February 28

When Jesus was asked to teach his disciples how to pray, he did not offer lessons or a teaching curriculum. He offered a prayer. One for them to practice and repeat and internalize and use and share and pray.

Matthew 6:7-15

⁷“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

⁹“Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
¹⁰ Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
¹⁴For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; ¹⁵but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

February 27

From Psalm 150

Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty firmament!

This is a good day to praise God at church. Go and join with others in the sanctuary. And then praise God everywhere.

February 26

From Psalm 149

Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song.

Its a new day. The same ideas as last week do not need to continue. Bring a fresh perspective today. Sing a new song of life.

February 25

From 2 Corinthians 4 we read, "Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart." Let us affirm with Martin Luther that each of us is called into ministry in some way. We all are to worship God and serve neighbor.

February 24

From Psalm 143 - "Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness; answer me in your righteousness." Are are encouraged and do well to pray to God. We are meant to and we benefit from it.

February 23

From Psalm 147 - "Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God...The Lord builds up Jerusalem...gathers the outcasts of Israel. (God) heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds."

Its a good reminder that God cares about us even when we are not at our strongest.

February 22

In Matthew 5 Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

We each have a light inside us. It illuminates truth. It shines on others. It sets an example. It reflects God's light. Let your light shine!

February 21

On President's Day, we recall with the Psalmist who the greatest One of all is.

Psalm 145 - "I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever."

Daily lectionary

Starting February 20, 2011 for the next year I'll be trying to post a thought on one of the suggested PCUSA daily readings.

Psalm 67 begins with "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make God's face to shine upon us."

Whether its cloudy or clear, the sun rises each day, just as God's face shines upon us each day. As a new day starts, as a new tradition begins, as we rise on the Lord's Day, we look up and see God's face shining upon us. God smiling at us. And we can smile back.