Tag Archives: cross shaped life

Midweek Devotion- Matthew 22.15-22

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SCRIPTURE: Matthew 22:15-22

SONGS:
Lord, Speak to Me
Bind Us Together

BREATH PRAYERS:
IN: Lord, speak to me
OUT: That I may speak

IN: O strengthen me
OUT: That I may stretch out a loving hand

IN: O fill me
OUT: till my heart overflows

You’re encouraged to use the following process as you read scripture.
We use this process together on Wednesdays at 8:00AM EST on the Trinity Sarasota Facebook Page.

STILLNESS: Spend 5-20 minutes in silence looking to God and listening for God.

ATTENTION: Read or listen to the Scripture. What word, phrase or verse captures your attention? Underline it or copy it onto a piece of paper.

CONNECTION: What connections do you see to other scriptures? To your own experience or current situation? Or, to the character or promises of God?

ACTION: What is God inviting you to trust, say, or do? How will your life be different because of this scripture?

PRAY: Talk to God about what you just experienced or anything else on your heart.

Recorded 10/14/2020

Lord, Speak to Me
Text: Frances R. Havergal (1872)
Music: Adapt. from Robert Schumann
Public Domain

Bind Us Together
CCLI Song # 1228
Bob Gillman © 1977
Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
CCLI License # 686715

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Midweek Devotion- Matthew 22:15-22 © 2020 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Prayer Prompts and Breath Prayers Based on Mark 7 and 8

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summer in the scriptures- Mark (2)

Use one or more of the following prompts as you pray. Just finish the sentence again and again or use it as a springboard for your prayers. Share your prayer in the comments. What prayer prompt would you write? Share that as well.

Prayer Prompts Based on Mark 7
Jesus, where am I rejecting you…

Jesus, cleanse me of…

Jesus, free me from the human tradition of …

Jesus, I honor you with…

Jesus, draw me near to your…

Jesus, hear our cry for…

Jesus, please heal…

Jesus, open my ears to…

Jesus, loose my tongue to…

Jesus, your _____________ astounds me.

Breath Prayers Based on Mark 8:27-38
Peter declares Jesus the Messiah

IN: Who do you say that I am?
OUT:

IN: You are the Messiah
OUT:

IN: Who do you say that I am?
OUT: You are… (finish the sentence yourself)

IN: Jesus
OUT: so many are suffering and murdered

IN: Jesus
OUT: so many are rejected

IN: Jesus
OUT: You are the Resurrection and the Life

IN: Jesus
OUT: Set my mind on divine things

IN: Deny yourself, take up your cross
OUT: And follow me

IN: Jesus
OUT: I am not ashamed of you

What breath prayer would you write?

Pray the phrase after IN on your breath in. Pray the phrase after OUT on your breath out. Take your time. Breathe deeply. When no phrase is offered after IN or OUT, just breathe. When more than one breath prayer is provided, choose one, a few, or all of them as is most helpful to you. I find breath prayers especially helpful before times of stillness and silence with God.
_______________

For the next few months, I’m reading a chapter from the Gospels each day. This is part of the Summer in the Scriptures reading plan sponsored by the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. Click Here for the reading plan.

You’re most welcome to read along and to join the Facebook discussion group, Summer in the Scriptures. You don’t need to be a Methodist or attend a Methodist church. All are welcome and all means all.

As part of the Facebook group, I’ve been supplying prayers based on the day’s reading. Feel free to post your prayers and observations based on the readings here or there as well.

May the grace of the Gospels, the challenge, and the call, inspire us to great faith and great good works in Jesus’ name. – Lisa <><

Prayer Prompts and Breath Prayers based on Mark 7-8
© 2020 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting with proper attribution.
Please leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in any form.

Why this Waste? Worship in Times of Great Need (Matthew 26:6-13)

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woman anointing jesus 700xMatthew 26:6-13 NRSV
Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, “Why this waste? For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”

The oil is poured
The criticism comes
even while the scent is still thick in the air

Why this waste?

Why worship?
Why take the time?
Why spend the money?
The poor, remember the poor
There’s so much work to be done

Yes beloved, remember
Remember the poor and remember her
The way is And not Or
Worship and Work
Loving God and Loving Neighbor
Looking Up and Looking Out For
The cross-shaped life

The work doesn’t work without the worship
The worship’s unfinished without the work

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Why This Waste? © 2014 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting with proper attribution.
Please contact Lisa for information and permission to publish this work in any form.