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1 Corinthians 1:30-31

17 Apr

God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:30-31

Dear God, I just read most of this chapter, starting with verse 18. It’s all about your wisdom and our foolishness. So as I sit here and think about how grateful I am for my connection to you through Jesus, and how you are my only thing in which I can boast, I wonder how should I pursue wisdom and knowledge.

My temptation is to still seek wisdom in the world’s way. To make “smart,” “wise,” and “rational” decisions. But somehow I need to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit and your still small voice than that. I need to tend to the soil of my heart and make sure it is clear of thorns and rocks so that you can grow a good crop within me.

Father, help me to continue to turn loose of the cares of this world and the pursuit of wealth. My soil isn’t terrible, but it could be better. Help me to be mindful of you today.

I pray this in your holy name,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 17, 2023 in 1 Corinthians

 

The Christmas Story as Seen by Bono

15 Apr

“The Christmas story has a crazy good plot with an even crazier premise – the idea goes, if there is a force of love and logic behind the universe, then how amazing would it be if that incomprehensible power chose to express itself as a child born in shit and straw poverty.” Bono

Dear God, it really isn’t the plan I’d have come up with at all. In fact, I just don’t understand how you could have come up with it except that it must have been the only way. No, I’d have done it differently. I’m not sure how, but it would have been less loving, less sacrificial, and less vulnerable. I’d have put limits on how much I was willing to suffer for humankind. For someone like me.

The people then just wanted you to do what they needed in the moment–overthrow Rome. That would have been too short-sighted and limiting for what you needed to accomplish. Your plan was so rich and all-encompassing. It not only provided a path for all humanity to commune with you and worship you, but it also used Jesus’s example and teaching to show us how to live. And yes, he grew up poor too. That’s pretty interesting.

Father, I confess to you that my love has limits. My love for you, my wife, and my children has limits. I’m only capable of so much. I’m continuously amazed, however, at just how big my love for you, my wife, and my children is. It’s more than I could ever have imagined it could be. But seeing how richly you love, how willingly you sacrifice, and how vulnerably you entered the world makes me want to worship you all the more. I have nothing without you. Thank you.

I pray to you through the opportunity you grant me through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 15, 2023 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

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The Next Generation

14 Apr

Dear God, I was reading Fred Smith’s blog post from yesterday and many thoughts came to mind. I would commend it to anyone. In it, he was describing how the Baby Boomer generation has responded to life through the decades and what kind of legacy it is currently leaving. Of course, things like this are always brushed with a broad stroke, and Fred would be the first to say that. In fact, he took time to talk about the “Boomers” who do not fit the stereotype, but the stereotype is there nonetheless.

One of my first thoughts is that the “Greatest Generation” is all but gone. Those that are still around are certainly weakened and their influence diminished. In my mind, the thing that defined the Greatest Generation the most was their struggle to survive. They survived the Great Depression. They survived World War II. They were forged by fire They were tempered. I’m not saying they were perfect. I’m not saying I idealize or idolize them. But I do think they had a strength as a group that grew through trial.

I also wondered if the disaster of the Vietnam War and its execution combined with the civil unrest with racism in the 60s didn’t create a new culture of protesting that has stuck with them and filtered down to the other generations today. I don’t know how many protests there were before the 1960s. I mean, I know there were protests before that. But did those that are in their 60s and 70s now embrace them in a new way as they expressed their anger and outrage? Did they see this as their best way to affect change? Their only way? Has this pattern of displaying anger to get your way somehow become baked into our political and other disagreements even today?

Incidentally, and speaking of Vietnam and the war there, I learned something interesting yesterday. There was a remarkable three-month period in 1973 that is fascinating. Richard Nixon was inaugurated for his second term on January 20. Lyndon Johnson, his predecessor and a president who expanded the war in Vietnam died on January 22. The U.S. signed a treaty to withdraw from South Vietnam on January 27. The U.S. removed the last of its troops on March 27. Finally, after the withdrawal, the South Vietnam president visited the US in April to seek assurances of financial and military aid from Nixon and pay respects at the LBJ’s grave.

But back on topic. This spirit of deciding that yelling is the best way to get your voice heard seems to have now won the day in our society. The idea that if I tell you how angry you’ve made me will get you to change course has drowned out constructive dialogue, and it seems to have seeped into Generation X (my generation) as well. I’m not saying the protests were wrong. I’m not saying the anger at the time was wrong. But the hammer of yelling, protesting, etc. seems to be the preferred tool for those who are trying to influence society or even their own communities or families now. I’ll admit that I’ve done it and used it too often. I’m sorry for that.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, help me to see that most things are not a nail, and my hammer is rarely the tool I need to address the issue in front of me. Help me to see that most issues are actually born of brokenness and broken people, and the tool I need to use more frequently is compassion and love. I need to listen better and talk less. I need to listen to you first. I need to hear your Holy Spirit in real time so that I can be who you need me to be. I need to worship you and till the soil of my heart. I need to be at peace knowing that there is actually very little that bothers me that I can affect, but there are all kinds of things I can do every day to allow your presence to enter the world through me. So forgive me for my belligerence, and let your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven through my life.

I pray all of this as I worship you, the God of the universe,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 14, 2023 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

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Romans 5:6

13 Apr

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.
Romans 5:6

Dear God, helpless is an interesting word here. Last Sunday, I heard a sermon where the pastor talked about a family who lost everything in a house fire. Now, they were experiencing tremendous blessing, kindness, and charity from countless people and they didn’t know how to respond. The pastor was talking to the man, who was a neighbor, not a parishioner, and the man told the pastor that he was really struggling with accepting all of this charity. The pastor replied that the man was feeling helpless for the first time, needed the help of others, and didn’t like it. That was hard. It’s hard for nearly all of us, frankly.

I think back to when we were children and we just expected things to be delivered to us. We did nothing to provide for ourselves and we did little to show in-kind or commensurate appreciation or love to those who were providing for us. We simply didn’t have the capacity to give back.

I knew a woman who, a few years ago, had to care for her father in his old age. Actually, I’ve known a lot of people in this situation. And it’s hard for both to embrace their new roles. It’s hard for both to understand what to do and how to accept what is happening.

All of this is to say, this is also how it is between you and us. You and me. I am helpless. I simply am. As my wife and I prayed together this morning, I talked about weeding the soil in my life to give the Holy Spirit room to work in me. I cannot do it on my own. I cannot will myself to be more like you. All I can do is try to clear out the thorns of this world (Matthew 13:22) and then give your Holy Spirit room to grow in me. That’s what I’m trying to do this morning. Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I am helpless and I need you. Please help me to turn loose of the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, take up my cross, and simply follow you.

I pray all of this under your authority and with great gratitude,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 13, 2023 in Romans

 

Mary: Parenting the Adult & Crucifixion

07 Apr

Dear God, as I think about trying to get into Mary’s (Jesus’s mother) skin, I think I want to break it into four parts:

  • Conception, Pregnancy & Birth
  • Parenting the Child
  • Parenting the Adult & Crucifixion
  • Resurrection & Post-Ascension

Frankly, I think these three years must have been a mystery to Mary. It had to have made no sense to her. I don’t know how much Jesus revealed to her about the revelations he was having as he matured. Did he tell her he was sensing he would be a sacrifice and not a conqueror? What were his relationships with her other children like? How much was she paying attention to him at this point vs. loving her other children? What were her expectations on Jesus as she carried the knowledge from her first angel visit up to this point?

The Wedding

This how John introduces us to Mary. Really, we don’t get too many Mary stories during Jesus’s adulthood, but this is the first one.

One thing that is always lost in written form is town of voice and body language. I wish we could hear the exchange between Jesus and Mary here. When Mary went to Jesus with the wine concern, was she playful? Did she have that little motherly twinkle in her eye that passively communicated to Jesus what she wanted him to do? And was his reply said in a frustrated or playful manner? Was he exasperated or was he just playing a game that had played many times before. The story certainly has a feel for not being the first time.

What we do know is that Mary understands he has special abilities. He is supernatural. He can creatively solve this problem and many others like them. I wonder what kinds of other expectations she had of him over the next three years that he didn’t yield to. I also think it’s important to remember that she is likely the last living person who experienced the angel visits firsthand. Joseph is likely dead. So too are Elizabeth and Zechariah. She doesn’t have anyone to back her up–to talk this through with. We all often need at least one other voice to help us sort things out sometimes. Our decision making and ability to evaluate a situation is often compromised when we do it in isolation. We are better in community. In Mary’s case, there simply was no one else at this point who could help her understand what was happening.

I also wonder why kinds of conversations she and Joseph had about Jesus while Joseph was living. Did they share their hopes and dreams for him and his life? Did they see liberation and world domination for Israel through him?

Jesus’s Mother and Brothers

I’m so glad Matthew, Mark, and Luke gave us this story of Jesus speaking and his mother and brothers outside asking to speak with him. It’s interesting that this happens in Matthew 12:38-50, and then Matthew gives us a chapter later in Matthew 13:53-58 the story of Jesus being rejected in the temple.

I can’t help but wonder what the family dynamics were like at this point. I know that family members talk about each other with each other. I can imagine Jesus’s siblings talking with Mary, not having personal experience with the angel visits, Elizabeth and Zechariah, Anna and Simeon, the shepherds, the wise men, etc. I can hear them questioning Jesus’s decisions and telling Mary he’s out of control. On the one hand, this seems like a big leap on my part, but the evidence in chapters 12 and 13 of Matthew is compelling. First, we know they want him to come out to them, away from being the center of a crowd and he rejects it. The intimation for me is that they were trying to correct him and control him. They didn’t trust him and believe in what he was doing. That’s the siblings anyway. Did Mary share those thoughts or was she badgered into them by his siblings. Was she legit concerned, or was she giving in to the concerns of her other children.

Regardless, it’s in chapter 13 that Jesus acknowledged that he feels neglected by his family. Much like movie lines that get misquoted and then taken as fact, the passage of Jesus’s rejection in the temple in Matthew 13:53-58. Verse 57 is the one we often quote as, “A prophet is without honor is his hometown.” But there is something else added to the end, and I checked the different translations to make sure they were consistent in this and they were. The New Living Translation quotes Jesus as saying, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his household.” (Emphasis mine) He obviously felt disrespected by his siblings at a minimum. Was Mary part of this skeptical disrespect too? All I can say is that Matthew made her a part of the first story and then included her as one of the people named by the crowd in the temple. It feels like she was not sure what was going on with Jesus or what to believe.

Crucifixion

So here we are. Seemingly, the end of the road for her son. There’s a song called, “Then Came the Morning.” I’ve mentioned it in these prayers before. The second verse talks about Mary: “The angel. The star. The kings from afar. The wedding. The water. The wine. Now it was done. They’d taken her son. Wasted before his time. She knew it was true. She’d watched him die too. She’d heard them call him, ‘Just a man.’ But deep in her heart she knew from the start somehow her son would live again.” Now, I’m not really down with that last part. I don’t see any evidence that she knew deep in her heart he’d rise again. As I’ve told you before, it’s like Princess Leia saying she’d known all along that she was Luke’s sister. No she didn’t.

But I digress. As she stood next to John at the foot of the cross, what must she have been thinking? Did Simeon’s words from Luke 2 in the temple come back to her: “This child is destined to cause the rising and falling of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Did she look around at the Pharisees and see their hearts revealed? Was she disillusioned with her Jewish leadership? And as for her own soul. Did she have regrets as a mother? Did she wish she had stopped Jesus from being so provocative? Was it all a waste of time? And how did God feel about all of this? Where were you in this?

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I offer you everything today. You know what’s on my heart. I don’t know where all of this is going? I don’t know how to parent my adult children. I don’t know so much. Teach me today. Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, on this Good Friday, the day that represents this terrible beating and crucifixion, teach me today.

I pray this all under your authority, grateful for you and everything you are to me,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 7, 2023 in Mothers of the Bible

 

Mary: Parenting the Child

04 Apr

Dear God, as I think about trying to get into Mary’s (Jesus’s mother) skin, I think I want to break it into four parts:

  • Conception, Pregnancy & Birth
  • Parenting the Child
  • Parenting the Adult & Crucifixion
  • Resurrection & Post-Ascension

So today I want to look at the second part. From presenting Jesus at the temple through finding him at the temple as a boy (temple to temple, so to speak, we get a look at what her life and perspective might have been like as the mother of God’s son.

Presenting at the Temple

This story to me is all about the prophecies of Simeon and Anna, but it starts with the fact that this poor couple was doing their duty, but they could barely afford to do it. But offering the two young pigeons as a sacrifice also reminds me that the least of the sacrifices was good enough for Jesus. You don’t have to have great resources to give a child everything he or she needs.

But back to Simeon and Anna. Simeon tells gives her two important pieces of information. First, he affirms to her that this child is who she and Joseph think he is. He calls Jesus his salvation and talks about how he will be a light for Gentiles and glory for Israel. Then he gives them a warning: He will cause many in Israel to rise and fall, the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed, and a sword will pierce Mary’s soul. As far as I can tell, this is the first time anyone has told Mary that this will be a difficult journey.

Then Anna came up and affirmed to Mary and Joseph that Jesus was special, even telling everyone around how special this child would be. This was a day of affirmation, but there was obviously a warning for Mary as well that she carried with her the rest of her life.

The Wise Men

This is my first time to use any scripture from Matthew to talk about Mary. As the wise men arrive, Matthew 2 tells us, “They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him.” I wish Matthew gave us just a little more about these guys. I know other, non-New Testament sources give some more details, but I wish they were here because I’m wanting to stick to what’s actually in the text of the new Testament. But I think the big thing to know here is that Mary got another affirmation from these men, however many of them there were. I also have theories on what Mary and Joseph used the gifts for, but that’s another topic.

The Flight to Egypt

Here’s another story we get from Matthew. Luke skips all of the Egypt stuff and has them going straight to Nazareth, but Matthew takes us to Egypt and then eventually back to Nazareth in an indirect way. But taking the story of Joseph being told in a dream to go to Egypt and seeing it from Mary’s perspective, once I made up this dialogue that could have happened in the middle of the night between them:

Joseph: Mary! Mary, wake up!

Mary: What? What is it?

Joseph: We have to go.

Mary: What do you mean, “We have to go”? Go where?

Joseph: Egypt

Mary: Egypt?!? What are you talking about? Can’t we talk about this in the morning?

Joseph: No. The angel said we have to go immediately.

Mary: You saw an angel?

Joseph: Yes, the angel came to me like he did before and told me, “Get up! Take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to kill him.”

Mary: What?!? Are you sure that’s what he said?

Joseph: As sure as I was when he visited me last time and told me to marry you.

Mary: Okay, lets go!

For a mom to know that the king is out to kill her son–I cannot imagine what kind of fear that would generate. You have to protect the boy at all costs. He’s your son so you want to protect him anyway, but given that this was also God’s son, the protection of Jesus was paramount. This call to raise God’s son was going to cost both Mary and Joseph dearly. It was not an easy road. In fact, it was a particularly hard road. She gave up a lot to be Jesus’s mother.

Back to Israel and Nazareth

I cannot help but wonder how Mary felt about being sent home and going back to Nazareth. Would her family believe her about Jesus? Was it going to be okay for Jesus to grow up there? Would it be okay for her and Joseph? Would he be safe? So, so much uncertainty.

They Lost Jesus

I want to take some time to just sit in the period between when they realized Jesus was gone and they found him. What amazing fear they must have had! Was he taken by the soldiers and the current king? Was he dead? Where was he? This was God’s son. Had they messed up and done a bad job of parenting him? Had they failed? Was it all for nothing?

I’ve known parents to have lost their children at places like the store or the local county fair. Those moments are moments of terror. Thankfully, in the cases of the people I’ve known, they were only moments and the children were quickly found. But those minutes or hours were unbelievably stressful to them. I can only imagine how much more so given the fact that Jesus had been pursued by Herod in the past. That hundreds or thousands of children had died as a result. Had it finally come to pass that they had gotten him? Had Herod or whomever the king at the time was won?

The other side of this is how it violated trust that Mary and Joseph had obviously put in Jesus. They trusted him to not do things like this. I would imagine that their first instinct was probably not that he had wandered off on his own.

Found

It took them three days–THREE DAYS–to find him. When they found him he was in the temple with the teachers, listening and asking questions.

Mary’s psyche is telling: “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” She was that combination of angry and thrilled all at once. The relief combined with the anger must have been incredible. But then what was she to make of him being in the temple? With the teachers? What did all of this mean? How will it play out?

Father, I find myself asking a lot of questions in these prayers, both on my behalf and Mary’s. The truth is that she was doing her best to love and care for this boy, but there was no possible way she could know what you had in store for Jesus. How could she? There’s no way I knew then or I know now what you are doing not only in my own life, but in the lives of my children too. I have no idea. But I know I love them. I know I’m rooting for them and their happiness. I’m rooting for them to find peace. I’m rooting for how they know you. My job, like Mary’s, is to do what I can to be the parent you need me to be while not getting in the way of what you are trying to do. Help me to be exactly what you need me to be today.

I pray all of this in your Holy Name,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 4, 2023 in Luke, Matthew, Mothers of the Bible

 

Mary: Conception, Pregnancy & Birth

03 Apr

Dear God, as I think about trying to get into Mary’s (Jesus’s mother) skin, I think I want to break it into four parts:

  • Conception, Pregnancy & Birth
  • Parenting the Child
  • Parenting the Adult & Crucifixion
  • Resurrection & Post-Ascension

So today I want to look at the first part. I want to think about everything from Gabriel’s visit in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy (Luke 1:26) through the shepherds’ visit (Luke 2:16).

Part 1: Angel Visit

I noticed that Gabriel gives Mary a little more latitude than he gave Zechariah when he was questioned by each of them about how these pregnancies could be. I wonder if he didn’t know that Zechariah needed the quiet to really prepare while Mary needed supportive community and relationship. She needed to be able to talk–to Joseph, Elizabeth, etc. Maybe. Just maybe.

Also, Mary had no idea what she was saying yes to. Ignorance was her ally in this case because if she had known what the future had in store (from a manger birth to a crucified son), she might not have had the courage to accept. A lot was about to happen to her over the next 33 years. Actually, for the rest of her life, but especially the next 33 years.

I don’t want to miss what Gabriel told Mary about Jesus’s birth. This child will be the son of God. He will sit on David’s throne. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will have no end. No pressure there. I confess I’ve always wondered about this prophecy. From an earthly standpoint it simply didn’t happen. Why did you mislead her like that? Or did you mislead her? I can’t help but think of the fact that my eyes see so little. Our eyes, as humans, see so little. In the spiritual realm, Jesus does, indeed, sit on David’s throne and rules over the house of Jacob. He does indeed. But on this side of the veil it’s hard for any of us to see, including Mary.

Part 2: Buyer’s Remorse?

I wonder how much Mary regretted or was afraid of what she had committed to after Gabriel left and she had time to think about it. A lot of realities had to have set in for her. What will my parents, Joseph, friends, family and the greater community say? Will Joseph leave me? Will the townspeople stone me? Is my life in danger? How am I going to raise this baby? Did I imagine the whole thing or did I really talk to an angel? Am I really pregnant? This was not how she thought her life would go at all.

I love how you provided Elizabeth and Zechariah for her. I mean, really, what a great thing for you to do. Life Ruth for Naomi, you gave Mary the knowledge that there was a weird, God-driven pregnancy in her own family so she went there looking for support. If anyone was going to believe her, Elizabeth and Zechariah were probably her best shot. And you affirmed her when she got there. She never had to say a word to Elizabeth. Elizabeth became a prophet and proclaimed your truth to her. She not only felt loved in that moment, but she also had to be somewhat relieved to have some validation. She wasn’t crazy. You were with her. She got to tell the story of Gabriel’s visit with excitement instead of trepidation. I wonder if she and Zechariah even compared notes on how he looked, with Mary talking to Zechariah and Zechariah writing his descriptions down. This whole part of the story had to have filled her with so much worship of you, affirmation and courage. In fact, we know it did because she broke out into “Mary’s Song.” She doesn’t completely understand what you will do through Jesus. She still have a human’s eye for what to expect from you and this child. But she is certainly feeling good and relieved in this moment, worshipping you throughout.

Part 3: Bethlehem

Here’s the first time we get to see Joseph in Luke’s Gospel, although Matthew seems to give us Joseph’s story without much of Mary’s. In Luke 2:1-5, they head to Bethlehem together. Their first trip alone? Maybe. Maybe it was their first time having to problem solve together. And then, in verse six, she gives birth and then we are given the information that she had to put him in a manger be cause there was no lodging available for them.

Forget the details for a bit. Was it a barn? A cave? It doesn’t matter. What we know is that this was not the optimum place to have to give birth and then care for a newborn. I can only imagine the emotions of that night. The fear. No money. They obviously didn’t have a regular place to stay or they would have given birth there. No, I personally think they might have been camping outside of town. She could have given birth in their tent and then laid the baby in the manger. They could have even brought the manger into their little tent. I don’t know. But I know if it were me I would have been scared and wondering if you were really in this. Why would you allow your son to be born into such poverty? Was it okay that I laid him in a feed trough. This would seem to be an absolute mess. This simply isn’t how this should be going. Was I letting you down? These would be my thoughts.

Then here comes the next round of affirmations. Mary has these dirty shepherds show up with a great tale about angels, songs, and prophecies. And there is one key prophecy that they tell her: they were told they would find Jesus in a manger. Such a specific detail. God sees and God is not upset. He is blessing Mary and Joseph with these wonderful affirmers. He could have chosen anyone to affirm them or announce Jesus’s birth to. The local church or city leaders. The Pharisees. The high priest in Jerusalem. But he went the other way. He found the most unlikely candidates. I don’t know why. If I were to guess, it would be that these guys were no threat to Mary’s and Joseph’s authority over Jesus’s young life. They were just glad to be part of it, and admiring of the young couple. In my mind, anyone else might have tried to get the baby away from them. But these guys were humble, worshipful, and affirming.

Father, thank you for the affirmations you have been giving to me lately. Even as problems have arisen over the last week or two, you have simultaneously brought me solutions. Thank you. Thank you for the success of our dinner. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your kindness. Thank you for absolutely everything you are doing for me. You know the particular cloud that is hanging over my heart right now. Make my path straight as I try to figure out what I am supposed to do or NOT supposed to do. Make it clear to me. I only want to do what will bring about your will on earth as it is in heaven.

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

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 3, 2023 in Luke

 

Mary

02 Apr

Dear God, someone called yesterday and asked that I teach a Sunday school lesson for their class at the Methodist church. It’s an interesting thing to be just a layman, non-Catholic attending Catholic church with my wife and asked to teach a Sunday school class at a Methodist church. I’m honored to be asked. But I definitely need to spend some time in prayer about this. As I’ve thought about this over the last 24 hours, I kind of came to the idea that I might want to focus on Mary’s (mother of Jesus) Easter nearly 2,000 years ago. Her journey as we know it from the New Testament started with her visit from an angel and ended with her being with the apostles after Jesus’s ascension. There are other stories about Mary, but I’m going to just stick with what we know through the New Testament.

The thing that comes to mind when I think of Mary is what I think of when I think of any parent in the Bible–really any parent in general: We have no idea how things will work out for our child(ren) or how you will be involved in their lives. In fact, as I write this my wife is watching Everything, Everywhere, all at Once with a friend in our living room. That movie is about a woman not understanding why her own life turned out the way it did and struggling with her relationships in all directions–father, husband, and daughter.

It makes me think about my own life. I can remember so vividly holding my children when they were born. Not knowing how their lives would turn out. Not having any idea how or if they would have a relationship with you. Not understanding, really, how to be what they needed. Nearly 27 years later, and I still feel that way. I have no idea what you’re up to in their lives or in mine.

Father, be with me as I spend the next week with Mary. Help me to hear your voice. Prepare my words for this group of people who might need to hear something a little different in the Easter story. Something that will bring them peace. Bring me healing through this process as well.

I pray this in gratitude for everything you do for me,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 2, 2023 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories, Uncategorized

 

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Spiritual Discipline

01 Apr

Dear God, I was reading a marriage daily devotion this morning, and it had a line in it that caught my eye: “That’s what makes forgiveness an essential spiritual discipline.” (Gary Thomas, Simply Sacred, April 1) I appreciate the idea that forgiveness, especially in marriage, is important. I agree. And forgiveness can be really hard. It is especially hard when it has to be offered without being sought by the offender. I’m still trying to figure out how to work through that sometimes. What it means and what it doesn’t.

But what are other spiritual disciplines to which I should pay attention? Let me see what kind of a list I can come up with here (not in any specific order):

  • Contemplative Prayer
  • Scripture Study
  • Individual worship
  • Corporate worship
  • Community (one-on-one Christian relationships as well as group work)
  • Forgiveness
  • Outreach to neighbors (evangelism?)
  • Repentance
  • Striving for holiness
  • Loving neighbors
  • Giving (time and money)

Funny. This list reminds me of the checklist on the offertory envelopes in my Baptist church when I was a kid. It had things like:

  • Present
  • Bible brought
  • Bible daily read
  • Lesson studied
  • Giving
  • Worship attendance

I think this list was supposed to give me a framework for developing spiritual discipline. And the envelopes I had gave a number value for each item that was supposed to add up to 100. I don’t remember which ones were worth more points, but I know they weren’t equal. It was an interesting thing for me as an 8-year-old to see and think about.

Father, I have a Saturday before me. I have opportunities to do a lot of different things. I’m about to do a big bike ride. How will I use that time on the bike? I’ll have time later in the day to spend with my wife, contact friends, and then just some down time. How will I use that time as well? I can’t answer all of that now, but please help me to be mindful of some of these things as I think about disciplining myself to be transformed into the new creation you have for me to be.

I pray this under your authority,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 1, 2023 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

Isaiah 53

30 Mar

53 Who has believed our message?
    To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?
2 My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot,
    like a root in dry ground.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,
    nothing to attract us to him.
3 He was despised and rejected—
    a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
    He was despised, and we did not care.

4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
    it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
    a punishment for his own sins!
5 But he was pierced for our rebellion,
    crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
    He was whipped so we could be healed.
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
    We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
    the sins of us all.

7 He was oppressed and treated harshly,
    yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
    And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
    he did not open his mouth.
8 Unjustly condemned,
    he was led away.
No one cared that he died without descendants,
    that his life was cut short in midstream.
But he was struck down
    for the rebellion of my people.
9 He had done no wrong
    and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
    he was put in a rich man’s grave.

10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him
    and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
    he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
    and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.
11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
    he will be satisfied.
And because of his experience,
    my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous,
    for he will bear all their sins.
12 I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier,
    because he exposed himself to death.
He was counted among the rebels.
    He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.


Isaiah 53

Dear God, this is an amazing prophecy. Not only that. It’s amazing that Jesus fulfilled it. Thank you!! THANK YOU!!!

I was talking with a friend recently who relayed a conversation with a friend of theirs that I don’t know, but it stunned them. Basically, this person blamed you for everything. What you created was bad. You created angels and there was an angel war that you sanctioned. You created people and families, and there are almost no good examples of families in the Bible (remember, this is all according to this person my friend knows). Even now, so many families are wrecked. In this person’s eyes, you create bad things. You are bad. And they apparently didn’t used to feel this way.

But I read this and it reminds me of just how loving you are. This person would say you killed your son because you are bad. I would say you did everything you had to do to reconcile us to you, including giving us teaching and examples through this son–YOUR SON. He bore my sins. He intercedes for me. Even now, he intercedes for me. Thank you!! THANK YOU!!!

Oh, Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I really do thank you. I really do worship you. In you I put my faith. I put my trust. I am so burdened by the suffering of others. I was at a fourth-grade musical performance tonight at our local elementary school and I was looking around the room at all of the family members there to watch their children. I know there was so much pain in that room. It hurt my heart. I can’t address it all. What part do you have for me? Show me. Reveal to me. And you know the personal prayers I have for my own family. Do something I can’t imagine because right now I feel pretty hopeless. Do all of this so that your kingdom might come and your will will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

I pray all of this for your glory and under your authority,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 30, 2023 in Isaiah

 
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