Daily Devotions
Meditation, Prayers, and Assorted Stuff for May 5, 2020
Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey, “God’s Generosity”
God is a god of abundance, not a god of scarcity. Jesus reveals to us God’s abundance when he offers so much bread to the people that there are twelve large baskets with leftover scraps (see John 6:515), and when he makes his disciples catch so many fish that their boat nearly sinks (see Luke 5:17). God doesn’t give us just enough. God gives us more than enough: more bread and fish than we can eat, more love than we dared to ask for.
God is a generous giver, but we can only see and enjoy God’s generosity when we love God with all of our hearts, minds, and strength. As long as we say, “I will love you, God, but first show me your generosity,” we will remain distant from God and unable to experience what God truly wants to give us, which is life and life in abundance.
Here’s a prayer from the world’s most-published author, “Anonymous.”
Most merciful and Triune God, We come to you in our weakness. We come to you in our fear. We come to you with trust. For you alone are our hope.
We place before you the disease present in our world. We turn to you in our time of need.
Bring wisdom to doctors. Give understanding to scientists. Endow caregivers with compassion and generosity. Bring healing to those who are ill. Protect those who are most at risk. Give comfort to those who have lost a loved one. Welcome those who have died into your eternal home.
Stabilize our communities. Unite us in our compassion. Remove all fear from our hearts. Fill us with confidence in your care.
Jesus, I trust in you. Jesus, I trust in you. Jesus, I trust in you. Amen.
Here’s more from Non Sequitur.
Today’s links!
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/cornell-chicken-barbecue-sauce-upstateSince we’re all eating at home a lot more than we used to, why not try what is supposed to be the best sauce ever for barbecued chicken, from the Cornell professor who also invented the chicken nugget?
https://www.boredpanda.com/funny-literally-completed-jobs/In the “Be careful what you ask for” department, this article describes forty times people did exactly what they were asked to, and this one shows what happens when you ask a mischievous Photoshop expert named James Fridman to “fix” your pictures.https://www.demilked.com/photoshop-troll-strikes-again-james-fridman/
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/27/world/glowing-plants-intl-scli-scn/index.htmlI thought this looked really cool. Scientists have figured out how to make plants glow in the dark.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/skbaer/boy-caught-driving-california-lamborghiniFinally, this is what happens when you don’t keep a close eye on your kids. Behold, the 5-year-old Utah boy pulled over while trying to drive to California—to buy a Lamborghini.
Whatever vehicle you drive down the highway of life, remember what Jesus said: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:1314)
Stay safe and stay well!