Tag Archives: Time with God

At Time’s We Need to Choose Joy

Kingdom Building

July 21, 2019

Scripture Reading: Luke 10:38-42

Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’

What is distracting us from doing what God has called us to do? This is a question with which we must all wrestle. How do we discern what is just a distraction from what must take precedence?  Some of these decisions are clear cut. A call comes telling me that my mother is being taken by ambulance to the hospital. It appears she has had a heart attack. The electrical lines to my house were broken by a tree falling on them. Others are not. The hardest for me is choosing to do something that I need to do but I really do not like doing over doing something that has less need but will provide greater personal enjoyment. Was that the situation with Mary? Are their times when personal enjoyment wins the weighing? For workaholics the answer is no.

I recently heard a story on a news program discussing the proven fact that good things can come out of being bored. (Bad things can too but that is another devotion.) Most citizens of the USA do not like to be bored. We get agitated if we do not have something to occupy our mind during every waking moment. I get restless. Checking our cell phones constantly becomes boring. We who may qualify as workaholics need to schedule some quality down time with God whether in contemplation or meditation even if we do it while we take our daily walk or run. It is good for the soul.

Prayer: Lord, remind me when I forget that time spent with you is the most important time of our day. 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Stepping Out in Faith

Living in the Spirit
August 12, 2017

Scripture Reading: Matthew 14:22-33

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’
–Matthew 14:22-27

Time alone with God is important for everyone including Jesus. There is a scene in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar where the crowds are grasping at him barely allowing him to move. I cannot remember which song the cast was singing, Superstar maybe; but it gave me a moment of understanding his ministry on earth. The gospels often describe him as being in crowds seeking him. I am sure his time spent with his disciples was special, and he still needed to withdraw from them.

Our world is a scary place right now. Not so much from outside forces terrorizing us but from our anemic responses. We shake in our boots because we have forgotten whose we are. We need to withdraw to a quiet place ourselves, give all our fears to God breathing in the words below of the Psalmist and breathing out all that is holding us back from being fully God’s instrument of love.

‘Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.’ (Matthew 46:10)

I never know what to think about supernatural events; even ones I have experienced or witnessed. So, I have no explanation of the story of Jesus walking on water. Apparently, Jesus took for granted Philippians 4:13 before it was even written, I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Wise counsel for us today.

Prayer: Lord, strengthen us to do the many things within our grasp to be the Body of Christ in our fractured world stepping out in the faith you will make us conduits of your love in all situations. 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Time with God

Epiphany
February 20, 2017

Scripture Reading: Exodus 24:12-18

The Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.’ So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. To the elders he had said, ‘Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.’ –Exodus 24:12-14

Many of us relate to the story in our scripture today from the vision of Cecil B. DeMille in the movie The Ten Commandments. Movies are not the best source of understanding the passage of time. Most condense many years of history or fiction for that matter into a couple of hours. I doubt if we would stay in the theater, otherwise. The scripture gives us a good sense that Moses spent time with God on the mountain in waiting mode. He led the Hebrews out of Egypt, dealt with finding food and water, and wandered for some time in the wilderness. Resting at the foot of Mount Sinai (also called Mount Horeb), he finally had time to deal with the question, where do we go from here? He had time to spend with God and gain insight and direction.

It is easy to get so caught up in the day-to-day business of life that we may not find time to commune with God. It is important that we do or the busyness of our being will overcome us. Setting priorities and attempting to live through them can improve our quality of life and the quality of our service in the name of Christ. I do not drive as much now as I once did but I find the time I spend alone in a car helpful. My mother spent the last three years of her life in a nursing home because she had suffered a small stroke that affected her center of balance and required 24/7 alert care. During that time, most Saturday’s I drove the seventy miles to visit her. I loved our conversations and I loved the alone time I had with God on those drives. The nice thing about spending quality time with God is one can dump all his or her concerns out early in the encounter and then sit back and inhale deeply and peacefully the wisdom of God as God ministers to one’s soul.

Identify and claim your alone time with God. Perhaps you will want to do like Moses did with Joshua and include a spouse or friend; that’s OK too. Maybe you get up a little earlier each day or stay up a little later. Maybe you watch a little less TV or don’t check year social media as much. Perhaps you have a commute to work that gives you some car time. Whatever it is find and maintain your God time. It is the most important time you have.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the constancy of your presence. Help us to be present to you. 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.