Isaiah 45:5-6
(In September JAM kids learned about Grit - Refusing to give up when life gets hard. with Orange) Read Isaiah 45:5-6
5 I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides me there is no god. I arm you, though you do not know me, 6 so that they may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other.
Who causes the sun to rise and set? Who put the sun in the sky in the first place? God did that! We can trust in a great big God who does great big things because there is no one else like God. Our human minds can’t even understand just how amazing God is. No matter what happens, God is in control.
Take a moment to walk outside and look up at the sky. Think about sun and the stars, the clouds and even rain – not to mention eyes to see all these wonderful things. God did all of that! God is big enough to handle anything we face in life.
When things seem out of control, stop and look up at the sky. The same God who takes care of the world also takes care of you. You can keep going with grit, you can hold on because God is in control.
Dear God, thank You for your Word and how it teaches us that we can hold on because you are in control. Help us to always remember that. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Let It Be
Let It Be
I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:18-19
My favorite prayer from the New Zealand Prayer Book comes from the service of Night Prayer. I had prayed this prayer before moving to New Zealand, but it became especially meaningful to me while I was there. In early 2020, the evening before New Zealand went into its first lockdown to stop the spread of COVID-19, the vicar of our church and I led a service with this prayer.
I invite you to pray this prayer at the end of your day. I hope you also find it to be a meaningful reminder of God’s faithful presence.
Lord,
it is night.
The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.
It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be.
The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives rest in you.
The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
all dear to us,
and all who have no peace.
The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day,
new joys,
new possibilities.
In your name we pray.
Amen.
Think about These Things
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8
It is always good to pause in the middle of the day, take a deep breath, and remember God’s loving presence. I invite you to pray this prayer for midday from the New Zealand Prayer Book. Be sure to leave some silence between each petition to reflect on its meaning for you and to remember God’s goodness.
Let us be at peace within ourselves. (silence)
Let us accept that we are profoundly loved and need never be afraid. (silence)
Let us be aware of the source of being that is common to us all and to all living creatures. (silence)
Let us be filled with the presence of the great compassion towards ourselves and towards all living beings. (silence)
Realizing that we are all nourished from the same source of life, may we so live that others be not deprived of air, food, water, shelter, or the chance to live. (silence)
Let us pray that we ourselves cease to be a cause of suffering to one another. (silence)
With humility let us pray for the establishment of peace in our hearts and on earth. (silence)
May God kindle in us the fire of love to bring us alive and give warmth to the world.
Lead me from death to life, from falsehood to truth;
lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust;
lead me from hate to love, from war to peace.
Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe.
Amen
Give Wings to Our Prayers
Give Wings to Our Prayers
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words. And God, who searches hearts, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27
In November of 2019, my family and I left our Minneapolis home and began a two-year adventure in New Zealand. Although the COVID-19 pandemic came along soon after our arrival, we still were able to explore much of that beautiful country and make some wonderful new friendships. Since there weren’t any Lutheran churches in the area where we lived, I became involved with the local Anglican parish, helping out in the church office and occasionally leading worship. That allowed me to become familiar with the New Zealand Prayer Book, a wonderful resource for prayer and worship published in 1989. As is common in New Zealand, the prayer book is written in both English and Māori, the language of the indigenous people, and it beautifully blends various cultural and spiritual themes.
I invite you to pray this prayer for morning from the New Zealand Prayer Book.
Creator of the universe, infinite and glorious,
you give us laws to save us from our folly;
give us eyes to see your plan unfolding,
your purpose emerging as the world is made;
give us courage to follow the truth
courage to go wherever you lead;
then we shall know blessings beyond our dreams;
then will your will be done.
Holy and enabling Spirit,
give wings to our morning prayers.
May those we support and cherish with our love
receive your grace to help them in their need.
Amen.
Whenever we pray, whether we have words to say or not, we can trust that the Holy Spirit is with us to intercede for us and to “give wings to our prayers.” Wherever you are now in this time of prayer, you are not alone.
Peace I Leave With You
Peace I Leave With You
by Sue Friest
John 14:27 NRSV
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid.”
Sometimes the tasks and responsibilities of the day can be staggering. Have I loved enough? Have I helped enough? Have I learned enough? Have I accomplished enough? There is just so much to be done. We are called to be Christ’s hands and love with Christ’s heart. That’s overwhelming! But Jesus’ promise to all of us is that he gives us a peace that the world does not even understand. The closing prayer was written to celebrate the canonization of Archbishop Oscar Romer. It says to me, “Rest in peace, good and faithful servant. I’ve got this.” Thanks be to God!
A Prayer of Oscar Romero
The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.
Nothing we do is complete,
which is a way of saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the Church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything,
and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
This enables us to do something,
and to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way,
an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results,
but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders;
ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future that is not our own.
Amen.
A New Commandment
by Sue Friest
A New Commandment
John 13:34-35 NRSV
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
This summer, while visiting Gooseberry Falls State Park, I was struck by the tenacity of the Cedar trees along the bank of the river. Year after year the high water of spring swells the river and the water relentlessly erodes the soil around the trees. Some trees are uprooted and float downstream. But others grow into stately stands. What I believe to be true about these trees is that they are rarely alone. Usually there is a cluster of trees in which the exposed roots are intertwined, each of them grounding the other, clinging to the rocks and burrowing down into the cracks. I am convinced that this connectedness is what has enabled them to withstand and thrive in an environment that is often not hospitable.
During the pandemic, I became acutely aware of how much I need to be connected to people. New ways to connect were created – bible studies, classes and social gatherings on zoom; family Christmas outdoors in winter gear; worship online and in parking lots and drive-by parties. But oh, how I missed the hugs and personal contact of friends and loved ones. When Jesus gave us the new commandment to love one another, He called us to be connected, to be in relationship with others in order to survive and thrive and be His disciples. When we hold on to each other we can endure challenges we never imagined and we can experience joy in more profound ways. Who today needs to see Jesus through the love you show?
Lord, thank-you for your amazing gift of unconditional love. Help me to love others as you love me. Open my eyes to those in need of my love today that they may know you. Amen
God’s Work Our Hands
By Sue Friest
God’s Work Our Hands
2 Corinthians 15:58 NRSV
Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
“If I knew that tomorrow was the end of the world, I would plant an apple tree today.”
Although this quote never appeared in Martin Luther’s writings, it is supposedly a proverb that he was fond of saying. To me, it is words of hope that encourage me to always be about doing God’s work in all circumstances. Fifteen years ago, we were tasked by the county to create a mitigation zone on the lakeshore to hold the soil and protect the water. We transplanted native shrubs and White Pine trees and seeded daisies and coneflowers. As the years evolved, nature reinvented our plan. All but one of the pines we planted were eaten by deer in the winter, beautiful birch seeded themselves, native White Pines seeded a multitude of pines and the wild flowers gradually receded due to lack of sunlight.
The pine in the picture is the one survivor of the original transplanted trees and it is 25 feet tall. I diligently caged it until it was safe from the deer and pruned it to encourage growth. I call this tree my legacy tree because it is for my grandchildren. I will never know this tree as a majestic pine, but have hope that my grandchildren will see it in its glory. Then this summer, I noticed sap weeping through the bark. It appears to have a disease and I can only watch and wait to see if it can heal. I can only plant and tend. I am not in control of what the outcome will be. Sometimes we plan and God laughs, but God calls us to plant, to tend, to water, to care for God’s earth and to care for God’s people. We may never see what our labor produces, but God promises that our labor will not be in vain even when the fruits are not apparent. Today there are six other young pines that grew from seeds that God’s creation planted. I tend them as well. Hopefully they will grow to become majestic pines even if my legacy tree does not survive. God never leaves us without hope.
Lord, thank-you for each day you give me to do your work. Give me eyes to see what needs to be done, compassion to do it, and trust that when I work in your name, it is not in vain. Amen
Genesis 1:31a
Stop.
Take a breath. List five things about yourself that you truly, deeply love, whether it’s family members, facial features, or favorite skills. Sit with these good things about yourself, giving thanks that God has made you very good indeed.
Listen.
God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. – Genesis 1:31a
Reflect.
Last Sunday, we heard from the creation story in Genesis. We heard three trustworthy promises in that story that carry us through uncertain times. We’re talking about those promises this week. We’ve talked about God’s promise to always provide and that we are made in God’s image.
Today, we’re talking about the promise that God has made us very good indeed. Maybe that doesn’t sound like much of a promise at first. Very good isn’t exactly excellent, fantastic, or marvelous, is it? It’s just a step up from “good”, which sounds like a shrug of the shoulders. Can you find any comfort in being very good? Would it help to hear that the Hebrew word for “very” here could be “vehemently”?
At this point in the creation story, God has made all things. Finally, after making all other pieces of creation, God makes people. When people are part of the fullness of creation, it goes from good to very good – or rather, vehemently good. Humanity isn’t an afterthought tagged on at the end. Humanity is the final, beautiful piece of creation that takes creation to its fullest good. But humanity also isn’t the only good thing out there. After all, God looks at everything that God made, and that’s what’s vehemently good.
That’s the dual promise in this one promise. First, that you – yes you, exactly as you are – are incredibly, totally, vehemently good. Second, that you are part of a larger, beautiful, meaningful whole, all of it working in unison to make something so grand and glorious that no superlative can really capture it. Very good will have to do.
Pray.
God, you have made me emphatically, enthusiastically, vehemently good. It is my joy and privilege to be a whole part of the goodness of your creation. I praise you for who you have made me to be and for all the good you will continue to do in my life. Amen.
Carry On.
Tell someone that they are good beyond words today. Send a note to someone who you appreciate, give a stranger a word of encouragement, or remind your child just how much you love her.
Genesis 1:27a
Stop.
Take a deep breath. Place your hand on your heart and feel its beat. Know that God made you exactly as you are, holy and wonderful. Take some time to rest in this promise.
Listen.
So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them – Genesis 1:27a
Reflect.
In worship on Sunday, we heard from the creation story in Genesis. We remembered then that there are three promises in that story that we can always trust, especially in times of new and uncertain things. We’re talking about those promises this week. On Tuesday, we talked about God’s promise to always provide.
Today, we’re talking about the promise that we’re made in God’s own image. Admittedly, this can be a tricky one. It frequently gets used and abused. After all, if you’re like God, you can just do anything you like, right? Whatever you think is right must be right because you’re like God. It becomes an excuse for pride and manipulation.
But for many of us, we have the opposite problem. We’re too ready to think of ourselves as unworthy, unlovable, or undeserving. If that sounds like you, please hear this word as a true promise: God not only made you exactly as you are in love and joy, but your whole self bears the imprint of God.
Not only that, but it pushes us beyond ourselves. All of humanity, every person, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, background, sexuality, profession, or favorite kind of cookie bears the image of God. There is something about the full spectrum of the entire diverse expression of humanity that points us to who God is. When we look into the face of another person, we see something true about God. The care we show each other reflects our love for God.
May this realization not only affirm your worth, but the worth of all people, moving you towards joy in who you are, right alongside your joy for who God made your neighbor to be.
Pray.
God, what a holy celebration that I am made in your image! I praise you that you have chosen me to be like you. I am overwhelmed by the realization that all people have received that same blessing. Show me how to keep sharing that truth with everyone. Amen.
Carry On.
Get a dry erase marker and write on your bathroom mirror: created in God’s image. Take a moment every time you see it to remind yourself that it’s true for you and for everyone you’ll meet today.
Genesis 1:25
Stop.
Take a deep breath. Consider the air in your lungs, something we so rarely even think about. Remember that even the air is a gift from God. Spend a moment in gratitude for all God’s gifts.
Listen.
God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good. – Genesis 1:25
Reflect.
In worship on Sunday, we heard from the creation story in Genesis. In that story of beginnings, we remembered that there were three promises that we could always trust, especially in times of new and uncertain things. We’ll talk about those promises all week.
The first promise is that God has given us everything that we need. In the creation story, the gift of what God has given us stays with things we can typically see and touch: land, water, plants, animals, each other. Any time we interact with these things, we remember how God has created them, God entrusts them to us, and God will continue to do this over and over, not only at the beginning.
But we also pray things like “give us this day our daily bread” in the Lord’s Prayer, remembering that God provides for us daily in ways that we sometimes distance from God. Food, work, relationships, money – all these things are gifts from God too, even if we often think of them as things we created all on our own. If we’re going to claim that God gives us everything we need – and we do – then we will remember that it includes not only what we might think of as “creation” but anything that exists in this good world God has given us.
May this realization give you comfort today, trusting that God will always provide for you, for others, and for the whole world God so loves.
Pray.
God, you have promised to always give me what I need. Calm my heart when I get anxious about what I don’t have or might need. Through the beauty of creation, remind me of all your good gifts. Amen.
Carry On.
What’s one way that you can fulfill God’s promise to provide by helping care for others today? Is there a friend who could use a meal dropped off? A charity that could use your financial gift? A nearby park that could use some trash clean-up?
Psalm 46.10
Shhhhh. Be still.
by Pastor Gary Dreier
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46.10
On Thursday I listed the various types of prayer; I promised to talk about “Silence” today. We are so busy, and our minds are so often racing from one thing to another, that we don’t have much time just to sit and be. This kind of prayer is popular now in our culture and the magazines call it “mindfulness.” For many who practice this “mindfulness,” it is an attempt to empty one’s mind, to lose oneself. For us Christians, however, the purpose of sitting silently before God is to lose ourselves so we can find ourselves resting in God’s protective arms.
This kind of prayer (traditionally called “contemplative prayer”) has been a part of church practices for millennia, but we moderns have gotten out of the habit. But, it is a practice that takes practice! Here are some tips:
Sit comfortably and offer a short prayer like “Dear God, fill me with your love.” Then try (it isn’t easy!) to empty your busy mind and offer all those thoughts to God. When a thought pops back in, watch it go by like a boat on a river and recenter on God. Try it for 5 minutes; then see if over a few weeks you can work up to 20 minutes.
An ELCA Bishop I knew told me “I really never notice any deep experiences when I practice silence, but if I don’t do it for a few days, my family notices it!”
If you try this kind of prayer, remember that the purpose of any prayer is to get closer to God.
Let’s pray. God, if you want me to practice this kind of prayer, give me patience and help me to do it in loving praise of your glory.
As you practice this prayer, you may want to begin and end it with Philippians 4.4-8.
Philippians 1.3
What different kinds of prayer are there?
by Pastor Gary Dreier
“I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you.” Philippians 1.3
There are many kinds of prayers; however, if you’re like me, I can get stuck in “Please” and “Thank you.” Those are two wonderful prayers, but there are others. To help keep my prayer life fuller, I use this little CARROTS device to remember all the ways God calls me to pray:
C Confession “Dear God, forgive me for not being the way you want me to be.”
A Adoration “Dear God, you are so marvelous, and I praise you.”
R Requests “Dear God, please help me find a job.”
R Remembering “ Dear God, please be with my aunt who is having surgery.”
O Others (The Bible verse above models this kind of prayer. We often forget to pray for others. Jesus even wants us to pray for our enemies!”)
T Thanks “Dear God, thank you for helping me find a job.”
S Silence We’ll talk about this on in our Saturday devotion.
Remember, the purpose of any kind of prayer is to get closer to God.
Let’s pray: Lord, we pray for our enemies. Help us to see each other as your child. Help us to love each other.
On Tuesday I suggested that you read Paul’s most joyful letter: the letter to the Philippians. If you’ve already done so (it’s short!), read it again; you’ll be surprised at what jumps out at you this time. Also, continue memorizing Philippians 4.4-8.
Philippians 4.6
by Pastor Gary Dreier
Are any prayers too small and insignificant?
“. . . in everything . . . let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4.6
“In everything”! So, what prayers are too small and insignificant? There is no prayer too small or insignificant for you to talk with God about!
I’ll often have a concern and start to pray about it, and then I stop myself: “With all the things that really matter in the world, why would I waste God’s time with something trivial like this?”
First, God has all the time that ever was, or is, or will be. God is God and can handle multitasking!
Second – and this is so important – God wants to hear from you. God wants to be in conversation with you no matter what prompts the prayer.
It hangs on this truth: The purpose of any prayer is not to get something; the purpose of prayer is to get closer to God.
Let’s pray: Thank you God for always being with us; and thank you for loving us so much that you want to be in conversation with us – to be in relationship with us.
Here’s a suggestion: this week, why don’t you read Philippians? It’s Paul’s most joyful letter and it’s only four chapters long. You might try to begin to memorize Philippians 4.4-8.
The Call
The Call (by Abby Andrus)
Here at Easter Lutheran, there is a bit of a buzz around the idea of “Calling” these days. The more I think about and see that word “calling”, the more obscure it looks and sounds.
call·ing, noun
/ˈkôliNG/
1. The loud cries or shouts of an animal or person.
2. A strong urge toward a particular way of life or career; a vocation.
Words in the above definition that stick out to me are loud, shouts, strong, urge. Very powerful words. Yet often we might not feel like our OWN callings are that bold or obvious. Often when we think about Gods calling, we might feel…. stumped, or unsure. Being able to discern Gods calling takes some intention, a dose of patience, and bravery. I invite you to journey to Easter Lutherans Prayer Labyrinth, or anywhere that you can quiet the world around you, and the demands pulling you in hundreds of directions. However you are able to tap into Gods voice in your life, think about your spiritual health. What do you need? How can you advocate for your faith life?
Now, think about the Easter Lutheran Community. We are on the brink of a new chapter at Easter, as many of us are preparing to start new school years, maybe new jobs, sports seasons, a new JAM season, and as we dive into calling two Associate Pastors. What is God calling Easter Lutheran to do and to be? What do we need in order to live into Gods Calling?
As a shameless plug, please come and discuss with Vision Board members how you hear God Calling us at a Congregational Listening Session. Your fellow members are ignited by hearing share others their dreams and truths. Help us discern and articulate the vision of Easter Lutheran.
Isaiah 6:8 (NIV) - Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Psalm 46:10 (NIV) – He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
The Pattern of This World
The Pattern of This World (by Abby Andrus)
Romans 12:2 (NIV) - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
When our lives were disrupted in March of 2020, we anxiously yearned for a return to “Normal Life”. Life as we once knew it. While the devastation of the Pandemic world was precisely that, devastating, on so many levels, the reboot has gifted us an opportunity to assess what is worth brining back, or what we might want to do differently in endemic days. Remember God grants us the ability to start new every day; perhaps not as blatantly as a global pandemic, New Years Day, a new month, or with a new school year. The words in Romans 12:2 invites us to assess our patterns, and to be transformed by renewal, TODAY.
I challenge you to spend some time meditating on Romans 12:2, or perhaps listening to one of my favorite songs. “Different”, by the talented Micah Tyler.
“And I don't wanna spend my life
Stuck in a pattern
And I don't wanna gain this world
But lose what matters
And so I'm giving up
Everything because
I wanna be different
I wanna be changed
Till all of me is gone
And all that remains
Is a fire so bright
The whole world can see
That there's something different”
You are My Anchor
You are My Anchor
Mark 4: 36-39 (NIV) - Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
When faced with our own storms, I feel as though we either cling to comfort or find ways to numb, or we can surrender into panic; just like the disciples did in the boat as a storm raged. Often with either approach (comfort and panic), we don’t find the solutions or results we truly want.
If you are a human in the world right now, I’m guessing you are experiencing your own challenges, obstacles. I would challenge you to in times you have the impulse to turn to easy or even panic, turn to God. There are endless ways to do that these days, one of my favorites is through music and intentionally listening to the words and using it as a meditation.
A go to song that serves to be a faith meditation for me is “Anchor”, by Skillet. Turn it on, take some slow deep breaths, and open your heart to how God can be your anchor in THIS moment. Let his love permeate your heart and steady you in this world. Let your faith calm your storms just as Jesus calmed the storm for his disciples in Mark 4:39.
Skillet sings,
Wave after wave, I’ve been sinking
So unto Your promise I’m clinging
You say that I’m strong, to You I belong
Keep holding on
You are my anchor
So steady me, steady me now…
Listening for God’s Voice
Listening for God’s Voice
Life is busy. Between the pick ups and drop offs, committees and clubs, & work and friends, the hustle and bustle of the fall is beginning to encroach on these remaining August days. Amidst this flurry of activity and commitments, when do we intentionally listen for God’s voice and calling in our lives?
Take this moment to pause and take a deep breath. Ready yourself for intentional listening and reflecting.
1 Samuel 3:10 -
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Walking in the woods or on the shore of a lake, we are prone to listen for and hear the sounds in our environment – the tap of a woodpecker or the lapping water against the rocks. This listening focuses our attention and often leads to further inquiry or reflection on both the physical landscape and our internal dialogue. We listen carefully. In many instances, we are likely in those places to find respite and quiet, and it is not surprising that we may find it much easier in these settings to listen and focus on what we are hearing – both the sounds of nature and the voice of God.
Some of my greatest memories of listening and quiet reflection have come while I’ve been gazing at the night sky and listening to sounds in the woods. What am I listening for? I don’t always know. What I do know is that in these moments I am ready to hear. In addition to the crickets and fire crackle, I am ready to hear God’s voice call my name and awaken me to sounds, experiences, reflections, or actions both new and renewed. I also know that I don’t do this often enough. I get consumed with the schedule and the next item on the list.
How many of us take time in our day to intentionally listen especially if we do not have the opportunity to be surrounded by nature? Do we listen to our surroundings and for God’s voice in a heightened way while we are in our homes and workplaces? What do we miss out on when we do not quiet ourselves and take a moment to listen – not just to our immediate surroundings but for God’s voice?
How do you set your intention to pay attention and listen for God in your life? I challenge you to take a few moments and sit either inside or outside and listen to what you hear. Do you hear birds in trees or the hum of an air conditioner? Sit long enough and you’ll be sure to hear more sounds of the world. Are you open to hearing more than surface level noise? How might you further reflect and inquire about these sounds and thoughts? How is God’s voice revealing itself to you and are you listening for it?
Dear God,
What sounds or messages do we miss when we do not intentionality listen for your voice or presence? We want to hear you and know that you may not always shout at us and demand our attention. We need to be intentional in our listening to not only your incredible creation but also to your calls for reflection and action in our lives and in the world. Help us listen for your voice so that when you call us, we can respond, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Amen
Division of the Church Body
1 Corinthians 12:26
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.
Have you ever injured yourself? I tore my ACL downhill skiing. I wish I could say I was traversing down the moguls of a black diamond mountain in Colorado. But no, my injury took place on a bunny hill in Minnesota. This injury not only affected my knee, but also the alignment of my back as I favored the injured joint. Consequently, my crooked back caused neck pain and headaches. A domino effect of suffering caused by one ailing part.
Paul writes that if one part of the Body of Christ suffers, we all suffer. The early church suffered to get along and unfortunately it still suffers today. And as I mature in my faith, I become more aware of the differences in the beliefs of the Christian faith, even among my closest friends. So much so, I try to avoid talking about my beliefs at all to avoid conflict all together.
My hope is that we can continue to love each other through our differences. And that His love would overflow and wash over that divide. As it says in 1 Peter 4:8: His love covers over a multitude of sins.
Let us pray: Gracious God, let us remember to love others, even if we disagree with them so the whole of the church does not suffer. Amen.
Cheerful Giver
God Loves a Cheerful Giver
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A Cheerful Giver Loves God
You’ve heard the Bible say “God Loves a Cheerful Giver. Now let’s flip it to say, “A Cheerful Giver Loves God.” Flipping it seems less guilt-ridden and passive aggressive to me. Instead of fearing the loss of God’s love if we don’t give… we choose to give cheerfully because we love our God, the giver of all good things. Jesus left us with two jobs. To love God and love our neighbor. Both commandments are fulfilled with we cheerfully give back to the world.
Let us pray: Gracious God, I love you and strive to be a cheerful giver every day. Amen
Exercise the Practice of Giving
Exercise the Practice of Giving
Jami Day
My whole life I was extremely thin. So much so, that in high school I was teased, and some accused me of having an eating disorder. To stop the bullying, I would wear two pairs of pants to school to look heavier. Because of my high metabolism, I never had to practice eating healthy foods or to exercise. That all changed in my late thirties. And for me it is true what they say, “it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks.” This dog struggled but eventually learned how to make healthier food choices. However, the practice of exercising was the most challenging for me. The first time on the treadmill had me panting after only five minutes and I almost gave up! Thankfully, I had a friend who encouraged me to persevere and in less than two weeks, I was walking for 45 minutes and never felt better!
Our focus as a church this week is exercising the practice of giving. Just like exercising on the treadmill, giving financially to the church can be hard a first. It might seem overwhelming and even a bit scary especially with all the world’s uncertainty. But, when we give, we are exercising our trust in God and over time that trust gets stronger and stronger. It truly is an exercise that improves the health of our church.
Let us pray: Gracious God, we ask that you guide us as we exercise the practice of giving. Give us the strength to give as our hearts instruct us to. Amen.