Tag Archives: Relationships

Relating to God

Lent

March 23, 2021

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

Do we ever stop to think that we might weary God? What does that mean in our relationship to God? Is God just an entity that exists to meet our perceived needs? Since the Covid outbreak, I order my groceries and other household products from a big box store, pay for them online, and pick it up at the time negotiated. I love that service primarily because I hate to shop.  I get frustrated with them when they are temporarily out of one of my routine purchases. I toss a thanks to whoever brings my purchases to my car and wish them a good day. Is God our spiritual big box store?

What kind of relationship does God want with us? God must wish to interact somewhat like a family if God chose to be Immanuel with Us through a child’s birth. Families are complex units of people tied together for eternity through the good and the bad. I could not count the number of times since Covid struct that I have heard a tearful relative say how deeply it hurt when they could not be with their loved one during their illness and eventual death.  Parents get frustrated with children; children get impatient with parents. Sister and brothers are more than friends. A hug makes all the difference in the world. Timeouts bring up all kinds of emotions like anger and shame, and embarrassment. When no one else seems to care, family does. First steps are magical. Listening for hours to spine-straightening practice on a musical instrument turns into incredible joy and pride at the end of the year concert.

God is with us through all of life’s journeys, and God wants us to be with God through all those journeys, too.  Our relationship with God is reflected in all our other relationships, which can and should make them more meaningful.

There is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God;
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.

Refrain:
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God;
Hold us, who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of comfort sweet,
Near to the heart of God;
A place where we our Savior meet,
Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of full release,
Near to the heart of God;
A place where all is joy and peace,
Near to the heart of God*.

Prayer:
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God;
Hold us, who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God*. Amen.

*Near to the Heart of God written by Cleland B. McAfee
https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Near_to_the_Heart_of_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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Abide with Me

Living in the Spirit
August 1, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Romans 9:1-5

 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. — Romans 9:4-5

What Christians have traditionally called the “Old Testament” is called the Hebrew Bible among many today. Whatever we call it, it is the history of God’s working among and through the Hebrew people told in story, poetry, wisdom literature, and the listing of laws.

What I have found about this part of the Bible is a profound understanding that people are just people set in different times and places. We laugh, we cry, we live we die, we love, we hate, and we spiral up and we spiral down moving near to and pulling far away from God. God’s message from the beginning has been: abide with me and I will abide with you. Yet we are challenged at every turn by things that are just that: things of no real value that entice us away from walking with God.

Where we abide is a choice. Our relationship with God is an intentional act. God stated our Lord’s intentions from the beginning, it is now our turn. For any relationship to thrive we must invest the hard work of communicating and sharing our lives. This is true with others. This is true with God.

Prayer: Let me abide in your tent for ever, find refuge under the shelter of your wings.(Psalm 61:4) Amen.

 

Trusting God with Our Loved Ones

Living in the Spirit
July 31, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Romans 9:1-3 

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. — Matthew 11:23

One of my relatives had no time for religion or any of its trappings. He was not necessarily obnoxious about it but he was unwilling to even give it any consideration. My mother never stopped trying. He just would laugh and make a little light fun of her as he did the last time I saw him. We were getting ready to leave from a visit, and Mom’s parting words were I love you and God does too. She said more but he had long ago tuned her out. I felt sorry for her. He hugged and kissed her goodbye and she left thinking she had failed him. He died some months later and she mourned her failure once more.

Paul wanted to bring the hope of Christ crucified and resurrected to his brothers and sisters in the temple and synagogues, but he was rejected and he eventually turned his attention to the gentile population and the Jews of the dispersion. Like my mothers’ pain, it hurt him to the core of his being.

I do think that we need to tell the story of Jesus with our lives and our words whenever and wherever we can and do it with all the love we can muster. Ultimately though an individual’s relationship with God is just that his or her relationship and we must do what we can and trust God through Christ to do the rest in mercy and with grace.

It is at that point that a rich prayer life is absolutely necessary. Our roots in God’s mercy and grace must be deep indeed to release our loved ones to his care.

Prayer: God grant me the serenity
 to accept the things I cannot change;
 courage to change the things I can;
 and wisdom to know the difference*. Amen. 

*From the Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr (Read the full prayer at http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/special/serenity.html)

 

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 through the Fruits of the Spirit

Living in the Spirit
July 22, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Genesis 29:15-28 

Then Jacob said to Laban, ‘Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.’ So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. (Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.) When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, ‘What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?’ Laban said, ‘This is not done in our country—giving the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me for another seven years.’ Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife. — Genesis 29:21-28 

Jacob tricked his brother Esau out of his birthright. Some would say he got back what he gave when Laban tricked him into marrying the older daughter, Leah. We don’t know whether Laban was being sly or whether he was doing what was the norm in his culture and Jacob did not understand that. It is also remarkable that there is no mention whatsoever of God in this story. God was very present in the marriages of Abraham and Isaac. What do you suppose God would have said to Jacob about this situation?

One of the greatest challenges of being a Christian is discerning God’s will in our lives in everyday events and interactions. I think that is particularly perplexing when others judge all Christians by what I do or say or how I conduct my business. It is not fair but it does happen.

We shape the world by how we live in it. Tiny acts of kindness lead to other acts of kindness. A sharp tongue can severe a relationship. Building habits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) can go a long way in moving toward the fruition of the Kingdom of God. These are the fruits of the spirit and are enabled when we walk regularly with God.

Prayer: God, make me whole, fill me with your spirit, and let the shining of my light illuminate you to others. 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.