Tag Archives: God

God’s Perspective

Information OverloadEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
February 2, 2015

 Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:21-31

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
   Has it not been told you from the beginning?
   Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
   and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
   and spreads them like a tent to live in;
who brings princes to naught,
   and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.  — Isaiah 40:21-23

Isaiah is challenging God’s people to have perspective. The people he was addressing were seeing the trees and not the forest. Problems grow insurmountable when they are all that we can see. Isaiah gives us a glimpse of God’s view. This is truth for today just as it was truth those many centuries ago.

The peoples of the earth seem to me to be running scared. Part of this is cause by the contagion of fear that happens when bits and pieces of news travel like electricity from one group to another. Our reaction in the United States to the recent Ebola case diagnosed on our shores was part wise learning from previous error as most medical facilities reviewed their protocols for dealing with contagious diseases, but it was part hysteria. Living in a world of instant information and a growing need for instant gratification contributes to both unjustifiable overreaction and the sense of not being able to do anything about everything so we do nothing at all.

The good news is that God created all beings to adapt to new environments. Just as the printing press changed the transmission of information some 700 years ago and the world changed because the masses gained greater access to knowledge, so too will we adapt to all that is changing about us. The thing we need to hold on to is that God is the one sure constant in our lives and that is all that really matters.

Prayer: Lord, give us glimpses of your perspective when we are blinded by the issues that beset us. Help us grow in spirit and in truth so that we might be sources of strength too. Amen.

Forgiveness of Sin

clean heartAdvent
December 6, 2014

Scripture Reading: Mark 1:1-8

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. — Mark 1:4

I don’t think we deal very much with sin anymore or we deal too much with it. We seem to have shuffled sin to the back of the deck and hope that it is never dealt.  In the 1960’s situational ethics* took its turn in explaining sin as being related to agape love and thus sin was describe as not being ridge, set in stone, but somewhat flexible based on the circumstances. Situational ethics was of course translated by some as “If it feels good, do it”, which wasn’t what it was about at all. The other side did define sin in specifics usually related to human moral behaviors often behaviors that related to others not themselves.

Such is the case today, just as it was the case in the first century when one of those radical prophets of old came forth with the message that sin was a problem and once we repent of our own sins and are cleansed through baptism we can return to a right relationship with God. Of course, John, the Baptist wasn’t saying anything new either. He knew the Psalms and the prophets of antiquity. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. (Psalm 51:2) In the final analysis, sin separates us from right relationship with God. When individuals are not right with God it is impossible for them fully to be right with one another.

John is telling the people that being right with the God who is love is the only way to be right with self and with each other and all others. We were wonderfully made by the God of love and God wants nothing less than the very best for each of us and all of us. I call it wholeness, oneness, and justice, but it cannot be attained until we turnaround and grab hold of it with all our hearts, minds, and souls.

Prayer: Lord forgive me when I settle for lesser gods and turn away from you. Cleanse me and make me whole. Amen.

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Situational ethics

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

Come in, Have a Seat

RighteousnessAdvent
December 4, 2014

Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-15a

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed….But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. — 2 Peter 3:8-10, 13

The earth grows dormant now, at least in Oklahoma. Leaves are everywhere but are always on the move because the wind is a constant here on the plains.  We have had our first snow and now live through one beautiful day of mild temperatures and bright sunshine and the next a day of fridge cold. Much of the land has been sown with winter wheat that will lay quietly beneath the topsoil until spring rains and rising temperatures signal the wheat’s time of fruition. Make no mistake, much is happening between that seed of wheat and God’s good earth. The cycle of life continues as autumn fads to winter.  These verses from Second Peter tell us not to get too complacent in our lives. We need to remember why we are here and what we have been assigned to do.

God wants all of God’s children, to not only succeed, but to thrive, to bear fruit, and to be conduits of God’s own love. God wants this so much that God sent his only Son to dwell with us on earth showing us the way to make God’s plan a reality and when the Son returned to God, the Son asked that we his sisters and brothers in faith continue the work to fulfill God’s desired outcome for the Lord wanted no one to perish.

Yet as the cycle of life continues, all of God’s children are not thriving, all have not experienced abundant life, and, thus, our work is not done. I think Second Peter is suggesting that in our world today “righteousness” would not feel at home even if it were invited in. Our job is to set our world’s home in order, so fill it with love that when “righteousness” arrives, it will recognize our world as its home.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we grow complacent. Inspire us to nurture this world you have given us until it and all its people can be at home with righteousness and righteousness can be at home with us. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Bringing Comfort

Syrian RefugeesAdvent
December 1, 2014

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:1-10

Comfort, O comfort my people,
   says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
   and cry to her
that she has served her term,
   that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
   double for all her sins. — Isaiah 40:1-2

What have we done to deserve this? It is an age old question. One that most of us end up asking at one time or another. For those of us who identify our allegiance with God the Creator and Sustainer of all Life, Jesus Christ our Savior, and the Spirit of Righteousness, the question most often results in a review of our sins. The prophet in our scripture today has conducted such a review for his people and declared that they have paid twice the price than was required for their sins.

I watched interviews on the news recently of Syrian families who had escaped into Jordan because they were being starved to death as a tool of war seeking to return them to the subjugation of their current ruler. I wondered what they could possibly have done that deserved such treatment.

As individuals we are called to invest time in becoming right with God in all ways at all times but it does not stop there. We are called to community with all of God’s children and we all bear responsibility for the well-being of each other. When some chose to prosper at the expense of others, it summons the resources of all the nations to seek justice for God’s children who cannot stand alone against such mistreatment. The greater challenge is: do we allow the perpetrators to draw us into their ways in our response or can we find a better way that heals all nations. And can we find and implement that better way in time that no more children are dying in the sands of a desert as they escape certain death in their own homes.

Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus, come and open our hearts to new ways of being that bring comfort to the oppressed and truth and righteousness to the oppressor. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

Turn Around

turn aroundAdvent
November 26, 2014

Scripture Reading: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

Restore us, O God;
   let your face shine, that we may be saved. 

O Lord God of hosts,
   how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
You have fed them with the bread of tears,
   and given them tears to drink in full measure.
You make us the scorn of our neighbors;
   our enemies laugh among themselves.

 Restore us, O God of hosts;
   let your face shine, that we may be saved. — Psalm 80:1-7

Our Psalm today indicates that the people of God have reached the point of recognizing their transgressions and realize they are in need of a Savior. Recognition and confession of a problem is step one in any recovery program, but saying it and internalizing it may be two different things.  Old habits are really hard to break. We know what we need to do but knowing and doing are two entirely different things.

The saddest thing is that we may wallow in our own castigation, we may be shamed by the reaction of others to our lives, but we don’t take the one step that is necessary to initiate the help that has been there all along. We do not turn around. When we sense that God has turned God’s back on us, the truth is most likely the other way around. We have turned our back to God. To be restored we must turn back to God.

God can and will cleanse us of whatever it is that is keeping us from being the person God created us to be. The closer we get to being that person the closer we will get to being whole.

Prayer: Create in me a clean heart, O God,
                   and put a new and right spirit within me.
             Do not cast me away from your presence,
                   and do not take your holy spirit from me.
            Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
                  and sustain in me a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:10-12). Amen.

Spiritual Poverty

povertyLiving in the Spirit
November 20, 2014

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.— Ephesians 1:17-19

This part of our scripture for today seems to be a three point sermon in a prayer. Paul was good at that. He never missed an opportunity to teach about Christ. The three points he wants us to fully grasp are simple:

  1. We are called to hope
  2. We are assured a glorious inheritance along with all the other saints
  3. We serve One with immeasurable power

Paul seems to be speaking from experience as his faith had surely grown as he grew to know Jesus Christ more intimately.

I once heard a wise speaker note that the only difference between being poor and living in poverty was the absence of hope in the latter state. While we most often think of the words “poor” and “poverty” in relationship to economic status, they also apply to spiritual lives. ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ (Matthew 5:3) speaks to the presence of hope in someone caught in situations that seem hopeless. One wonders if economic poverty results from succumbing to spiritual hopelessness.

The inheritance we are promised is the kingdom of heaven when we live with God as the center of our universe in a world where wholeness, oneness, and justice are the norms. Our call as Disciples of Christ is to work in partnership with him toward the realization of that kingdom with every breath we take. And while from time to time that seems very much a pipe dream and thus hopeless, we do indeed serve a risen Savior who empowers and guides us and whose power is mightier than all other powers.

Prayer: Lord of Hope and Power, feed our hope and undergird us with your strength as we serve as your partners in bringing wholeness, oneness, and justice into reality. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Does God Know You?

God knows YOuLiving in the Spirit
November 9, 2014

Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:1-13

But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. –Matthew 25:12-13

This quote from scripture is probably the saddest words we could ever hear. God created each of us, knew every atom in our being from our start, and sent us forth into the world with the freedom to take advantage of the talents and skills God invested in us for good or evil, or not use them at all. So, how is it that we could reach a point in life when God could truly say I do not know you? The best definition of sin with which I can identify is that sin is being separated from God whether on purpose or by neglect.

We, who call ourselves Christian, try really hard to define sin as behaviors, most often someone else’s, or specific beliefs that do not pass our judgment of what it means to follow Christ or live a moral life. Indeed, there is no question that Jesus called on us to love one another and share our experiences and knowledge of God with others. He never said we got to select the ones we are to love by their behaviors or cram what we believe down another’s throat. In fact, it seems to me we may have created some role reversal in our attempt to make disciples. We somehow turned that into a theme of advancing personal salvation based on our standards when it was God all along who longed for a personal relationship with each of God’s children and we were actually called to be a community of faith, helping each other grow and flourish in the all-inclusive family of God.

I walked into my mother’s room and took her hand as she lay in her hospital bed. She smiled at me and said, “Marilynn is coming to see me today.” In fact, I was the one who told her that just a few days earlier. I replied, “Mom, I am Marilynn.” She studied me hard and finally said, “No you are not; you are too old.” I said, “I am sorry to have to tell you this but you have a daughter that is as old as me.” She looked again, and kind of grinned, while she had not recognized this old woman setting in front of her, she knew that personality. God wants us to live our lives in such a way that although we may have white hair and wrinkles, when God sees our hearts, God can say, “Welcome home my child.”

Prayer: Just a closer walk with Thee,
              Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
              Daily walking close to Thee,
              Let it be, dear Lord, let it be. Amen.

* http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Just_a_Closer_Walk_with_Thee/

 All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

Christian Nation or Not

Reflecting GodLiving in the Spirit
October 28, 2014

Scripture Reading: Joshua 3:7-17

While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan. — Joshua 3:17

When our hearts and minds are in sync with God, amazing things can happen. When entire nations’ hearts and minds are in sync with God, amazing things can happen, also. There has been much debate recently about whether the United States of America is a Christian nation. I really do not know what that means. Does it mean that if we took a vote on what kind of nation we are, those who identify themselves as Christians won or lost? Voting outcomes do not mean much in our country anymore. Less than half the eligible voters actually even vote in most elections. We are a democracy, so being a Christian nation surely does not mean that people of other faiths or no faith at all have no say in our system of government. Does being a Christian nation mean that as a nation we reflect the values of Jesus Christ? We cannot agree on what those values are among the various churches that identify as Christian. How could we expect a nation as diverse as ours to identify its values in that chaos?

On the other hand, if all people are created by one God then surely we have the capacity for creating the common good, the purpose of government, in the midst of our diversity. If we, as individuals, are each striving to be in sync with God then shouldn’t that shine forth from our governmental system whether we intend for it to or not? What I see happening in the USA today is government at all levels placing too much emphasis on what can only be classified as personal behavior. I do have faith that I will have to account to God at some point for being out of sync regarding my personal behaviors as will we all, but my government is not accountable for my personal behaviors unless they impinge on the rights of others. Thus, citizens have the right to smoke all they want but they cannot do it in places where others will reap its dangerous results. The first is a privacy issues the second is about the common good and justice. However, our failure to provide for the common good is often the result of the common sins from which most of us can be found guilty at one time or another: greed and miss use of power. I haven’t seen legislation about either of those recently?

Our country was founded on the basis of freedom of religion. This is a precious right that we should never take for granted. It does not mean that our faith should not shape how we vote. It also does not mean that our vote should take away the freedom of religion of another person. Jesus never, ever instructed us to force anyone to follow him or to behave in any way that does not embody love. It is not important whether we identify ourselves as a Christian nation. What matters is whether God does and God judges by our love, our justice, and our humility.

 

Prayer: O Lord, help us be protector of justice and purveyors of love as we fulfill our civic responsibly. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

God’s Provision

MosesLiving in the Spirit
October 20, 2014

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho, and the Lord showed him the whole land: Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the Plain—that is, the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees—as far as Zoar. The Lord said to him, ‘This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, “I will give it to your descendants”; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.’— Deuteronomy 34:1-4

Thus began the saga of the Israelites as they entered the land which their ancestors had left some 400 years earlier. We live with the consequences of this momentous occasion to this day. The place names should be very familiar to these new arrivals as some are the names of their great grand fathers or great uncles way up on their family tree. How were they to claim and use these resources God gave to them? What does it mean when God provides? How are we to claim and use the resources God gives to us each day?

Today we begin a quest in our scriptures to struggle with these questions. It is an appropriate time in history to consider this as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) are emulating in many ways the actions of the Israelites as they reclaimed the land that was given to them by God. Frankly, I do not want to travel this road. It is uncomfortable for me. It reminds me of how I felt when I discover the list of slaves left to my great, great grandfather’s children in his will. He probably believed that slavery was Biblically sanctioned. Or how I felt when I found the deed to a great, great, great grandfather’s homestead which had become available because of the defeat of Blackhawk and the subsequent seizure of the Sauk tribal lands. He probably considered it a part of his manifest destiny. I, however, do believe, that if we don’t take the time to revisit history and learn from it, we are indeed destined to repeat it.

The issues become complicated because I do trust that God provides for us, but I also have faith that God provides for all of God’s children. I do not know how that works and I doubt that I need to know, but I do need to understand when I cross the line from accepting what God has provided and take more than my share. I do need to learn when and how to appropriately share with others what God has provided to me. And we the people of the United States of America need to gain that same level of understanding, if we are to be contributing citizens in our world today.

Prayer: Lord, expand our understanding of your provision. Help us to see your way as we grapple with the truths provided in your ancient scriptures. Amen

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

God’s Got our Backs

Cleft of the RockLiving in the Spirit
Light a Candle for Children
October 14, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Exodus 33:12-23

 The Lord said to Moses, ‘I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.’ Moses said, ‘Show me your glory, I pray.’ And he said, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, “The Lord”; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But’, he said, ‘you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.’ And the Lord continued, ‘See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.’ — Exodus 33:17-23

This must be my week for remembering old songs for as I read this segment of scripture, I thought of the song, He Hideth my Soul (in the Cleft of the Rock) by Frances Crosby*. I must confess, I was surprised when I pulled the song up on the Internet and saw the author listed as Frances Crosby. I have never heard her called anything but Fanny. I was also surprised that I actually remembered most of the words to this song because I haven’t sung it for years. Maybe children really do learn something by overhearing the gospel in worship, but I digress.

In my reading of this scripture today the words that struck me the most were, I will make all my goodness pass before you. This is the heart of the matter isn’t it? God’s goodness can be reflected in each of us.  There is a lot of discourse among theologians making sense of the various references in the Bible regarding seeing God’s face, but I wonder if there is another level of meaning here also. In context this story is a part of a plea for mercy on the behalf of the Israelites for their worshiping the golden calf.  It involves repentance which literally means to turn around. In this scene is the gracious goodness of God informing Moses and us, “I’ve got your back.”? Is the knowledge that God has our backs the very thing that makes repentance possible? We must do the turning, but it is far easier to turn around, go a better way when we know that God has our backs. I cannot image any back that is stronger than God’s.

Our world is in tremendous turmoil with war and contagion fueled by discrimination and greed. Our children are the ones who will ultimately pay the price, if we do not turn around and find the better way. It is scary considering the changes that we face, but we need to remember: God’s got our backs.

Oklahoma Fact: Almost half of the world’s forcibly displaced people are children. Between January 1 and August 31, 2014, 284 unaccompanied child immigrants were released to Sponsors in Oklahoma. **

 Prayer: God we thank you for your gracious goodness and for never giving up on us. Strengthen us to turn around and follow your better way. Amen.

* http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/He_Hideth_My_Soul/

 ** http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/programs/ucs/state-by-state-uc-placed-sponsors

 All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.