Making Things Easier for Others

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. – Matthew 25:35


Yesterday was distribution day at Holy Cross for our annual Project Matthew. Since September we have been collecting food and money in order to provide about 130 families in need with all the groceries necessary for a traditional type Thanksgiving meal. But it is more than that. We also have a room where they can select from donated new and gently used coats, jackets, blankets, sweaters, gloves, socks, etc. as well as a room full of books for kids and teens to take home.

But Project Matthew is still even more than that. We aim to make our guests feel like welcome guests. As we get their groceries ready, they are invited to partake in freshly baked cookies that keep coming out of the kitchen as well as coffee and soft drinks. There are plenty of coloring pages and crayons for the kids and a prayer table for those who are in need of a kind ear and praying lips. There are always plenty of volunteers to sit with our guests and just chat about everything from the weather to how tough life can be.  Our volunteers range from toddlers to teens to adults young and old. Our youngest help hand out pies and color with our youngest guests.

As wonderful as this ministry is, and as wonderful as our other giving ministries are (Book bag food for school kids who need food for the weekend, distributing Second Harvest food bank food, yearly Christmas angel tree, providing food and money to Christian Ministry, to name a few) I often wonder how much we really are helping. Because realistically, no matter how often we feed someone, they are going to be hungry again.

What these folks really, really need is a good education, training for decent paying jobs, good and dependable childcare and decent mental and physical healthcare. If we could provide these things to every person in our community they would no longer need us to give them food and clothes and shelter. (Why does our country not GET that??)

But Holy Cross is a small church with limited resources. There is no way possible that we can give what “the least of these” really need. I often wonder if we are really doing anything good at all. But then yesterday happened.

It was a joy to see people smiling and hearing their heartfelt thank you’s. But I learned more than that.

My 10-year-old granddaughter, Cecelia, loves to help with Project Matthew. She started out handing out pies as a toddler. Yesterday she got to interact more. She guided our guests through the various areas and helped them out to their cars with their groceries. The following was observed and related to me:

Cecelia was explaining to a woman that she would carry her food for her. The woman said she could manage. Cece picked up the full bag replied “we just want to make things easier for you today.”

That’s what we do at Holy Cross. We make things easier for folks for the moment. We can’t solve the root of their problems and provide what they really need, but we can bring a touch of joy. And we can make things just a little easier, if only for a moment.

Thank you for teaching your old Kaymee this, my precious granddaughter!

Living in Exile

When the oppressor is no more, and destruction has ceased, and marauders have vanished from the land, then a throne shall be established in steadfast love in the tent of David, and on it shall sit in faithfulness a ruler who seeks justice and is swift to do what is right. -Isaiah 16:4b-5

I'm not sure who all follows my blog and I have no way of knowing who gets my posts by email. I know there is at least one person who might read it that will strongly disagree with this post, but I feel how I feel and make no apology for that.

I can come across as very politically liberal. Really, I only lean further left when I feel the right-wing spiraling out of control.  I am actually usually pretty middle-of-the road with a left lean. I usually think it's a very good thing to have control of the country switch from democrats to republicans and back again. It generally keeps the country on an even keel.

But these days, I don't even recognize this country. I feel like Israel must have felt when they were exiled to Babylon. I feel like I live in a strange land ruled by a cruel and oppressive "king." And I long for the day that a new "throne" is established. In my lifetime, we have had presidents who have made bad mistakes and made policies I strongly disagree with. But I have still respected the president because it has always been obvious that these men loved their country and were in awe of the position that they held. I don't find this to be true under the present administration. It is a love of self. Love of self makes bad kings... and bad presidents.

My hope is that this is a temporary exile. The U.S. has never been perfect, but we used to strive to be.

God of All Nations,

Guide our world leaders. Refresh the hearts of all people. Help us to follow you. Amen.

The Well of Salvation

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. -Isaiah 12:3

For me, the bible is that "well of salvation" from which to joyfully draw water. I am not a fan of picking random verses from the bible to bash others. Context is everything! But random verses for comfort? I don't usually have a problem with that. Sometimes you just need to hear that God has a plan for you; that God is with you wherever you go; that God is your shepherd; that you need not fear; that there is a season for everything; that those who mourn are blessed; that the very hairs of you head are numbered and on and on and on....

Sometimes we just need to feel God's arms around us and there are so many verses and passages in the bible that help us feel those comforting arms. It doesn't matter if the verse was meant for something different in a long-ago place and time and situation. It can also apply to us in the here and now. Maybe in different ways, but God is God and God is good. And reading about God's goodness to others makes us realize that he will be good to us too.

Good and Gracious God,

Thank you for this "well of salvation" you have given us. Help us to draw from it regularly, with joy. Amen.

THAT SAME SPIRIT!

The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him - 

     the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

     the Spirit of counsel and of might,

     the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord

-Isaiah 11:2

This is one of my favorite passages from Isaiah. I will probably say that many times as I study this book, because it contains so many of my favorite verses. This one I love because we hear it at baptisms and at confirmations. In Isaiah, this is a prophesy about Jesus.  The Spirit will rest upon Jesus.  Jesus will have the Spirit of wisdom and understanding and counsel and might and knowledge and fear of the Lord. At baptism, we receive THAT SAME SPIRIT!

The big difference is that Jesus knew how to use it (Him? Her?). We try. That wisdom and understanding stuff is especially hard. But we have the Spirit.  Our Christian lives should be spent learning how to stay in touch with the Holy Spirit and use his/her guidance and teaching in every area of our lives.

Come, Holy Spirit. Fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth. O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit instructs the hearts of your faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolations. Amen

Can You Still Believe?

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. -Isaiah 7:14

I remember Pastor John once telling me hat one of the first questions asked of a class at seminary was: "How much of the bible would have to be factually true for you to continue to believe?"

Back when my faith was fresh, finding out that some of my favorite bible stories probably didn't really happen or some of my favorite new testament books probably weren't really written by the author that was given credit really popped my spiritual balloon. If these things aren't real... is Jesus real? But I would deal with these little tidbits of new knowledge and come back to faith even stronger than before.

This morning as I was studying this well-loved verse from Isaiah, we find that most Jewish commentaries (remember, the Old Testament is Jewish scripture) don't consider this a messianic prophesy. The main argument (among others) is that the word translated as "virgin" simply means "a young woman of marrying age." They go on to explain why they believe this verse has nothing to do with Jesus and they have many fine arguments. But I also read Christian counterpoints which also have many good arguments.This is not the only sticky place in the bible... by a long shot. If it was extremely clear, wouldn't all Jews be Christian? 

In Rob Bell's book that I have previously talked about, there is an excellent chapter (Chapter 39, if you want to read it) called "Is It Inerrant?" This passage in particular was something I didn't know:

        

"It was believed that Emperor Caesar, at the end of his life, ascended to the heavens to sit at the right hand of the gods - is that why Luke ends his book with Jesus ascending? Where did Jesus go? Up into the sky? Because we've sent spaceships up there, ad no one saw him. We assume Luke is writing the actual details of what happened, but when you back up and realize that Luke wants his audience to see JESUS as Lord, not Caesar, then the way he describes Jesus ascending starts to make more sense. We moderns love history to be precise with times and dates and actual facts... But ancient writers had different agendas. Luke isn't trying to mislead - he's telling a story in the way people in his day told stories."

Grow in your faith. Don't just study the bible. Study HOW the bible was written. Exam the culture of the time, the life of the authors and the politics of the day. Find out WHY someone might write something that is of life-giving truth even though it might not be factual history.

God of Truth,

Help us in our faith when our spiritual balloons get popped. Amen.

A Timely Verse from Isaiah

Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. -Isaiah 10:1

I think I will just leave this verse to speak for itself.

World-Weariness

Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.-Job 38:4

It's been hard to write a devotion this past week. I feel so world-weary. Innocent people dying at the hands of a crazy person with guns no private citizen should have; more innocent people dying or suffering from hurricanes, wild fires, earthquakes and floods here and around the world; leaders here and around the world who have no business leading nations and are bringing their countries to the brink of a war that will destroy everything. The Almighty Dollar has become more of a god to those in power than it ever has before. My heart aches.

Thank God for God! He is our hope and our sanctuary in these depressing times. I don't know what is going on or why God allows it to continue, but I trust him. Sometimes I am so afraid for what my grandchildren and their children are going to face, but then I hand my fear to the one who is in control. It's going to all be okay and perhaps it will be our grandchildren who will be God's hands and feet in the journey of making it all okay.

God of the Universe,

Comfort your children as we grieve. Help us to help those who can't feel your comfort right now. Amen.