Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' (Mark 12:30 NIV)
So how do we love with "all our strength?" We can't help but get a picture of someone with bulging biceps when we think of strength. Does that mean that the more weight we can lift, the better we are able to love God? Strength seems to me to be a poor translation of the Hebrew word, "meod."
One of the versions of the Shema that I found on Youtube translated the word as "resources." I can "get" that. If we are to love God with all our resources, it means that we should use our worldly possessions for the good of the Kingdom. The Message version of the scriptures translates the word as "energy." I can see that too... all of what we do should be focused on bringing God's Kingdom to earth.
But after hearing Chad's explanation of "meod" last night, I think both of those translations miss the mark too. Chad said it can be translated as "abundance,"... but not like a "resources" kind of abundance. I think if we combined the two translations above-"resources" and "energy"-that would be a little closer to the kind of "abundance" Chad was talking about. It is not "abundance" as in how "much" I have, but in the "muchness" of what I have.
Chad gave some examples of where else "meod" is used in the Bible: In the flood story; Cain's anger against Abel; Abraham thanking God for the "muchness" of his life; and the "muchness" of beauty that Isaac sees in Rebecca.
I think that if I am to love God with all my "meod" (strength, resources, energy, abundance, muchness) that means I am to love God with a kind of fullness of gratitude... a gratitude that makes me dig deep into all that God has given me... the "meod" of what I have been given... and use it to worship and to share with the world. That includes my worldly "stuff" as well as every other kind of gift and talent with which he has blessed me.
I think when the translators translated "meod" into "strength," they were thinking about the word we use when we use the phrase, "the 'strength' of a mother's love." THAT is the strength with which we should love God... the kind of love that leaves no stone unturned... the kind of love that provides for every need... the kind of love that is focused and sure.
Father,
Help me to love you with everything you have given me. Amen.
Joys: a wonderful Lenten series and getting a "feel" for the depth of meaning behind some Hebrew words; Easter just around the corner; new life all around us
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Risk
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?" (John 11:5-8 NIV)
At book club last night our book for discussion was "An Invisible Thread." It's a true story about a woman who met and mentored a boy whom she met as he was panhandling on a New York City street. At first, she walked passed him as most people do with panhandlers. But she stopped in the middle of crossing a busy street, feeling pulled back to the boy by an invisible thread and she takes him to lunch at McDonalds. What follows is the story of their relationship and how both of them were affected.
This whole story was based on that first momentary risk.... and much more risk-taking as the relationship went on. The idea of risk-taking resonated with things we learned at our Wild Women's Weekend. As we studied the story of Lazarus, we find Jesus doing a lot of risk-taking. He is headed back to an area where the religious leaders just might arrest him, or the people of the town might stone him. And Lazarus was already dead. If you or I were called back to a funeral in a town where we might find trouble, we probably would stay away, wouldn't we? But Jesus knew he had God's work to do there. He felt the Holy Spirit drawing him and telling him that this is where he had to be.
One of the teachers at Wild Women told us that faith was about risk and that if we weren't risking... something... we needed to pray, because to be in relationship with God "You gotta be risking."
The woman in our book club book risked her very life by taking on a relationship with a boy who had connections with some very dangerous people. But what she gave and received out of that relationship was more than worth the risk.
We have learned to live our lives fearfully. We have good reason. There is a lot of danger out in the world these days. People are just crazy! And you never know... But is it worth hiding away in our homes, never risking... never doing... never really living? I'm not saying we should drop ourselves into the worst part of Charlotte and find someone and change their lives. That would be foolish. But sometimes the Holy Spirit shows us an opportunity and says, "Risk! Risk! Risk! You will be abundantly blessed if you do!" We need to listen for that, and act courageously.
Usually we are not asked to risk our physical safety, though sometimes we are. But God starts us off with baby steps. He might ask us to risk some money... or risk being wrong... or risk being laughed at. Or maybe he will ask us to risk a little more... like a relationship or our reputation. But we will never know unless we are listening and feeling for that invisible thread that inexplicately draws us to a person we would normallly pass by or a situation we'd normally avoid.
If we are not risking, we need to be praying.
Holy Spirit,
Help us to feel an invisible thread today. Give us the courage we need to let it draw us to that risky situation. Amen.
Joys: Book Club friends; laughter; chats with Richard
At book club last night our book for discussion was "An Invisible Thread." It's a true story about a woman who met and mentored a boy whom she met as he was panhandling on a New York City street. At first, she walked passed him as most people do with panhandlers. But she stopped in the middle of crossing a busy street, feeling pulled back to the boy by an invisible thread and she takes him to lunch at McDonalds. What follows is the story of their relationship and how both of them were affected.
This whole story was based on that first momentary risk.... and much more risk-taking as the relationship went on. The idea of risk-taking resonated with things we learned at our Wild Women's Weekend. As we studied the story of Lazarus, we find Jesus doing a lot of risk-taking. He is headed back to an area where the religious leaders just might arrest him, or the people of the town might stone him. And Lazarus was already dead. If you or I were called back to a funeral in a town where we might find trouble, we probably would stay away, wouldn't we? But Jesus knew he had God's work to do there. He felt the Holy Spirit drawing him and telling him that this is where he had to be.
One of the teachers at Wild Women told us that faith was about risk and that if we weren't risking... something... we needed to pray, because to be in relationship with God "You gotta be risking."
The woman in our book club book risked her very life by taking on a relationship with a boy who had connections with some very dangerous people. But what she gave and received out of that relationship was more than worth the risk.
We have learned to live our lives fearfully. We have good reason. There is a lot of danger out in the world these days. People are just crazy! And you never know... But is it worth hiding away in our homes, never risking... never doing... never really living? I'm not saying we should drop ourselves into the worst part of Charlotte and find someone and change their lives. That would be foolish. But sometimes the Holy Spirit shows us an opportunity and says, "Risk! Risk! Risk! You will be abundantly blessed if you do!" We need to listen for that, and act courageously.
Usually we are not asked to risk our physical safety, though sometimes we are. But God starts us off with baby steps. He might ask us to risk some money... or risk being wrong... or risk being laughed at. Or maybe he will ask us to risk a little more... like a relationship or our reputation. But we will never know unless we are listening and feeling for that invisible thread that inexplicately draws us to a person we would normallly pass by or a situation we'd normally avoid.
If we are not risking, we need to be praying.
Holy Spirit,
Help us to feel an invisible thread today. Give us the courage we need to let it draw us to that risky situation. Amen.
Joys: Book Club friends; laughter; chats with Richard
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
We Become What We Worship
Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? (John 14:8, 9 NIV)
One phrase from my Wild Women's Weekend bible study sticks out in my mind: "We become what we worship." I guess it sticks out because I have recogized the truth of it. Just think about it. I especially see it in those who worship a god of anger, wrath and judgement... because those people are so angry and judgemental. Those who worship a god who is only letting a certain few into heaven generally have many prejudices. Those who worship money spend their lives accumulating things.
But those who worship the God of love, grace and forgiveness are loving, gracefilled and forgiving. Jesus said, "If you have seen me, then you have seen the Father." So, if we want to know which of these "gods" to worship, we need only look at Jesus. We know that Jesus was NOT angry and judgmental. We know Jesus was not selective about who should come to him. We know that Jesus did not spend his time on earth accumulating things.
We do know that Jesus was loving, gracefilled and forgiving. That is, then, the correct representation of God and that is the God I will worship and those are the attributes I hope to some day fully acquire.
Whom do you worship? Examine your god and you will get a glimpse of how others see you.
Lord Jesus,
The more my life becomes one of worshiping you, the more I will become like you. Guide me in true and complete worship. Amen.
Joys: Spring has sprung in all her glory!; looking forward to book club tonight; a good cup of coffee in the morning
One phrase from my Wild Women's Weekend bible study sticks out in my mind: "We become what we worship." I guess it sticks out because I have recogized the truth of it. Just think about it. I especially see it in those who worship a god of anger, wrath and judgement... because those people are so angry and judgemental. Those who worship a god who is only letting a certain few into heaven generally have many prejudices. Those who worship money spend their lives accumulating things.
But those who worship the God of love, grace and forgiveness are loving, gracefilled and forgiving. Jesus said, "If you have seen me, then you have seen the Father." So, if we want to know which of these "gods" to worship, we need only look at Jesus. We know that Jesus was NOT angry and judgmental. We know Jesus was not selective about who should come to him. We know that Jesus did not spend his time on earth accumulating things.
We do know that Jesus was loving, gracefilled and forgiving. That is, then, the correct representation of God and that is the God I will worship and those are the attributes I hope to some day fully acquire.
Whom do you worship? Examine your god and you will get a glimpse of how others see you.
Lord Jesus,
The more my life becomes one of worshiping you, the more I will become like you. Guide me in true and complete worship. Amen.
Joys: Spring has sprung in all her glory!; looking forward to book club tonight; a good cup of coffee in the morning
Monday, March 26, 2012
Kingdom Treasures
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:18, 19 NIV)
Being that it is still Lent, I know it is a little early to be talking about resurrection; but I have just come from a Bible study reatreat called "Wild Women's Weekend" at Lutheridge. The Bible study topic this year was Resurrection. This is my third year at the retreat and I always come back with so much new knowledge and understanding... and a whole lot of devotional material!
When we think about resurrection, we normally think about Easter and Jesus walking out of the tomb. Sometimes we think of our own eventual resurrection that is to come. But really, our whole lives are about resurrection. Resurrection is about new life and if we are really living, then we are constantly dying and renewing... dying and renewing.
I remember my mother once remarked about watching her six children grow up... that it was almost like after each stage of life, that... infant, toddler, small child, adolescent, teenager... died and the the next stage was the new life. She would mourn the stage past, but look forward with excitement to the next stage. It was only "almost" like dying because all the the experience, knowledge and life from the earlier stages always moved on to the next stage. We carry it all with us.
Our WHOLE lives are like that. We grow and learn and experience and live and move on through the stages of our lives bringing all that with us to the next stage and the next stage. We die and resurrect... die and resurrect. Each time we are more and more fully ourselves. Each time we are more and more of who we really are.
Doesn't it make perfect sense then, that when we die to this world and resurrect to the next that we will be everything we are meant to be and that all of the experience, knowledge and living that we have done will continue on with us?
The question then becomes... What will be taking with us? Are we building up worldly treasures that we can't take on to the next place... like a big home, fancy cars, techhie gadgets, big bank accounts and preestigious postitions? Or are we building up Kingdom Treasures... like refining our gifts and talents and sharpening gifts of the Holy Spirit by using them in our daily lives, and learning and being and sharing and helping?
Your adult children may still have their favorite teddy bear or other physical treasures from childhood. But they are just for memory purposes. They have no real use for their life today. What they do use is all the love, knowledge, relationships and things of that nature that they gained throughout those years.
So let us begin to examine our Kingdom Treasures. Let's make sure we are ready for the next chapter of this life as well as the Next Chapter of life to come.
Our Father,
Thank you for the incredible teaching and story-telling talent of Pastor Mary and Pastor Sue. Help us to store up our Kingdom Treasures and to recognize them in our lives. Amen
Joys: a great weekend with some of the greatest women I know; new knowledge; simple children's stories that tell deep truths
Being that it is still Lent, I know it is a little early to be talking about resurrection; but I have just come from a Bible study reatreat called "Wild Women's Weekend" at Lutheridge. The Bible study topic this year was Resurrection. This is my third year at the retreat and I always come back with so much new knowledge and understanding... and a whole lot of devotional material!
When we think about resurrection, we normally think about Easter and Jesus walking out of the tomb. Sometimes we think of our own eventual resurrection that is to come. But really, our whole lives are about resurrection. Resurrection is about new life and if we are really living, then we are constantly dying and renewing... dying and renewing.
I remember my mother once remarked about watching her six children grow up... that it was almost like after each stage of life, that... infant, toddler, small child, adolescent, teenager... died and the the next stage was the new life. She would mourn the stage past, but look forward with excitement to the next stage. It was only "almost" like dying because all the the experience, knowledge and life from the earlier stages always moved on to the next stage. We carry it all with us.
Our WHOLE lives are like that. We grow and learn and experience and live and move on through the stages of our lives bringing all that with us to the next stage and the next stage. We die and resurrect... die and resurrect. Each time we are more and more fully ourselves. Each time we are more and more of who we really are.
Doesn't it make perfect sense then, that when we die to this world and resurrect to the next that we will be everything we are meant to be and that all of the experience, knowledge and living that we have done will continue on with us?
The question then becomes... What will be taking with us? Are we building up worldly treasures that we can't take on to the next place... like a big home, fancy cars, techhie gadgets, big bank accounts and preestigious postitions? Or are we building up Kingdom Treasures... like refining our gifts and talents and sharpening gifts of the Holy Spirit by using them in our daily lives, and learning and being and sharing and helping?
Your adult children may still have their favorite teddy bear or other physical treasures from childhood. But they are just for memory purposes. They have no real use for their life today. What they do use is all the love, knowledge, relationships and things of that nature that they gained throughout those years.
So let us begin to examine our Kingdom Treasures. Let's make sure we are ready for the next chapter of this life as well as the Next Chapter of life to come.
Our Father,
Thank you for the incredible teaching and story-telling talent of Pastor Mary and Pastor Sue. Help us to store up our Kingdom Treasures and to recognize them in our lives. Amen
Joys: a great weekend with some of the greatest women I know; new knowledge; simple children's stories that tell deep truths
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Reverse Thinking
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26 NIV)
Last night at Lenten worship we learned about loving God with all of our mind. Pastor Chad shared a video that cycles in popularity. Even if you didn't see it last night, you may have seen it before... But it is always worth a second look, so here is a link to Reverse Thinking: http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=KLZY67NX.
There are a lot of things that go into helping us form our most dearly held beliefs:
Family, teachers, peers, where we go to church, where we live, our own sense of right and wrong, and, we hope...the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, we probably pay the least attention to what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell us... Especially if He is trying to change our minds from something we were raised to believe.
I'm not talking about just believing in God and Christ as Savior. If you are reading this blog, you probably already believe that. I'm talking more about those things that we may have been taught about those beliefs. Things like... women's role in the church, hell doctrine, worship styles, baptism and communion practices...and on and on and on. Most of our beliefs on these sorts of things have been shaped by our parents, pastors and Sunday school teachers whose beliefs were shaped by their parents, pastors, or Sunday school teachers. This does not mean that those things we believe are wrong. And perhaps many of our beliefs are really more just a preference that we have turned into a belief and are neither right or wrong. But there may be some of our beliefs that are just plain wrong.
Now, I really don't think God will condemn us for holding wrong beliefs that all of our upbringing has led us to believe is true, but I do think we need to live with open hearts and minds to the fact that none of us have all the right answers. I think we need to live with hearts and minds that continually listen for the teaching of the Holy Spirit who is only too happy to guide us in all truth... If we will only ask! ...and then listen with a truly teachable heart. We will not learn even from the Holy Spirit if we are not willing to give up our most cherished beliefs. If we are not willing to be wrong, we are not willing to be taught.
King Solomen asked for wisdom and was given that and so much more. God just wants us to want it, and once we do, he will pour out his blessings upon us.
Father,
We say we want wisdom and truth, but our stubborn nature belies that desire. Open our hearts to "reverse thinking" wherever it is needed so that we may truly love you with all of our mind. Amen.
Joys: wonderful Lenten series and learning a lot; getting ready for a Wild Women's Weekend at Lutheridge with some of my favorite wild women; wildflowers
Last night at Lenten worship we learned about loving God with all of our mind. Pastor Chad shared a video that cycles in popularity. Even if you didn't see it last night, you may have seen it before... But it is always worth a second look, so here is a link to Reverse Thinking: http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=KLZY67NX.
There are a lot of things that go into helping us form our most dearly held beliefs:
Family, teachers, peers, where we go to church, where we live, our own sense of right and wrong, and, we hope...the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, we probably pay the least attention to what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell us... Especially if He is trying to change our minds from something we were raised to believe.
I'm not talking about just believing in God and Christ as Savior. If you are reading this blog, you probably already believe that. I'm talking more about those things that we may have been taught about those beliefs. Things like... women's role in the church, hell doctrine, worship styles, baptism and communion practices...and on and on and on. Most of our beliefs on these sorts of things have been shaped by our parents, pastors and Sunday school teachers whose beliefs were shaped by their parents, pastors, or Sunday school teachers. This does not mean that those things we believe are wrong. And perhaps many of our beliefs are really more just a preference that we have turned into a belief and are neither right or wrong. But there may be some of our beliefs that are just plain wrong.
Now, I really don't think God will condemn us for holding wrong beliefs that all of our upbringing has led us to believe is true, but I do think we need to live with open hearts and minds to the fact that none of us have all the right answers. I think we need to live with hearts and minds that continually listen for the teaching of the Holy Spirit who is only too happy to guide us in all truth... If we will only ask! ...and then listen with a truly teachable heart. We will not learn even from the Holy Spirit if we are not willing to give up our most cherished beliefs. If we are not willing to be wrong, we are not willing to be taught.
King Solomen asked for wisdom and was given that and so much more. God just wants us to want it, and once we do, he will pour out his blessings upon us.
Father,
We say we want wisdom and truth, but our stubborn nature belies that desire. Open our hearts to "reverse thinking" wherever it is needed so that we may truly love you with all of our mind. Amen.
Joys: wonderful Lenten series and learning a lot; getting ready for a Wild Women's Weekend at Lutheridge with some of my favorite wild women; wildflowers
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Rescued From Darkness
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—
(Psalm 107:1, 2a NIV)
Psalm 107 is a psalm of stories... Stories of God coming to the rescue in various situations. And stories of sinners being rescued by Grace. There are no better stories than those told by Christians who have been rescued from very dark places by God. And the Christian community is full of such stories!
Today I am going to a funeral for a friend's husband. He leaves behind his wife and two teenaged boys. But God has been working in the lives of this family for a long time. It is evident in Nancy's ever-present smile and her interest in the lives of others even though her life has been plenty enough to handle.
God pulled Nancy and her family out of the darkness before the darkness ever came. Of course she grieves, but she also maintains that deep inner joy in the knowledge that God really IS good... ALL the time. He is good even when healing doesn't happen on this side of heaven's gates. He is good even when we don't know how we are going to pay the overwhelming medical bills. He is good even when we don't know where we are going to go from here.
God will always rescue us from the dark places if we are willing to be rescued. When he does, we always have a powerful and amazing story to tell, and it is the depths of our joy that turns that darkness to light.
Father,
I lift my sister Nancy up to you today as she faces the difficult task of saying goodbye to her husband. Help her to continue to feel the joy of the light you bring to these dark times. Amen.
Joys: a head start on Holy Week work; lunch with Daniel and Tracy; quiet mornings
his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—
(Psalm 107:1, 2a NIV)
Psalm 107 is a psalm of stories... Stories of God coming to the rescue in various situations. And stories of sinners being rescued by Grace. There are no better stories than those told by Christians who have been rescued from very dark places by God. And the Christian community is full of such stories!
Today I am going to a funeral for a friend's husband. He leaves behind his wife and two teenaged boys. But God has been working in the lives of this family for a long time. It is evident in Nancy's ever-present smile and her interest in the lives of others even though her life has been plenty enough to handle.
God pulled Nancy and her family out of the darkness before the darkness ever came. Of course she grieves, but she also maintains that deep inner joy in the knowledge that God really IS good... ALL the time. He is good even when healing doesn't happen on this side of heaven's gates. He is good even when we don't know how we are going to pay the overwhelming medical bills. He is good even when we don't know where we are going to go from here.
God will always rescue us from the dark places if we are willing to be rescued. When he does, we always have a powerful and amazing story to tell, and it is the depths of our joy that turns that darkness to light.
Father,
I lift my sister Nancy up to you today as she faces the difficult task of saying goodbye to her husband. Help her to continue to feel the joy of the light you bring to these dark times. Amen.
Joys: a head start on Holy Week work; lunch with Daniel and Tracy; quiet mornings
Monday, March 19, 2012
Approaching God With Confidence
14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.- 1 John 5:14-15
Isn’t it amazing that we have the privilege to approach the creator of the universe? More amazing still is the fact that we can approach Him with confidence.
When our children get to about middle school age, maybe a little younger, they have pretty much learned what mom and dad will allow and what they won’t. You can tell it in the way they ask. If your twelve-year-old daughter is brave enough to ask to go out on a date, she probably won’t hold out much hope that you will approve. And though she might argue, she probably won’t waste a lot of energy on a pointless fight. On the other hand, she wouldn’t give a second thought about asking if she could go with her youth group to serve at the soup kitchen. She knows before she even asks that you will give your whole-hearted permission. She knows how you will react to both of these requests because she knows you. She knows what you think is good and what you think is not so good. She knows what you expect of her.
We can approach our heavenly Father with this same confidence when we are asking for something we know He will approve. We can ask these things when we know Him… when we know what He says is good and what He says is not so good… when we know what He expects of us.
When we pray for an easy way out of a bad situation we have gotten ourselves into, we know that God probably has a lesson for us to learn and we are going to have to go through it rather than around it, don’t we? We might ask, but we don’t have a lot of confidence that things are going to happen the way we think we want them to. With prayer, the situation will turn out for our best, but not the easy way we would like. But when we pray for God to send us a ministry or show us how we can serve or how to best spend that extra money that has come our way, we can be confident that an answer is coming our way. Doors will open. Opportunities will present themselves. “Coincidences” will abound.
If our prayers are centered around making our lives easier, we probably have ceased “approaching God with confidence” a long time ago. Try asking God for something that you know is in His will. Ask him for an opportunity to serve. Ask him to send a person you can lead to Christ. You can be confident that your prayer will be heard.
Father,
Teach us your will so that we may pray with more and more confidence. Thank you for the awesome privilege of being able to approach you at all and for the unbelievable privilege of being able to approach you with confidence. Amen.
Joys: a fun weekend with family; flowering trees; wildflowers beginning to dot the lawns and fields
Isn’t it amazing that we have the privilege to approach the creator of the universe? More amazing still is the fact that we can approach Him with confidence.
When our children get to about middle school age, maybe a little younger, they have pretty much learned what mom and dad will allow and what they won’t. You can tell it in the way they ask. If your twelve-year-old daughter is brave enough to ask to go out on a date, she probably won’t hold out much hope that you will approve. And though she might argue, she probably won’t waste a lot of energy on a pointless fight. On the other hand, she wouldn’t give a second thought about asking if she could go with her youth group to serve at the soup kitchen. She knows before she even asks that you will give your whole-hearted permission. She knows how you will react to both of these requests because she knows you. She knows what you think is good and what you think is not so good. She knows what you expect of her.
We can approach our heavenly Father with this same confidence when we are asking for something we know He will approve. We can ask these things when we know Him… when we know what He says is good and what He says is not so good… when we know what He expects of us.
When we pray for an easy way out of a bad situation we have gotten ourselves into, we know that God probably has a lesson for us to learn and we are going to have to go through it rather than around it, don’t we? We might ask, but we don’t have a lot of confidence that things are going to happen the way we think we want them to. With prayer, the situation will turn out for our best, but not the easy way we would like. But when we pray for God to send us a ministry or show us how we can serve or how to best spend that extra money that has come our way, we can be confident that an answer is coming our way. Doors will open. Opportunities will present themselves. “Coincidences” will abound.
If our prayers are centered around making our lives easier, we probably have ceased “approaching God with confidence” a long time ago. Try asking God for something that you know is in His will. Ask him for an opportunity to serve. Ask him to send a person you can lead to Christ. You can be confident that your prayer will be heard.
Father,
Teach us your will so that we may pray with more and more confidence. Thank you for the awesome privilege of being able to approach you at all and for the unbelievable privilege of being able to approach you with confidence. Amen.
Joys: a fun weekend with family; flowering trees; wildflowers beginning to dot the lawns and fields
Friday, March 16, 2012
Get To, Not Have To
He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person. (John 2:25 NIV)
Quite some time ago I remember discussing with another church member the possibility of having communion every week. He said he was against it because it made the service longer. I asked him why he came to church if he couldn't wait to go home. He replied that as a Christian attending church was his duty.
It is surprising that this person is not alone in his thinking. Somehow many of us have this belief that God needs US... that by going to worship and praying and doing good works is somehow "feeding" God.
But... Do we pray because God doesn't already know what we need? Do we confess because God doesn't already know how we've failed? Do we worship because God needs to have his God-sized ego fed? Do we help others because God can't?
No, no, no and NO! God tells us to do these things because he knows that they will all nourish our own spirits. And the more we do these things - with all our heart, soul, mind and strength - the more we will want to do them... and we will never notice when the worship service goes a little bit beyond an hour because of communion. On the contrary, we won't even really want to leave. And because we don't want to leave, we will take His presence with us.
It's about changing the "have-to" to a "get-to." And that's about making a head to heart change.
Father,
Help us to embrace all those things you tell as we should be doing as pleasures insteaad of pennance; as food for our souls instead of food for your ego; as "get-to's" instead of "have-to's." Amen.
Joys: a nice birthday and so many birthday wishes on Facebook; surprises; open-window weather
Quite some time ago I remember discussing with another church member the possibility of having communion every week. He said he was against it because it made the service longer. I asked him why he came to church if he couldn't wait to go home. He replied that as a Christian attending church was his duty.
It is surprising that this person is not alone in his thinking. Somehow many of us have this belief that God needs US... that by going to worship and praying and doing good works is somehow "feeding" God.
But... Do we pray because God doesn't already know what we need? Do we confess because God doesn't already know how we've failed? Do we worship because God needs to have his God-sized ego fed? Do we help others because God can't?
No, no, no and NO! God tells us to do these things because he knows that they will all nourish our own spirits. And the more we do these things - with all our heart, soul, mind and strength - the more we will want to do them... and we will never notice when the worship service goes a little bit beyond an hour because of communion. On the contrary, we won't even really want to leave. And because we don't want to leave, we will take His presence with us.
It's about changing the "have-to" to a "get-to." And that's about making a head to heart change.
Father,
Help us to embrace all those things you tell as we should be doing as pleasures insteaad of pennance; as food for our souls instead of food for your ego; as "get-to's" instead of "have-to's." Amen.
Joys: a nice birthday and so many birthday wishes on Facebook; surprises; open-window weather
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Body, Soul, Spirit
Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name. (Psalm 103:1 NIV)
Last night at Lenten worship we learned about loving God with all of our soul. The Hebrew word for "soul" is "nephesh" and yes, of course... it is Hebrew... so it means much more than just "soul." It is translated into many different english words and one of them is "breath."
It makes me think about the creation story in Genesis where God forms man from dust and then "breathes" life into him. God didn't just make his lungs start pumping as in a cosmic form of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. This "breath" brought life to him in more ways than that.
We are more than pumping blood and functioning organs. The soul is that...plus. Plus our genetic make-up. Plus our intellegence. Plus our experiences. Plus our personalities that are made up from a combination of those other things. All of of that and more is what our soul is. Our bodies make us a living being. Our souls make us who we are as that being.
A long time ago a read a book by Watchman Nee. It waas a very spiritually deep book and I never did even finish the first one in the 3-part series. But it was very interesting and I remember reading about the difference between "soul" and "spirit." He said, in essence, that the soul was directed by the spirit and the spirit is what we use to commune with God.
Nee explains that we are made up of body, soul and spirit. The body wants worldly things; the spirit wants the things of God. The soul is where body and spirit meet and hash out their differences.
If you want to delve deeply into this explaination, I recommend the book, "The Spiritual Man" by Watchman Nee. Maybe I'll pick it up again, now that I have reminded myself about it!
Father,
Guide us to allow our souls to be spirit-led rather than body-led. Amen.
Joys: An incredible day in the mountains yesterday; Record-breaking warm temperatures in mid-March; cool iPhone apps
all my inmost being, praise his holy name. (Psalm 103:1 NIV)
Last night at Lenten worship we learned about loving God with all of our soul. The Hebrew word for "soul" is "nephesh" and yes, of course... it is Hebrew... so it means much more than just "soul." It is translated into many different english words and one of them is "breath."
It makes me think about the creation story in Genesis where God forms man from dust and then "breathes" life into him. God didn't just make his lungs start pumping as in a cosmic form of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. This "breath" brought life to him in more ways than that.
We are more than pumping blood and functioning organs. The soul is that...plus. Plus our genetic make-up. Plus our intellegence. Plus our experiences. Plus our personalities that are made up from a combination of those other things. All of of that and more is what our soul is. Our bodies make us a living being. Our souls make us who we are as that being.
A long time ago a read a book by Watchman Nee. It waas a very spiritually deep book and I never did even finish the first one in the 3-part series. But it was very interesting and I remember reading about the difference between "soul" and "spirit." He said, in essence, that the soul was directed by the spirit and the spirit is what we use to commune with God.
Nee explains that we are made up of body, soul and spirit. The body wants worldly things; the spirit wants the things of God. The soul is where body and spirit meet and hash out their differences.
If you want to delve deeply into this explaination, I recommend the book, "The Spiritual Man" by Watchman Nee. Maybe I'll pick it up again, now that I have reminded myself about it!
Father,
Guide us to allow our souls to be spirit-led rather than body-led. Amen.
Joys: An incredible day in the mountains yesterday; Record-breaking warm temperatures in mid-March; cool iPhone apps
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Church Buildings
How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God. (Psalm 84:1, 2 NIV)
We know that The Church is not a building. It is God's people in the world. But all of those places where The Church gathers has its own importance. Over the years, I've been in a lot of church buildings, from grand cathedrals to tiny one-room chapels. All are beautiful in their own way.
If you have attended the same church for many, many years, you know the very special beauty of your own place of worship. Some areas may hold more beauty to you than to someone else because of a significant life event or a special moment with God.
At Holy Cross, I love going into the sanctuary in the early-to-mid afternoon to see the sun shine through the large, red-stained glass cross behind the altar. It is breathtaking in its beauty. There is also a section along that altar railing that is so special to me. I had some special time with Jesus right there. I also love the baptismal font where I watched my children and so many others become part of The Church.
Every church building is special to someone and even if we have never set foot into it, we can find beauty in each worship space just by looking at the love that went into creating it. Do an image search on Google for churches. You will find so much beauty...some grand, some humble... But all created with love.
Lord,
How beautiful indeed is your dwelling place...every place on earth where your name is praised and your love is shared. Amen.
Joys: church buildings and the people that worship in them;another great day for a hike;all the signs that spring is here
Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God. (Psalm 84:1, 2 NIV)
We know that The Church is not a building. It is God's people in the world. But all of those places where The Church gathers has its own importance. Over the years, I've been in a lot of church buildings, from grand cathedrals to tiny one-room chapels. All are beautiful in their own way.
If you have attended the same church for many, many years, you know the very special beauty of your own place of worship. Some areas may hold more beauty to you than to someone else because of a significant life event or a special moment with God.
At Holy Cross, I love going into the sanctuary in the early-to-mid afternoon to see the sun shine through the large, red-stained glass cross behind the altar. It is breathtaking in its beauty. There is also a section along that altar railing that is so special to me. I had some special time with Jesus right there. I also love the baptismal font where I watched my children and so many others become part of The Church.
Every church building is special to someone and even if we have never set foot into it, we can find beauty in each worship space just by looking at the love that went into creating it. Do an image search on Google for churches. You will find so much beauty...some grand, some humble... But all created with love.
Lord,
How beautiful indeed is your dwelling place...every place on earth where your name is praised and your love is shared. Amen.
Joys: church buildings and the people that worship in them;another great day for a hike;all the signs that spring is here
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Just Do It
3 but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"
4 The king said to me, "What is it you want?"
Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it." -Nehemiah 1:3-5
Nehemiah had a passion. He saw the need for the walls of Jerusalem to be rebuilt and while others griped and complained and placed blame Nehemiah did something about it.
A passion for ministry starts with seeing the need. Some folks in Lincolnton saw a need for shelter for the homeless and instead of sitting at home telling their families that “something ought to be done!” they went out and formed Hesed House of Hope. Several years ago someone was grieved because we had no organized prayer ministry at Holy Cross… instead of pointing fingers at the church leadership, she got a group together and S.T.A.R. ministry was formed.
What is your “something ought to be done” issue? Maybe it is your call to ministry. Pray about it. When God gives you the “okay” (and he probably will) find some like-minded people and you will find a passionate, vibrant ministry to lead. Don’t wait until you have enough people or enough funds or enough time… if God gives you a ministry he will equip you for it. Don’t hand it over to a “leader.” God gives all of us leadership abilities for those things for which he has given us a passion. If you believe it “ought to be done” then like Jeremiah… just do it.
Father,
Keep us from turning our passions into gripes and criticisms of others. Help us to understand that when we see a need and feel passionate about it, it is probably your call to us to a ministry. Open our hearts to your guidance. Amen.
Joys: Facebook and other apps that keep me in touch with extended family; enthusiastic greetings from Cecelia; the sound and smell of rain
4 The king said to me, "What is it you want?"
Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it." -Nehemiah 1:3-5
Nehemiah had a passion. He saw the need for the walls of Jerusalem to be rebuilt and while others griped and complained and placed blame Nehemiah did something about it.
A passion for ministry starts with seeing the need. Some folks in Lincolnton saw a need for shelter for the homeless and instead of sitting at home telling their families that “something ought to be done!” they went out and formed Hesed House of Hope. Several years ago someone was grieved because we had no organized prayer ministry at Holy Cross… instead of pointing fingers at the church leadership, she got a group together and S.T.A.R. ministry was formed.
What is your “something ought to be done” issue? Maybe it is your call to ministry. Pray about it. When God gives you the “okay” (and he probably will) find some like-minded people and you will find a passionate, vibrant ministry to lead. Don’t wait until you have enough people or enough funds or enough time… if God gives you a ministry he will equip you for it. Don’t hand it over to a “leader.” God gives all of us leadership abilities for those things for which he has given us a passion. If you believe it “ought to be done” then like Jeremiah… just do it.
Father,
Keep us from turning our passions into gripes and criticisms of others. Help us to understand that when we see a need and feel passionate about it, it is probably your call to us to a ministry. Open our hearts to your guidance. Amen.
Joys: Facebook and other apps that keep me in touch with extended family; enthusiastic greetings from Cecelia; the sound and smell of rain
Monday, March 12, 2012
Perfect Timing
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. (2 Peter 3:8 NIV)
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens: (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV)
I love the longer hours of sunlight that Daylight Savings Time provides. All winter long I look forward to the days stretching out longer and longer. I crave sunshine and a couple of gloomy days in a row can throw me into a mild depression. But as much as I love DST, I hate the first few weeks of adjustment. It seems that the older I get, the more resistant my "inner clock" is to the change. The switch back to Standard time is somewhat easier, since we have that extra hour overnight, but now that I'm well into my 50's I'm even finding that a struggle to get used to.
So, we have Standard Time in the winter and Daylight Savings Time in the summer... But there is another "time" that is with us all year that most of us tend to ignore. It is "God's Time" or "kairos."
In these days of instant gratification, kairos is a difficult concept for us. If we pray for something and don't have it within a few days, we believe God did not answer our prayer. But kairos is perfect time, and God will not answer our prayer with anything less than perfect timing.
Think of it... Think of the prayers in your life that you have seen answered. Some of them have taken a long time. Sometimes the circumstances had to be just right, or an important lesson had to be learned, or the right person had to come along. It really is all in the timing.
And this is what patience is all about - trusting in kairos... God's time... perfect time. Patience is knowing that God has heard our pray and that it will be answered at just the right time. Patience IS faith.
Father,
Give us faith to wait in the knowledge that you do answer our prayers. Help us to trust you to know the perfect time to answer them. Amen.
Joys: Daylight Savings Time and longer days; lots of new finance committee members at church; unexpected time with Cecelia
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens: (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV)
I love the longer hours of sunlight that Daylight Savings Time provides. All winter long I look forward to the days stretching out longer and longer. I crave sunshine and a couple of gloomy days in a row can throw me into a mild depression. But as much as I love DST, I hate the first few weeks of adjustment. It seems that the older I get, the more resistant my "inner clock" is to the change. The switch back to Standard time is somewhat easier, since we have that extra hour overnight, but now that I'm well into my 50's I'm even finding that a struggle to get used to.
So, we have Standard Time in the winter and Daylight Savings Time in the summer... But there is another "time" that is with us all year that most of us tend to ignore. It is "God's Time" or "kairos."
In these days of instant gratification, kairos is a difficult concept for us. If we pray for something and don't have it within a few days, we believe God did not answer our prayer. But kairos is perfect time, and God will not answer our prayer with anything less than perfect timing.
Think of it... Think of the prayers in your life that you have seen answered. Some of them have taken a long time. Sometimes the circumstances had to be just right, or an important lesson had to be learned, or the right person had to come along. It really is all in the timing.
And this is what patience is all about - trusting in kairos... God's time... perfect time. Patience is knowing that God has heard our pray and that it will be answered at just the right time. Patience IS faith.
Father,
Give us faith to wait in the knowledge that you do answer our prayers. Help us to trust you to know the perfect time to answer them. Amen.
Joys: Daylight Savings Time and longer days; lots of new finance committee members at church; unexpected time with Cecelia
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Authority Within
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:34 NIV)
Last night was another very interesting study on the Shema. We learned about what it means to "love the Lord your God with all your heart." ...and we got to learn a little more Hebrew!
The Hebrew word for "heart" is "lev." but what is really interesting is that the symbols used for the word are a Shepherd's staff (authority) and a tent "floor plan" (within). So, literally speaking, in Hebrew, the heart is "the authority within."
Isn't it true that our heart has authority over us? Whatever we love... That is where we spend our thoughts and our time and our money. But the truth is, it is actually the reverse that is true... Wherever we spend our thoughts and our time and our money - THAT is what we will love. We have a choice! And if we chose to spend our thoughts and our time and our money on the things of God, our hearts will follow and we WILL love God with all our heart.
Father,
Help us to spend our thoughts, time and resources on you today so that we may choose to love you with all our heartS. Amen.
Joys: spa treatments today!; getting to help Cailin celebrate her baptismal anniversary; the many good things that today's technology accomplishes
Last night was another very interesting study on the Shema. We learned about what it means to "love the Lord your God with all your heart." ...and we got to learn a little more Hebrew!
The Hebrew word for "heart" is "lev." but what is really interesting is that the symbols used for the word are a Shepherd's staff (authority) and a tent "floor plan" (within). So, literally speaking, in Hebrew, the heart is "the authority within."
Isn't it true that our heart has authority over us? Whatever we love... That is where we spend our thoughts and our time and our money. But the truth is, it is actually the reverse that is true... Wherever we spend our thoughts and our time and our money - THAT is what we will love. We have a choice! And if we chose to spend our thoughts and our time and our money on the things of God, our hearts will follow and we WILL love God with all our heart.
Father,
Help us to spend our thoughts, time and resources on you today so that we may choose to love you with all our heartS. Amen.
Joys: spa treatments today!; getting to help Cailin celebrate her baptismal anniversary; the many good things that today's technology accomplishes
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Deceiving Ourselves
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:8-9
Those of you who are familiar with traditional Lutheran worship will easily recognize this verse as part of the liturgical confession. Althou i love a good traditional Lutheran service, one of the problems with liturgical responses is that if we do not change it up a little every now and then the responses can become robotic and automatic and we fail to think about what we are saying.
How easy it is to deceive ourselves about our sin. In fact, it is even easy to deceive ourselves into believing that we never deceive ourselves about our sin! Probably our biggest practice in deception is in convincing ourselves that we have good excuses for most of our own sins.
We convince ourselves that our “gossip” is really “prayer concerns” or that cheating on our taxes is simply a little “financial creativity.” What we are really creative at is ways for naming our sins as something other than sin. But we are only deceiving ourselves. Our sins are as clear to others as theirs are to us! And we know we can’t fool God.
So if God already knows… why confess? Why not skip that part and go right to forgiveness. Like everything else God asks of us, it is not for his sake, but for our own sake. There is power in naming our sins. And when we humble ourselves our hearts are more open to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. We may discover sins that need confessing that we didn’t realize we had.
Lent is a great time to examine our hearts and our consciences.
Father,
Open our hearts to our sins. Help us to name them and confess them and then feel the burden lifted through your forgiveness and grace. Amen.
Joys: fun day at work and a little birthday celebration for Pastor Chad; advice from Christian friends; a day off
Those of you who are familiar with traditional Lutheran worship will easily recognize this verse as part of the liturgical confession. Althou i love a good traditional Lutheran service, one of the problems with liturgical responses is that if we do not change it up a little every now and then the responses can become robotic and automatic and we fail to think about what we are saying.
How easy it is to deceive ourselves about our sin. In fact, it is even easy to deceive ourselves into believing that we never deceive ourselves about our sin! Probably our biggest practice in deception is in convincing ourselves that we have good excuses for most of our own sins.
We convince ourselves that our “gossip” is really “prayer concerns” or that cheating on our taxes is simply a little “financial creativity.” What we are really creative at is ways for naming our sins as something other than sin. But we are only deceiving ourselves. Our sins are as clear to others as theirs are to us! And we know we can’t fool God.
So if God already knows… why confess? Why not skip that part and go right to forgiveness. Like everything else God asks of us, it is not for his sake, but for our own sake. There is power in naming our sins. And when we humble ourselves our hearts are more open to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. We may discover sins that need confessing that we didn’t realize we had.
Lent is a great time to examine our hearts and our consciences.
Father,
Open our hearts to our sins. Help us to name them and confess them and then feel the burden lifted through your forgiveness and grace. Amen.
Joys: fun day at work and a little birthday celebration for Pastor Chad; advice from Christian friends; a day off
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Life's Wrinkles
But you, Lord, do not be far from me.
You are my strength; come quickly to help me. (Psalm 22:19 NIV)
I remember my first attempt as a little girl to make my own bed. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t do it as neatly as my mother could. I worked for what seemed to me to be a very long time, trying to get the wrinkles out of the top sheet. Every time I moved one wrinkle out, more appeared somewhere else. I got so frustrated I began to cry and went to my mother for help. I wanted to watch exactly how she did it, so I could get the same results next time. I knew I could do it on my own… I just needed to know the correct steps. So I watched as mom flicked the sheet high over my head and let it fall to the bed without a wrinkle. Now I knew how she did it, but I also knew that I wasn’t physically able to do what she did. I knew that if I wanted my bed to look perfect, I was going to need my mom’s help.
Without God, our lives are as wrinkled as those bed sheets. We can take care of ourselves after a fashion, but no matter how hard we try, we can’t get the wrinkles out by ourselves. Maybe we even know the steps… we’ve seen God work before. We know what we must do. But there is just no possible way we can do it by ourselves. We have to have God’s help.
The question is… how long will it take us to figure it out? Will we just keep shifting the wrinkles around in our life? Will we fall to the floor in a crumpled heap crying and throwing a tantrum because we can’t get the right results? Or will we go to our Father and ask for his help? He’ll give us the results we seek but can’t get on our own.
Father,
We are so prideful. Help us to realize that we can’t do it all ourselves and that we only have to get your help when we find ourselves overcome with life’s wrinkles. Amen.
Joys: pretty prayer shawls; Godly advice from Godly friends; budding trees
You are my strength; come quickly to help me. (Psalm 22:19 NIV)
I remember my first attempt as a little girl to make my own bed. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t do it as neatly as my mother could. I worked for what seemed to me to be a very long time, trying to get the wrinkles out of the top sheet. Every time I moved one wrinkle out, more appeared somewhere else. I got so frustrated I began to cry and went to my mother for help. I wanted to watch exactly how she did it, so I could get the same results next time. I knew I could do it on my own… I just needed to know the correct steps. So I watched as mom flicked the sheet high over my head and let it fall to the bed without a wrinkle. Now I knew how she did it, but I also knew that I wasn’t physically able to do what she did. I knew that if I wanted my bed to look perfect, I was going to need my mom’s help.
Without God, our lives are as wrinkled as those bed sheets. We can take care of ourselves after a fashion, but no matter how hard we try, we can’t get the wrinkles out by ourselves. Maybe we even know the steps… we’ve seen God work before. We know what we must do. But there is just no possible way we can do it by ourselves. We have to have God’s help.
The question is… how long will it take us to figure it out? Will we just keep shifting the wrinkles around in our life? Will we fall to the floor in a crumpled heap crying and throwing a tantrum because we can’t get the right results? Or will we go to our Father and ask for his help? He’ll give us the results we seek but can’t get on our own.
Father,
We are so prideful. Help us to realize that we can’t do it all ourselves and that we only have to get your help when we find ourselves overcome with life’s wrinkles. Amen.
Joys: pretty prayer shawls; Godly advice from Godly friends; budding trees
Monday, March 5, 2012
I'll Pray About It
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. -Romans 2:12
Have you ever been asked to do something or be involved with a ministry or something of that nature and replied, "I'll pray about it?" When we do that, most likely we already know what we want God's answer to be. And therein lies the danger of not hearing God. When we know what we WANT to hear, generally we believe we hear just that.
The only way to really discern God's will is to let go of our own will. When we "pray about it" we have to come with a heart that is as open to one direction as it is to any other direction. We can't do that when we are really hoping God will tell us to do what we wanted to do all along.
The answer to emptying ourselves of our own will in the matter is faith. When we have real faith that God wants to bless us abundantly and that he wants only the very, very best for us, we can let go of what we think we want and come to God with an empty will, waiting for him to tell us which way to go... the way that is not necessarily easy... but one that will enrich and bless our lives so that we are living the abundant life.
Father,
When I come to you for direction, help me to do it with a heart and will that is open to your guidance. Amen.
Joys: A weekend of being spiritually fed; phone calls from Richard; Cecelia's imaginative stories she has recently begun to tell
Have you ever been asked to do something or be involved with a ministry or something of that nature and replied, "I'll pray about it?" When we do that, most likely we already know what we want God's answer to be. And therein lies the danger of not hearing God. When we know what we WANT to hear, generally we believe we hear just that.
The only way to really discern God's will is to let go of our own will. When we "pray about it" we have to come with a heart that is as open to one direction as it is to any other direction. We can't do that when we are really hoping God will tell us to do what we wanted to do all along.
The answer to emptying ourselves of our own will in the matter is faith. When we have real faith that God wants to bless us abundantly and that he wants only the very, very best for us, we can let go of what we think we want and come to God with an empty will, waiting for him to tell us which way to go... the way that is not necessarily easy... but one that will enrich and bless our lives so that we are living the abundant life.
Father,
When I come to you for direction, help me to do it with a heart and will that is open to your guidance. Amen.
Joys: A weekend of being spiritually fed; phone calls from Richard; Cecelia's imaginative stories she has recently begun to tell
Friday, March 2, 2012
Mouth AND Heart
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 NKJV)
Notice that the psalmist says "the words of my mouth AND the meditation of my heart," not "OR." How often do we say the things we know will be pleasing to God, all the while feeling quite the opposite? If you've ever substituted clean words for profanity, you have done it. Yes, most of us know what "shut the front door" REALLY means. The words of the mouth may be pleasing...but not the meditation of the heart.
We are never going to beat this kind of hypocrisy. If we all said what we really thought all the time, no one would ever get along with anyone else! And God is not surprised that our words and thoughts often don't match...and he forgives us over and over and over.
But what does it take to at least grow in this area? It takes drawing closer to God and loving him and loving his commandments. Anyone who knows me, knows I am way more about grace than law. But God's laws are a kind of grace in themselves. They help us to become the people God wants us to be. And when we love his law, our hearts change in such a way that more and more often, the heart matches the words.
We will never be perfect, and we shouldn't beat ourselves up when we fail, but we should take joy in the process of becoming ever more like him as we draw closer through worship, prayer and study.
On this day may the words of my mouth AND the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Amen.
Joys: beautiful day at South Mountains yesterday;open-window weather; the sound of distant thunder
Notice that the psalmist says "the words of my mouth AND the meditation of my heart," not "OR." How often do we say the things we know will be pleasing to God, all the while feeling quite the opposite? If you've ever substituted clean words for profanity, you have done it. Yes, most of us know what "shut the front door" REALLY means. The words of the mouth may be pleasing...but not the meditation of the heart.
We are never going to beat this kind of hypocrisy. If we all said what we really thought all the time, no one would ever get along with anyone else! And God is not surprised that our words and thoughts often don't match...and he forgives us over and over and over.
But what does it take to at least grow in this area? It takes drawing closer to God and loving him and loving his commandments. Anyone who knows me, knows I am way more about grace than law. But God's laws are a kind of grace in themselves. They help us to become the people God wants us to be. And when we love his law, our hearts change in such a way that more and more often, the heart matches the words.
We will never be perfect, and we shouldn't beat ourselves up when we fail, but we should take joy in the process of becoming ever more like him as we draw closer through worship, prayer and study.
On this day may the words of my mouth AND the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Amen.
Joys: beautiful day at South Mountains yesterday;open-window weather; the sound of distant thunder
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Shema
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4, 5 NIV)
I loved last night's Lenten service. The best part was learning something new. And that new thing was "Shema." Shema is a Hebrew word loosely translated as "hear." but as with so many other Hebrew words that have inadequate English translations, "Shema" means so much more. Hebrew seems to be better at capturing a sense of feeling and emotion behind words and we lose so much through translation.
A better way to explain "Shema" is, "Listen! You are about to hear something impotant! Pay attention with your whole heart and mind!"
Shema or "The Shema" is also a beautiful sung or chanted Hebrew prayer. Pastor Chad suggested that we look it up on YouTube when we got home and I am so glad I did. The prayer is simply the words of Deuteronomy 6:4-5 sung in Hebrew or English or often a verse of each. I even found a couple that had a more "Christian" spin to them, but I prefer the original. This is my favorite among the ones I watched. I hope you enjoy it... It makes me want to learn it in Hebrew... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hdG1aXlExI
Notice that in this version they say, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your RESOURCES." It gives it a deeper perspective and a lot to think about...
Father,
Help us to love us as completely as you command. We do love you, but we let so much get in the way. Have mercy on us O God. Amen.
Joys: the Shema; a perfect day for a hike; birdsong
I loved last night's Lenten service. The best part was learning something new. And that new thing was "Shema." Shema is a Hebrew word loosely translated as "hear." but as with so many other Hebrew words that have inadequate English translations, "Shema" means so much more. Hebrew seems to be better at capturing a sense of feeling and emotion behind words and we lose so much through translation.
A better way to explain "Shema" is, "Listen! You are about to hear something impotant! Pay attention with your whole heart and mind!"
Shema or "The Shema" is also a beautiful sung or chanted Hebrew prayer. Pastor Chad suggested that we look it up on YouTube when we got home and I am so glad I did. The prayer is simply the words of Deuteronomy 6:4-5 sung in Hebrew or English or often a verse of each. I even found a couple that had a more "Christian" spin to them, but I prefer the original. This is my favorite among the ones I watched. I hope you enjoy it... It makes me want to learn it in Hebrew... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hdG1aXlExI
Notice that in this version they say, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your RESOURCES." It gives it a deeper perspective and a lot to think about...
Father,
Help us to love us as completely as you command. We do love you, but we let so much get in the way. Have mercy on us O God. Amen.
Joys: the Shema; a perfect day for a hike; birdsong
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