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Fond Farewell to Africa Upper Room Director, Roland Rink
“It is the right time for new energy to take up the challenge to offer every Read More
James Melchiorre | Read Psalm 139:13-18
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Sign Up TodayPsalm 139 can trigger contradictory feelings depending on mood, atmosphere, and circumstances. A God of constant surveillance can be unnerving, especially since we all have moments when we’re not proud of how we look or what we’re doing. I can think of such episodes in my own life. The older...
God, thank you for accompanying us, now and forever. Amen.
The call of Samuel and the intimate language of the psalmist this week reflect God’s knowledge of and care for each individual. God sees each one of us, no matter where we are in life and no matter how far we might feel from God. Paul seeks to encourage the Corinthians with this same truth. Believers may be afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, beaten down, even killed; but they are never defeated. The power of a personal God flows through them, even if this is not evident to the eyes of the world. We likewise should be personally caring toward those around us. Jesus models this in Mark, demonstrating that showing mercy is more important than following even religious regulations, for mercy is the heart of God.
• Read 1 Samuel 3:1-20. When has a young person in your life or that of someone you know had to face the devastating consequences of a single bad decision? How did that affect your actions and behaviors?
• Read Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18. When have you experienced that life has no guarantees? How did you sense God’s presence in that time?
• Read 2 Corinthians 4:5-12. How do you attempt to be open to seeing Christ in everyone you meet?
• Read Mark 2:23–3:6. When do you, like Jesus, try to be proximate to persons in need? How has that changed your life?
Respond by posting a prayer.
. . . The police were getting the closest families to evacuate. My house was close enough that we could see things happening but far enough away to be safe. The police had told some people to wait in front of our house where it was safe. There was a father and his young son outside our house, and they were getting cold. We invited them to come inside until it was safe. Thankfully, the situation was resolved without anyone getting hurt." Read more from Pockets magazine.
