important Biblical concept (see word study on Ex 15:13; compare with Ro 3:22–24; 2Ti 1:9). Similarly, the Dead Sea Scrolls community believed that their election was granted without being earned with human deeds.*

* Flusser, Judaism and the Origins of Christianity, 226.

Taken from First-Century Study Bible ©2014 HarperCollins Christian Publishing

 

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

O Lord, our refuge, you alone bring deliverance. Your great faithfulness extends to the heavens! Thank you for redeeming us with new life and strength. When we are afraid, your spirit helps us to trust in you. Give us faith and diligence as we seek to do your will. Use our offerings and gifts for the work of your kingdom, even as we await the return of your Son Jesus Christ in glory. We pray in his name. Amen. (Psalm 14)