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Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20)

07 Sep

13 Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. 2 A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. 3 He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. 4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! 9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”

11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13 That is why I use these parables,

For they look, but they don’t really see.
    They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.

14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,

‘When you hear what I say,
    you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
    you will not comprehend.
15 For the hearts of these people are hardened,
    and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
    so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
    and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
    and let me heal them.’

16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.

18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. 20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. 23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

Matthew 13:1-23

4 Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. 2 He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:

3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. 4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” 9 Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

10 Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.

11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, 12 so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:

‘When they see what I do,
    they will learn nothing.
When they hear what I say,
    they will not understand.
Otherwise, they will turn to me
    and be forgiven.’”

13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? 14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. 15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. 16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. 20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

Mark 4:1-20

Dear God, I think I might have some thorny soil. Why do I say that? Because I woke up several times last night and I was not at peace at all. I have some things on my heart that are burdening it. And I guess I’ll go ahead and say it. My temptation is to be coy and vague, knowing you know what I’m referring to, but what I kept thinking about was Christian Nationalism as it is impacting Christianity in the United States as a whole and my community in particular. It kind of reminds me of the COVID-19 pandemic when it first hit. We heard about it other places, but then all of a sudden people were in our hospital with it. People I knew had it. People I knew died from it. I mean, yes, it’s possible that your Holy Spirit is putting this on my heart so that He can use me in some way, but right now it doesn’t feel like my response is pure and of you. It feels full of fear, despair, and sorrow.

So that brings me to the thorny soil. I think it’s safe to say that my heart doesn’t fit the description of being the seed that fell on the path or among the rocks. I’ve been here with you too long for that to be true. Oh, but I can let some thorns come in. Some weeds. I can let “the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things” come in and rob your ability to grow the fruits of your Spirit in me. Some of the worries I’ve let in include worrying about money at work and if we will continue to have enough revenue to operate the programs we offer our patients. I still have a tendency to read too much news. I want to have a nice vacation with my wife next month. I have family relationships that are strained and make me ache. Yes, my soil is thorny. It needs some weeding.

I also want to go back and look at Matthew 13:12: 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. Am I a listener? Am I seeking you? Do I provide space for your still small voice to talk to me? Do I seek voices I trust who will speak to me with your authority? Do I stop and find you in the secular things in my life? I want to have an abundance of knowledge. If I have a little, I don’t want you to take it away from me.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I earnestly pray that you help me weed my soil. Help me to hear. Help me to seek. I believe. Help my unbelief. Help me to love with your love. When others call for you to rain fire down on Samaria, help me to just rest in your arms and walk with you to Jerusalem. I want your fruits, Holy Spirit. I want your comfort. And I want to be your vessel so that you might enter this world through me and my life. Here I am, Lord. Send me.

I pray all of this completely submitted to you,

Amen

 
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Posted by on September 7, 2023 in Mark, Matthew

 

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Parable of the Divided Kingdom (Matthew 12:22-30, Mark 3:20-30)

05 Sep

22 Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. 23 The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?”

24 But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.”

25 Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. 27 And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. 28 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. 29 For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.

30 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.”

Matthew 12:22-30

20 One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat. 21 When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said.

22 But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan,[e] the prince of demons. That’s where he gets the power to cast out demons.”

23 Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. “How can Satan cast out Satan?” he asked. 24 “A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. 25 Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 26 And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive. 27 Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.

28 “I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, 29 but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.” 30 He told them this because they were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.”

Mark 3:20-30

Dear God, I remember when I was a kid being freaked out by the idea of being irredeemable from blaspheming the Holy Spirit. I certainly hope I have never done this. I’m fascinated that there is a line drawn in the sand there. I can blaspheme against Jesus and it’s forgivable, but not the other. Oh, Lord, I simply lay myself before you and beg your mercy. Lord, have mercy. Jesus, have mercy. Holy Spirit, have mercy.

So we get the same parable/analogy from Jesus in two different settings here. I never thought about this before, but apparently he experienced this accusation more than once and was able to use the same concepts to teach and explain each time. It was one of his go-to defenses against accusations of being sent from Satan.

The question for me is, how do I keep from being your enemy? How do I keep from being the part of your kingdom that will sow dissension and make at least the little part that I touch weaker? No, I don’t think little ol’ me can make your kingdom fall, but I can certainly do damage to your kingdom. Do I represent you accurately? Do my actions cause anyone to not trust you?

Father, right now, there is something within our local pastoral collective that concerns me. In fact, there are a few things that concern me. We have normally been a pretty cohesive, supportive, constructive group, but I can see a few things that have sneaked in to divide us. I do not want to be part of that division. At the same time, I do not want to ignore those things and enable them to cause more division. Help me to know what to do. Help me to know what to say. Help me to also know what not to do and what not to say. All for your glory, oh Lord.

I pray this in the name of Jesus, my savior,

Amen

 
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Posted by on September 5, 2023 in Jesus's Parables, Mark, Matthew, Parables of the Bible

 

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Parable of New Cloth & Old Garment/Old & New Wineskins (Matthew 9:16-17, Mark 2:18-22)

04 Sep

14 One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?”

15 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

16 “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.

17 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.”

Matthew 9:14-17

18 Once when John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, some people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t your disciples fast like John’s disciples and the Pharisees do?”

19 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can’t fast while the groom is with them. 20 But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

21 “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.

22 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins.”

Mark 2:18-22

Dear God, this has always been one of those vague parables/analogies of Jesus that I really could have used a later section where Jesus explains the parable like he did at other times. This seems like too big of a deal to just let it go with these two quick references.

Jesus had come to bring whole new thing. The old garment, the old wineskins, were not fit to handle his new Gospel. They weren’t fit to contain what we would eventually call Christianity. Did Jesus fast and pray? Yes. Did he tell his disciples that some things only come out through fasting and prayer? Sure. But what the Pharisees were doing and had taught no longer made sense in this new song Jesus was teaching.

A local pastor I respect put out an email to local pastors recently that he was about to lead a study on a book by an author whom I have heard is more along the lines of Christian nationalism. Not wanting to prejudge the book or the author, I downloaded the sample on my Kindle app and read the endorsements that come with the book along with the introduction. I was disappointed because it was definitely about the Christian church exerting power and influence over the government. Interestingly, it drew parallels to Dietrich Bonhoeffer from Germany in the 1930s and his call for the church to resist Hitler’s Nazi regime and ideals, but I saw key differences. Anyway, I don’t want to get into all of that except to say that this type of approach seems to be very “old wine skin” and “old garment.” It doesn’t feel to me like who Jesus is. As I read this book, I tried to imagine Jesus, or even any of the apostles reading the book and thinking it was the right message–even the bombastic, front-lobed Peter. It looked more like Israel of the Old Testament, taking the world by force in your name, rather than the Jesus who led with prayer, service, persuasion, and suffering. When we start striving for power and influence then we will lose sight of you and make that our idol, and we will do whatever it takes to achieve it. We will be more like James and John, asking Jesus if they can sit at your right and left or if they should call down fire on Samaria, rather than Paul considering his own life worth nothing to him or James, the brother of Jesus, saying we should take our suffering and consider it joy.

Father, I realize I am being very judgmental right now. I’m sorry for that. But I am truly trying to process how you want me to respond to this. The pastor who is promoting this study. I still love him very much. I respect him as well. I just want to know how to love him as you would have me love him. I want to also see the error in my own thinking. Am I too weak? Am I not courageously taking up my cross and following you? Speak to me. Holy Spirit, speak to me. Help me to know exactly how to get rid of my old wine skin for your new ones. Help me to pre-shrink my fabric to make it fill in the gaps for the old, torn covenant of the Old Testament. For the beautiful symphony of Christianity that Jesus wrote, help me to be an effective player.

I pray all of this in complete submission to you,

Amen

 
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Posted by on September 4, 2023 in Jesus's Parables, Mark, Matthew, Parables of the Bible

 

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Parable of the Speck and the Log (Matthew 7:1-5)

03 Sep

 1“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

Matthew 7:1-5

Dear God, this is part of Matthew’s recording of the “Sermon on the Mount.” First, I’ll say that it hurts to be called a hypocrite by Jesus, but it fits. Sure I’m a hypocrite. Of course I am. I’m sorry that I am. I recognize that I am.

In the TV show Ted Lasso, one of the favorite quotes people will say from the show (which is actually attributed to Walt Whitman in the show, but is apparently not really from Whitman) is, “Be curious, not judgmental.” Here’s the scene:

It’s a different take on what Jesus taught here, and it doesn’t involve the self reflection that Jesus encourages in his statement, but it still makes me think of it. There are two parts of judging someone, I suppose. There’s the empathy and hypocritical nature of it that Jesus is pointing out, and then there is the lack of compassion that “Ted” points out in this scene.

There are some people who are really frustrating me right now. Some of them make me angry. And I’ve certainly judged some of them. But you are calling me to use that as an opportunity for self-reflection. When I see the speck in their eye, what is the log in my own? And then maybe when I identify my log I can turn around and figure out why it is I do what I do in that area? What is motivating me? And finally, I can maybe then take that knowledge and apply it to the person I’m judging. Did they wake up that morning wanting to do harm, or do they think they are doing the right thing based on their experience, hurts, and wounds?

Father, we can read over this little parable so quickly and easily. We can even watch this scene from Ted Lasso, enjoy Rupert getting beat at his own game, and then not stop to wonder if we aren’t more often the “Rupert” of the story than we are the “Ted” (see Disney Princess Theology by Erna Kim Hackett). I admit that I’m guilty of it. I probably watched that scene from Ted Lasso four or five times before I stopped to wonder about the real meaning of that quote, or if I am Rupert. So help me today, Holy Spirit. Help me to embrace you and hear you. Help me to listen to you and your still, small voice. Help me to turn loose of the ways I judge others to prop myself up, and to instead find ways in which I might impact your world through prayer, service, persuasion, and suffering.

I offer all of this to you through the gift of mercy you gave me through Jesus, my Lord,

Amen

 
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Posted by on September 3, 2023 in Jesus's Parables, Matthew, Parables of the Bible

 

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Parable of the Lamp (Matthew 5:14-16, Mark 4:21-25)

01 Sep

14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Matthew 5:14-16

14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Mark 4:21-25

Dear God, what am I a lamp for? Why am I a lamp? What’s the purpose of my lamp? Well, it’s right there at the end of each of these versions of this parable: …so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. It’s interesting that the words are exactly the same for each of the two versions. I wonder if the translators of the NLT paid attention to that when they wrote it down.

So here’s my problem. I live a life that is dedicated to you as much as I can. On a scale of 1-10, I’m probably a 5 or 6, but most are a 2 so it looks like I have this amazing relationship with you. My point is, people respect me. I had a woman in my office yesterday who probably really disagrees with me about some of the social/culture issues we are facing, but she said more than once she wanted to engage with me about it and understand my thoughts because I am someone she really respects. So I have earned integrity with those around me, and that’s great.

Oh yeah, I started that paragraph with “here’s my problem,” but then I didn’t say what the problem is. The problem is that I don’t seem to help people take the respect they have for me and turn it into a desire on their part to disciple with you and know you better. Yes, people can see that I know you and give you glory, but I don’t seem to be effective at helping them to take that next step in their journey with you.

Father, help me to be your light in the world. Help me to live a life that causes others to praise you, worship you, and commune with you. I received a letter a couple of days ago from an anonymous woman names Faye with a local PO box who wanted me to find you through being a Jehovah’s Witness. While that’s not going to happen, and I believe her letter (and being Jehovah’s Witness overall) was ill-conceived, I do admire her willingness to try to point people to the God she worships (not sure if I should do God with a little “g” or not since I do think she is trying to worship you). She is not just living a life dedicated to you, but she is trying to get others to live that same life. As I go through this day, help me to have that same kind of courage. I would be nothing without you. I have no idea what kind of shambles my life would be without you. Thank you. Thank you for breaking me, melting me, molding me, and filling me. Now, Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

I pray all of this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on September 1, 2023 in Jesus's Parables, Mark, Matthew

 

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How Would Jesus Fight the Culture War – Revisted

31 Aug

Dear God, I was in a culture war situation yesterday, so I thought it would be important for me to come back and look at the Holy Post Podcast Episode 532: How Would Jesus Fight the Culture War? I did a prayer journal on it last November, and I want to go back and be reminded of the things I learned then and see if there maybe isn’t something else you want to teach me this morning.

I just read through a lot of the prayer journal I did, and the thing you pointed out to me that I might have glossed over before is praying for those who concern me. Who worry me. Who I think are causing damage, maybe even in your name.

So Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I pray for the people who are on my heart this morning. I pray for their peace. I pray that they might find their peace in you. I pray that you will raise up voices in their lives that are from you that they can hear. That will speak with your authority to them. I pray that they might see the limits you placed on us as your ambassadors in the world: prayer, service, persuasion, and suffering. I pray that you will inspire them to take you into the world in a spirit of love. I pray that the fruits of your Holy Spirit will flow through them and out of them. I pray that you will create soil in their hearts that will help them to give your Spirit space to flourish. And lest I be self-righteous about this, I pray each of these things for myself too. I need your peace. I need to hear your voice through people around me. I need people who are from you to speak with authority into my life. I need to devote myself to prayer, service persuasion and suffering. I need to weed out the soil of my heart and give room for your Holy Spirit to grow your fruit in me. Jesus, thank you for your power and your example. Father, thank you for your ultimate love. And Holy Spirit, thank you for being with me now.

I pray all of this submitted to your authority in my life,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 31, 2023 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

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Parable of Salt (Matthew 5:13)

28 Aug

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

Matthew 5:13

Dear God, Matthew follows up the Beatitudes with this little metaphor. Yeah, I guess this is really more of a metaphor of Jesus than it is a parable, but I think I’ll go with it anyway. He’s making a point.

So what does salt do? It preserves in an era when preservation was difficult and refrigeration non-existent. And when I was a camp counselor, we used to say at mealtime that salt made everything taste better. So what does it look like for me to be salty? What does it look like when I’ve lost my saltiness?

I think the best thing I can do after loving you with all my heart soul and strength, is to love my neighbor by being salty. Adding goodness to them. Adding quality to their lives. Being a solution to their problem. Now that I think about it, salt is only useful when it combines itself with something else. It isn’t the nourishment. It has some nutritional value in that we need to replace sodium in our bodies, but it needs other foods to be good and the other food needs it as well. If I just try to be salt in isolation, I will never be useful and no one will want me. But if I allow myself to partner with something/someone else, I can be part of your presence in this world.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, tomorrow’s parable will be the Parable of the Lamp. How I am to shine for you. But right now, I want to focus on being a functional part of your plan. You guide me. You cover me. You make me better and salty so that I might be your ambassador into the world. Please help me to be useful.

I pray this in the name of the one, Triune God,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 28, 2023 in Jesus's Parables, Matthew

 

“Thursday” by Jess Glynne

27 Aug

“Thursday” by Jess Glynne

I won’t wear makeup on Thursday
I’m sick of covering up
I’m tired of feeling so broken
I’m tired of falling in love
Sometimes I’m shy, and I’m anxious
Sometimes I’m down on my knees
Sometimes I try to embrace all my insecurities
So I won’t wear makeup on Thursday
‘Cause who I am is enough

And there are many things that I could change so slightly
But why would I succumb to something so unlike me?
I was always taught to just be myself
Don’t change for anyone

I wanna laugh, I don’t wanna cry
Don’t want these tears inside my eyes, yeah
Don’t wanna wake up and feel insecure
I wanna sing, I wanna dance
I wanna feel love inside my hands again
I just wanna feel beautiful

Oh-oh-oh, oh I
Oh-oh-oh, oh I
Oh-oh-oh, I just wanna feel beautiful

I’ll wear my sweatpants on Thursday
And I’ll drink sloe gin from a can
I’ll build my own independence
I don’t always need a man

You know sometimes I feel lonely
Could do with the company
Oh, I get high when I’m down
But you know that’s alright with me
So I will do nothing on Thursday
Sit alone and be

And there are many things that I could change so slightly
But why would I succumb to something so unlike me?
I was always taught to just be myself
Don’t change for anyone

I wanna laugh, I don’t wanna cry
Don’t want these tears inside my eyes, yeah
Don’t wanna wake up and feel insecure
I wanna sing, I wanna dance
I wanna feel love inside my hands again
I just wanna feel beautiful

Oh-oh-oh, oh I
Oh-oh-oh, oh I
Oh-oh-oh, I just wanna feel beautiful
Oh-oh-oh, oh I
Oh-oh-oh, oh I
Oh-oh-oh, I just wanna feel beautiful

I won’t wear makeup on Thursday
‘Cause who I am is enough

And I, I wanna laugh, I don’t wanna cry
Don’t want these tears inside my eyes, yeah
Don’t wanna wake up and feel insecure
I wanna sing, I wanna dance
I wanna feel love inside my hands again
I just wanna feel beautiful

Oh-oh-oh, oh I
Oh-oh-oh, oh I
Oh-oh-oh, I just wanna feel beautiful
Oh-oh-oh, oh I
Oh-oh-oh, oh I
Oh-oh-oh, I just wanna feel beautiful

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Steve Mac / Ed Sheeran / Jessica Glynne

Dear God, I came across this song about a week ago on one of my Ed Sheeran playlists. He doesn’t sing it, but he is one of the writers and his fingerprints are definitely on it. I’ve thought about the song since then. I decided I wanted to journal and pray to you about what is hitting me about this song a few hours ago, so since then I’ve listened to it about 10 times.

So what is it that strikes me about this song? I think it’s the ache. The fatigue. The giving up and surrendering in it. It reminds me of coming to the end of myself and just falling into your arms. I don’t think that’s what Jess Glynne is implying when she sings it, but that’s what it reminds me of. It reminds me of the freedom of turning loose of what others think and only finding my feeling of “beautiful” in your eyes.

As I read back over the lyrics of this song, I wonder why Thursday. If I were to have picked the most likely out of the seven days of the week, I would have thought it would be a Saturday or Sunday. I also wonder what her (and when I say “her” I mean not just Jess Glynne, but the anonymous woman who relates to this song) other days are like. Performing. Acting. Putting on a show. Even for someone who works a regular job who identifies with this song. Maybe a school teacher or even someone who works with me. Maybe the person next to me in church. Maybe someone who has built a life of isolation. Maybe someone who is in need of real community.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, like I said, there is a real sense of ache in this song. I pray this morning for anyone for whom it might apply. I have a couple of people on my heart right now. Set them free. Give them a path to your peace. Help them to feel their beauty from your eyes. When I was first married, I really looked to my wife for my sense of affirmation. And while I certainly lean on her to tell me when I’m in error, I don’t feel that endless need for her adoration. I can just let her be. And the irony is that letting her go like that only makes me love her more, and I think it frees her up to love me as well. So I pray that the spirit of this song would be broken in the lives of those for whom it relates through Jesus’s mercy and blessing, I pray that they, and I, would feel our beauty in your eyes.

I offer this to you through the mercy of Jesus and in his name,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 27, 2023 in Hymns and Songs

 

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Romans 11:33-36

26 Aug

33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

34 For who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
    Who knows enough to give him advice?
35 And who has given him so much
    that he needs to pay it back?

36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

Romans 11:33-3

Dear God, there is a note after verse 35 that cross references Job 41:11a [you talking]: “Who has given me anything that I need to pay back?”

Several years ago, after I did a study of Job and understood his growth through the trials he experienced, I noticed something fascinating about Paul. He had the same perspective in his epistles that Job came to by the end of the book. It is the idea that our lives are not about us, but just completely submitted to you. Paul says as much in Acts 20:24, but he also lives it while incarcerated and still giving thanks to you and love to others. I wonder how much time Paul spent with the book of Job when he was a Pharisee–before his conversion to Christianity. Had he already decided, even as a Pharisee, that his life was worth nothing to him and submitted it to you, albeit in a misguided way? Was he already there by the time he was on the road to Damascus?

Going back to this passage, I confess that I do not understand your ways. I don’t know where all this is going or how it all works out. My hope is that you will lead me to the peace that passes understanding. I was telling someone earlier today how you are using struggles in my life to form me, and I said at the end, “Some days, I believe what I’m telling you.” There are days when I don’t believe it. There are days when I feel sorry for myself. There are days when I’m just sad. Sometimes even mad.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, to quote Job in chapter 40 and 42: “I am nothing–how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say….I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that question my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I–and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, ‘Listen and i will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” Well, for anything that I’ve ever said to complain about my lot, I am so sorry. I do repent. You are my God. My life is yours.

I pray this through the grace you gave me through Jesus.

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 26, 2023 in Romans

 

Judges 6:11-24

22 Aug

Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” “Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.” Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.” Gideon replied, “If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me. Don’t go away until I come back and bring my offering to you.” He answered, “I will stay here until you return.” Gideon hurried home. He cooked a young goat, and with a basket of flour he baked some bread without yeast. Then, carrying the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, he brought them out and presented them to the angel, who was under the great tree. The angel of God said to him, “Place the meat and the unleavened bread on this rock, and pour the broth over it.” And Gideon did as he was told. Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and bread with the tip of the staff in his hand, and fire flamed up from the rock and consumed all he had brought. And the angel of the Lord disappeared. When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, I’m doomed! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” “It is all right,” the Lord replied. “Do not be afraid. You will not die.” And Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and named it Yahweh-Shalom (which means “the Lord is peace”). The altar remains in Ophrah in the land of the clan of Abiezer to this day.
Judges 6:11-24

Dear God, sometimes you call us to do things that we feel totally unqualified or unable to do. I was talking with my wife this morning about how awful the gift of prophecy would be. It would be terrible, in my opinion, to know the future. I have zero desire to want to know the future. If I had known how hard it would be to obey what I felt was your leading in 2002 to leave my secure job and step out in faith on an unknown adventure, I probably wouldn’t have had the courage to do it. Ignorance was my ally. It still is.

Even for Gideon here. If he had known how much work lay ahead for him as a leader he probably wouldn’t have had the courage to do it. You gave him just enough information to move him forward, but not too much so that he would be frozen into inaction. Back in 2003, I developed a line that you keep me on a need-to-know basis and I very rarely need to know. I hold to that.

I know some people who are preoccupied with the end times and understanding them. I don’t know why that intrigues them. That makes no sense to me. I doubt you have much of a role for me in your end-times plans except that, in the unlikely event that I find myself alive and in the middle of them, you just want me to be faithful to you in the moment–doing what I can within the sphere of influence you’ve given me. Frankly, I doubt I would be able to tell if I was in the middle of your end times or not. I don’t think any human can figure that out this side of heaven.

Going back to the idea of being able to tell the future and how awful that would be, the movie Encanto had a character named Bruno. The family members were given different gifts such as super strength, creating flowers, shape shifting, etc. The one gift though that seemed like the absolute worst to me was Bruno’s. Bruno got the gift of seeing the future. And, spoiler alert, it doesn’t bode well for him or the family. They can’t handle the knowledge Bruno gives them. And, frankly, they don’t need it. He has visions of the future, but they don’t really bring any solutions. Only fear, dread, and confusion.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, thank you for reminding me to simply keep my head in this moment. I don’t have to worry about the past because your grace has given me hope and peace from the mistakes I’ve made and sins I’ve committed. And I don’t have to worry about the future because my life is worth nothing to me (Acts 20:24). All I have to worry about is what you’re calling me to do in this moment. So I give you this moment right now. I’m sorry I didn’t give you more moments this week. I’m sorry I haven’t sat down to do these prayer journals since Sunday, although my week wasn’t totally devoid of you. But I’m grateful for you. I’m grateful to be loved by you. And I’m grateful for the opportunity to get to love you. Thank you.

I pray all of this completely submitted to who you are–the one true God,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 22, 2023 in Judges

 

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