PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Sunday

Scripture lesson: Mark 6:1-13 The Disciples (students) become Apostles (sent-out ones)

Time to reflect: We are all, always both disciples learning about our faith and apostles sent out to proclaim the Gospel to others.

Moving through the day: Are you mostly disciple or apostle? What do you need to do to be a better disciple, better apostle.

Scripture:

Mark 6:1 He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. ² On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! ³ Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary¹ and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense² at him. ⁴ Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." ⁵ And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. ⁶ And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching. ⁷ He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. ⁸ He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; ⁹ but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. ¹⁰ He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. ¹¹ If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." ¹² So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. ¹³ They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Saturday

Scripture lesson: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 “How spiritual are you?”

Time to reflect: Paul references unnamed people that bragged about how spiritual they were. Without challenging or condemning them, he shows a better way: humbly doing what is right.

Moving through the day: Meditate on your spiritual practices and whether they are simply rituals, sources of pride, infrequent, something to be worked on.

Scripture:

I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. ³ And I know that such a person -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows -- ⁴ was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. ⁵ On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. ⁶ But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, ⁷ even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep¹ me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.^{2 8} Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, ⁹ but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power¹ is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. (2Co 12:2 NRS)

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Friday

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 48 A Psalm of Victory

Time to reflect: This was song by the King and probably many others in behalf of Israel after a victory (or possibly after the promise of a victory). Its been awhile since the United States could sing a Psalm of victory like this. This would indicate, based on a reading of the Old Testament, that we are relying to much on ourselves and not enough on God.

Moving Throughout the day: Pray in behalf of your country.

Scripture:

Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain, ² beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. ³ Within its citadels God has shown himself a sure defense. ⁴ Then the kings assembled, they came on together. ⁵ As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic, they took to flight; ⁶ trembling took hold of them there, pains as of a woman in labor, ⁷ as when an east wind shatters the ships of Tarshish. ⁸ As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God, which God establishes forever. Selah ⁹ We ponder your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. ¹⁰ Your name, O God, like your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with victory. ¹¹ Let Mount Zion be glad, let the towns¹ of Judah rejoice because of your judgments. ¹² Walk about Zion, go all around it, count its towers, ¹³ consider well its ramparts; go through its citadels, that you may tell the next generation ¹⁴ that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever. (Psa 48:1 NRS)

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Thursday

Scripture lesson:  2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 King David

Time to reflect: David is an interesting Biblical character. In some ways he was a great human and great king, at other times a great sinner and a poor leader. In some ways he God's chosen leader and in some ways just another politician. He did good things and brought harm to his people. He was faithful to God but his personal life was a mess (and not just that Bathsheba thing). He was a human.

Moving through the day: Meditate on the fact that the Bible, while honoring God's people were VERY honest about them. If a Biblical writer was to report about your what would be listed?

Scripture:

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, ?Look, we are your bone and flesh. For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.? So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inwards. And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Wednesday

Scripture lesson: Job 28:12-28 Wisdom

Time to reflect: True wisdom is not available through earthy study or any other means. It only comes from God.

Moving through the day: Meditate on the last verse. Fear here includes our traditional understanding of ?fear? but includes ?awe, respect.?

Scripture:

?But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Mortals do not know the way to it, and it is not found in the land of the living.

The deep says, ?It is not in me,? and the sea says, ?It is not with me.? It cannot be gotten for gold, and silver cannot be weighed out as its price. It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire. Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls. The chrysolite of Ethiopia cannot compare with it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.

?Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air. Abaddon and Death say, ?We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.? ?God understands the way to it, and he knows its place. For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees everything under the heavens. When he gave to the wind its weight, and apportioned out the waters by measure; when he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the thunderbolt; then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out. And he said to humankind, ?Truly, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.??

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Galatians 5:1, 13-26 Show you are free by becoming a servant

Time to reflect: Christ has set us free enough that we can use our lives to serve others. An oxymoron, but essential to the Christian faith.

Moving through the day: Pray about the list in verse 22, item by item.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ?You shall love your neighbor as yourself.? If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy,* drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Monday

Scripture lesson: Malachi 3:5-6 The forgiving God

Time to reflect: This passage both indicates that God does have standards and expectations and that God is a loving forgiving God, if we'll just turn back to God.

Moving Through The Day: What can you do to become closer to God?

Scripture:

Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts. For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, have not perished.

PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Sunday

Scripture lesson: Mark 13:24-37 De-Creation

Time to reflect: This is another of the passages that indicate that we cannot predict when then end of time will occur and that we need to be ready any time. Verses 24-27 are standard Biblical images that refer to God's dismantling of the universe at the end of time. Even though our understanding of how the universe is constructed, (Although we no longer believe that the stars are things hung from the dome above the earth) we understand that this is referring to the destruction of the universe. We could rewrite this to reflect our understanding of the universe.

Moving through the day: We are not called on to speculate too much about the end time. But we can pray that when the time comes we are ready.

Scripture:

?But in those days, after that suffering,

the sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not give its light,

and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 

 

Then they will see ?the Son of Man coming in clouds? with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. ?From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

?But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake?for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.?

 

 

 

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Saturday

Scripture lesson: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 ?Grace to you?

Time to reflect: When writing this letter Paul was really upset and worried about his old congregation, and yet he is able to pen this beautiful expression of thanksgiving. Paul never gave up on people or congregations. He loved them ?even though...?

Moving through the day: Meditate about where you stand with your congregation. Are you fully happy with them? Do you need to love them ?even though...??

Scripture:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind? just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you? so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.