Open Hearts Matter — Colossians 1:9-14

9-12 Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven’t stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.

13-14 God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He’s set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.

Colossians 1:9-14

Galatians 22-23 But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

Questions for Reflection:

Have you ever thought of your life with Jesus as being a worker in His orchard? Or maybe as brand on His tree?

Doesn't fruit take a long time to ripen?

Can you be kind to yourself today, and reflect on your life, and how Gods fruit IS ripening in you?

Are you more patient than you were in years past? More loving? More kind? Thank Him! Celebrate that maturity!

Or, perhaps the opposite is true? Spend some time confessing that and reattaching yourself to Him as the tree -watch yourself growing, watch the fruit ripening of love and patience and compassion!

Prayer of the Week:

Jesus, I come to You now to be restored in my relationship with You today. Thank You Jesus for reconciling me to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank You Spirit for filling me afresh with the very presence of Jesus. I receive You now and consecrate myself to You and Your purposes for me this day. I am Yours and You are mine.

Jesus, today I praise You for Your amazing grace towards me – Your unmerited favor that You continue to show me day in and day out. Your grace blows me away. Thank you! I specifically praise You for patience with me. You patiently love me when I act unlovable, You wait for me when I stray to other gods, You pursue me when I stand You up repeatedly, You keep calling me when I ignore You, choosing other interests over shared moments with You. I am so sorry and yet so thankful for Your patience with me. I now receive Your deep, personal and patient love for me. I love you Jesus ... thank You!

In this moment I rest in You and intentionally allow Your patient love to touch my soul, heal my heart, extinguish my rebellion, soften pride’s hardness, soak my lifelessness into living. Thank You for being compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness and for maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. (Exodus 34).

Jesus, I am the daily recipient of the blessings of Your Open Hearted love. I join You in the mission of revealing Your Open Heart to the world. I join You as Your missionary in my little part of the world making a “salt and light” difference in the lives of the people around me.

Jesus with an open heart towards others I ask You to live through me;

- so that I see people , really see them with grace filled eyes,

- so that I am present, fully present with people ushering in a sense of Your presence with them,

- so that I show compassion in real and tangible ways,

- so that I give away patience today generously and abundantly.

I expectantly pray for You to do this in me and through me today!

Amen

Open Hearts — 1 Timothy 1:12-17

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Questions for Reflection:

Do you find it natural or do you consider it difficult to be transparent about your own transformation process with others?

Is there someone you know who needs to know some of your story so it can be a witness to the love and mercy of Jesus?

Prayer of the Week:

Jesus, I come to You now to be restored in my relationship with You today. Thank You Jesus for reconciling me to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank You Spirit for filling me afresh with the very presence of Jesus. I receive You now and consecrate myself to You and Your purposes for me this day. I am Yours and You are mine.

Jesus, today I praise You for Your amazing grace towards me – Your unmerited favor that You continue to show me day in and day out. Your grace blows me away. Thank you! I specifically praise You for patience with me. You patiently love me when I act unlovable, You wait for me when I stray to other gods, You pursue me when I stand You up repeatedly, You keep calling me when I ignore You, choosing other interests over shared moments with You. I am so sorry and yet so thankful for Your patience with me. I now receive Your deep, personal and patient love for me. I love you Jesus ... thank You!

In this moment I rest in You and intentionally allow Your patient love to touch my soul, heal my heart, extinguish my rebellion, soften pride’s hardness, soak my lifelessness into living. Thank You for being compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness and for maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. (Exodus 34).

Jesus, I am the daily recipient of the blessings of Your Open Hearted love. I join You in the mission of revealing Your Open Heart to the world. I join You as Your missionary in my little part of the world making a “salt and light” difference in the lives of the people around me.

Jesus with an open heart towards others I ask You to live through me;

- so that I see people , really see them with grace filled eyes,

- so that I am present, fully present with people ushering in a sense of Your presence with them,

- so that I show compassion in real and tangible ways,

- so that I give away patience today generously and abundantly.

I expectantly pray for You to do this in me and through me today!

Amen

Open Hearts — James 5:7-11

7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Questions for Reflection:

How does nature help disciple you, specifically in our modern word, in patience?

How is patience in the face of suffering an excellent Christian witness?

What do you find most difficult about being patient with God?

Prayer of the Week:

Jesus, I come to You now to be restored in my relationship with You today. Thank You Jesus for reconciling me to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank You Spirit for filling me afresh with the very presence of Jesus. I receive You now and consecrate myself to You and Your purposes for me this day. I am Yours and You are mine.

Jesus, today I praise You for Your amazing grace towards me – Your unmerited favor that You continue to show me day in and day out. Your grace blows me away. Thank you! I specifically praise You for patience with me. You patiently love me when I act unlovable, You wait for me when I stray to other gods, You pursue me when I stand You up repeatedly, You keep calling me when I ignore You, choosing other interests over shared moments with You. I am so sorry and yet so thankful for Your patience with me. I now receive Your deep, personal and patient love for me. I love you Jesus ... thank You!

In this moment I rest in You and intentionally allow Your patient love to touch my soul, heal my heart, extinguish my rebellion, soften pride’s hardness, soak my lifelessness into living. Thank You for being compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness and for maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. (Exodus 34).

Jesus, I am the daily recipient of the blessings of Your Open Hearted love. I join You in the mission of revealing Your Open Heart to the world. I join You as Your missionary in my little part of the world making a “salt and light” difference in the lives of the people around me.

Jesus with an open heart towards others I ask You to live through me;

- so that I see people , really see them with grace filled eyes,

- so that I am present, fully present with people ushering in a sense of Your presence with them,

- so that I show compassion in real and tangible ways,

- so that I give away patience today generously and abundantly.

I expectantly pray for You to do this in me and through me today!

Amen

Open Hearts — 2 Timothy 4:1-5

1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Questions for Reflection:

Do you think we are now living in the "time to come when people will not put up with sound doctrine?

How is Jesus calling us to respond to a culture that "turns its ears from the truth?"

What are some ways that we can guard from falling into the pressure and demands of an idolatrous culture?

What are some ways that we can support and encourage our pastor, who is called to faithfully administer God's Word and Sacraments among the people of Point of Grace?

Prayer of the Week:

Jesus, I come to You now to be restored in my relationship with You today. Thank You Jesus for reconciling me to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank You Spirit for filling me afresh with the very presence of Jesus. I receive You now and consecrate myself to You and Your purposes for me this day. I am Yours and You are mine.

Jesus, today I praise You for Your amazing grace towards me – Your unmerited favor that You continue to show me day in and day out. Your grace blows me away. Thank you! I specifically praise You for patience with me. You patiently love me when I act unlovable, You wait for me when I stray to other gods, You pursue me when I stand You up repeatedly, You keep calling me when I ignore You, choosing other interests over shared moments with You. I am so sorry and yet so thankful for Your patience with me. I now receive Your deep, personal and patient love for me. I love you Jesus ... thank You!

In this moment I rest in You and intentionally allow Your patient love to touch my soul, heal my heart, extinguish my rebellion, soften pride’s hardness, soak my lifelessness into living. Thank You for being compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness and for maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. (Exodus 34).

Jesus, I am the daily recipient of the blessings of Your Open Hearted love. I join You in the mission of revealing Your Open Heart to the world. I join You as Your missionary in my little part of the world making a “salt and light” difference in the lives of the people around me.

Jesus with an open heart towards others I ask You to live through me;

- so that I see people , really see them with grace filled eyes,

- so that I am present, fully present with people ushering in a sense of Your presence with them,

- so that I show compassion in real and tangible ways,

- so that I give away patience today generously and abundantly.

I expectantly pray for You to do this in me and through me today!

Amen

Open Hearts - 2 Corinthians 6:3-10

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

2 Corinthians 6:3-10

Questions for Reflection:

In what way does the things Paul speaks of in these verses add integrity to his character, his words and his witness for Jesus among people?

Have you ever thought of exercising patience as adding integrity to one's stature in people's eyes? How do you feel about that?

Think through and process the statement, "Who you become is more important than what you get done!" What do you think?

Prayer of the Week:

Jesus, I come to You now to be restored in my relationship with You today. Thank You Jesus for reconciling me to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank You Spirit for filling me afresh with the very presence of Jesus. I receive You now and consecrate myself to You and Your purposes for me this day. I am Yours and You are mine.

Jesus, today I praise You for Your amazing grace towards me – Your unmerited favor that You continue to show me day in and day out. Your grace blows me away. Thank you! I specifically praise You for patience with me. You patiently love me when I act unlovable, You wait for me when I stray to other gods, You pursue me when I stand You up repeatedly, You keep calling me when I ignore You, choosing other interests over shared moments with You. I am so sorry and yet so thankful for Your patience with me. I now receive Your deep, personal and patient love for me. I love you Jesus ... thank You!

In this moment I rest in You and intentionally allow Your patient love to touch my soul, heal my heart, extinguish my rebellion, soften pride’s hardness, soak my lifelessness into living. Thank You for being compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness and for maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. (Exodus 34).

Jesus, I am the daily recipient of the blessings of Your Open Hearted love. I join You in the mission of revealing Your Open Heart to the world. I join You as Your missionary in my little part of the world making a “salt and light” difference in the lives of the people around me.

Jesus with an open heart towards others I ask You to live through me;

- so that I see people , really see them with grace filled eyes,

- so that I am present, fully present with people ushering in a sense of Your presence with them,

- so that I show compassion in real and tangible ways,

- so that I give away patience today generously and abundantly.

I expectantly pray for You to do this in me and through me today!

Amen

Open Hearts - Exodus 34:4-14

4 So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. 5 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

8 Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. 9 “Lord,” he said, “if I have found favor in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.”

10 Then the Lord said: “I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you. 11 Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 12 Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. 13 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. 14 Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Questions for Reflection:

What is the end goal for God's patience?

Do you agree that God is "Slow to anger?" or does it seem to you that He is more quick to anger?

What stories, specifically from the Old Testament, are examples and demonstrations of God's patience?

How have you personally experienced God's patience?

Prayer of the Week:

Jesus, I come to You now to be restored in my relationship with You today. Thank You Jesus for reconciling me to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank You Spirit for filling me afresh with the very presence of Jesus. I receive You now and consecrate myself to You and Your purposes for me this day. I am Yours and You are mine.

Jesus, today I praise You for Your amazing grace towards me – Your unmerited favor that You continue to show me day in and day out. Your grace blows me away. Thank you! I specifically praise You for patience with me. You patiently love me when I act unlovable, You wait for me when I stray to other gods, You pursue me when I stand You up repeatedly, You keep calling me when I ignore You, choosing other interests over shared moments with You. I am so sorry and yet so thankful for Your patience with me. I now receive Your deep, personal and patient love for me. I love you Jesus ... thank You!

In this moment I rest in You and intentionally allow Your patient love to touch my soul, heal my heart, extinguish my rebellion, soften pride’s hardness, soak my lifelessness into living. Thank You for being compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness and for maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. (Exodus 34).

Jesus, I am the daily recipient of the blessings of Your Open Hearted love. I join You in the mission of revealing Your Open Heart to the world. I join You as Your missionary in my little part of the world making a “salt and light” difference in the lives of the people around me.

Jesus with an open heart towards others I ask You to live through me;

- so that I see people , really see them with grace filled eyes,

- so that I am present, fully present with people ushering in a sense of Your presence with them,

- so that I show compassion in real and tangible ways,

- so that I give away patience today generously and abundantly.

I expectantly pray for You to do this in me and through me today!

Amen

Open Hearts Matter - Colossians 3:9-14

9-11 Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.

12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Questions for Reflection:

Do you remember playing dress up - high heels and jewelry, or your dad’s baseball cap and boots? What would life be like if every day, we take off our old clothes, our closed heartedness, and play “dress up” and put on Jesus’ clothing of love? Wouldn’t life be easier then to love others this way?

Prayer of the Week:

Father, Son, Holy Spirit I am so excited that I get to live this day united to You in the very depth of my being. Thank you Jesus for reconciling me to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank you Spirit for filling me afresh with the very presence of Jesus. I receive You now and consecrate myself to You and Your purposes for me this day. I am Yours and You are mine.

Jesus, today I want to take some time to gaze and be amazed at Your compassion for me and for all people. Compassion authored in Your heart becomes a gut-wrenched grace that removes worthiness from the qualification of whether one gets loved. In fact, your compassion has no filtering list – You just see people…… ALL needing love, grace, mercy and redeeming rescue. I am so very glad that I am counted in the, ALL, people that You view with compassion. Thank you!!!

I now receive Your unmerited favor on me. I am so unworthy of Your grace but so in need Your grace. Thank you!

Jesus, today I open myself up to be shaped by Your compassion FOR me so that people might receive Your compassion FROM me. I surrender to such a transformation. I want to see people through compassion lensed eyes. With these eyes You see me and with these eyes I want to see others. Moved by compassion I now pray, as You asked me to do, for You to send people to bring the good news of Your kingdom reign in words and deeds. Send workers into Your harvest field Jesus, send them.

Even as I pray, I open myself up be a part and play my role in this prayer’s answer. I affirm now that I am not alone in this harvest work but do play a significant role as a worker in Your harvest field. Use me I pray to bring Your Kingdom grace to someone today. Today, I get to listen, truly listen, with compassionate ears and follow Your lead, Holy Spirit, in all the next steps of loving people well as Your “salt and light” influencer in my part of Your world. WOW!

The adventure continues. AMEN.

Open Hearts - Matthew 20:29-34

29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”

34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Questions for Reflection:

If Jesus said to you “ Help me understand more what you need from me, really need from me,” what would you tell him? And then if he then said “Why is that important to you?” what would you say to him then?

How do you need Jesus’ compassion today? How can that compassion help you be more compassionate with others today?

Prayer of the Week:

Father, Son, Holy Spirit I am so excited that I get to live this day united to You in the very depth of my being. Thank you Jesus for reconciling me to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank you Spirit for filling me afresh with the very presence of Jesus. I receive You now and consecrate myself to You and Your purposes for me this day. I am Yours and You are mine.

Jesus, today I want to take some time to gaze and be amazed at Your compassion for me and for all people. Compassion authored in Your heart becomes a gut-wrenched grace that removes worthiness from the qualification of whether one gets loved. In fact, your compassion has no filtering list – You just see people…… ALL needing love, grace, mercy and redeeming rescue. I am so very glad that I am counted in the, ALL, people that You view with compassion. Thank you!!!

I now receive Your unmerited favor on me. I am so unworthy of Your grace but so in need Your grace. Thank you!

Jesus, today I open myself up to be shaped by Your compassion FOR me so that people might receive Your compassion FROM me. I surrender to such a transformation. I want to see people through compassion lensed eyes. With these eyes You see me and with these eyes I want to see others. Moved by compassion I now pray, as You asked me to do, for You to send people to bring the good news of Your kingdom reign in words and deeds. Send workers into Your harvest field Jesus, send them.

Even as I pray, I open myself up be a part and play my role in this prayer’s answer. I affirm now that I am not alone in this harvest work but do play a significant role as a worker in Your harvest field. Use me I pray to bring Your Kingdom grace to someone today. Today, I get to listen, truly listen, with compassionate ears and follow Your lead, Holy Spirit, in all the next steps of loving people well as Your “salt and light” influencer in my part of Your world. WOW!

The adventure continues. AMEN.