PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday

Scripture lesson: John 12:1-8 The anointing of Jesus

Time to Reflect: Verse 8 is sometimes used as an excuses not to care about the poor, that we can spend large amounts money on things to “glorify God” rather than help the poor. Based on a close look at Jesus and his attitudes toward the poor I would suggest that this verse should be taken more literally. Jesus was about to be killed, so a little “wasted” money at that time wasn't a big deal and was an honest expression of Mary of Bethany's love for Jesus. It was not a once and for all command about priorities. Jesus (the human) is no longer with us, so not it is back to business as usual, taking care of the poor.

Moving through the day: Contemplate where you think the divide should be between spending money on worship, church institutions, and caring for those in need.

 Scripture:

 1Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

 4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages.[b]" 6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

 7"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

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

Saturday

Scripture lesson: Philippians 3:4b-14 Status is rubbish?

Time to reflect: Paul very eloquently states a basic premise of Christianity – Anything we consider important as Christians, we are to consider as rubbish and anytime we consider ourselves important, as Christians we are to view ourselves of little value. Status and self-importance are meaningless to our faith. Instead we are to humbly follow Christ and put our focus on Christ not ourselves.

Moving through the day: Think through and make a priority list of what is important to you. Now but Christ in the first position above everything else. How does that change your thinking?

though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
      If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

 7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing on Toward the Goal

 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

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

Friday

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 126

Time to reflect: When things go right do you praise God and thank God?

Moving Throughout the day: Take time to do so now.

1 When the LORD brought back the captives to [a] Zion,
       we were like men who dreamed. [b]

 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
       our tongues with songs of joy.
       Then it was said among the nations,
       "The LORD has done great things for them."

 3 The LORD has done great things for us,
       and we are filled with joy.

 4 Restore our fortunes, [c] O LORD,
       like streams in the Negev.

 5 Those who sow in tears
       will reap with songs of joy.

 6 He who goes out weeping,
       carrying seed to sow,
       will return with songs of joy,
       carrying sheaves with him.

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

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

Wednesday: 1 Chronicles 16:31-36 Praising God

Scripture lesson: This Psalm of praise (closely related to Psalm 106) was a part of a report of the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant (a box containing the 10 commandments and representing the “throne” of God) into Jerusalem. It was an event of exceeding joy and feeling that everything was right with the world. It is a joyous Psalm.

Time to reflect: When are we ever this joyous? What in our lives push us to praise and thank God?

31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
       let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!"

 32 Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
       let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!

 33 Then the trees of the forest will sing,
       they will sing for joy before the LORD,
       for he comes to judge the earth.

 34 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
       his love endures forever.

 35 Cry out, "Save us, O God our Savior;
       gather us and deliver us from the nations,
       that we may give thanks to your holy name,
       that we may glory in your praise."

 36 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel,
       from everlasting to everlasting.
      Then all the people said "Amen" and "Praise the LORD."

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Luke 19:1-10 Zacchaeus

Time to reflect: Zacchaeus was not a good person and hated by many and despised by many. He was a person of shady business dealings and compromised “his soul” to work for the Romans and make a tidy profit off of others. He was called and transformed by Jesus.

Moving through the day: Is there a Zacchaeus like person you know that you can put in touch with Jesus?

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

 1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

 5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

 7All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "

 8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."

 9Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

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

Monday

Scripture lesson: Luke 19:28-40 Palm Sunday

Scripture lesson: A few background pieces of information: Riding the donkey was a fulfillment of the OT understanding of how a Messiah would arrive. At the time donkey's were the peaceful steed for kings (horses were for war). The Psalm quoted (118) was a standard one used to sing about the coming Messiah. Palm Sunday was ironic – they people didn't really understand who they were praising, retracted their praise (and some shouted “Crucify him” shortly afterward, but in the end they were right in declaring him the Messiah. They just didn't realize it.

Time to reflect: Pray that you/we do not misunderstand Jesus but may truly celebrate the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Savior of the World.

 28After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30"Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.' "

 32Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

 34They replied, "The Lord needs it."

 35They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

 37When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
 38"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"[a]
      "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

 39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"

 40"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Isaiah 43:16-21 An inverted Exodus

Time to Reflect: After reminding the people of the defeat of the Egyptians at the sea during the Exodus, Isaiah points them to a future of another miracle – when the dry desolate wilderness, rather than the sea, will become a place of salvation but salvation of preservation rather than destruction. This salvation event occurred with the return from Babylon, but we believe that it also occurred, once and for all for all people in the Christ event.

Moving Through the Day: Give God thanksgiving for salvation.

Scripture:  

 16 This is what the LORD says—
       he who made a way through the sea,
       a path through the mighty waters,

 17 who drew out the chariots and horses,
       the army and reinforcements together,
       and they lay there, never to rise again,
       extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

 18 "Forget the former things;
       do not dwell on the past.

 19 See, I am doing a new thing!
       Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
       I am making a way in the desert
       and streams in the wasteland.

 20 The wild animals honor me,
       the jackals and the owls,
       because I provide water in the desert
       and streams in the wasteland,
       to give drink to my people, my chosen,

 21 the people I formed for myself
       that they may proclaim my praise.