We March forth into our last week of March Meditations.
COVID-19 rages about us but our Lord is here to
strengthen our souls.
Although we are somewhat sequestered and cannot attend church activities or even worship together physically, hopefully we all found a ‘virtual’ worship site. God’s presence is here for the taking if we choose to receive.
We may be praying for family, friends and neighbors we know and love . . . to be safe, physically, spiritually and emotionally.
Yet, we are at war with a particularly deceptive and evil virus.
God is with us no matter our level of faith.
God is here for all of us, to hold us, lead us, guide us and, most of all, to come into our hearts and souls to quell our anxiety and give us a peace beyond understanding.
May these moments of meditation be of some help as fear and uncertainty swirls around us. May these quotes give strength to our soul:
“Start by doing what is necessary; then do what is possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” St. Francis of Assisi
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
The Apostle Paul, [Gal. 2:19-20]
March 24, 2020 Monday
Genesis 49:29—50:14; Psalm 94,[95],97,99,[100]; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; Mark 8:1-10
Psalm 94:19 “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me your consolations delight my soul.”
Psalm 97:9a “You are the Lord most high over all the earth.”
Psalm 99:9 “Exalt the Lord our God and worship on His Holy Hill.”
Perhaps our mind swirls, not for ourselves necessarily, but for all those we know are in danger.
Perhaps the mind wanders to the homebound person we usually visit weekly and now can only chat with on the phone.
Does our elderly neighbor have enough food?
Do I worry about the ones who already know God’s grace or am I anxious for the souls who are in need of the Lord’s consolations but do not call on Him?
Consolation. An antique word. My spiritual group that has met weekly for a couple decades recites a prayer together at the beginning of each gathering.
“. . . may we ever rejoice in His [Holy Spirit’s] consolations.”
Consolations of the Holy Spirit? Yes.
The Holy Spirit, called upon and planted within us at baptism, is forever present to console us when we are anxious . . . or at any other time we need a spiritual hug. Consolations, consoling, to console . . . with loving affirmations that our Lord holds us in His tight grasp even if we cannot feel God’s presence within us.
When our anxiety swirls too large around us, our Spirit may shout, “Give delight to my soul, Lord, as you console my anxious heart.”
In other words, do not try to step on your anxiety and hold it in place.
Anxious thoughts simply signal to God and ourselves that we need to step back a moment and call on our Lord for consolation.
It’s a good thing.
It’s a good thing.
We are normal human beings with these triggers built into us that remind us that we care, we feel, we have compassion, we want all things and all people to be beautiful and perfect and good.
Life is not perfect nor will it ever be with sin and evil swirling about us.
That’s a simple fact.
Yet, we can live our ‘imperfect’ life with the ‘Perfect’ within us.
The One, Holy, Perfect, Living God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, wants to draw us to Himself forever and always. Anxious thoughts that bloom big can be held to a minimum through the Lord’s loving affirmations and grace-filled consolations.
All we have to do is stop, breathe deep, wait silently or
sing a psalm. “We exalt Youuuuuuu, O Lord, above the heavens. . . . Youuuuu are the Moooost High above the earth.. . . .” Don’t you love it. Suddenly the heart turns to song.
A tune comes to mind.
The Lord’s consoling words turn to praise and thanksgiving.
Our anxious heart becomes lighter.
Our soul fills with the Presence of our Lord, as if it were a balloon filled helium and floating right up to heaven.
Oh the beauty of our Lord’s consolations that help us float above the frey.
Think about it: When we allow our soul to ‘float’ even when we are anxious, we allow the Lord’s creativity to fill us with positive affirmations, with creative ideas.
Suddenly we float out of the dark disarray of worldly confusion into the Light of Christ Jesus.
We breathe in fresh air.
We begin to see a kazillion reasons to be grateful that we are right where we are.
We begin to pray for other’s hearts to receive the same faith-filled reassurance of salvation that we embrace.
These may be affirmations, words of encouragement, you find in daily prayer and reading of God’s Word.
Write a few words regarding blessings you see or hear or touch, taste, smell each day as you stop, look around you, look out the window or take your daily walk.
Stop
Look
Listen
Breathe deep [a daily exercise that keeps us healthy]
Anxiety may still raise it’s ugly head but that’s OK.
It’s a perfect opportunity to turn to the Lord and say,
“I need consolation . . . I need a Holy Hug!”
3-25 The Annunciation
Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 45 or 40:5-10; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38
Luke 1:28 Gabriel came to Mary in Nazareth when John was six months in Elizabeth’s womb. “Favored one, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” :30-31 “Do not fear for you have found favor with God. Behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall name him Jesus.” :37-38 “Nothing will be impossible with God.” Mary said, “Behold, the bond
slave of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” and the Angel departed from her.
Sometimes our weekly readings draw us into stories that seem ‘out of season.’
For instance, this is the story of Mary being visited by Gabriel, a story we hear during Advent, right before we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Yet, it’s Spring!
Announcement!
It’s March 25! and December 25 is God’s perfect timing for New LIFE.
Today we are reminded of the celebration of life.
When we read the daily numbers of those dying around us, this is a good time to remember God’s words to Mary.
This is a good time to remember the Hope that was and is and is to come.
New life was ‘spoken’ into Mary’s womb.
New Life who would breathe life into dead and dying souls in God’s perfect timing.
New Life, ‘announced’ to Mary and ‘received’ by Mary when she said ‘yes.’
“May it be done to me according to your Word . . . according to your annunciation.”
New Life, both human and divine, was spoken into Mary because she said, “yes.”
Just as the Ark of the Old Covenant carried the presence of God, so Mary was chosen as the new Ark to carry the New Covenant. And some say that Mary was just another person like any of us?
What perfect timing to remember what we will celebrate in nine months.
What perfect timing to anticipate new life . . . while we are in this penitential season of Lent, while we wonder if we can even walk with Jesus to the Cross.
Are we brave enough to suffer with Jesus as we anticipate the dark day of His crucifixion?
Can we picture Jesus being nailed to the Cross and left to die of asphyxiation in the heat of the day?
Are we brave enough to wait with the disciples in the emptiness of death before we see our resurrected Christ?
Can we picture Jesus being nailed to the Cross and left to die of asphyxiation in the heat of the day?
Are we brave enough to wait with the disciples in the emptiness of death before we see our resurrected Christ?
And yet, inserted in this solemn period of self examination, of stripping away of our own selfish needs, of doing without or making do with what we have, of staying away from people . . . is this story . . . a reminder of New Life.
Mary died to self when she said “Yes” to the Angel
Gabriel.
Jesus died for us when He said “Yes” to the Father.
We can say “yes” to whatever the Lord has in store for us only because we already said, “yes” by faith, by dropping our sin at the very cross where Jesus died and by daily looking into the face of our Lord.
Our faith in God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, is only possible because Mary said, “yes” to receiving the seed of Life so that we might benefit from God’s presence in us who gives us eternal life.
Think about it: We had all our activities neatly lined up.
A gathering here and there, a regular hair cut, a dentist appointment, a special luncheon or perhaps a trip somewhere.
In almost an instant life changed.
Our days emptied unexpectedly.
Many can’t even go to work!
Many can’t even go to work!
Instead we have time to worry about our loved ones or wonder how to make do with what we have.
What if the Angel of the Lord came to each of us today?
What if he said, “Favored one, full of grace, I have a new calling for you.”
You receive no further explanation.
What would you say?
Would you have to evaluate how your routine, your very life, would change?
Or, would you simply say, “Yes.”
Would you be open to whatever the Lord has in store for you?
In fact, that is exactly what we are doing, isn’t it.
Our daily routine has changed.
Our expectations have changed.
Yet, our God is with us at every unexpected turn of events, filling us with New Life to be a strength to others who do not have the Holy Spirit planted in them through faith in Jesus Christ.
Are we brave enough to continue to say, “Yes,”as we digest the Lord’s presence through prayer and study and by waiting and listening?
Like Mary, let us serve the Lord with gladness in new ways.
Just say, “Yes” and our Lord will do the rest.
3-26 Exodus 1:6-22; Psalm 69; 1 Corinthians 12:12-26; Mark 8:27—9:1
1 Corinthians 12:12 “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body,
though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
:26 If one member suffers all suffer . . . If one member is honored, all rejoice.”
We are One body. The Body of Christ. Each of us joined this Body when we were baptized. We not only joined the particular church in which we were baptized but we joined the entire Body . . . the entire world of Christians.
Those in Corinth are having difficulty understanding that each person baptized into Christ has a purpose in furthering the gospel. No matter how poor or how illiterate, no matter how rich and well educated, all are called to work side-by-side to make a strong foundation in Christ. This can only be done in the body, not alone. This is why Fellowship in Christ is part of the Lord’s mandate for Christians.
So often we use this text to show one another how all our differing spiritual gifts work together as a well oiled ‘machine’ for Christ. It’s like we say to one another, “What are your gifts . . . the ones we can use to make this particular community become exceptional?” Nothing wrong with that but God’s vision for us is more grand than this. We are called to come together, just as we are, with all our weaknesses, with all our differences and simply grow together into the One Holy Universal Church.
“One Holy Catholic Church” means the same thing. “Catholic” simply means ‘Universal’ but since the Protestant Reformation we use ‘catholic’ (small ‘c’) or universal so as not to upset half the Christians. YET, we are ALL ONE BODY!
We are ALL Christians who worship the same Jesus. Ephesians 4 says, “There is One Lord, One faith, One baptism, One God and Father of ALL who is over all through all and in all.” ONE.
We are all called to get on our little rafts and float down that river together.
We are all called to bump into each other, fellowship with each other, learn together and be ONE as the body of Christ.
Yet, there are other divisions. Protestants protest too much. Since I am a Protestant, I seek to understand why there are more than 40,000 Protestant denominations. Yes, 40,000. I just heard that statistic in a podcast last week. 40,000 groups who say, “I don’t like the way your arms work or the way your legs walk or the way your fingers move or your eyes see. I am creating a better way to worship where I like all the body parts.”
We have main-line denominations: Anglican/Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist, AME (Anglican/Methodist/Episcopal), Lutheran, Baptist, Mennonite, Congregational . . . as the largest and then, from there we have thousands of break-away churches. Then we have a new phenomenon the last fifty years, Non-denominational or ‘Bible’ churches. I may have missed a category or six.
All of these groups, including the Catholics, have in common the worship of Jesus Christ as Lord. This splintered people, called Christians, all believe in our Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each group worships together and fellowship together in their own way, within their tiny group. Each has plenty of arms and legs and fingers and toes and eyes and ears to complement the inner working of the ‘body’ of Christ. Each is strong in its own way.
Yet, each says, “I am the better church body.”
How can that be?
No one person is better than the other so how can one group be better than the other?
Our own pride, just like that of the Corinthians, has led
us into a vary precarious position with God.
Many ‘Christians’ think it is perfectly fine to “worship on my own, have my own mountain top experience.”
These many thousands who do not attend church may be the result or our lack of focus on the need for Christian Fellowship, for ‘arms and legs, and hands and feet and eyes and ears and voice and to come together as One and learn from one another.
This attitude permeates throughout generations that say in essence, “I am in charge of my life. I call myself Christian because I know Jesus exists but I can lay out my own plan for salvation, my own plan for seeking god.” Yes, god, in small letters. The god the unchurched know is not the God of our salvation. It is a god of a divided body that only walks and does not hear or does not see the treasure of God's presence set before us.
Instead of floating down the River of Life together, instead of coming into fellowship with a small group and that group interfacing with a larger group and that larger group joining an even larger group, too many choose to stay safe on dry land. They linger alone or with another who also has mis-shaped beliefs in our One God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob . . . God, the Father of his Only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
Think about it: Where are you in your walk?
God’s Word is all important but coming together and chewing on God’s Word, coming together and Praising God and going out together telling others about God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, can only be done by coming together as ONE.
During this time that we are separated from bodily fellowship, when we each must sequester or stand six feet apart from one another, a time when worship in one large space is out of the question, do you miss the fellowship?
Hope so.
Some of us continue to fellowship by talking about our Lord via phone or email.
I am trying Zoom with a prayer group today.
I have no idea how it will work but if we can get up and running, we will be able to fellowship in a very small group together.
It’s a beginning.
Perhaps we can master this little bit of technology to a point that more groups can gather while we all are in isolation.
Technology is only a baby step in preparing to float down that river together.
When we are free to walk about and come together, set aside one Sunday, one day that we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord in worship, to fellowship in a church body that seems very different than your own.
If you belong to a 'denominational' church attend a non-denominational church.
If you belong to a non-denominational church, step inside a ‘denominational’ church that seems totally opposite of what you are use to.
Be ready to observe, embrace, join in praising Jesus in that body.
Bring an offering (a small token of appreciation for being with the Lord).
Be open,
lose fear,
relax,
Rejoice!
embrace.
If there is a ‘coffee hour’ be brave and mingle.
Hopefully someone will speak to you.
If not, they also may be on ‘dry land’ and not know how to enter the stream of fellowship.
Go up to someone, introduce yourself and say, “Tell me about your church. What is the best part of this Body in Christ that you love?”
Listen to what they say.
Since this opportunity may be many months away, you can browse web sites of churches you pass each day to find one church of interest.
Then wait until the right time.
Go
Step into that river
Join the Body of Christ in fellowship.
You may be the ‘teaching moment’ for those in that other church.
Then, LOVE them, right where they are, no matter how awkward they are with you.
We are ALL ONE body in Christ.
3-27 Exodus 2:1-22; Psalm 95,102,107; 1 Corinthians 12:27—13:3; Mark 9:2-13
Exodus 2:1-10 “Now a man from the house of Levi
married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw he was a fine baby, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance to watch over him. The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river and saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. . . . The sister of the baby offered to find a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby. His own mother was paid to nurse and raise Moses, meaning ‘drawn out of the water,’ until he was old enough to be raised by Pharaoh’s daughter.”
God plans ahead.
By this time the tribes of Israel have been living in Egypt for some time. In fact, Jacob’s family of about 70 who settled in Goshen, has now expanded to a million or so. Because of this exponential growth, Pharaoh made an edict that no Hebrews shall marry and if any male child is born, he shall be killed. Yet, God’s plan included this Hebrew boy, born to a Levite couple. Faith, creativity, access and so much more were needed to complete God’s plan but all came together precisely as it should.
Moses’ sister, Miriam, just ‘happened’ to stand guard over the little pitch-covered basket, translated ‘ark’ in Hebrew. It is the same word used for Noah’s massive ship which held a remnant of life that would begin again. This little ‘ark’ would carry the one who would eventually lead the future ‘slaves in Egypt’ into new life. This little ‘ark’ would be drawn out of the water after being seen by Pharaoh’s daughter.
God’s perfect timing was planted into the mind and heart
of this Levite family. Moses’ mother knew the schedule of Pharaoh’s daughter, knew when she would bathe, knew her habit of coming to these reeds to bathe. She also knew that Moses would need one to ‘nurse’ him until weaned and planned for her daughter to wait for God’s perfect timing to offer to find that ‘nursing’ mother.
What’s interesting is that Pharaoh’s daughter not only paid Moses’ mother to nurse this baby but also to take the baby home with her until the baby became a child. Often a child was not weaned until the age of four or five. Moses’ mother may have been retained as a nanny for his younger years when he was returned to Pharaoh’s household. This was a long time for Moses to learn about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This was a good time to teach her son all the Hebrew traditions.
So, the Hebrew who would eventually lead millions of Hebrew slaves out of Egypt was born and raised in the grandest household of Egypt. Several generations earlier, Joseph was given the same opportunity to learn from these highly sophisticated Egyptians. This knowledge base trickled down to God’s Chosen People so that arts, mathematics, engineering and so much more would become part of the Hebrew people’s culture. Moses would eventually lead the tribes of Israel out of Egypt, through waters of new life and into their salvation experience. God’s nomadic herdsmen would add to their knowledge base in such a way that they would be fully equipped to eventually become ‘Israel’, a great nation.
Ask the Lord to show you a place and time when you were ‘floating in your life raft’, perhaps enjoying life or perhaps aching to be rescued. Either way, there was a point in which you wholly connected with the Lord, Jesus Christ and became His own forever. God’s presence was very clear and you were taken from your ‘life raft’ onto grounded, solid Christian teaching.
At some point in our lives our basket or ‘life raft’ was noticed.
The One, who was and is and is to come, rescued us and brought us into the family of God.
We were kept from drowning because of prayer.
We were rescued by the Word, made flesh, God’s only begotten Son.
Think of your story and how many times you were offered, “dry land” but chose to remain in that life-raft. You simply floated through life.
Now think of those moments, those turning points in your life, when you were invited to join a Christian class or attend a prayer/healing conference or were invited into a weekly accountability group.
These were God-moments in which you were beckoned to move from your life-raft onto dry land, to gain solid footing, to walk with others in Christian fellowship.
Now think of how saying ‘yes’ to just one of those opportunities helped you grow strong in your Christian faith.
How has the Lord mapped your walk on dry land?
Where has the Lord taken you?
If you actually write down the answers to these three options, you will have an inviting story to share with another. Your story only needs to be a few sentences long . . . floating in your boat . . . being rescued through Christian growth and fellowship . . . how you’ve grown and walked on dry land according to the Lord’s plan for you.
Moses was rescued so he could be God’s emissary to rescue a great nation.
We were rescued so that we can be Jesus’ emissary to rescue another from floating in the abyss.
Write about it.
3-28 Exodus 2:23—3:15; Psalm 107,108; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Mark 9:14-29
Exodus 3:13-15 But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me,
‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ God also said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’: This is my name forever, and this my title for all generations.”
This is only part of the wonder-filled story of Moses being addressed by the Burning Bush. At this time, Moses, a fugitive from Egypt, is now in Moab, a place where no respectable Jew, or Egyptian, would ever be. Yet, Moses rescued the daughters of a very respectable leader in the area. Subsequently, Moses married, had a son and became a sheep-herder for his father-in-law. Moses, raised by Pharaoh, highly educated in both Hebrew and Egyptian cultures, is now a lowly shepherd in a strange land.
Although Moses was raised, with the influence of his birth-mother, to know the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, he was also raised by the Pharaoh, the god of the Egyptians. Being a fugitive in Moab all these years meant he was surrounded by pagan gods. No wonder Moses did not recognize the Presence of God speaking to him in the bush. He could not see or understand the source of the fire and the voice as one would have if he’d spent daily time connecting with the I AM.
I AM is actually a verb, written in Hebrew as third person, masculine, and the essence of YHWH. God introduced himself as I AM “will be.” God is not only in
the forever present, but I AM is active in humanity’s future. I AM actually means, I will be doing. Yet God is always in the present. The now. God’s action of directing Moses in His plan of Salvation for the Hebrew people WILL BE done. I AM is always active. I AM is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I AM will rescue, will restore, will resurrect Himself in the future. For now, I AM will be made known in the hearts of the Hebrew people. As slaves in Egypt they are now unable to worship as they should. They are deeply oppressed under the reign of this new Pharaoh and have also lost sight of the I AM over the generations they have been away from the land promised to them by the I AM. The Hebrew people pray for help but they do not know to Whom they pray. Yet, the I AM hears their prayers!
Think about it: I AM is with us, acting for us and in us, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Do we truly know the I AM? Do we ponder God’s presence in every single thought and action we take throughout each day?
When we say, “O God,” do we realize that the I AM is listening?
When we get frustrated or angry, perhaps at ourselves for making a mistake, do we think at that time that the I AM hears us?
I AM . . . was . . . and is . . . and forever will be.
Shakespeare made this phrase famous, “To BE or not to BE, that is the question.”
We either BE alive or not BE = dead.
To BE alive in God, through His son, Jesus Christ, we live.
To NOT BE alive in Christ Jesus means our soul is dead to the presence of the I AM.
I AM loves us no matter if we recognize Him or not.
I AM empowers us to thrive through each day if we allow our Lord to lead our lives just as the I AM is directing Moses to lead the Hebrew slaves in Egypt to salvation.
Let’s step back, look at the burning bush in our life, see and hear the voice of the I AM and willingly follow the direction the I AM gives us each day.
A quick exercise called the EXAMEN, introduced by Ignatius of Antioch and honed over the centuries into four actions we can take at the end of each day.
- Where have you experienced the presence of God today? REJOICE
- Where have you followed the Lord today? THANKSGIVING
- Where have you veered from the path of the I AM? CONFESSION [Even slight frustration, when handed over to the I AM brings release]
- Close by offering your life to the I AM anew. COMMITMENT
Write this daily exercise in your journal and provide the date.
You will be amazed how the I AM, Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, releases all those burdens we tuck deep into our hearts.
As we release our burdens, our sins, one by one, we become more intimate with our Lord and can better see the I AM working in our lives.
As we release our burdens, our sins, one by one, we become more intimate with our Lord and can better see the I AM working in our lives.
PAUSE
The 5th Sunday of Lent is historically known as "Passion Sunday" which ushers in the final two weeks of Lent,
called "Passiontide." Passiontide is characterized by a heightened celebration of Lent as Easter approaches, reaching its peak during Holy Week. It is customary on this day to shroud all the sacred images in the churches with purple cloths, save the Stations of the Cross. On Good Friday the crosses are unveiled, while the other sacred images are unveiled on the afternoon of Holy Saturday in preparation for the Easter Vigil. This imagery calls to mind how Christ hid his Divinity during his Passion and death, no longer performing miracles until his Resurrection from the dead. Likewise, the holy images are veiled, their glory being unveiled with the joy of the celebration of Easter. “Liturgical” churches such as Anglican, Episcopal, Lutheran and Catholic, practice this tradition.
3-29 Fifth Sunday of Lent
Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45
Ezekiel 37:1-2 “The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the midst of a valley; it was full of bones . . . very many . . . and very dry. :4-6 God said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord . . . I will lay sinews on you and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.’ :9 The He said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath,’ Thus says the Lord God, ‘Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain that they may live.’ :14 ‘O my people, I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.”
REJOICE!
BE GLAD!
THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE!
Find a live-stream church service if your church is not able to video a sermon.
EnJOY worship and praise via any means you wish, including on-line video.
Take time to give THANKS that we have technology that can draw us into fellowship with one another as we worship the Lord.
PRAISE GOD that we know Him, have surrendered to Him, and are alive through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.
PRAISE GOD that we are able to pray for those who do not yet have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, that we are able to pray for the millions of ‘dry bones’ that have no sinews of prayer holding them together, that have no ‘flesh’ to send life into their dry bones, who have no ‘skin’ for the Lord to embrace and hold tight and give assurance.
PRAISE GOD our prayers are able to Breathe new life into souls that do not yet know the exponential love and grace of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
PRAISE GOD that those around you have lungs that are still protected and can breathe . . . deep . . . long . . . breathe in the Spirit of Jesus.
Can you picture them scattered about in an endless wasteland?
Can you picture this in reality, not a sci-fi movie?
Can you picture the world of people, shriveled up, with dead souls, not a breath of God’s presence left in them?
It’s unimaginable, isn’t it.
God would never allow this. Or would He?
This was the vision God gave to Ezekiel after God’s Chosen People were marched off to Babylon . . . and those were the best ones, the ones who were gifted and intelligent and were leaders or do-ers, the ones who use to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob . . . but slacked off . . . then forgot . . . got too busy with the good life.
This is a picture of dead Israel after the Babylonian invasion. Picture a battlefield piled with bones, scattered and dry. These are the bones of Israel.
God desires to bring these dead bones to life and return them to Israel, alive!
This is not about resurrection of the individual but about whether a dead People can come alive again.
Ezekiel observes corpses with no Spirit, no “Ruakh”, no breath of God in them.
Ezekiel is told to prophecy the first breath to the bones in order to begin life-giving transformation. A command to the breath begins the process of bones coming together and gaining sinew and flesh and then being covered in skin.
Ezekiel, a mortal, is then given a command to prophecy a second breath into the bones, which causes the corpses to come alive.
Ezekiel prophecies the breath of the Lord’s spirit to come into these corpses. Thus, these new lives would be empowered by the spirit of God.
What an incredible vision.
But, is it a vision or a reality?
What do we see all around us?
Dead bones, which may have worshipped things and agendas.
Dead bones who seek greater income and raise families without God.
Dead bones may receive new breath because of our prayers.
For many, creativity, ingenuity, technology and the opportunity for the imagination to soar may be the result of this time of sequester.
On the other hand, many ‘dry bones’ languish in isolation not knowing where to turn. They need the breath of life, the Word of God, God’s presence.
The skeletons hidden away, alone, sequestered, have no breath but our prayers to draw them into Jesus’ loving arms.
Think about it: Before you were drawn into the loving, grace-filled arms of Jesus, did you feel like dry bones?
Did you have any breath left in you before the Breath of God filled you with new life? Can you name one person, or many, who drew you into the place where you could receive the breathe of new life through faith in Christ Jesus?
Most likely you found Christian fellowship because of family, friends, neighbors or some ‘body’ who influenced you enough to show you how to breathe new life or who prayed new life into you.
We can pray alone but by doing so we are in fellowship with God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Once we go through our own ‘Examen’ with the Lord and confess our fears and anxieties, we are then able to pray for others. As we pray for individuals or the ‘world’ in general, we are in fellowship spiritually, with each person or group. We see people in our mind that we may never know but, as we pray, our compassion reaches out to those ‘dry bones’. That’s Fellowship.
We may not be able to worship close together, packed into pews but by joining a worship team through live-streaming, we ‘fellowship’ with them. Prayer and song and reading of God’s Word and listening to the preacher unpack God’s words draws us into communion with those we see and, of course, with our Lord. That’s Fellowship.
If Holy Communion is offered, the Blessing of the bread and wine, and prayers of sustenance draw us fully into the presence of our Lord as our soul receives and becomes one with Him. That’s Fellowship.
Do you feel it?
Are your ‘dry’ bones being fed in a new way?
Are those tendons and muscles receiving God’s fresh breath?
Are you feeling a new elasticity as you breathe deep His presence?
Do you feel refreshed and whole and filled with the mega-power of His Presence to pray for others’ ‘dry bones.’
As our Lord breathes new life into us, may we each pray ‘new life’ into those who need our prayers.
Make a list.
Parse out that list to be prayed throughout the week.
Act upon those prayers with more prayer, a note, a phone call or a video chat if possible?
Just as Ezekiel was called upon by God to prophesy new life into Israel’s dry bones, we are called to breathe new life, via prayer and words of encouragement, into those who have not yet been drawn into a deep, loving, life-giving relationship with the Lord.
B R E A T H E . . . as you fellowship in Spirit and in Truth.
“O my people, I will put My Spirit within you, and you shall live and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.”
3-30 Exodus 4:10-20; Psalm 31,35; 1 Corinthians 14:1-19; Mark 9:30-41
There is something affirming about the Psalms. David spent many hours singing to the Lord about what was happening around him during his entire life. This is not David, the shepherd, but David the warrior, David the anointed one, David the one whom Saul could not live without yet could not tolerate, depending on his state of mind . . . David, King of all Israel.
David’s life is a tapestry, woven in many colors over many years.
We can pick almost any psalm and find one verse that describes how we feel at any moment. As we continue to digest the rising numbers of those hit hard by COVID-19 we may become weary.
Our original sense of fear now turns to seeking understanding, wonder or dismay. We thought we had stamina to hustle about our day endlessly but, for some reason, we linger a little longer on the couch or raid the refrigerator too often. We take that nap that “I never take because I won’t sleep at night.”
And then we don’t sleep at night.
Take time to read the Psalms.
Each day certain psalms are listed that may enhance the other scripture readings. Most of the time, we can find uplifting words.
“I trust you, O God.”
Do we really?
Do we trust God enough to stay put and count our
blessings even if we live in a one-room apartment alone?
Do we trust God enough to know that whatever happens to us, even when we follow all the rules, we are in God’s hands?
Do we trust God enough not to allow worry or anxiety to become our daily focus?
We are called to “Trust God.”
We are called to “Love the Lord.”
That’s it.
Trust? Love?
If we love our Lord, His Spirit in us will enable us to trust and love and grow and be at peace and be the strength we need to be for others.
Affirmations in the Psalms, when tucked into our soul, will feed us if we are struck by this virus.
If we can do nothing else but recall the affirming words of Psalms, we will survive. If we are made immobile, the Psalms will sustain us.
Think about it: Read one Psalm a week.
Pick one verse or even a few affirming words that embrace you right where you are.
Write it down.
Parse it into sections to memorize a little at a time.
Even if it takes several days to an entire month, begin today.
Tuck the Lord’s affirmations into your heart so they can be drawn out at a moment’s notice.
“The Lord preserves the faithful. . . “ with His faith-full
Words.
Here is my favorite prayer I use and hand out to many I visit.
ANOTHER DAY
This is another day, O Lord.
I know not what it will bring forth;
but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be.
If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely.
If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly.
If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently.
And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly.
Make these words more than words,
and give me the Sprit of Jesus. Amen.
Book of Common Prayer 461
PAUSE:
Take a moment to read my monthly blog post for March at Linger Longer with Gail lingerlongerwithgail.blogspot.com
Take a moment to read my monthly blog post for March at Linger Longer with Gail lingerlongerwithgail.blogspot.com
3-31 Exodus 5:1—6:1; Psalm [120]121,122,123,124,125,126,[127];
1 Corinthians 14:20-33a,39-40; Mark 9:42-50
Mark 9:42 “If any of you put a stumbling block in front of one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.”
If this verse does not give every Christian a guilt trip, I don’t know what does.
These words are intended to make us think about our actions.
We would fully expect this exhortation to be in the Apostle Paul’s writings, especially in letters to the Corinthians. They were a people in need of strong guidance.
Yet, this is a Gospel message, a message much needed for all who call themselves “Christian.”
It’s true that ‘actions’ speak louder than words.
The Pharisees ‘spoke’ all sorts of pious words but were the last to live by them.
Throughout history, many Christian leaders have deeply blemished Jesus’ name by their inappropriate, selfish, actions.
It is hard to be mindful of others when our anxious minds swirl around our dis-ease.
It’s hard to think of ‘how’ we will shop when we just want to get through the list and get home.
It’s hard to smile when we see others’ struggling.
It’s hard to breathe deep, let go of another’s words spoken in anger, and say, “How can I pray for you?”
It’s hard for the introvert to leave little cocoons called ‘home’ if they have to drive to a pick-up point for the goods they ordered.
It’s hard for the extrovert to remain home when every inch of personality desires to connect with others in a social setting.
It’s hard.
Think about it: During these challenging days, we
Christians must be the better example.
We must color within the lines.
This is no easy task.
Our actions are ‘seen’ by others at home and through emails, phone calls, various types of social media or even snail mail.
Our prayer time, our quiet time, our study time, needs to be daily and consistent.
We must deal with our own stress first because we Christians are expected to be on the front lines as we help others with their stressful moments.
“Be anxious for nothing but with prayer and supplications, let your requests be known to God.”
This is no easy task when we are told we will all be ‘cloistered’ for another thirty days. This includes stepping back from our wonderful Easter services we planned to attend.
When we do go outside for our daily exercise do we pass another six feet apart?
If we find ourselves actually shopping in a store:
Do we handle only that which we put into our cart?
Do we take as many items as possible or only what we will need for a week?
Do we split our ‘needed’ number in half when we see very few of these items on the shelf?
Do we smile at others as we skirt them widely?
Do we remain patient as we wait for the self-checkout?
Do we drive slowly, mindful of others, as we inch toward the pick-up place?
Do we wait patiently for take-out from the drive-through?
At home, with others, have we created a schedule so family feels a sense of order in this up-side-down world?
Is there a family Quiet Time? This may be individual or as a family, depending on the needs, but it should be a scheduled time so the household is quiet for at least 15 - 30 minutes.
Find a way to exercise together: Walk or bike in the fresh air or try Zumba on video or stretch together. Or, simply set aside time for each to exercise in their own way.
This is a perfect opportunity to make a list of household chores for each day.
Cleaning out drawers or just plain dusting and vacuuming can be shared by the entire family. ‘Spring cleaning’ tasks can be done in teams. Each team examines the result of the others’ task to see if it is done well . . . no time limits here.
Play time is very important. Make a list of games or
videos or fun and appropriate ways to enjoy playing with each other every day. Outside play is the best but if thisis not possible, try baking cookies. Place them in little bags, drop them at neighbors' doors, ring the doorbell and stand back. When they come to the door, simply wave and be on your way to your next neighbor.
Or create your own greeting cards that you send to someone who needs a lovely creation with words of encouragement.
Learning time is important too. No matter how old we are, we all need to set aside ‘learning’ time. Reading a good book fills the mind and heart with a setting other than where we are. We may be transported into another country or era as our mind travels beyond our reach.
Studying a specific subject is great fun. And, of course, if you have a study bible, there are all those extra pages of notes and explanations preceding each book of the Bible. Fascinating!
Have you begun that journal yet?
It’s a perfect time to write one-page stories that reveal moments of gratitude.
If you cannot write a page, write three different moments of gratitude per day.
Make sure you place a date with each entry.
It’s hard to live the Christian life but a thankful heart makes our journey light.
It’s even harder when we know we are the example of Christ to others around us.
Keep praying,
Listen to the Lord's leading,
Enjoy special moments,
“Be” the person Jesus called us to be . . . B e i n g like Christ . . . that’s hard.
Yet, “We can do all things through Christ, who gives us strength.”
