Good Morning Lavishly Loved, Chosen Ones of Our Father in Heaven! HALLOWED be His name! We were lovingly crafted for custom made purposes that come alive when we respond to God calling us by name to Jesus' saving grace! How sweet! Just dwell in that love today as you check out the thread through our devotionals below. meditate on God's lavish love for you and His perfect plans for you and the world. Mediate on John 10 and 13 for tomorrow's discussion and fill those gratitude lists with tons of praise and thanksgiving. What does God mean to you? How about lavish love? Salvation? new life in Christ? Second, third and hundreds of redo's? Oh how sweet to deep love of Jesus!

Praise God for an extra hour with Him tomorrow. Ask Him how best to use that time for His glory and your healthy choices. Just worship and praise and prepare your heart for tomorrow and for God to use you today. Rejoice! See you at 10 tomorrow (or 11 if you forget to change your clock!). Have a day of being filled with lavish love and sharing that love lavishly! Amen! Shalom!

TWFYT:

 

ODB:

God’s Rescue He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Psalm 40:2 READ Psalm 40:1–4 LISTEN ONLINE A compassionate volunteer was called a “guardian angel” for his heroic efforts. Jake Manna was installing solar panels at a job site when he joined an urgent search to find a missing five-year-old girl. While neighbors searched their garages and yards, Manna took a path that led him into a nearby wooded area where he spotted the girl waist-deep in a marsh. He waded carefully into the sticky mud to pull her out of her predicament and return her, damp but unharmed, to her grateful mother. Like that little girl, David also experienced deliverance. The singer “waited patiently” for God to respond to his heartfelt cries for mercy (Psalm 40:1). And He did. God leaned in, paid close attention to his cry for help and responded by rescuing him from the “mud and mire” of his circumstances (v. 2)—providing sure footing for David’s life. The past rescues from the muddy marsh of life reinforced his desire to sing songs of praise, to make God his trust in future circumstances and to share his story with others (vv. 3–4). When we find ourselves in life challenges such as financial difficulties, marital turmoil, and feelings of inadequacy, let’s cry out to God and patiently wait for Him to respond (v. 1). He’s there, ready to help us in our time of need and give us a firm place to stand. By Marvin Williams REFLECT & PRAY When has God delivered you from the “muddy marsh”? How do His past rescues encourage you to trust in Him?   When I’m stuck in the mud, I’ll wait patiently for You, my loving God.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT Psalm 40 is identified as a psalm of David, but we aren’t given any other information regarding the events that prompted him to write it. Some scholars, however, find messianic significance in verses 6–9 because the songwriter expresses his commitment to do God’s will—seemingly at all costs. Jesus made similar statements in the gospel of John: “My food . . . is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (4:34); and “the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him” (8:29). Our Savior’s commitment in these verses seems to echo the words of David in Psalm 40:6–9. Bill Crowder

The UR: God of All

There is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. - Romans 10:12 (NRSVUE)

I live in a facility for independent-living older adults. Religion here is represented by Catholics, Mormons, various Protestants, and a few agnostics. One day, when the Catholic group was celebrating Mass with a young priest, I met and talked with him briefly. And I enjoyed our visit.

Another day, while I was talking with a woman who is Mormon and who had suffered a serious illness, she told me how the Lord had been walking with her in her trouble.

When I was growing up, it was not common for people to talk about their church’s theology or style of worship with people of other denominations. Perhaps we assumed that our church conducted services the right way and others were simply ignorant.

At this senior facility we have grown older and wiser. We encourage one another and know that the Lord’s saving grace is for everyone. After all, some blessings that come with age are often overlooked; and the ability to respect others’ beliefs and faith in our Lord is one of them. God is good indeed!

TODAY'S PRAYER

O Lord, guide each of us in our daily relationships with others wherever we are. Encourage us to love others and respect their faith. If someone does not know your love and forgiveness, give us the wisdom and courage to share your grace lovingly with them. Amen.Charles Stanley: