Spring has sprung!
Hope ‘springs’ eternal!
Hope is the greatest medicine we could embrace.
Hope that all will be well and brave enough to step beyond the confines of our sequester.
Hope that all will be well and brave enough to step beyond the confines of our sequester.
Hope that we can step back into the big world out there after having cocooned for one to two months.
Yet, our greatest Hope is in the One who leads us by the hand daily, helps us to stand strong when our knees buckle, and walks before us as we step into this wild world in which we live.
Jesus, name above all names, our Hope, our Redeemer, our perfect medicine.
We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us, when we hold tight to Him and trust in Him.
"Christianity asserts that every individual human being is going to live for ever, and this must be either true or false. Now there are a good many things which would not be worth bothering about if I were going to live only seventy years, but which I had better bother about very seriously if I am going to live forever.”
C.S. Lewis, p. 74 Mere Christianity.
"He who enters into the secret place of his own soul passes beyond himself, and does in very truth ascend to God. Banish, therefore, from thy heart the distractions of earth and turn thine eyes to spiritual joys, that thou mayest learn at last to repose in the light of the contemplation of God.” St. Albert the Great
May 1, 2020
Isaiah 30:18-21; Psalm 119:33-40; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; John 14:6-14
The Apostle Paul does not mince words here.
We see what we want to see.
We hear what we want to hear.
It is our heart that places a vail over God’s proclamation of Good News.
It’s our heart that chooses to step back from God’s love and grace.
When the Gospel is proclaimed either through scripture or through one speaking out about Jesus as Lord, it is up to those who read or hear the message to receive . . . or not.
Over a decade ago when the movie, “The Passion”, was popular, our neighbor Rabbi went to see it. His mission was to be open to sharing his beliefs and to listen to Christians.
He joined us, across the street, to be part of a conversation about the movie from various perspectives.
His words still ring through my mind when he said, “If one enters the movie with a specific belief, that person will leave with the same belief. Nothing will change.”
I have yet to stop musing over those words.
He was absolutely correct.
If one enters a conversation with a firm grip on one’s own beliefs, that person will not be swayed.
The Rabbi was firmly rooted in his beliefs regarding God and the Law.
He was so totally steadfast in his faith, that he could sit through the power of God’s message of salvation and not be changed in some way.
The Gospel was veiled for him.
So, how many others saw the movie, “The Passion”, and remained steadfast in their non-belief?
We receive what we want to receive from God.
If our hearts are truly open, seeking more, always inquisitive, a ‘slave’ to seeking all of God’s presence in our lives, we will be able to walk into such a powerful movie and at least be moved in some way.
The key word is ‘seek.’
If our very life, everything we seek to be, our entire identity rests on another way of thinking, we can be like a twenty ton weight that needs to be moved to the other side of the road.
Only God’s ‘crane’ of the Holy Spirit can move that weight.
We cannot.
This rabbi was a wonderful example for remaining steadfast, immovable, not tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.
Christians are suppose to be that way.
When the Truth is rooted within us, when Jesus Christ is our total focus, we also can walk into a controversial movie and not change our belief system.
The difference is that, when we ‘show’ Christ to others, it’s His light within us that is a beacon to this dark world.
It’s our very lives that show we are no longer veiled, dull, shady.
Jesus so pours His presence into us that we, through the power of the Holy Spirit, become a beacon of light to others.
Jesus is the Light that shines from an ‘enlightened’ soul and gives off light so another can see.
The Light of Christ can fill souls, darkened, empty and heavy, that are like a weight that cannot easily be moved.
The Light of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is the only way others can see and hear the Gospel message.
Are we so filled with His presence, so filled with new Light, that we can be a beacon of His Light for others?
Is our very life able to shine through the veil of another’s darkened soul?
Pray about it.
Pray that the Lord use you as that beacon of light that can shine the Gospel message into dark, heavy souls of those in your sphere of influence.
Pray that the Light of Christ that shines through you can move that heavily weighted soul across the street into the New Light of God's only begotten Son.
Pray that the Light of Christ that shines through you can move that heavily weighted soul across the street into the New Light of God's only begotten Son.
Let’s remain firm in our faith and be the light of Christ to others.
Are you participating in some way at your church in which others see the growth in you and are influenced by your presence with them?
Much love, care, patience, and vigilance is involved as part of the shepherd’s daily routine.
Try to hear the Lord’s voice each day.
Delayed.
Coming into the presence of God, receiving Him through Holy Communion, is an aching need for our soul.
Where is God?
Why is He not leading us out of this misery?
Why are so many dying around us and our prayers seem to be useless?
Those waling in the Sinai desert prayed the same prayers.
When Jesus walked among the people, salt was used to preserve food but would loose its ‘keeping’ power. It had to be thrown out into the streets, which was good for the roads.
“Yes, I will be the light that shines in the dark places of this secular world.”
Sometimes others leave us wounded.
May 2 Exodus 25:1-22; Psalm 30,32,42,43; Colossians 3:1-17; Matthew 4:18-25
Colossians 3:1-3 “Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. :13-17 Bear with one another and forgive each other, whoever has a complain against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you so also should
you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body and be thankful. Let the Word of God dwell richly in you with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another, with psalms and hymns and thankfulness in your hearts to God . . . do everything in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ.”
Keep seeking.
Keep asking questions.
Keep digging deeper into scripture.
Keep pondering in prayer so that you bond tightly to the Lord as you listen and speak.
Can you remember when you first understood the wonder and power and almighty presence of God in Christ as you nestled into His presence?
Can you remember when you wanted to tell the whole world how your life has changed?
Can you remember various turning points in your Christian life when you felt you were floating in heaven, in the presence of God?
Have you been so heavenly minded that you were told you were not earthy good?
Ahhhhhh, the good old days.
Then we grow and become grounded and each day seems like the last.
We have created a routine with the Lord that works with our lifestyle.
It’s all good.
But are we stuck?
Do we flow through our ‘quiet time’ each day with prayer for ourselves and others, scripture study, perhaps a sweet song to Jesus?
After our time with the Lord, do we feel a peace that surpasses all understanding?
Can we breathe deep, feel satisfied and go about the plans of our day that we have asked the Lord to bless?
This is all good . . . better than good.
It’s a blessing!
You are making a diligent effort to learn, grow and bond with the Lord.
Can’t beat that.
You most likely are able to, “Let the Word of God dwell richly in you with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another.”
When we ‘drink’ in the presence of the Lord and digest His presence, we carry what we digest in our heart and soul.
What then?
How are we giving it away?
Are we leading another person to Christ by sharing what we have learned?
Are we facilitating a prayer group or a bible study or a growth group?
Are we sharing the bounty the Lord has given to us because we choose to dig deep and grow?
Are you able to love the unlovable, sit with that person and simply listen?
Find one activity or ministry at church that interests you.
Participate faithfully.
See what happens.
Keep seeking the ‘things above, where Christ is’ and He will lead you as you share your joy in Christ.
Keep seeking.
The Lord will lead you to just the right place.
May 3 Fourth Sunday of Easter
Good Shepherd Sunday
Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10; 24-30
John 10:9-11 Jesus said, “I am the gate; whoever enters by the gate will be saved and go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to kill and destroy; I come that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lies down His life for the sheep. :27-30 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
I have always smiled at the fact that we are seen as
‘sheep’ to God.
Sheep are blind.
Sheep are not all that smart.
Sheep must learn the voice of the one who leads them and even if they learn the voice and hear that voice calling in the wilderness, they may be too stubborn or too busy exploring their space to come when called.
Sheep can die without the shepherd's care but they are not aware of much beyond their need to continuously graze.
It’s up to the shepherd to keep an eye on every one of his sheep.
If one strays, the shepherd will gather the others and bring them through the gate into the safety of the sheep fold.
Only then can the shepherd be reasonably sure the sheep will remain safe while he seeks the strays.
Once all his sheep are drawn into the safety of the fold, the shepherd then lies down at the entrance of ‘gate’.
Once all his sheep are drawn into the safety of the fold, the shepherd then lies down at the entrance of ‘gate’.
The sheep will not jump over or try to move this impediment but will wait for the shepherd to lead them out of their fold at the right time.
They remain where they are until the shepherd allows them to ‘go through.’
Sheep have very sensitive noses and often, when they graze on their favorite nettles, their mouths and noses get abrasions and flies bite this sensitive area.
So, the shepherd must carry salve and ‘anoint’ the sheep daily or more often in order to ‘heal’ their vulnerable areas and prevent infection.
Todays scriptures draw us, as sheep, into the presence of our Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
By saying, “yes” to Jesus we made the choice to become part of His flock.
Daily we make the choice to hear his voice and follow him wherever we are led.
Jesus is our ‘gate’ to new life, everlasting life, abundant life.
We must go through the ‘Gate’, Jesus, who protects us, feeds us, cares for us and loves us unconditionally, no matter how often we stray.
The ‘salve’ of our Shepherd’s love and care can heal our wounded soul.
Unlike sheep, we have minds that can be sharpened by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We have decision making skills that enable us to make good choices.
It’s up to us to follow Jesus and graze where He leads us.
We may choose to stray knowing we can return to the flock at any time.
Yet, ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’ lurk in those dark corners where our curiosity might lead us.
Are we smarter than sheep and more able to avoid those dark corners?
Do we have better sight than sheep and prefer the Light of Christ to the darkness of devilish deeds?
It’s up to us to use that wisdom to remain close to Jesus, our Shepherd, and listen intently for His whispers that call us into His fold.
It’s up to us to graze on the sweet meadows of God’s Word and chew on all He provides which enriches our soul.
It’s up to us to remain in Jesus’ flock and allow our Good Shepherd to lead us to pastures set apart for our specific needs.
Do we truly know the voice of our Shepherd when He
calls?
Do we trust Jesus to draw us into a better place?
With eyes wide open, can we walk through The Gate into the abundance of newness with Jesus every day?
Try to hear the Lord’s voice each day.
Learn to trust God's voice enough to follow Jesus into new pastures.
You might be surprised at the result of feeding on new meadows of Jesus’ love and grace.
Write a few sentences about what you discover when you feed where He leads.
May 4 Exodus 32:1-20; Psalm 41,52,44; Colossians 3:18—4:6; Matthew 5:1-10
Exodus 32:1 “When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron, and said to him, ‘Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us;; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the Land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”
Moses, who led them out of Egypt, led them to safety, was delayed.
Moses, who called upon God for water in this parched land, hit rock and water gushed out.
Moses, who listened hard to complaints until he was almost done in, finally picked leaders to help.
Moses, who called on God for something more than daily manna, convinced God to provide Quail in the evenings.
Moses, who led God’s chosen people through the wilderness when they’d picked each area clean, had become their god.
What happened to the leaders who Moses had chosen to divide up the duties of leadership?
What happened to the few who actually remembered the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?
Were there any left?
Had they all forgotten?
Delay of expectation can cause fear, panic, and actions that take us backwards.
The people forgot their pitiful life as slaves in Egypt.
The people forgot the restrictions so tight that they could not worship as they’d been taught.
The people forgot their God and began to worship the gods they learned about in Egypt.
The people, in a panic, forgot!
When we worship a leader and that leader, in all humanity, disappears or disappoints, do we turn to the gods that are most convenient?
Do we turn to leaders who are not strong enough to lead us back to the Lord, thy God?
Do we turn to old habits that lead us further away from the worship that brings us close to the Lord?
The golden calf was a representation of strength and
leadership.
Even Aaron, brother of Moses, was so weak that he partnered with those who offered their gold jewelry to create a molten image.
We are told that the people who follow are as strong as their leaders.
When we rely on the strength of one leader and that leader leaves our space of influence, what do we do?
Perhaps the people were not ready to grow in strength, even those chosen by Moses to help.
Moses was on the mountain just forty days . . . a little over a month . . . and that was too long to be away.
He was obtaining words from God that would set parameters for God’s people for generations to come.
God was giving Moses what he needed to shepherd his people but the people could not even wait forty days!
This scenario is no different today.
We are impatient.
We want to leave our confined space and chat face-to-face.
We want a hug!
Our sense of communion with others is diminished no matter how many phone calls we make or how many video-conferences we attend weekly.
We want more.
Our need to worship together is causing pain to many.
Where is God?
Why is He not leading us out of this misery?
Why are so many dying around us and our prayers seem to be useless?
Those waling in the Sinai desert prayed the same prayers.
Grief grew as heavy then as it does now.
Yet, we are blessed with knowing that the Lord is in our midst right where we are.
We are blessed with the knowledge of God:Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who is with us always, holding us tight, leading us, guiding us, loving us through our grief for those who are dying or who have died.
God created us in his image: strength, determination, fortitude, caring, loving, able to endure.
God will never leave us.
God sent his Son, Jesus to die a bloody death to remind us that He is always with us.
Delay?
We can deal.
We are blessed to know that God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is with us . . . always.
May 5 Exodus 32:21-34; Psalm 45,47,48; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 5:11-16
Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is
thrown out and trampled under foot. You are the light of the world, A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others in such a way that they can see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
We know that salt enhances the taste of food.
Salt also preserves food.
But there is another kind of salt the Jesus speaks of in this passage.
It’s our character.
A ‘salty’ character stands out.
If we ‘salt’ our conversation with words of love and grace, people will listen.
If we spice up our actions and reach farther than our front door, people will notice.
A ‘salty’ spirit is like a big exclamation mark in our life.
Our temperament can be a tasty morsel to a neighbor or to someone who needs a little attention.
Jesus is talking about the saltiness of love in action.
When we become listless in our actions we lose that saltiness.
When Jesus walked among the people, salt was used to preserve food but would loose its ‘keeping’ power. It had to be thrown out into the streets, which was good for the roads.
Salt always had a use, even when it lost its saltiness.
Even when we lose that ‘salty’ spirit, Jesus is with us, loving us, willing to hold us tight in order to revive our soul until our ‘salty’ spirit returns.
Jesus does not skip a beat when He immediately provides another example.
It is so important for we who call ourselves Christians to step outside of our safe space and be that light that leads others to Christ.
We are called to draw others into Jesus’ loving arms.
If we bury the light of the Holy Spirit that shines within us, that little flicker dies.
“The Light of Christ” came into the world to shine in the dark places.
We were given the "Light of Christ," the Holy Spirit, when we were baptized but it is up to us to turn ON the light of the Holy Spirit by saying, “Yes” to Jesus.
“Yes, I will be the light that shines in the dark places of this secular world.”
“Yes, I will maintain that ‘saltiness’ of love and kindness and grace toward all whom I meet.”
“Yes, I will learn all I can about my walk with Christ so I can share it with joy to all who have not yet said, ‘yes’ to our Lord.
Let us pray that we can be both salt and light where the Lord leads us.
May 6
Exodus 33:1-23; Psalm 49, 119:49-72; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Matthew 5:17-20
1 Thessalonians 2:8-12 “So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us. You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters, we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we
proclaim to you the Gospel of God. You are witnesses and God also, how pure, upright and blameless our conduct was toward you believers. As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”
The Apostle Paul shares this letter to the Thessalonians after he’d spent some time there.
He wanted them to remember that he asked for nothing but shared the gospel and taught for months without pay.
Paul toiled daily in the marketplace to earn his keep.
It is said that he repaired tents and sandals for travelers.
While he worked, Paul may have answered questions regarding the long speeches he would give at night.
It seems that Paul got little sleep yet had energy to work ‘day and night’ for the spread of the Gospel.
His heart had so changed that the Lord seems to have propelled Paul through each day.
He and his fellow leaders meant to assure those they taught that there was nothing sinister about their toil for the Lord.
All was on the ‘up and up.’
That, in fact, is why they earned their own way.
Paul taught others to be blameless and to lead a life worthy of God, a life in which they would be ready, at any time, to be called into the kingdom of God.
There was much persecution of Christians at this time so they were taught how to stand firm in their faith, knowing that the Lord was with them at every turn.
What joy we find when we are willing to teach others, to lead others into a life with the Lord that is pure, upright and blameless.
There are many who are drawn into the arms of Jesus but have no guidance in their walk.
Perhaps we can each pray about one or two we’ve met at our own churches who would become stronger in their faith with our help.
Observe, pray, seek the Lord’s direction.
Then, Go, Share, Teach according to God’s will.
You will be blessed beyond measure.
May 7
Exodus 34:1-17; Psalm 50, 114, 115; 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20; Matthew 5:21-26
Matthew 5:23-24 “When you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. . . . . :25 Make friends quickly with opponents.”
Or, perhaps we know that we have wounded another.
We might ‘confess’ to the Lord that this other person angers us or frustrates us to the point that we do not wish to be around that person.
We think that’s all.
All is given over to the Lord.
Done.
Fini.
After all, when we confess our sins to the Lord, He forgives us and forgets the sin.
God forgives and forgets but do we?
The next time we see that person entering the church at the same time, do we circle around to the other side to avoid that person?
If someone mentions that person’s name, do we cringe inside and mutter deep in your soul, “I’m so glad I can avoid that person as often as possible?”
Perhaps, we may have ‘reckoned with God’ but did we ‘reckon’ with ourselves or that person?
Did we share face-to-face, with the other in order to find a solution to our differences?
If our heart is not at peace, do we pray and ask the Lord to show us where we need to change or help with the change?
Christians sometimes think that, once we say “yes” to the
Lord, our personalities will automatically be compatible with every other Christian we meet.
Oh, how I wish that were true.
How I wish reconciling with others who seem to ‘scrape us raw’ was as easy as reconciling with our Lord . . . who is all love and grace and forgiveness.
‘Loving our neighbor in Christ’ can only come about after we fully learn to embrace the Love of our Lord.
We can only go to the altar with our treasure IF we learn to ‘die to self’, seek to be pure and holy before the Lord, and let the Holy Spirit direct us to resolution with that other person.
God does not want our treasure if un-forgiveness weighs down our heart.
Our treasure is the ‘result’ of forgiveness, consolation toward the other, that frees our heart and soul to Love our Lord as we should.
Pray about it.
Go.
Reconcile.
Let your heart rejoice before you bring your treasure to the Lord.
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