[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

May 7

The Right Words

Bible in a Year:

• 2 Kings 1–3
• Luke 24:1–35

Pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan.

Ephesians 6:19 nlt

In the past year or so, a number of authors have urged believers to take a fresh look at the “vocabulary” of our faith. One writer, for example, emphasized that even theologically rich words of faith can lose their impact when, through overfamiliarity and overuse, we lose touch with the depths of the gospel and our need for God. When that happens, he suggested, we may need to relearn the language of faith “from scratch,” letting go of our assumptions until we can see the good news for the first time.

The invitation to learn to “speak God from scratch” reminds me of Paul, who devoted his life to “[becoming] all things to all people . . . for the sake of the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:22–23). He never assumed he knew best how to communicate what Jesus had done. Instead, he relied on constant prayer and pleaded for fellow believers to pray for him as well—to help him find “the right words” (Ephesians 6:19 nlt) to share the good news.

The apostle also knew the need for each believer in Christ to remain humble and receptive each day to their need for deeper roots in His love (3:16–17). It’s only as we deepen our roots in God’s love, each day becoming more aware of our dependence on His grace, that we can begin to find the right words to share the incredible news of what He’s done for us.

Reflect & Pray

When have you had an experience of seeing the gospel in a new way for the first time? How can prayer keep your heart receptive to your constant need for God’s grace?

Loving God, forgive me for, far too often, taking Your grace and goodness for granted. Help me to daily grasp in new ways the depths of Your grace and love. And help me find the right words to share what You’ve done.

[lightman]

Checking in!

[Fiji Hill]

I'm home.

Home--Rudy Vallee & His Connecticut Yankees (1932)

[Michael.SF.]

Well I was born here:

Califonia Girls- Beach Boys

[Fiji Hill]

I Love You, California--Harold Grayson & His Trojans (1930)

[Cecily]

Carolina in My Mind - James Taylor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx_LHSrjsCg

The Old North State

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9ufHnJcf2o

Carolina Girls - General Johnson & the Chairman of the Board

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgkO7XGUJyA

[Paved Paradise]

“Ohio” by Crosby Stills...

[PROCON]

Here's where I'm from!

America the Beautiful - Ray Charles

[Terry L Smith]

Reply to song request:
Bobby Bare, Marie Laveau.

[Fiji Hill]

At this moment, I am three quarters of a mile south of this thoroughfare.

Down Whittier Boulevard--Thee Midniters (1967)

[mylife]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZS3uDu8jy8

[DannyTN]

All my ex’s live in Texas, that’s why I reside in Tennessee!

[Yogafist]

It Never Rains in Southern California - and it hasn’t much the past few years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meDpNwem0Vo

[Michael.SF.]

More specifically: Lakewood, which is darn close to Downey:

Downey to Lubbock Bound -- Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Dave Alvin

[Fiji Hill]

I went to school and earned my AB degree on the western slope of Fiji Hill.

Tiger Roar--The Liberal Artists (1958)

Don't Send My Boy to Harvard--The Liberal Artists (1958)

[Fiji Hill]

I got my first master's degree here.

Fight On!--Harold Grayson & His Trojans (1930)

[dfwgator]

My favorite song about Texas, done by a Brit

Texas - Chris Rea
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqBCurSwK3k

[Fiji Hill]

Golden Gate--Herb Wiedoeft & His Orchestra (1928)

[Fiji Hill]

The Sunset Strip--where I lived while in grad school.

Sunset People--Donna Summer (1979)

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Originally:

Louis Armstrong — “St. Louis Blues”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BFEvUmwRF8E

For many years:

Frank Sinatra — “My Kind of Town”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iK_CL7sr018

Now, in exile:

Mills Brothers —”On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9qVjOJq9IXQ