Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah. 8 Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. 10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah.
My father’s mother taught me by example what it means ‘to be still and know that I am God.’ She was raised Catholic but joined the Episcopalian church when she married my grandfather. For years, until she was in her 80’s, my grandmother would begin and end every day with an hour’s prayer. The Catholic Rosary’s words were ingrained in her: Blessed Mary, mother of Jesus, have mercy on me.... (This devotional is not about the theological rightness or wrongness of the Catholic prayers. I am sure most of us would agree that Mother Teresa will be seated closer to God than any of us.)
My grandmother had a heart attack when she was 89. We did not know whether she would survive as she lay in a coma. I decided to drive the six hours to Washington, DC, to spend a weekend with my father. We visited the hospital that Saturday. As we walked into the hospital room, my grandmother was mumbling. As I bent forward to kiss her cheek, I heard the words I had not heard from her mouth in several years: ‘Blessed Mary, mother of Jesus, have mercy on me....’ I smiled and immediately doubted words of prayer would be coming from my mouth if I was the one unconsciously murmuring words.
My grandmother died at the age of 91. I remember her preparing huge Sunday dinners, her taking me and my brother to the zoo, and the city sounds outside her apartment. But most of all I remember her devotion to her prayers. She was buried with her prayer book and rosary beads in her hands. She lived a long and faithful life.
God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day....
A Faithful Response: Visit/call/e-mail your grandmother if she is still alive.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Faith Sustains Us
Ezekial 17: 22-24
22 " 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23 On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. 24 All the trees of the field will know that I the LORD bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. "'I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.'"
This passage may be an early messianic reference. The messiah will be for people of every kind. Or perhaps Jesus had this passage in mind when he told the parable of the mustard seed (Mark 4: 26ff). Faith only requires a tender sprig from the topmost shoots. God does the planting and nurturing and the tree produces the branches and fruit it was created to produce. The passage may also be a reference to Israel desiring to turn in upon itself and keep her faith rather than spreading Yahweh’s message. The Word of Christ is for everyone.
Just after Christmas, 1992, my family and I were traveling from Illinois to Maryland to spend a few days with my family. We were going to be a couple of hours late, so I stopped to call ahead. A baby-sitter for my sister’s three little children answered the phone and haltingly told me my brother-in-law had succumbed to the throat cancer he had been battling for two and one-half years. My sister became a widow at 28 with three children under the age of six. I remember sobbing, “It’s not supposed to happen that way!”
Today is my sister’s birthday (written for June 27, 1996). Since her husband’s death, my sister, who was a “C” student in High School, attended a two-year Nursing program and earned mostly “A”s on her journey toward the Associate’s degree. Her faith sustained her and continues to sustain her. I am proudly planning to drive up next month and watch her graduate.
Never claim your theology from one verse. Our relationship with God travels beyond the seemingly robotic image of verse 24. God does not sit up above us and push little “smite” buttons. If this is an early messianic reference, the vision offers shelter for all of us. Sometimes in the ,midst of life’s tragedies we might not feel Grace – the shadow of Grace shelters and sustains us.
A Faithful Response: Ask your brother/sister what are the top three experiences of his/her life.
22 " 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23 On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. 24 All the trees of the field will know that I the LORD bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. "'I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.'"
This passage may be an early messianic reference. The messiah will be for people of every kind. Or perhaps Jesus had this passage in mind when he told the parable of the mustard seed (Mark 4: 26ff). Faith only requires a tender sprig from the topmost shoots. God does the planting and nurturing and the tree produces the branches and fruit it was created to produce. The passage may also be a reference to Israel desiring to turn in upon itself and keep her faith rather than spreading Yahweh’s message. The Word of Christ is for everyone.
Just after Christmas, 1992, my family and I were traveling from Illinois to Maryland to spend a few days with my family. We were going to be a couple of hours late, so I stopped to call ahead. A baby-sitter for my sister’s three little children answered the phone and haltingly told me my brother-in-law had succumbed to the throat cancer he had been battling for two and one-half years. My sister became a widow at 28 with three children under the age of six. I remember sobbing, “It’s not supposed to happen that way!”
Today is my sister’s birthday (written for June 27, 1996). Since her husband’s death, my sister, who was a “C” student in High School, attended a two-year Nursing program and earned mostly “A”s on her journey toward the Associate’s degree. Her faith sustained her and continues to sustain her. I am proudly planning to drive up next month and watch her graduate.
Never claim your theology from one verse. Our relationship with God travels beyond the seemingly robotic image of verse 24. God does not sit up above us and push little “smite” buttons. If this is an early messianic reference, the vision offers shelter for all of us. Sometimes in the ,midst of life’s tragedies we might not feel Grace – the shadow of Grace shelters and sustains us.
A Faithful Response: Ask your brother/sister what are the top three experiences of his/her life.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
God's Creation
Psalm 8
1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Frank Tupper taught Theology at Southern Seminary for over twenty years (he currently teaches at Wake Forest). One of his grand illustrations when speaking about the awesomeness of God is to magnanimously take a pen and place a dot on the wall of the classroom. He then proclaims we are like the dot and the large lecture room is like the universe. Then Frank tries to find the dot on the wall which is so insignificant to the rest of the room... and yet, he states convincingly: God cares intimately for each person! God is SO BIG – yet he cares for you…
God’s creation is amazing. We, being part of that creation, are also amazing. God does care for each of us. He wants us to care for his creation, also: “You make him to rule over the works of your hands” (v. 6a). We should rule over the animals and the rest of his creation as though we were the Sustainer. “All sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas” (v. 7-8). What else can this mean than that God also wants us to care for the fields where the beasts live and the heavens where the birds fly and the seas where the fish swim?
A Faithful Response: Share an instance in the coments area of when God’s love was very real for you.
1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Frank Tupper taught Theology at Southern Seminary for over twenty years (he currently teaches at Wake Forest). One of his grand illustrations when speaking about the awesomeness of God is to magnanimously take a pen and place a dot on the wall of the classroom. He then proclaims we are like the dot and the large lecture room is like the universe. Then Frank tries to find the dot on the wall which is so insignificant to the rest of the room... and yet, he states convincingly: God cares intimately for each person! God is SO BIG – yet he cares for you…
God’s creation is amazing. We, being part of that creation, are also amazing. God does care for each of us. He wants us to care for his creation, also: “You make him to rule over the works of your hands” (v. 6a). We should rule over the animals and the rest of his creation as though we were the Sustainer. “All sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas” (v. 7-8). What else can this mean than that God also wants us to care for the fields where the beasts live and the heavens where the birds fly and the seas where the fish swim?
A Faithful Response: Share an instance in the coments area of when God’s love was very real for you.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
My Mom - Love Never Fails...
I Corinthians 13: 8-13
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
My mother passed away in July of 1992. The last few days of her life were spent in and out of a coma. Many medical professionals will tell you they are not sure what a coma patient is aware of so I occasionally read Bible passages to my mother.
I have always enjoyed I Corinthians 13 for its active articulation of love. But as I turned and began to read, suddenly my eyes filled with tears and my voice broke as I came to verse 11. “When I was a child”, I verbalized to this woman who had nurtured me since birth, “I spoke like a child, I thought like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” I haltingly continued to verse 12: “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.” I did not think I would see her face to face for many years and I sobbed all the more.
I believe in love that never fails. My mother’s life was her faith and her family. She did not attend college until later in life but she was a committed Christian who offered what talents she had to others in her life. She served in Vacation Bible School ten days before her death. What my mother possessed was left here but her love and memories will go on forever in our minds and with God.
“A special lady”, my father remarked as he knelt by her open casket for the last time. She was indeed. She loved me as only a mother could love a son and she introduced me to a Love greater than life itself. I will never forget my mother’s last words to me: “Love you,” she murmured softly as she drew my cheek to her lips. I replied, “You always have.”
A Faithful Response: Write a letter to your mom (if she is still alive) and tell her you love her.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
My mother passed away in July of 1992. The last few days of her life were spent in and out of a coma. Many medical professionals will tell you they are not sure what a coma patient is aware of so I occasionally read Bible passages to my mother.
I have always enjoyed I Corinthians 13 for its active articulation of love. But as I turned and began to read, suddenly my eyes filled with tears and my voice broke as I came to verse 11. “When I was a child”, I verbalized to this woman who had nurtured me since birth, “I spoke like a child, I thought like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” I haltingly continued to verse 12: “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.” I did not think I would see her face to face for many years and I sobbed all the more.
I believe in love that never fails. My mother’s life was her faith and her family. She did not attend college until later in life but she was a committed Christian who offered what talents she had to others in her life. She served in Vacation Bible School ten days before her death. What my mother possessed was left here but her love and memories will go on forever in our minds and with God.
“A special lady”, my father remarked as he knelt by her open casket for the last time. She was indeed. She loved me as only a mother could love a son and she introduced me to a Love greater than life itself. I will never forget my mother’s last words to me: “Love you,” she murmured softly as she drew my cheek to her lips. I replied, “You always have.”
A Faithful Response: Write a letter to your mom (if she is still alive) and tell her you love her.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Stepping Out In Faith
Hebrews 11: 1-3
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
The time had come for us to move on. I had been the Minister of Youth and Education at our church for three and one-half years. I had applied for both church and higher education positions. The church positions said they wanted more experience or more focus in either youth or education or wanted us to move to a geographical location we did not feel comfortable in. The higher educational institutions doubted my commitment to post-secondary schools. We prayed for one door to open.
I was accepted into a PhD program a year earlier but was unsure whether this was a viable option for someone with a family. Concerns about health insurance were relieved when I found I could continue my present insurance. Since this was the only option available, we decided to “step out in faith.”
I announced my resignation to our church family and we prayed to sell our house by ourselves. A week passed and we had no real offers. We began to get angry because we had specifically prayed for the house to sell within a week. That weekend: 1) a couple placed a very reasonable bid on our house; 2) we found a house for us to live in [after looking at SO MANY in a new metropolitan area]; and, 3) we were offered temporary positions at the university.
I wish this happens all the time but the truth is for us the same as it is for most of you: we struggle to know God’s will for our lives.....yet we cling to the historical memories of when we step out in faith.
A Faithful Response: Step out in faith believing you can do something – or, as someone also said, fake it till you make it.
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
The time had come for us to move on. I had been the Minister of Youth and Education at our church for three and one-half years. I had applied for both church and higher education positions. The church positions said they wanted more experience or more focus in either youth or education or wanted us to move to a geographical location we did not feel comfortable in. The higher educational institutions doubted my commitment to post-secondary schools. We prayed for one door to open.
I was accepted into a PhD program a year earlier but was unsure whether this was a viable option for someone with a family. Concerns about health insurance were relieved when I found I could continue my present insurance. Since this was the only option available, we decided to “step out in faith.”
I announced my resignation to our church family and we prayed to sell our house by ourselves. A week passed and we had no real offers. We began to get angry because we had specifically prayed for the house to sell within a week. That weekend: 1) a couple placed a very reasonable bid on our house; 2) we found a house for us to live in [after looking at SO MANY in a new metropolitan area]; and, 3) we were offered temporary positions at the university.
I wish this happens all the time but the truth is for us the same as it is for most of you: we struggle to know God’s will for our lives.....yet we cling to the historical memories of when we step out in faith.
A Faithful Response: Step out in faith believing you can do something – or, as someone also said, fake it till you make it.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
RELATIONSHIP INTEGRITY - HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY
Job 27: 5b
5b till I die, I will not deny my integrity.
In seminary, Joanna** sat between the professor and I. Mesmerized by her fingers sifting through her hair, I caught myself staring. Though no one noticed me staring, I blushed and looked away.
Her short, straight hair came only to the nape of her neck. A brilliant student, her eyes sparkled when she smiled. I often tried to get her to smile at me that semester.
As Finals approached, I asked her to study with me. We found a quiet spot in the library, studied some, and spoke of our dreams for our respective futures.
As I walked home that evening, I realized that was the last time I could ever be alone with her. I did not trust myself. I was married to someone else.
I avoided Joanna the next couple of weeks. She might wave, and I would wave also, but I would immediately pretend to be busy with some task. A puzzled, hurt look would cross her eyes and I would lower my own to avoid her expression. I began to feel embarrassed, confused, and hurt myself.
I really did like her. She had a pleasant personality. Pretty and quick-witted, I had to make a tremendous effort to avoid her. I enjoyed her company but I had to decide what was important in my life.
I tried to think of the positive characteristics of my wife. But I knew this decision had to transcend mere comparisons of who I liked the best. I was not dating both of them; I was married to one of them.
I have not seen Joanna in ten years and I wonder if she even remembers me. I think if I ever do see her again I will apologize to her. Joanna may not have known I struggled so much,... but she probably did. She tried to be a friend and I tried to make more out of the relationship than what was supposed to exist. When we slip in our integrity of who we are supposed to be, we hurt not only ourselves. We also hurt those around us.
** Joanna is not her real name
5b till I die, I will not deny my integrity.
In seminary, Joanna** sat between the professor and I. Mesmerized by her fingers sifting through her hair, I caught myself staring. Though no one noticed me staring, I blushed and looked away.
Her short, straight hair came only to the nape of her neck. A brilliant student, her eyes sparkled when she smiled. I often tried to get her to smile at me that semester.
As Finals approached, I asked her to study with me. We found a quiet spot in the library, studied some, and spoke of our dreams for our respective futures.
As I walked home that evening, I realized that was the last time I could ever be alone with her. I did not trust myself. I was married to someone else.
I avoided Joanna the next couple of weeks. She might wave, and I would wave also, but I would immediately pretend to be busy with some task. A puzzled, hurt look would cross her eyes and I would lower my own to avoid her expression. I began to feel embarrassed, confused, and hurt myself.
I really did like her. She had a pleasant personality. Pretty and quick-witted, I had to make a tremendous effort to avoid her. I enjoyed her company but I had to decide what was important in my life.
I tried to think of the positive characteristics of my wife. But I knew this decision had to transcend mere comparisons of who I liked the best. I was not dating both of them; I was married to one of them.
I have not seen Joanna in ten years and I wonder if she even remembers me. I think if I ever do see her again I will apologize to her. Joanna may not have known I struggled so much,... but she probably did. She tried to be a friend and I tried to make more out of the relationship than what was supposed to exist. When we slip in our integrity of who we are supposed to be, we hurt not only ourselves. We also hurt those around us.
** Joanna is not her real name
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Children are young only once
Ruth 4: 16
16 Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him.
“Dad, will you play trains with me?”, my four year old son asked.
“Dad, will you help me build my trail?”, my five year old son asked.
“Dad, will you ride bikes with me?”, my six year old son asked.
“Dad, will you go swimming with me?”, my seven year old son asks.
How much longer will he ask me to play with him? I wonder when I say ‘no’, if this was the last time. He’s growing up too fast. My legs are cramping more from the MS, my eyesight is worse, my hair is almost all gone. I am already unable to keep up with him sometimes, but don’t tell him that…. In his eyes, I am still the greatest.
The more love I feel as a father the more I begin to glimpse the Love my Heavenly Father has for me. God wants me to spend time with him before it is too late. He wants me to type these devotional reflections before my hands and arms cramp too much from MS. How much time will I waste in front of the television? How much more can I create instead of watching someone else’s creation? I only have one life to live and I want to leave a legacy of faith for my son and his heirs. I want to do so much more for/with my Father, but will I?
I want to do so much with my son, and yet, there’s laundry to do, grass to be mowed, checks to write,… And then I remember: I’ll always have those things to do but my son will only be young once.
A Faithful Response: Play a game with your child/grandchild…..
16 Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him.
“Dad, will you play trains with me?”, my four year old son asked.
“Dad, will you help me build my trail?”, my five year old son asked.
“Dad, will you ride bikes with me?”, my six year old son asked.
“Dad, will you go swimming with me?”, my seven year old son asks.
How much longer will he ask me to play with him? I wonder when I say ‘no’, if this was the last time. He’s growing up too fast. My legs are cramping more from the MS, my eyesight is worse, my hair is almost all gone. I am already unable to keep up with him sometimes, but don’t tell him that…. In his eyes, I am still the greatest.
The more love I feel as a father the more I begin to glimpse the Love my Heavenly Father has for me. God wants me to spend time with him before it is too late. He wants me to type these devotional reflections before my hands and arms cramp too much from MS. How much time will I waste in front of the television? How much more can I create instead of watching someone else’s creation? I only have one life to live and I want to leave a legacy of faith for my son and his heirs. I want to do so much more for/with my Father, but will I?
I want to do so much with my son, and yet, there’s laundry to do, grass to be mowed, checks to write,… And then I remember: I’ll always have those things to do but my son will only be young once.
A Faithful Response: Play a game with your child/grandchild…..
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