Daily Devotion August 31

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Prayer for the Week (August 30-September 5)

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Let us pray that what is good within and among us flourish: God of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things, graft in our hearts the love of your name.  Increase within us and among us true faith and nourish in us all goodness. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(New Zealand Prayer Book)

Sunday Reflection (August 30, 2020)

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Jesus says: “Take up your cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24-25). Cross bearing is freely and ably making the choice to do the good and right thing and doing so may cause pain and discomfort. Cross bearing overcomes violence with kindness. Cross bearing overcomes offense with forgiveness in the hope of reconciliation.  Cross bearing overcomes evil with good.

Think of cross bearing as a challenge to the ways of our society.  May we bear the cross and overcome the enmity in the world through reconciliation.  May we bear the cross and challenge the self-serving personal and structural practices of our society!

Daily Devotion August 27

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Daily Devotion August 26

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Daily Devotion August 25

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Daily Devotion August 24

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Sunday Reflection (August 23, 2020)

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What shapes and molds your mind and life? If greed, climbing the social ladder, and politics, shape and mold your mind more than Jesus Christ, then you will not be able to discern spiritual things. If judgmentalism and harshness shape and mold your mind more than God’s grace, then you will not be able to discern spiritual things. If prejudice and hatred shape and mold your mind more than God’s love, then you will not be able to discern spiritual things.

What is shaping and molding your mind, your attitude, your way of life? May we allow the Holy Spirit to shape and mold our minds so that we have a greater understanding of what is good, acceptable, and complete. May we come to understand and discern more of God’s gracious plan for the world and our part in that plan. Even though we are far from perfect do not overlook what God can do through you as you are being transformed by the renewing of your mind!

There is a simplicity and complexity to being transformed by God because “God has not given us a set of detailed commandments to guide us; rather, God has given us the Holy Spirit to work with us to change our hearts and minds (Moo).” The Holy Spirit leads us to discern the correct, loving way to respond to our unique situations (Romans 12:1-2).

Prayer for the Week (August 23-August 29)

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Let us thank God our Father for his closeness to us: God, we tremble at the thought of the distance between you and us. Yet, you create us in your own image, so that we cannot fulfill our purpose in life until we first discover your purpose for all of humankind. Through the Holy Spirit, make us aware of your design for human life.   We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Litanies and Other Prayers)

Daily Devotion August 20

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