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A Different Set of Rules
At this writing, my only son turned five years old last week. He is a handsome, Read More
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Sharon Seyfarth Garner | Read Luke 10:41-42
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Sign Up TodayAs I strive to release my inner Martha and embrace my inner Mary, one huge distraction stands in the way—my cell phone. For years I have been encouraging my kids to let go of their dependence on technology. Yet somehow I have managed to ignore my own advice and have...
God, help me to embrace a regular practice of cell phone sabbath so that I can be more fully present in the real world rather than getting lost in the cyber world. Help me to turn my attention to you so that I will be able to recognize your gracious presence in all that I do, in all whom I meet, and in all that I perceive. Amen.
This reading from Amos provides more indication of the reasons for God’s coming judgment. Too many in Israel have been oppressing the poor. They cannot wait for religious festivals to end so that they can make more money through corrupt trade, including what we now call human trafficking. If we understand the psalmist to be David, the warning he issues in this passage concern Saul. Because Saul has turned to evil, God will not allow him to remain in power. While God is love, God also sometimes brings judgment. The author of Colossians extols the elevated status of Christ, who has reconciled us to himself through his death. In Luke, Mary prioritizes spending time with Jesus, while Martha focuses on working for Jesus. It is Mary who receives Jesus’ praise.
Read Amos 8:1-12. Who in your community has been left behind in the famine from hearing the words of the Lord? How can you care for them?
Read Psalm 52. How do you remain rooted in God’s steadfast love when you cry out against injustice?
Read Colossians 1:15-28. What do you need to let fall away to reveal the mystery of Christ in you?
Read Luke 10:38-42. How do you focus on Christ even as you attend to the necessary tasks of daily life?
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"Thank you for the creative teams [of The Upper Room] who are working together to share the power of prayer around the world. You have collaborated with everyone working from our homes to share the gifts of hope, love, grace, and peace." (Written in response to The Upper Room COVID-19 response efforts). View Jaqui's video contribution to the initiative, helping us create space and time for God in these anxious times.
