Online Ministry for the Week 03/20 - 03/26 2017

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

God of wilderness and water, your Son was baptized and tempted as we are. Guide us through this season, that we may not avoid struggle, but open ourselves to blessing, through the cleansing depths of repentance and the heaven-rending words of the Spirit. Amen. 

DAILY READING

• Monday (March 20, 2017): Psalm 81; Genesis 24:1-27; 2 John 1-13
• Tuesday (March 21, 2017): Psalm 81; Genesis 29:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4
• Wednesday (March 22, 2017): Psalm 81; Jeremiah 2:4-13; John 7:14-31, 37-39
• Thursday (March 23, 2017): Psalm 23; 1 Samuel 15:10-21; Ephesians 4:25-32
• Friday (March 24, 2017): Psalm 23; 1 Samuel 15:22-31; Ephesians 5:1-9
• Annunciation of the Lord , March 25, 2017
• Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 26, 2017

From The Book of Life

http://www.thebookoflife.org/the-pursuit-of-calm/

Psalm 23

23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 

23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 

23:3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. 

23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff-- they comfort me. 

23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long. 

ABUNDANT HEALTH

The Start of Change

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

Resolutions and rules aren’t enough to change the human heart. Heart transformation requires the love of God inside you. The beginning of healthy change starts inside you. When you invite Jesus to be the Savior and Lord (manager) of your life, your past is forgiven, you get a new purpose for living, you get a home in heaven, and you plug into God’s power to change your life.

—Pastor Rick Warren

—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

Generous God, you tenderly care for each person you have created. You miraculously restore people to health, and shine light into the lives of those who are discouraged. Guide us so that we will not regard others according to outward appearances but seek to find your love in their hearts. Amen.