Listen

Be glad in the Lord always! Again I say, be glad! Let your gentleness show in your treatment of all people. The Lord is near. Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.

From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise. Practice these things: whatever you learned, received, heard, or saw in us. The God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9

Think

Have you ever wondered how to find joy and peace in your life? In a world that constantly bombards us with messages of discontentment and fear, it can be challenging to maintain a sense of joy and peace. However, in today’s passage from Philippians 4:4-9, the apostle Paul provides us with a profound secret to experiencing God’s peace and joy.

The passage begins with Paul’s exhortation to rejoice in the Lord always. Notice the emphasis on “always.”

It implies that our joy is not dependent on our circumstances but is rooted in our relationship with Jesus. The source of true joy is found in knowing and having a relationship in our Savior, Jesus Christ. As we cultivate a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus, our joy becomes a constant and unwavering presence in our lives. Today, embrace the secret to true joy and peace found in Philippians.

Landon Moore

Pray

Creator God, who empowers us in faith, be with us as we gather in a community of joy, comfort, and hope. Be with us as we celebrate our Regreso A Casa to a New Age of Faith. Let your spirit move through us to broaden our minds and open our hearts to one another. Send us from this place with your strength and courage to show the world your truth and accessibility so we may know our own dignity and belovedness. All this we ask through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Collect for #EYE23

Go

“We have to be braver than we think we can be, because God is constantly calling us to be more than we are.” (Madeleine L’Engle)

Breathe in: God calls me by name
Breath out: I am never alone

adapted from @blackliturgies on Instagram
by Cole Arthur Riley

Go forth choosing courage, finding ways to live out the values of love in how you interact with yourself, your family, your school, and your community. And in your going, remember: perhaps you were made for such a time as this.