Thursday, May 26

Psalm 69:1-12
Proverbs 18; 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:13

O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer
me! Micah 6:3

But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God? Romans 9:20

Holy God, we know that you are the God of all and we are mere mortals.
You know who we are to the core of our beings. Help us be honest in our
weaknesses.

Friday, May 27

Psalm 69:13-21
Proverbs 19; 2 Corinthians 2:14-3:11

When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. Micah 7:8

Since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate
of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 1
Thessalonians 5:8

Word of God, even when we are filled with deep darkness, you surround us
with light. May we let this light fill our souls with warmth and joy.

Wednesday, May 25

Psalm 68:28-35
Proverbs 17; 2 Corinthians 1:12-22

The needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish
for ever. Psalm 9:18

Christ says, "It will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of
heaven." Matthew 19:23

Dear Jesus, as we look around the world we sometimes wonder why a God of
love can allow people to suffer. It gives us comfort to know, even in
our confusion, that in the end your love will conquer all.

Monday, May 23

Psalm 68:7-18
Proverbs 15; 1 Corinthians 16:12-24

I have put my spirit upon my servant; he will bring forth justice to the
nations. Isaiah 42:1

Christ says, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon
you; and you will be my witnesses." Acts 1:8

Christ Jesus, with you by our side we are filled with the power of your
Spirit. This is the power of justice that we are called to bring forward
as your witnesses.

Tuesday, May 24

Psalm 68:19-27
Proverbs 16; 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

The Lord makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters.
Isaiah 43:16

Peter answered him, 'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on
the water.' He said, 'Come.' So Peter got out of the boat, started
walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. Matthew 14:28-29

God of heaven and earth, may we have the faith of Peter and step out of
the safety of the boat so that we can be part of your miracles.

Sunday, May 22

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Watchword for the Week - Jesus says, "I am the way, and the truth, and
the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-5,15-16
1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14

Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?
Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail.
Jeremiah 15:18

If we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:25

O God, it is hard to have faith in what we cannot see but it would not
be faith without the mystery. May your mystery create curiosity so we
continue to explore who you are in our lives.

Saturday, May 21

Psalm 68:1-6
Proverbs 14; 1 Corinthians 16:1-11

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Psalm 27:1

Christ says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God,
believe also in me." John 14:1

Great Light of the world, allow your light to shine on us and through
us. We can then live with souls that are still and filled with peace.

Friday, May 20

Psalm 67
Proverbs 13; 1 Corinthians 15:42-58

All the Israelite men and women, whose hearts made them willing to bring
anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done,
brought it as a freewill-offering to the Lord. Exodus 35:29

God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by
always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every
good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

God of abundance, often we look at what we lack instead of what we have:
you. Guide us to give of our gratitude and fortune.

Thursday, May 19

Psalm 66:16-20
Proverbs 12; 1 Corinthians 15:29-41

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done
for me. Psalm 66:16

I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20

Steadfast and loving God, you have done more for us than we can imagine.
Our response is to live in faith, giving our lives to serve you as you
gave your Son for us.

Wednesday, May 18

Psalm 66:8-15
Proverbs 11; 1 Corinthians 15:17-28

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O
Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your
faithfulness by night. Psalm 92:1-2

May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in
harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that
together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6

Gracious God, let us live with thankful hearts, loving one another as
Christ has taught us to love. May we live in harmony with your children
throughout the world.

Tuesday, May 17

Psalm 66:1-7
Proverbs 9:7-10:32; 1 Corinthians 15:3-16

May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service.
Psalm 72:11

It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light,
whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal
dominion. 1 Timothy 6:16

Lord Jesus, sometimes we are more comfortable with you as our close
friend than the ruler of our universe. You rule in light and love beyond
what we can understand. Help us to trust your power.

Monday, May 16

Psalm 65:9-13
Proverbs 8:1-9:6; 1 Corinthians 14:36-15:2

Teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart. Psalm 90:12

To this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of
both the dead and the living. Romans 14:9

God of all wisdom, help us to understand your profound purpose in
sending your son into the world to live among us, to die as one of us,
and to rise to life again. In Jesus' name we pray.

Sunday, May 15

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Watchword for the Week - Jesus says, "I am the gate. Whoever enters by
me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture." John
10:9

Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 23
1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10

You have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
Psalm 63:7

To this day I have had help from God, and so I stand here, testifying to
both small and great. Acts 26:22

Dear Jesus, we know we need your help to live lives worthy of you. We
thank you for your life, death, and resurrection which give us entrance
to the gate of life.

Saturday, May 14

Psalm 65:1-8
Proverbs 7; 1 Corinthians 14:20-35

I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.
Psalm 119:109

Jesus threw himself on the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is
possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you
want.' Matthew 26:39

All powerful God, we know that you control the elements of the universe
and yet you give us the choices of how to live. Help us to be who you
want us to be even in the most difficult circumstances.

Friday, May 13

Psalm 64
Proverbs 6; 1 Corinthians 14:6-19

If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of
the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall
hold me fast. Psalm 139:9-10

Indeed he is not far from each one of us, for in him we live and move
and have our being. Acts 17:27-28

God who lives in us, around us, and through us, we give you thanks that
you are present in even the most remote places of the world. Remind us
how to live in your presence.