LISTEN: He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
SO WHAT: Just sit. . . just be. . . be still and know that I am God. . . listen. . . . .
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Be Still. . .
OPENING PRAYER. . .Loving God, Creator of all that is, here I am--today in this place that you have given me, with all the senses you have given me. Help me to use them to experience you on a deeper level. May I experience you all around me, open me to know more of your ways and know that your goodness surrounds me. Thank you for this time to be with you, to be still and to just listen. Amen
LISTEN: He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
SO WHAT: Just sit. . . just be. . . be still and know that I am God. . . listen. . . . .
LISTEN: He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
SO WHAT: Just sit. . . just be. . . be still and know that I am God. . . listen. . . . .
Friday, February 27, 2015
Anger in Our Hearts
OPENING PRAYER. . .Loving God, Creator of all that is, here I am--today in this place that you have given me, with all the senses you have given me. Help me to use them to experience you on a deeper level. May I experience you all around me, open me to know more of your ways and know that your goodness surrounds me. Thank you for this time to be with you and to just listen. Amen
LISTEN: “You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.
“This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.
“Or say you’re out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don’t lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him. After all, if you leave the first move to him, knowing his track record, you’re likely to end up in court, maybe even jail. If that happens, you won’t get out without a stiff fine." Mt. 5:22-26 The Message
CONSIDER: All you need to do is watch the previews at the movie theater, or even commercials for upcoming shows to understand that we are a culture fascinated with violence. Verbal, physical and psychological violence dominates so much of our "entertainment" today. It's all about blood and guts. . .bomb blasts. . . and terrifying massacres. We seem to be told over and over again, implicitly and explicitly, that we must kill or maim our enemies. Remember our childhood chant. . . "sticks and stones may break my back but words will never hurt me"? Well it turns out that sometimes words hurt us just as much (and sometimes more) than sticks and stones. Jesus reminds us, even warns us, that angry names are able to hurt those who utter them.
SO WHAT: Our LOVE or our HATRED begins in our hearts and in our attitude toward others. Jesus reminds us that we are to love our enemies, not destroy them. . . even if we must protect ourselves from them at times. I believe that we are a violent and materialistic culture precisely because we do not stop to think long and deeply about the meaning of life. We must learn to love one another. Is it easy? No, it's not. But yet, as followers of Christ, it's what we are called to do. . . love God, love your neighbor, love your enemies. THAT is what Jesus calls us to do and be. . .to LOVE EVERYBODY. If we think we can say whatever we want about others and it's ok because we are not hurting them physically. . .we are mistaken. Our tongues have the power to hurt and destroy.
Did Jesus really mean that being angry with someone is like committing murder? Probably not, but he wanted to get the attention of those who were listening to him. He wanted them to understand that, as it is written in the NIV version, "that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment." We must learn to love one another and to use our words to make others feel loved.
Lent is a time when we can transform ourselves to be a people who will say nothing evil of another, where we will not want to say anything hurtful much less do anything that demeans another brother or sister.
LISTEN: “You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.
“This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.
“Or say you’re out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don’t lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him. After all, if you leave the first move to him, knowing his track record, you’re likely to end up in court, maybe even jail. If that happens, you won’t get out without a stiff fine." Mt. 5:22-26 The Message
CONSIDER: All you need to do is watch the previews at the movie theater, or even commercials for upcoming shows to understand that we are a culture fascinated with violence. Verbal, physical and psychological violence dominates so much of our "entertainment" today. It's all about blood and guts. . .bomb blasts. . . and terrifying massacres. We seem to be told over and over again, implicitly and explicitly, that we must kill or maim our enemies. Remember our childhood chant. . . "sticks and stones may break my back but words will never hurt me"? Well it turns out that sometimes words hurt us just as much (and sometimes more) than sticks and stones. Jesus reminds us, even warns us, that angry names are able to hurt those who utter them.
SO WHAT: Our LOVE or our HATRED begins in our hearts and in our attitude toward others. Jesus reminds us that we are to love our enemies, not destroy them. . . even if we must protect ourselves from them at times. I believe that we are a violent and materialistic culture precisely because we do not stop to think long and deeply about the meaning of life. We must learn to love one another. Is it easy? No, it's not. But yet, as followers of Christ, it's what we are called to do. . . love God, love your neighbor, love your enemies. THAT is what Jesus calls us to do and be. . .to LOVE EVERYBODY. If we think we can say whatever we want about others and it's ok because we are not hurting them physically. . .we are mistaken. Our tongues have the power to hurt and destroy.
Did Jesus really mean that being angry with someone is like committing murder? Probably not, but he wanted to get the attention of those who were listening to him. He wanted them to understand that, as it is written in the NIV version, "that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment." We must learn to love one another and to use our words to make others feel loved.
Lent is a time when we can transform ourselves to be a people who will say nothing evil of another, where we will not want to say anything hurtful much less do anything that demeans another brother or sister.
- Who is it that you are angry with on this day?
- How can you begin to forgive whatever it is that has made you angry with that person?
- How will you use your words to express, "Love God, love your neighbor as yourself. . . and love your enemies". In other words, how will you use your words to "love all"?
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Faith Can Be Tough
OPENING PRAYER. . .Loving God, Creator of all that is, here I am--today in this place that you have given me, with all the senses you have given me. Help me to use them to experience you on a deeper level. May I experience you all around me, open me to know more of your ways and know that your goodness surrounds me. Thank you for this time to be with you and to just listen. Amen
LISTEN: "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law." Romans 3:26-28
CONSIDER: Faith can be tough. It can't be seen and it can't be held in one's hand. Faith can be hard to find when times are tough, yet, when times are good, it seems to be like an endless fountain. Sometimes we even think that our faith is something we can manage or do better. But Paul reminds us that faith is not a work, it's not something that we do--it just IS. Can you do anything to get it? Well, not really! And yet, it does require some seeking to find it.
SO WHAT: Most of us suspect that having faith is a good and helpful thing. . . to our health--mentally, physically and spiritually. One definition of faith is that "it is the clinging to a belief in spite of all the evidence to the contrary."
Faith is not by our wills, but about God's will. When we feel our faith, it is God's will we feel. God's will is always there. Sometimes, too much stress and events of life try to hide the fact of God's presence in our lives. But taking a few deep breaths and a few minutes to remind ourselves of the truth that God is always present, can lower our anxiety and calm our nerves.
LISTEN: "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law." Romans 3:26-28
CONSIDER: Faith can be tough. It can't be seen and it can't be held in one's hand. Faith can be hard to find when times are tough, yet, when times are good, it seems to be like an endless fountain. Sometimes we even think that our faith is something we can manage or do better. But Paul reminds us that faith is not a work, it's not something that we do--it just IS. Can you do anything to get it? Well, not really! And yet, it does require some seeking to find it.
SO WHAT: Most of us suspect that having faith is a good and helpful thing. . . to our health--mentally, physically and spiritually. One definition of faith is that "it is the clinging to a belief in spite of all the evidence to the contrary."
Faith is not by our wills, but about God's will. When we feel our faith, it is God's will we feel. God's will is always there. Sometimes, too much stress and events of life try to hide the fact of God's presence in our lives. But taking a few deep breaths and a few minutes to remind ourselves of the truth that God is always present, can lower our anxiety and calm our nerves.
- Are there times that you remember clearly having faith?
- What about times when you have struggled to have faith?
- Take a few minutes and feel the presence of God.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
God Seems So Far Away. . .
OPENING PRAYER. . .Loving God, Creator of all that is, here I am--today in this place that you have given me, with all the senses you have given me. Help me to use them to experience you on a deeper level. May I experience you all around me, open me to know more of your ways and know that your goodness surrounds me. Thank you for this time to be with you and to just listen. Amen
LISTEN: "I found myself in trouble and went looking for my Lord; my life was an open wound that wouldn’t heal.
When friends said, “Everything will turn out all right,”
I didn’t believe a word they said.
I remember God—and shake my head.
I bow my head—then wring my hands.
I’m awake all night—not a wink of sleep;
I can’t even say what’s bothering me.
I go over the days one by one,
I ponder the years gone by.
I strum my lute all through the night,
wondering how to get my life together." Psalm 72:2-6
CONSIDER: Does God seem far away? We all have to admit. . . there are days. . . days when God seems unavailable to our needs, days when we don't know where to turn. . . days when we feel like life has thrown us the proverbial curveball. . . days when we feel lost and we just aren't sure what to do. What can we do?
SO WHAT: I think when we are lost and struggling, and searching for God harder and harder so that we might get any Divine help that we might gain. . . the answers seem elusive. The answers to our prayers just don't come fast enough. We feel like Jesus in the wilderness, it's an uncomfortable place.
But the Psalmist goes on and offers this advice: "Once again I’ll go over what God has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; I’ll ponder all the things you’ve accomplished, and give a long, loving look at your acts."
Refreshing our sometimes short memories about all God has done. . . remembering what God has accomplished for us can re-center what is important and sort of anchor us in what is enduring and everlasting. Will our difficulties go away. . . probably not, but we can find a little more assurance that God hasn't abandoned us before and God will not leave you or forsake you now.
LISTEN: "I found myself in trouble and went looking for my Lord; my life was an open wound that wouldn’t heal.
When friends said, “Everything will turn out all right,”
I didn’t believe a word they said.
I remember God—and shake my head.
I bow my head—then wring my hands.
I’m awake all night—not a wink of sleep;
I can’t even say what’s bothering me.
I go over the days one by one,
I ponder the years gone by.
I strum my lute all through the night,
wondering how to get my life together." Psalm 72:2-6
CONSIDER: Does God seem far away? We all have to admit. . . there are days. . . days when God seems unavailable to our needs, days when we don't know where to turn. . . days when we feel like life has thrown us the proverbial curveball. . . days when we feel lost and we just aren't sure what to do. What can we do?
SO WHAT: I think when we are lost and struggling, and searching for God harder and harder so that we might get any Divine help that we might gain. . . the answers seem elusive. The answers to our prayers just don't come fast enough. We feel like Jesus in the wilderness, it's an uncomfortable place.
But the Psalmist goes on and offers this advice: "Once again I’ll go over what God has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; I’ll ponder all the things you’ve accomplished, and give a long, loving look at your acts."
Refreshing our sometimes short memories about all God has done. . . remembering what God has accomplished for us can re-center what is important and sort of anchor us in what is enduring and everlasting. Will our difficulties go away. . . probably not, but we can find a little more assurance that God hasn't abandoned us before and God will not leave you or forsake you now.
- Do you seem to be prone to have doubts about God's attention in your life? When are these doubts most acute?
- Is it possible that our struggles arise out of pressures from things we need to face or change?
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Sharing our Blessings
"Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble. Do not return evil for evil, or insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing." 1 Peter 3:8-9
Have you noticed that there are a surprising number of angry and upset people in the world? They are like ticking time bombs, and most of the time, they are more than willing to tell you who or what they are upset about. You can find them at customer service counters of our local businesses, in the restaurants the at we eat in every week, in all levels of our government. And yes. . . even in our churches. I'm not sure why there are so many angry people but they seem to vent in all kinds of ways. . . especially on Facebook (in case you hadn't noticed). We seem to be surrounded by angry and upset people. . . we are confronted constantly with negative thoughts and ideas. But here's a novel idea. . .how about if we give up angry venting during the season of Lent. . . what if we give up reading people's angry rants on Facebook during the season of Lent. . . what if we respond back with love to those we personally encounter who are angry?
1 Peter tells us all about keeping a positive attitude and not being a mean, nasty, vindictive, hateful person. "Don't return evil for evil". We should not be nursing our wounds and plotting how to tell "so and so a thing or two".
We are encouraged to be of one mind--sympathetic, loving one another and humble. Being argumentative and combative is what drove Jesus to be on the outs with the religious hierarchy. Anger is rightly considered to be one the Deadly Sins. There is no life and no relationship possible when anger, vengeance and vindictiveness reside in our hearts.
So, work on being a blessing and sharing the blessings. Work as hard finding blessings you can give to others as you might spend being angry.
PRAYER: Lord, please help us put aside our hot tempers and with humility may we walk the way of being a blessing in this world. Amen.
Have you noticed that there are a surprising number of angry and upset people in the world? They are like ticking time bombs, and most of the time, they are more than willing to tell you who or what they are upset about. You can find them at customer service counters of our local businesses, in the restaurants the at we eat in every week, in all levels of our government. And yes. . . even in our churches. I'm not sure why there are so many angry people but they seem to vent in all kinds of ways. . . especially on Facebook (in case you hadn't noticed). We seem to be surrounded by angry and upset people. . . we are confronted constantly with negative thoughts and ideas. But here's a novel idea. . .how about if we give up angry venting during the season of Lent. . . what if we give up reading people's angry rants on Facebook during the season of Lent. . . what if we respond back with love to those we personally encounter who are angry?
1 Peter tells us all about keeping a positive attitude and not being a mean, nasty, vindictive, hateful person. "Don't return evil for evil". We should not be nursing our wounds and plotting how to tell "so and so a thing or two".
We are encouraged to be of one mind--sympathetic, loving one another and humble. Being argumentative and combative is what drove Jesus to be on the outs with the religious hierarchy. Anger is rightly considered to be one the Deadly Sins. There is no life and no relationship possible when anger, vengeance and vindictiveness reside in our hearts.
So, work on being a blessing and sharing the blessings. Work as hard finding blessings you can give to others as you might spend being angry.
- What kinds of things bless you or what helps you feel blessed?
- Look for the good things in life, be a "half full" kind of person.
- How can you bring a positive outlook on things?
- Today, do something thoughtful for someone who might not expect it from you.
PRAYER: Lord, please help us put aside our hot tempers and with humility may we walk the way of being a blessing in this world. Amen.
Monday, February 23, 2015
Love Your Neighbor As Yourself
"Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Matthew 25:44-45
Because we are all members of the Body of Christ, whatever good or bad we do, we do to Jesus. A sobering thought isn't it? Empathy and sympathy in our lives come from the Grace of God that we have learned from the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We are in this life together for better or worse. The prayers of the body enrich us while the sins of the world drain us. And more than anything else, the love of Jesus lifts us and enables us because we belong to Christ.
The commandment "love your neighbor as yourself" requires a basic sense of fairness in living our human lives. Jesus asks even more of us when he told us "love one another as I have loved you". The cross reminds us that Christ gave so much more than basic human fairness. Jesus gave it all.
As you encounter individuals today, pay attention. If you believe that Jesus is in each of them, how differently will that belief make your interactions? Will it make a difference in who you love or don't love today?
PRAYER: Dear God, today turn my head and heart around back to you. Teach me your justice, give me your peace. Help me to love those you bring into my life. Help me to love like you. Amen
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Matthew 25:44-45
Because we are all members of the Body of Christ, whatever good or bad we do, we do to Jesus. A sobering thought isn't it? Empathy and sympathy in our lives come from the Grace of God that we have learned from the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We are in this life together for better or worse. The prayers of the body enrich us while the sins of the world drain us. And more than anything else, the love of Jesus lifts us and enables us because we belong to Christ.
The commandment "love your neighbor as yourself" requires a basic sense of fairness in living our human lives. Jesus asks even more of us when he told us "love one another as I have loved you". The cross reminds us that Christ gave so much more than basic human fairness. Jesus gave it all.
As you encounter individuals today, pay attention. If you believe that Jesus is in each of them, how differently will that belief make your interactions? Will it make a difference in who you love or don't love today?
PRAYER: Dear God, today turn my head and heart around back to you. Teach me your justice, give me your peace. Help me to love those you bring into my life. Help me to love like you. Amen
Sunday, February 22, 2015
First Sunday in Lent
We are so hectic on Sundays. . . .up early for worship. . . maybe Sunday School. . . meeting friends or family for a late breakfast or lunch. . . maybe grocery shopping. . . getting the kids ready for school on Monday. . . .getting ourselves ready to go back to work on Monday. . . busy. . . busy . . . busy!
But today is different. . . it's the FIRST Sunday in Lent. . . a day that maybe we can take a few minutes for some introspection. If you took an honest look at your life during the past year, have you been more interested in the things of God or the things of this world? Are you putting God first in your heart or have you allowed God to sort of slip through the cracks as other priorities have crowded God out? Maybe it's your job, or spending time with friends or the TV or computer or simply "me time" that keeps us from putting god first. We are so good at scheduling the things that are important to us. . . but most of the time that's not time with God. . . we get so busy taking care of all the other matters in our life that we neglect our interior, spiritual being.
So, it's Lent, the perfect time to do some "housecleaning" in our hearts. If your life resembles a building that needs some upkeep, Lent's the time to get to work. Take some time to be in God's presence. . . pray. . . or just be quiet and listen. . . give it a try for 5min. every day. . . then 10min. It may seem like an eternity to begin with but the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Clean out those things in your life that hold you back from a 100% relationship with Jesus. As you remove those things, there will be more and more time to spend with God.
As we begin our Lenten Journey, don't be satisfied with a little bit of God. . . God wants 100% of you for the 100% of God that God offers you.
But today is different. . . it's the FIRST Sunday in Lent. . . a day that maybe we can take a few minutes for some introspection. If you took an honest look at your life during the past year, have you been more interested in the things of God or the things of this world? Are you putting God first in your heart or have you allowed God to sort of slip through the cracks as other priorities have crowded God out? Maybe it's your job, or spending time with friends or the TV or computer or simply "me time" that keeps us from putting god first. We are so good at scheduling the things that are important to us. . . but most of the time that's not time with God. . . we get so busy taking care of all the other matters in our life that we neglect our interior, spiritual being.
So, it's Lent, the perfect time to do some "housecleaning" in our hearts. If your life resembles a building that needs some upkeep, Lent's the time to get to work. Take some time to be in God's presence. . . pray. . . or just be quiet and listen. . . give it a try for 5min. every day. . . then 10min. It may seem like an eternity to begin with but the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Clean out those things in your life that hold you back from a 100% relationship with Jesus. As you remove those things, there will be more and more time to spend with God.
As we begin our Lenten Journey, don't be satisfied with a little bit of God. . . God wants 100% of you for the 100% of God that God offers you.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Called to Share the Love
"Those who are healthy do not need a physician but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners." Luke 5:31-32
As humans, we have a tendency to think we need to seek out mountaintop experiences in our search for God. You know, the closer to heaven. . . the closer to God. What we forget is that God walks down that mountain and into our noisy, busy lives in search of us. US. . . his children, so lost in the strife of this earthly world. All of us are wounded and waiting for someone to come and save us. US. . . sinners who call out for mercy and forgiveness. It is our sinfulness that brought us our Savior, God made human and vulnerable, just like US, in order to save US.
We are not all called to live in a monastery or to find some gated community of some kind that insulates us from the poor and disadvantaged. No, we are called as followers of Jesus Christ to be God's love in the midst of the turmoil and confusion of this broken world that we live in. It is because of our darkness that Jesus came down to us in order to lift us up to light and life with him.
How can we show the love of Christ right where we are at? There are so many needs that surround us for us to show the love of Christ. But do we see those needs or do we just step over the messiness that surrounds us? Are we seeking one mountain top experience after another as we search for God in our life? Have we grown impatient with the lives we lead because we long to be on the mountain top with God?
Here's the Good News. . . God has come down from that mountain top to walk with us in this world. It's our choice if we open ourselves to Christ's presence all around us. It's also our choice how we choose to act with the presence of Christ all around us. What will you do today to show the love of Christ?
PRAYER: God, you know how frail we are. Help me to focus today on your presence in my life. Open my eyes to all that is around me and help me to act where you need me to act. Most of all Lord, help me to show your love in my part of the world that so desperately needs it. Amen
As humans, we have a tendency to think we need to seek out mountaintop experiences in our search for God. You know, the closer to heaven. . . the closer to God. What we forget is that God walks down that mountain and into our noisy, busy lives in search of us. US. . . his children, so lost in the strife of this earthly world. All of us are wounded and waiting for someone to come and save us. US. . . sinners who call out for mercy and forgiveness. It is our sinfulness that brought us our Savior, God made human and vulnerable, just like US, in order to save US.
We are not all called to live in a monastery or to find some gated community of some kind that insulates us from the poor and disadvantaged. No, we are called as followers of Jesus Christ to be God's love in the midst of the turmoil and confusion of this broken world that we live in. It is because of our darkness that Jesus came down to us in order to lift us up to light and life with him.
How can we show the love of Christ right where we are at? There are so many needs that surround us for us to show the love of Christ. But do we see those needs or do we just step over the messiness that surrounds us? Are we seeking one mountain top experience after another as we search for God in our life? Have we grown impatient with the lives we lead because we long to be on the mountain top with God?
Here's the Good News. . . God has come down from that mountain top to walk with us in this world. It's our choice if we open ourselves to Christ's presence all around us. It's also our choice how we choose to act with the presence of Christ all around us. What will you do today to show the love of Christ?
PRAYER: God, you know how frail we are. Help me to focus today on your presence in my life. Open my eyes to all that is around me and help me to act where you need me to act. Most of all Lord, help me to show your love in my part of the world that so desperately needs it. Amen
Friday, February 20, 2015
Prayer: A Discipline for Lent
It's not that we are against solitude and prayer or afraid of examining our interior selves, it's just that we are. . . wait for it. . . TOO BUSY. Most days, we don't pray simply because we just don't get around to it.
For most of us our days are just too buys. We have smartphones and radios that stimulate us before we are fully awake. We are texting our friends, checking Facebook and e-mails, watching the news or listening to music before we even shower or have breakfast. The drive to work follows the same pattern; stimulated and preoccupied, we're listening to the radio, talking on our cell phones and planning the days agenda. We then return home to TV, conversation, activities and all sorts of preoccupations. And then, it's time for bed where we may watch more TV or maybe read or even check email and Facebook one last time. Finally, yes, finally we fall asleep. Was there time to think, to pray, to wonder, to be restful, to be grateful for the life God has given us? Did we take time for love, for health. . . . for God? We just moved through our day.
We want to experience EVERYTHING! We don't want to miss anything and we don't want our kids to miss anything. We are an experiential people, hungry for all the experiences that are going on around us. Henri Nouwen, put it like this: "I want to pray, but I also don't want to miss out on anything--television, movies, socializing with friends, drinking in the world." Because we don't want to miss out on anything, prayer has to be a discipline. When we take time to sit and pray, our natural craving for experience begins to protest.
I think we all really crave solitude. . . down time. . . time to be with our families. . . time to just BE. We imagine it as a time of peace, where it is quiet, where we are walking along the shore of a lake, watching a sunset, sitting by a fireplace watching the dancing flames. But most of the time, we make solitude another activity, something we have to do. Solitude is a way of being present. It's a sense, within our ordinary life, that life is precious, sacred and ENOUGH.
Your heart is meant to rest in God. It's the way we were created. The reason we are restless and strive to fill it up with experiences is because we are looking for that rest in God. We just don't want to admit it. Our restlessness can lead us into a prayer life if we let it. In fact it can lead us into a deeper prayer life, the kind that leads us into transformation, the kind that won't leave you feeling empty inside.
So, as you begin this season of Lent, let's commit together to carve out a time everyday to pray. 5 or 10 minutes less TV maybe. . . you know where you can get a few minutes of time to be in God's presence.. . .you just have to do it.
Prayer: Dear God, as we begin this Holy season of Lent, let us not be so busy searching for experiences to soothe our restless minds and bodies but help us to crave and search for times for solitude with you. Help us to take time to pray, to wonder, to be ever grateful for our life with you.
Amen.
For most of us our days are just too buys. We have smartphones and radios that stimulate us before we are fully awake. We are texting our friends, checking Facebook and e-mails, watching the news or listening to music before we even shower or have breakfast. The drive to work follows the same pattern; stimulated and preoccupied, we're listening to the radio, talking on our cell phones and planning the days agenda. We then return home to TV, conversation, activities and all sorts of preoccupations. And then, it's time for bed where we may watch more TV or maybe read or even check email and Facebook one last time. Finally, yes, finally we fall asleep. Was there time to think, to pray, to wonder, to be restful, to be grateful for the life God has given us? Did we take time for love, for health. . . . for God? We just moved through our day.
We want to experience EVERYTHING! We don't want to miss anything and we don't want our kids to miss anything. We are an experiential people, hungry for all the experiences that are going on around us. Henri Nouwen, put it like this: "I want to pray, but I also don't want to miss out on anything--television, movies, socializing with friends, drinking in the world." Because we don't want to miss out on anything, prayer has to be a discipline. When we take time to sit and pray, our natural craving for experience begins to protest.
I think we all really crave solitude. . . down time. . . time to be with our families. . . time to just BE. We imagine it as a time of peace, where it is quiet, where we are walking along the shore of a lake, watching a sunset, sitting by a fireplace watching the dancing flames. But most of the time, we make solitude another activity, something we have to do. Solitude is a way of being present. It's a sense, within our ordinary life, that life is precious, sacred and ENOUGH.
Your heart is meant to rest in God. It's the way we were created. The reason we are restless and strive to fill it up with experiences is because we are looking for that rest in God. We just don't want to admit it. Our restlessness can lead us into a prayer life if we let it. In fact it can lead us into a deeper prayer life, the kind that leads us into transformation, the kind that won't leave you feeling empty inside.
So, as you begin this season of Lent, let's commit together to carve out a time everyday to pray. 5 or 10 minutes less TV maybe. . . you know where you can get a few minutes of time to be in God's presence.. . .you just have to do it.
Prayer: Dear God, as we begin this Holy season of Lent, let us not be so busy searching for experiences to soothe our restless minds and bodies but help us to crave and search for times for solitude with you. Help us to take time to pray, to wonder, to be ever grateful for our life with you.
Amen.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Were We Trying to Prove Something With Those Ashes Yesterday?
"Lord, may all that I do today be prompted by your grace, sustained by your love and guided by your wisdom."
So what did it really mean that we received those ashes yesterday? What was the reason that we came to church and received those ashes on our foreheads? Were they for God? No, they weren't for God. In Isaiah 58:4-5, God is pretty clear when he tells Isaiah, "What I want from you is not sackcloth and ashes. I don't want you sitting around looking miserable. I want you to get up and DO something. Something good. Feed the hungry, Clothe the naked. House the homeless. Give to the poor. CHANGE THE WORLD! THAT is the kind of religious offering I'm looking for." Does God want to see something? Yes, but it's not just ashes on our foreheads. He wants us to get busy; doing God's work in the world. It's about linking our internal spiritual lives to our actions.
So, why the ashes? Why do we do something so visible? They are a reminder of humility and honesty. Humility is about being grounded in the truth of who we are: finite, flawed, dependent on God and completely, utterly, totally loved by God! No matter who we are and no matter what we've done in our life.
As we begin our Lenten Journey, we accept ashes as a sign of penitence and mortality and the truth of who we are and whose we are. I invite you to spend this Lent learning to trust that God is gracious and kind and forgiving and merciful and that no matter what humans think of us, it isn't as important as our relationship with God and what we do for others because we are loved by God. Take on some discipline this lent that's sole action is for the purpose of pleasing God or give up something to make room in your life for God's Spirit to come and move around in you. Focus your attention and your longing on God. God wants to be our reward for that focus and longing. Let's not settle for anything less this Lent.
PRAYER: Dear God, I believe that in giving us your Son, you have given us everything. In response to that Gift, I will make room in my heart and life so that my focus will be upon you dear Lord. I will not allow myself to settle for anything less than you. Amen.
So what did it really mean that we received those ashes yesterday? What was the reason that we came to church and received those ashes on our foreheads? Were they for God? No, they weren't for God. In Isaiah 58:4-5, God is pretty clear when he tells Isaiah, "What I want from you is not sackcloth and ashes. I don't want you sitting around looking miserable. I want you to get up and DO something. Something good. Feed the hungry, Clothe the naked. House the homeless. Give to the poor. CHANGE THE WORLD! THAT is the kind of religious offering I'm looking for." Does God want to see something? Yes, but it's not just ashes on our foreheads. He wants us to get busy; doing God's work in the world. It's about linking our internal spiritual lives to our actions.
So, why the ashes? Why do we do something so visible? They are a reminder of humility and honesty. Humility is about being grounded in the truth of who we are: finite, flawed, dependent on God and completely, utterly, totally loved by God! No matter who we are and no matter what we've done in our life.
As we begin our Lenten Journey, we accept ashes as a sign of penitence and mortality and the truth of who we are and whose we are. I invite you to spend this Lent learning to trust that God is gracious and kind and forgiving and merciful and that no matter what humans think of us, it isn't as important as our relationship with God and what we do for others because we are loved by God. Take on some discipline this lent that's sole action is for the purpose of pleasing God or give up something to make room in your life for God's Spirit to come and move around in you. Focus your attention and your longing on God. God wants to be our reward for that focus and longing. Let's not settle for anything less this Lent.
PRAYER: Dear God, I believe that in giving us your Son, you have given us everything. In response to that Gift, I will make room in my heart and life so that my focus will be upon you dear Lord. I will not allow myself to settle for anything less than you. Amen.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Today is Ash Wednesday, it marks the beginning of our Lenten Journey. I will be offering a post here every day during Lent to help you along your journey. I hope you find these posts helpful and I hope you will feel free to respond to any of the posts (especially if I ask a question) Looking forward to journeying together with you during this Holy season of Lent.
We put ashes on our heads today to:
We put ashes on our heads today to:
- Remind us that we all have sinned and we all need repentance, to let God, through Christ, change our hearts and lives.
- Remind us of all those around the world who are mourning and suffering.
- Remind us that in the passage of time, we will all someday die.
- Remind us of Christ's suffering, death and resurrection.
- Remind us that in the midst of this, we are still called, claimed, forgiven and loved Children of God.
Loving and gracious God,
my sins are too heavy to carry,
too real to hide and too deep to undo.
Forgive what my lips tremble to name,
what my heart can no longer bear,
and what has become for me a consuming
fire of judgment.
Set me free from a past I cannot change,
open to me a future in which I CAN BE CHANGED,
and grant me grace to GROW more and more
like Jesus.
Amen
Hear the Good News. . . .In the name of Jesus Christ, you are FORGIVEN!
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