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| p3. April 17-24 Covenant: April 17. Do not, O Lord, withhold your mercy from me; let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever (Psalm 40:6-17). How many times have we felt that problems have overtaken our lives? In our growing up years, we make lots of mistakes. Learning from our mistakes- no matter what our age- is how we grow. God is like a parent in this psalm. No matter how many mistakes we make, we know God will forgive us. Faithful God, help me to understand that no problem is too big with your help. Amen. April 18. God created us and gave each of us each unique gifts to use in our interactions with the world. We need not focus on our shortcomings, but we should focus on how we are called to serve the world. What spiritual gifts have you been given? How is God calling you to use your gifts in the world? Creator God, thank you for calling me. Help me to see my gifts and use them to serve you in the world. Amen. April 19. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness,�( Hebrews 4:14- 5:10). Imagine how it feels on God�s end to have us talk and never listen, talk only about ourselves, or talk only when we need something. It would be enough to send a lesser divinity running to the exits! Fortunately, ours is a God who encourages us to approach with boldness. Wise one, make me more attentive to you. Amen. April 20. If God is for us, who is against us? � For I am convinced that neither death, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:31, 38-39). So many people are against us. And so many things! Homophobia, Heterosexism, Sexism, AIDS, Cancer, Closets, Rulers, Prejudice, Backlash, Power, Hierarchy, Hatred. In all these things we are more than conquerors through you who love us (Romans 8:37), O God. April 21. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love (1 John 4:18). A victim of an intimate, abusive relationship is always afraid. Whether parent-child or lover-lover, if verbal or physical abuse is present, as Tina Turner sings from experience, �What�s love got to do with it?� God of love, help us to find love in you. April 22. Those who say, �I love God.� And hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen (1 John 4:20). Sometimes, God, I don�t see what you see in other people to love, but then sometimes I don�t see what you see in me. April 23. The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Jesus protect us from your followers who are more into judging than loving, and more interested in the law than your love. Help Christians listen to �the quiet words of the wise� rather than �the shouting of a ruler among fools.� April 24. Suffering leads to spiritual insight. God is not simply our God, but the God of all who suffer. Prejudice against us may help us recognize our own prejudices. Our humiliation at antigay jokes may prompt us to question sexist and racist jokes. Bias against us calls us to work against all discrimination. Yet God is not just the God of those who suffer. God is the God of those who oppress, prejudge, ridicule, and discriminate. God not only delivers us from the role of victim. God delivers us from the role of oppressor as well. May our own suffering redeem us from imposing suffering upon others, so that your soul may delight in us, and your spirit of justice rest upon us. |