Psalm 139:7-10

Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast. – Psalm 139:7-10

Dear Lord,

Sometimes I feel alone and I am not.  Sometimes I try to be alone and I am not.  I am never alone.  Your Spirit is always there with me. This comforts me since so many people, even close people, cannot understand all my thoughts.  You understand and you work with me.  I am honored that you hang with me wherever I may wander.  When you and I are walking together today, speak your truth into my soul and help me get done what you want done.  Filter my dreams through your divine will.  Weed out the selfishness.  Replace hurt with healing, and anger with forgiveness.  Replace doubt with trust and fear with courage.  Make me what you have always wanted from a human being. Make me like your Son who was the perfect friend or like Abraham whom you called a friend.  Make me like David who had a heart like yours.  Make me something I would never be without your divine finger touching my soul. 

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

God is the secret strength of every person’s life.

Psalm 139:1-6

You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain. – Psalm 139:1-6

Dear Lord,

I spend so much time alone in my thoughts even when I’m in a crowd.  It’s hard for me to grasp that with billions of people on the earth that you search my thoughts and know every single one of them. You also know everyone else’s thoughts at the same time.  You know how we think, why we think and how stinky our thoughts can be.  You understand the way each of our brains processes and misfires.  You know me inside and out and yet you choose to love me still. You protect, and bless me along my chosen path.  You make things work out for my good in spite of me.  You prepare a place for me in heaven even though I pull away from you at times.  You love without being loved by me.  Oh God, help me today to be your friend and not just your customer trying to get an order filled. 

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

God even forgives our thoughts so he can still have us in his life.

Psalm 118:29

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever. – Psalm 118:29

Dear Lord,

This is the verse we said at the end of every meal in my parental home growing up.  I did not know at the time where it came from.  It came from several of your psalms.  It was always the great leveler in my life.  Your love endures forever.  When I was being a stinker, I’d remember, “Your love endures forever.”  When I felt shame I’d think, “Your love endures forever.”  When I was angry with a sibling or my parents I’d be reminded, “Your love endures forever.”  When I feared losing my parents’ affection I’d muse, “Yourove endures forever.”  You leveled out every peak and valley in my life with your love.  Level out today with the same thoughts, “Your love endures forever.”  Help me live a thankful and confident life, toted by your love.

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

God’s love levels out our life and makes the journey possible.

Psalm 118:6

The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me? – Psalm 118:6

Dear Heavenly Father,

I have lost too much energy over fear and concerns about what other people could do to mess up my work, my family, or my very own life.  That’s why I love this verse.  Instead of comforting me with a crystal ball telling how things will work out, it simply reminds me that you are with me.  When you are with me, I can calm down and hand over the steering wheel to you.  You will take care of me even if others mean me harm.  I will rest in your presence and the calm assurance that you will work everything out for my good.  Now, with the reclaimed energy I was wasting by worrying, I will serve others as valiantly as I know how.  Thank you for being with me in my little place. 

AMEN

Pastor Don Patterson

Today will be a good day, because today will be a day with God.

Psalm 118:8

It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in humans. – Psalm 118:8

Dear Heavenly Father,

Just as you tell me in this word from Psalm 118, I realize that every single human being will let me down sooner or later.  And I will let everyone else down too.  Even still, I have been angry with people as if I expected them to be perfect for me.  I have even lashed out in anger instead of approaching them with mercy and grace.  Forgive me Lord, for putting trust in people over trust in you.  You made us all.  And you forgive us all for our many let downs.  You fixed your own anger with your mercy through your Son.  Now replace any anger I may have with that same mercy.  I know you have forgiven me through Jesus.  So, I will forgive myself first thing this morning.  Now, make me a vessel of mercy so all the people around me see your loving face and not the back side of your justice.  This will be a good day, because it will be drenched in grace.

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

Forgiveness makes the deepest hurt a welcomed challenge and the greatest disappointment an opportunity to love.

1 John 4:19-20

We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.  – 1 John 4:19-20

Dear Jesus,

I have always wanted to divorce the love I feel for you from the relationships I have with sinners.  But you turn that thinking upside down.  You challenge me to see that not loving a person who grates me the wrong way is not justifiable.  I want to love them, but when I don’t, that’s when I need your supernatural love to take over.  Give me that love to lavish on those who have made themselves my adversaries.  Give me that love which makes me reach out to the one who has hurt me.  Give me that love that really does forgive and restore a relationship when it just doesn’t seem fair.  Give me that love that laughs at the fear of being hurt.  Give me that love that meets aggression with disarming patience.  Give me that love that changes the world instead of being changed. 

AMEN

Pastor Don Patterson

The love we have from Christ is supernatural, life changing power.  It leaves everyone better than how it found them.

1 John 3:16-18

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. – 1 John 3:16-18

Dear Jesus,

You laid down your whole life for me.  You gave it all while you were here and still give to me from heaven.  I long to be like you.  I want to share with people I know that need help with basic necessities in this life.  Help me to prioritize time in my life to understand what they need and give me the creativity and sacrificial love to meet them with gifts that make their lives better.  I want to relieve stress in others and give them awe for you and what you are able to do through people for people.  Thank you for all the people who have shown me love by meeting my needs, too.  They are great examples to guide my heart.

AMEN

Pastor Don Patterson

In Christ, one good turn deserves another for others.

1 John 3:7-10

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. – 1 John 3:7-10

Dear Jesus,

Your love and truth are a very real force in my life. They lead me to deal with my demons and fight the sins that so easily plague me and those I rub up against.  Thank you for this word from John. It reminds me that my fight against the ever present evil in my life is a mark of my real faith in you.  I need your wisdom and strength to fight the temptations of the devil.  I need your insight and the weapons you have to help me fight.  I need your protection and your battle plan.  Increase my wisdom in spiritual warfare so I am able to defeat the wrong and do the right. Make me a person who does and says the right thing out of love and not fear or ambition.  Give me peace that is powerful and persuasive with the lost.  Make me your soldier servant. 

AMEN

Pastor Don Patterson

True faith is muddy and marred with the fresh signs of battle with the devil.

1 John 2:15-17

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. – 1 John 2:15-17

Dear Heavenly Father,

This passage is like bleach.  It always cleanses me drastically.  I love the life you have given me on this earth.  I love the nature with which you surround me, the country you have given me and the possessions you with which you have blessed me.  When you say, don’t love them, but I do; I am stopped in my tracks.  Then you say, if I love them, that means I don’t love you. My heart sinks. I do love you and I love them, too.  Oh, please, Father, fill my heart with your Holy Spirit and make any appreciation I have for the blessings of this earthly life pure and holy.  Help me walk the tight rope between worldly materialism and self-righteous asceticism with thankfulness and generosity in regard to blessings you give me.

AMEN

Pastor Don Patterson

Love the blesser more than the blessing.

1 John 1:1-4

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. - 1 John 1:1-4

Dear Jesus,

I find great comfort in depending on the words of men who lived out their lives with you in the flesh.  They saw and felt your love in very tangible ways.  The grace you taught them was heard in the tones of your voice and felt in the passing touch of your hands.  They remembered your hugs before and after they sinned against you.  They could remember your smile and the way your eyes danced when you talked about redeeming them.  They couldn't forget sun on your hair or the twinkle in your eye. I experience you through their confident testimonial memories when I ready their words.  I am reminded that you and the Father are real and have redeemed me.  Your love through their testimony calms my anxious heart and gives me hope.  I will live in the hope of your love today and will have real fellowship with you and the people I know.  

AMEN

Pastor Don Patterson

Sometimes we are confident in our faith simply because someone we trust is confident in their faith, too. 

Matthew 19:25-30

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. – Matthew 19:25-30

Dear Jesus,

Peter was just like me.  I worry that you might miss something and not see how devoted I am.  How silly.  You miss nothing.  I love your answer to Peter, “When you follow me in faith you receive eternal life and still get all kinds of blessings in this life.  You cannot lose when you follow me.”  It must have put his anxious heart to rest.  But then you reminded him that in your church all people are given the same grace and blessing.  The last will be just like the first.  If it were not this way it would not be grace.  I get it.  Help me to “get” grace when I am hanging out with your saints.  All people get the same grace from you.  So, all people will get the same respect and grace from me.  The least is as wonderful as the greatest.

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

There are not good sinners and bad sinners in Christ’s family, only forgiven sinners.

Matthew 19:23-26

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”  When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”  Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:23-26

Dear Jesus,

I know I am the rich man you refer to.  As an American, I have more than 96 percent of the world does.  But even on days I don’t feel rich, I am tempted to want to be rich.  So, your metaphor still applies to me.  That’s what scares me.  It reminds me that it is impossible to be so wealthy and to be truly alive spiritually at the same time.  It is impossible!  But you do the impossible.  You make rich people like us members of your kingdom, people of true faith, children of God.  I know you saved me and that all I have is on loan from you.  I am yours and all my stuff is yours. Thank you for passing through the needle’s eye to save a person like me.

AMEN

Pastor Don Patterson

The most incredible thing God has ever done for you is to convince your heart of the worth of his Son.

Matthew 19:21-24

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.  Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” – Matthew 19:21-24

Dear Jesus,

Your friend had run up to you in hopes of learning some secret way to make sure he was saved by doing the right thing.  You told him what to do in a way that would make him think about who you were.  But he went away sad, because he felt his wealth was worth more than you.  I am tempted the very same way.  I am tempted to think that the elements of my earthly life are worth more than you, things like: my job, my family, my house, car and toys.  I can tell when they have inflated worth in my heart when I get angry or anxious about them.  Oh, Jesus, do the impossible today and give me faith in you that makes me follow you with all my being.  Make me a steward and not the owner of this life you have lent to me.  Make the rest of my sojourn an act of praise, worship and generosity.

AMEN

Pastor Don Patterson

Jesus passed through the needles eye to grab us and pull us through by his supernatural sacrificial life.

Mathew 19:16-21

 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 

 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”  

“Which ones?” he inquired.  Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”  

 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”  Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” - Mathew 19:16-21

Dear Jesus,

There you were in front of him in living color, the person he needed to rescue his life forever, and he asked what he had to do to save himself.  How patiently you made him realize that if he would depend on himself he would never make it.  Salvation is in you.  You did it all and you did it all for me.  You are my Savior and my God.  I am yours.  Everything I have is yours. Use me to bless and give love to others today.  Defend me from temptation, guide me in my thoughts and give me the ability to discern between selfishness and selflessness when I live and move around people.  

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

True spirituality will never be about performance. It's about a person.  

Isaiah 40:1-2

Comfort, comfort my people,
    says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
    that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
    double for all her sins. - Isaiah 40:1-2

Dear Heavenly Father,

When I first saw this passage many years ago I wondered if it meant that you gave double punishment for sins. But I see it means you give double blessings to sinners in your grace. Almost every Bible story bears this out.  You bless the sinners who have committed grievous sins with mercy. Jacob who stole the birthright was blessed.  David who had Uriah killed was forgiven.  Peter was quickly reinstated after denying that he was your friend.  It's what makes you so different than all other gods. Since you are the only real God, this makes since. But I have a secret fear that somehow you will reject me because you know all my sins. Your word assures my anxious heart.  I am forgiven and loved. I will live with my heart open and my chin up today. You are the God who forgives and blesses sinner.  

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

God is gracious with all sinners.  Some just haven't come to believe it yet.   

Psalm 104:10-15

He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
    it flows between the mountains.
 They give water to all the beasts of the field;                                                                                           the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
The birds of the sky nest by the waters;                                                                                                   they sing among the branches.                                                                                                    He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;                                                                               the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
He makes grass grow for the cattle,                                                                                                         and plants for people to cultivate—
    bringing forth food from the earth:
wine that gladdens human hearts,                                                                                                           oil to make their faces shine,
and bread that sustains their hearts. - Psalm 104:10-15

Dear heavenly Father, 

Your blessing in our world is multiplied for all living creatures when you do something so simple as send rain. As a city dweller I take water for granted way too much. You send others into my world to make sure I have a continuous flow of water even in a drought.  I benefit from your rain and their water management without giving thanks for either most of the time.  Today, I thank you for life giving water for plants, animals and people like me.  Thank you for creating water and sustaining me with the constant return of clouds and rain.  Also, sustain my soul with your Holy Spirit like you do my body with water.  

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

God's water and God's Spirit are alike in this: they both create and sustain life, only one is of the body and the other is of the soul.  

Psalm 104:2-4

The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment;
    he stretches out the heavens like a tent
and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.  He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.  
He makes winds his messengers,
    flames of fire his servants. - Psalm 104:2-4

Dear Heavenly Father,

One glance at a sky full of clouds and I can see your majesty and grandeur.  What a display of your creative power and grace.  Those magnificent clouds are also full of life giving rain as part of an infinitesimally unique ecosystem in the universe.  Here I sit in your hand crafted environment unmatched by any planet in your endless universe.  I am in awe that I get to live in your world for any time at all.  Help me to live in godly reverence and faith filled love as I busy myself with life under your canopy. Give me good work to do that has meaning and purpose that will last beyond the last day of my life too.  

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

If you need to regain perspective on your life, get outside and watch the skies with an open heart to God. 

Proverbs 31:2-3

Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
    Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
Do not spend your strength on women,
    your vigor on those who ruin kings. - Proverbs 31:2-3

Dear Jesus,

What a wise quip from king Lemuel!  It is so easy for young men to give up their soul for the women they idolize.  It is so easy for young women to use their beauty and charm to lay a trap for a young men.  It happens to older folks too.  But this verse coaches the soul to avoid living by infatuation of beauty, charm and simple human romance.  It reminds us to lead our hearts by faith not my passion.  Faith will put a bit in passion and make it turn to the right pastures.  Passion alone is wild and exhausting. Oh God, protect our sons and daughters from the intoxicating perfume of human romance, void of any spiritual depth.  

AMEN

Pastor Don Patterson

God made us capable of infatuation and romance but he never intended those powerful emotions to replace his word to drive our lives. 

1 Corinthians 7:21-23

Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person;similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.             - 1 Corinthians 7:21-23

Dear Jesus,

Now that you have made me your own brother in your Father's family, my inner view of myself has so changed that I don't feel great pressure to change my outer situation anymore.  I'm a member of God's family.  God takes care of every detail of my life with loving exact provision.  The "good" and the "bad" are all good in his magnificent hand.  I'm okay.  I will be okay and all things in my life will turn out okay.  Now, I can relax and work hard all at the same time.  My outer situation is not a problem or a solution.  All things have been resolved by the inner change of being converted into a child of God. Thank you for this indescribable gift.  

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

Whose I am makes all the difference in a world where most people wander around wondering who they are. 

Titus 2:14 - Eager to do what is good.

Jesus gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. - Titus 2:14

Dear Jesus,

It's amazing to me how the gospel (good news) motivates me so much better than the law (should/ought) to do and say good things.  Because I believe you redeemed me out of love and made me your own, I WANT to do good things for you.  I just do!  Your love to me, in me and through me is amazing power that changed my life.  I simply love to get life right for faith and love reasons.  Help me use the remaining time and strength I have to bless people in your name so their journey through life is easier, better, richer and ends with their joyful delivery into heaven. 

AMEN

Pastor Don Patterson

Wanting to do the right thing for the right reason is the miracle of true Christian spirituality.