Ordinary Time

Pause

Take my life and let it be,
consecrated Lord to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
Let them flow in endless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise.

Frances R. Havergal in “Take My Life, And Let It Be” (1874)

Wherever this day finds you,

Pause and take a deep breath.

Offer yourself humbly to the Lord in the stillness of these moments.

Listen

If I speak in tongues of human beings and of angels but I don’t have love, I’m a clanging gong or a clashing cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and I know all the mysteries and everything else, and if I have such complete faith that I can move mountains but I don’t have love, I’m nothing. If I give away everything that I have and hand over my own body to feel good about what I’ve done but I don’t have love, I receive no benefit whatsoever.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Think

A friend’s sister recently passed away, and when I went to the funeral home’s website to read the obituary and leave my condolences, I was encouraged by the words written by others who knew her well. They shared stories and funny things she said, talked about ministries she participated in, and identified endearing characteristics she exhibited. Without ever having met this person in real life, I had a pretty good idea that she had been a loving and caring soul.

Do you ever wonder how you will be remembered? Will it be for the clothing you donated, or for the years of perfect Sunday School attendance? Or maybe for the years of service in the church choir, or for your work with the homeless in your community? Maybe. But you know what people really remember? They remember the way you made them feel. Your legacy will be the way you loved God and loved people. All of those other things are good and righteous, but without love they are meaningless.

Niki Hays

Pray

Lord, teach me to love others as you love them.

Let everything I say and do be done with love.

And may the source of that love always be the love you lavish upon me.

Amen.

Go

Take my will and make it thine
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thy own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.

Frances R. Havergal in “Take My Life, And Let It Be” (1874)

Surrender.

Give over to God your whole heart.

Live in the fullness of God’s grace this day.