Tag Archives: God’s Love

The Path of Love

natural disastersAdvent
December 7, 2015

Scripture Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-20

The Lord has taken away the judgements against you,
   he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
   you shall fear disaster no more.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Do not fear, O Zion;
   do not let your hands grow weak.
The Lord, your God, is in your midst,
   a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
   he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing –Zephaniah 3:15-17

Oklahoma ranks third* in rate of natural disasters among states in the USA. Texas and California are one and two and are both considerably larger in geography as well as population. Such a ranking is a dubious distinction. Just this week I had a huge old oak tree removed from my back yard that came down in high straight winds a couple of weeks ago. I spent the night in a hotel last week because my electricity was off, the result of a very strange ice storm that broke tree limbs and power poles but did not freeze the road. The promise of fearing disasters no more is thus very compelling for me and my neighbors.

Actually I am not sure fear is the response most of us have to natural disasters anymore, we have become so accustomed to them that preparedness before and quick cleanup after are rather automatic. I remember national news being surprised at how quickly Oklahomans responded to the Oklahoma City bombing. While it certainly was not a natural disaster, our experience primarily with tornados paved the way for our immediate response. I fear we are all now becoming likewise accustomed to disasters caused by humans. We even must deal with whether our weird weather could be our own fault.

I take solace in our scripture today that promises God’s renewal of God’s love for it is the source of God’s victory and ours. Advent is the season for us to return to God’s womb and be restored in love as we await the coming of the Promised One whose way is the path out of disaster.

Prayer: Lord, we relish the gift of your love, help us to open ourselves to it so that we might better love through our lives. Amen.

*Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

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.

Servants of All

tumblr_nrm1ybLves1ri7q4ro1_500Advent
November 28, 2015

Scripture Reading: Luke 21:25-36

‘There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in a cloud” with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.’ –Luke 21:25-28

I suffered for some time a disconnect in thinking since my earliest childhood. I met, felt accepted by, and accepted my friend Jesus very early in life. He taught me that he loved everyone equally and that I was to love everyone equally. He taught that every child of God was unique and was of great worth to God—precious in God’s sight. Also very early in life I heard often about the eventual return of the Messiah when the elect would be taken up to him. I understood that to mean that some were somehow better than others. Did that mean that God loved some less than others or that somehow God would stop loving some, possibly even me, because of what we did or did not do?

I have since come to realize fully that my preschool Jesus was spot on correct, and because of that realization my life has become far more simple. Indeed, my life is richer and fuller as I study and grow in wisdom and in truth, striving to live Jesus’ way of love, and returning again and again to God with confessions of failures, requests for forgiveness, and prayers for guidance in working toward a world ruled by God’s love.

Our scripture today tells us to stop trembling in our shoes in hysteria about the mess we may find on any given day around our world and to stand strong with our faces toward God or as Isaiah 60:1 put it: Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

Prayer: Lord, we recognize and accept that you have called us not to feel better than others, but to be servants to all sharing your love one relationship at a time until the whole world loves like Jesus loves. Make it so, O God. 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.

Restore Faith

PromiseAdvent
November 26, 2015

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith. –1 Thessalonians 3:9-10

I have been rather grumbly of late. Overbooked myself this fall and yet, I do not feel I accomplished much at all. Oh, I did a lot, completing many tasks, meeting most deadlines, running hither and skitter. But did I do anything that actually made the world more just?

Much of my busyness was tied up about a week ago and for the first time in a few months I have had time to reflect on the outcomes of my work. I am a strong goal oriented person and I like to see the fruits of my labor. Do you think Abraham might have thought that also? He received the promise of God to be the father of a great nation but he only saw one, perhaps two generations of it. Hebrews 11:13a states All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them.

I do need to have my faith restored and Thanksgiving is a good time to see and celebrate the acts of God in our world today. I am thankful for the voices that speak love instead of hate. I am thankful for the missionary I met last year in Turkey who is today helping refugees, pregnant women and those with newborns from the Middle East, survive and thrive. I am thankful for interfaith groups that work to increase understanding. I am thankful for a President along with some Governors, Senators, Representatives, and other government officials willing to go against the wave of hysteria and seek lasting solutions that foster wholeness in our fragmented world. And most importantly, I am thankful that God sent Jesus Christ into the world and into my life to focus my vision beyond the little tasks I have been given as a part of his kingdom building. Let His kingdom come; His will be done.

Prayer:
Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mothers’ arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.* Amen.

*First verse of Now Thank We All Our God by Martin Rinckart see at http://www.hymnary.org/text/now_thank_we_all_our_god

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.

Servant of All

servant-of-all-large-image-zoomLiving in the Spirit
November 1, 2015

Scripture Reading: Mark 12:38-44

As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’ –Mark 12:38-40

There it is again, Jesus warning us about our need to be better than another. I cannot help but wonder if he mused at times, “How many times do I have to say this before it sinks in?” Two thousand years later the admonition is as relevant as it was in the first. Some group who does those sorts of things just announced that Vladimir Putin, the leader of Russian, was the most powerful person in the world right now followed by Angela Merkel, the leader of Germany, with President Obama coming in third. Some in the United States interpreted this as a sign of weakness on our part. How the group came to this judgment and what difference it makes, I do not know. I do know, the most influential man over the last 2000 years is the one who said we are to be servants of all. (Mark 9:35)

Jesus clearly saw the value in every one of God’s creatures being as fully the person God created them to be as every other one. This is the foundation of God’s kingdom. Actually the use of the word “kingdom” here is an oxymoron. God’s love is so expansive that God is willing to share the singular role of “king” with all of the “kingdom’s subjects” on the condition that all subjects emulate God’s love. That is the power of servanthood.

Prayer:
God of grace and God of glory,
on your people pour your power;
crown your ancient church’s story,
bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the facing of this hour,
for the facing of this hour*. Amen.

*First verse of the hymn God of Grace and God of Glory by Harry S. Fosdick see at http://www.hymnary.org/text/god_of_grace_and_god_of_glory

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.

 

Care of the Soul

Guiding-principles-for-practicing-Gods-presence-every-day-e1334591845878Living in the Spirit
November 4, 2015

Scripture Reading: Psalm 127

Unless the Lord builds the house,
   those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city,
   the guard keeps watch in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early
   and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
   for he gives sleep to his beloved. –Psalm 127

As many will tell you, I was born with a rather independent streak, which results in much consternation when I am dependent on something that is not working. I love automation, am keying this at a computer as I write, but I hate it when it does not work. It most often does not work when I am in a crunch and have limited time to mess with it. I spent almost two hours on the phone with a technician yesterday trying to figure out why my printer will not print cards that it has been printing on a regular basis for over a year. I am on a tight deadline and did not need this intrusion into my plans. I am now in search of another computer having determined that is the best use of my time.

A few years ago, I would not have slept a wink last night because I would have been stewing and fretting about the problem I just described. Actually, I slept well. I slept well because I am learning, although I am a hard nut to crack, that I am never alone when I am striving to do the will of God. Actually, I have learned that I am never alone when I get off that course. God will provide rest for my soul, when I work with God toward that end first. For although my body and mind may be worn out, it is my soul that must hold me all together. This is true, I think, for all of us.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.*

Prayer: Practicing your presence, O Lord, is the most important thing I can do each day. Help me to remember that. Amen.

*First verse of the hymn, It is Well with my Soul by Horatio G. Spafford. See the whole hymn at http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh377.sht

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.

Privileged and Entitled

jesus_prayingLiving in the Spirit
October 16, 2015

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 5:1-10

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. –Hebrews 5:7-10

We are a society of privileged, entitled people. We do not see it in ourselves because it is our norm. We take for granted food on our tables, heat in the winter, cooling in the summer, clean water, showers every day or more, cars to drive with gas in the tank, health care available, insurance to pay for it, college for our children, and on and on until it is suddenly all gone. Fires on the west coast and floods on the east have resulted in people finding themselves with nothing of material substance. Most will have insurance and government disaster programs are available as is the generosity of friends and neighbors, but such loss causes a reordering of the things we value in life.

There are, of course, people who are a part of our society that do not share this same reality. They do not know where their next meal will come from, sleep on heat exhaust vents to keep warm in the winter, and wander into libraries or malls to cool down in the summer. There feet are their primary source of transportation, the emergency room their health care system.

Jesus was the son of God but he never took that for granted. He lived a life of reverent submission fully aware of his privileges and entitlements yet willing to give it all up in his quest to share the love of God with us. We are the heirs to his accomplishments and need to order our lives within the context of God’s love not the lesser life of privilege and entitlement. God wants everyone to enjoy the abundance of his love and that includes having food on every table.

Prayer: God of Justice, order our lives in your love and help us to see what is truly important and work to make that a reality for all. 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.

Welcoming God

CartoonKidsLiving in the Spirit
September 20, 2015

Scripture Reading: Mark 9:30-37

Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’ –Mark 9:36-37

There was a cute little video making the Facebook rounds sent to me recently. It shows a little girl, probably eighteen months to two years old, just having a fit standing in what appears to be the back seat of a car. Someone in the front seat apparently pops a CD in the player and it starts playing a children’s song. The voice over notes that it is the girl’s favorite song. In a moment, a twink of an eye, if you will, the tantrum turns to glee as she starts bouncing up and down smiling broadly and singing along. Someone no doubt who loved her knew her favorite song and gifted her with it when the frustrations of becoming an independent two year old had overwhelmed her for a time. She felt welcomed into the world on her road to maturity just as she was.

It is indeed easier to welcome some than others. I probably get most frustrated with myself because I do not always do what I know is healthy or productive or God’s will. I thus do not welcome myself as I would Jesus. I can get just as frustrated with others because they are not doing what I think is best for them. While in some instances I may be right in my judgment, I have never known trying to enforce my will on someone else to ever work. I am not welcoming them as I would Jesus recognizing that they are on the same journey as I am and that they must walk the path themselves just as I must. God does not enforce God’s will on any of us. Jesus understands that we must welcome God’s love and guidance for it to become our will recognizing it as what is best for our lives.

The great joy is God, when welcomed fully into our lives, is like the little girl’s favorite song. God makes all the puzzled pieces of our lives fit together making us whole.

Prayer:
Into my heart, into my heart,
 Come into my heart, Lord Jesus;
 Come in today, come in to stay;
 Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. 

Out of my heart, out of my heart,
 Shine out of my heart, Lord Jesus;
 Shine out today, shine out always;
 Shine out of my heart, Lord Jesus.* Amen.

*Into my Heart by Harry Clarke. See at http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/i/m/y/imyheart.htm

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 Love

Bottle CapLiving in the Spirit
September 13, 2015

Scripture Reading: Mark 8:27-36

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? –Mark 8:34-36

What does it profit anyone to gain the whole world and lose his or her soul? Greed is such an integral part of our lives we do not even recognize it when it becomes the driving force toward whom we are becoming. Think about how much time we invest in looking at catalogues online, or the paper kind. Just browsing, not the time we spend trying to replace a broken or unfixable item.  There are so many new modern conveniences we might see, we think, I had better get one of those I could really use it. I have a whole drawer full of tools design to help open containers. I have never had a very good grip and it is getting worse with age.

Salad dressing caps with the little plastic ring around the bottom, which must be snapped apart along with the normal twisting are my greatest challenge.  None of those gripper things work very well on anything and they are no help at all on salad dressing bottles. After wrestling a jar of low cal Italian all over my kitchen trying to get it opened, I made a drastic move. Someone had given me a pair of pliers with a sliding locking mechanism that changes the size of the plier opening. I grabbed my adjustable pliers sized it to the cap and I barely had to apply any pressure at all. The cap came off. It had been in my draw all along. I just didn’t have sense enough to use it thinking something new would be better.

The love of God is all we really need. It is hard to take in but it is true. When we have our priorities straight the rest of life tends to take care of itself.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me from the greed that overcomes me at times and help me realize your love in all its shapes and forms. 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.

Living the Impossible Dream

i-can-do-all-things-through-christ-who-strengthens-me-510Living in the Spirit
September 12, 2015

Scripture Reading: Mark 8:27-36

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’ –Mark 8:31-33

What motivates people to want to make a positive difference in the world? What is the trigger that propels them into action rather than indifference? What set Jesus’ face toward Jerusalem and certain death? Jesus is quoted in Matthew19:26 as saying: ‘For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’ It is the love of God and the sure and certain knowledge of God’s omnipotence that sets hearts ablaze causing God’s people to work toward the fulfillment of God’s Kingdom. Jesus was the quintessential lover of God and by and through our relationship with him we inherited his quest.

The chorus from The Quest* states it better than I can: 

This is my quest to follow that star
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far
To fight for the right without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell for a heavenly cause 

And I know if I’ll only be true to this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm when I’m laid to my rest 

And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star 

The real question is: How do we spread the love of God to the whole world?

Prayer: Lord make us such lovers of our neighbors that they cannot help but know your love. Amen.

*See at http://www.songlyrics.com/man-of-la-mancha/the-impossible-dream-the-quest-lyrics/#ot8wEaRmOCWCl53y.99

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.

Clean Washcloths

washclothsLiving in the Spirit
August 28, 2015

Scripture Reading: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, ‘Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?’ He said to them, ‘Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,
“This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.”
You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.’ –Mark 7:1-8

Several years ago a good friend and I traveled to the Colorado Mountains for a few days of rest and recreation. We stayed in a nice little cabin, which appeared rustic, but really had all the amenities of home plus maid service. There was a sign in the bathroom that said something to the effect that water was a precious resource and they practiced conservation. The sign encouraged us to use the same towel and washcloth while we were there but if we wanted clean ones to leave the used ones on the floor. They would pick them up and replace them with clean ones. The morning of the first day we were there I noticed that my friend had dropped her wash cloth on the floor. So after my shower I picked it up and re-hung it on the rack. She, of course, did not drop it accidently on the floor as she used a fresh washcloth each day. She caught my improper correction before we left for our first adventure and rectified it. I am sure I looked at her like I could not believe she used a different washcloth each day and I am sure she was equally disgusted at the thought that I did not. It was how we were both raised. I doubt, if there have been many scientific studies on the impacts on people’s lives regarding the reuse or not of washcloths or how many reuses are an acceptable number. But  conventions of culture can insert themselves into our spiritual practices causing conflict and diverting our attention away from what God has called us to be and do.

We need to scrutinize our own religious practices to determine if we are teaching human precepts as doctrine and if by so doing we are not only failing to worship God as God wishes to be worshiped but we may also be turning people away from God because of our conventions of culture.

Prayer: Lord, grant us clear understanding of your way, so that we may worship you in truth and welcome those of other cultures to share in worship with us because we all have common ground in your love. 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.