THE CHALLENGE OF LIVING TOGETHER

SATURDAY, October 6 "You Shepherd Also"
James 5:19-20 (The Message)
^" My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God."

Shepherd Lord.
I want so much to just
be a sheep in the middle
of your flock. 
To curl up and be safe. 
To be fed and nurtured in your love. 
But your call is clear -
Your directions plain:
"You Shepherd also." 
Find the lost, the hurting,
Those who are wandering away
from the flock. 
Don't just say goodbye and let them go
Destruction bent. 
Shepherd them. 
Reach out with your tools and
Bring them back to the fold. 
Bring them back to God. 
Then all can sleep safely
Curled up and blanketed with your love. 

d365.org GO!  (Adapted from a 1850 hymn by John Greenleaf Whittier)
"Children of God, lift hearts to ne another;
Where pity dwells, the peace of God is there;
To worship rightly is to love each other,
Each smile a hymn, each kindly deed a prayer."

FRIDAY, October 5  "Practice Prayer"
James 5:16 (The Message)
"Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with."
      'Make this your common practice."  Prayer.  How common do we make it?  Daily before dinner?  Every morning or bedtime? Sundays?  Or only when in trouble and need God's help?
      Common practice.  That's a habit.  That's something we do ALL THE TIME!  
'Pray without ceasing' is another way the Gospel puts it.  The Celtic Christians have a philosophy to incorporate prayer into every aspect of their daily life: sleeping, working, eating, gathering.  Prayers for each hour of the day.  
      Common practice.  That's maintaining a direct 'life-line' to God for instant dial-up.  That's using our speed dial with God.  The conversation need not be long.  The important piece is that it take place. Often. 
      Who do I pray for?  Others.  My prayers now are so self-centered.  MY needs, MY family.  Empower me, God, to open my practice up to include frequent prayers for my greater community.  What would happen if I pause often today to pray for the life of our Habitat homeowner?  For circumstances  in the lives of my fellow Habi-town residents?  For the Habitat board and its mission in Las Cruces?  What if I make this a common practice?  Every nail, a mini prayer.  How many nails?....prayers will be flowing! 
       

THURSDAY, October 4

James 5:13-15 (The Message)

"Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray .... Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you’ve sinned, you’ll be forgiven—healed inside and out."

     Within every community, there will be those who are hurting, joyful, sick, and in need of forgiveness.  We all have different stories of how we came to be together in this community, but our basic human needs are the same.  We need to share our stories to find this common thread - and then we need to share our prayers, our praise, our forgiveness, for the benefit of all.  
     Getting to know the story of our Habitat homeowners, allows us to become one with them - the same hurts, joys, and sorrows that we bear.  When we become ONE in God, we want to do our part to bear one another burdens.  
     Today I want to pray, to listen to those around me, to sing and shout in praise, and be a part of reconciliation!  All while I swing my hammer!  

WEDNESDAY, October 3
James 4:7-8a (The Message)
"So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time."

No! Yes! 
Resist. Submit.
Acquire. Share.
Oppress. Serve.
Ignore. Invite. 
Tempt. Offer.
So many choices.
Everyday. Every hour.
So many opportunities to let God work in me. 
Go away, Evil!
Come, Lord Jesus. 
May your will be done through me. 




TUESDAY, October 2
James 4:2-3 (Good News Translation)
"You want things, but you cannot have them, so you are ready to kill; you strongly desire things, but you cannot get them, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it.  And when you ask, you do not receive it, because your motives are bad; you ask for things to use for your own pleasures."

Giving God. 
You pour out blessings upon us.
Yet we are greedy for more. 
You envelop us with your love,
Yet we are not content. 
We ask for what we have not,
And then complain when it doesn't arrive tomorrow.
All the blessings, love, and contentment will be ours
If we center our desires on you. 
Help our motives be pure,
Help our service be true,
Help us stay grounded in your Message,
Seeking the treasure you provide.
Then we can truly reach out in love
To build the Kingdom of Heaven
Here on earth. 


MONDAY, October 1
James 3:17-18 (The Message)
"Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor."

Peace, you say, Lord. 
Live in peace and harmony. 
Get along with each other. 
Respect each other. 
Love each other. 
That's hard work. 
Right work. 
Today, help me see opportunities to respect. 
Help me find ways to get along. 
Help me discover chances to spread your love.
Help me be a servant to others.  
We are building a community.
Among ourselves,
Among those we serve. 
Dignity and honor,
Love and respect. 
Those are our tools.
Just as important as chop-saw
and level, 
Hammer and nail.  

Note:  Today is World Habitat Day!  I learned last night that Habitat International will complete its 500,000 home (half a million!) by the end of the year.  In the US, Habitat is the 5th largest construction 'firm' of new homes, and the ONLY one growing in the recent recession.  This is a group with a purpose and mission - and it works! 

SUNDAY, September 30
d365.PAUSE!  (Sarah Briggs)
God made us for relationship, that's for sure. But being in relationship is sometimes quite a challenge; that's for sure too!  You are here now because of your relationship with God. May these moments together with your Creator give you a greater understanding of how to live out your earthly relationships as well.

Psalm 19: 1, 3-4,14 (Good News Translation)
"How clearly the sky reveals God's glory!

    How plainly it shows what he has done!
^2 
3 No speech or words are used,
    no sound is heard;
⁴ yet their message goes out to all the world
    and is heard to the ends of the earth.

May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you,
    O Lord, my refuge and my redeemer!"

     Indeed, last night the heavens did declare God's glory!  Rick and I drove back out to White Sands to witness two things: the sunset and the moonrise.  And God spoke from the skies with glory!  The colors of the western sunrise lasted for nearly an hour as first the colors lit up the clouds high above, creating at times tongues of fire, halos of light outlining the clouds, and finally a deep orange glow silhouetting the San Andres range of mountains.  When we turned around, the moon was peeking up above the bank of clouds that had kept it hidden until the sun finished it's display.  Gradually, as the skies darkened, the light of the moon began to cast shadows in the sparkling white sands.  No speech or words, yet God's message was heard.    

     Do I do as well, Lord?  Do my actions speak my message as clearly?  Do people recognize the Christ in me by what I do?  Does my message stretch out from the hands and arms working in your name?  Are my actions (and words) acceptable to you, God?  Help me keep trying....daily.    

Our Las Cruces sunset from today fits right in! Ignore the power lines! 

TO FOLLOW JESUS

SATURDAY, September 29
Psalm 19:7-10 (The Message)
"The revelation of God is whole
    and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear 
  and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
   showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
   and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, 
  with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
   down to the nth degree.
God's Word is better than a diamond
   better than a diamond set between emeralds. 
You'll like it better than strawberries in spring, 
   better than red, ripe strawberries."

"God is my compass, my pilot".  There is an old hymn that sings these words.  Psalm 19 talks of signposts and maps, directions and laws - revelations that 'pull our lives together'.  But to me, relationship with God IS THE DESTINATION, not the compass tool.  But God has given us our route-finding tools for today: the Spirit, Christ, the Bible, devotions, spiritual guides, perhaps parents.  All have been our signposts, the maps, or in today's world, our GPS for life.  (That's a GOD PERCEIVING SYSTEM).  A good GPS is better than anything else money can buy. 
     Who or what is your GPS?  Your Bible? Only if you open it daily.  The Spirit? Only if you connect daily in prayer.  A spiritual guide or parent? Only if you search together with dedication.  A good GPS is valuable ONLY if it is used consistently.  God is sending us messages, maps, and directions.  We have to be listening, watching, and in connection with God to read our GPS. Wouldn't it be nice if our unit would simply turn on and say, 'do this today' or 'Yes, that's the right choice!' - much like a Ouji Board!  But God works through other people, events, and words.  The blessing? This functioning GPS can be counted relied upon without doubt - to lead us to a life of wholeness in relationship with our Lord.  

d365.org GO!  (Steven Cothran)
Go now with great confidence that the Spirit who has led you so far will continue to lead you into your future. Stay alert to any new direction the Spirit might take you, and then go willingly, with delight in new discovery!

FRIDAY, September 28
Mark 9:33-35  (The Message)

They came to Capernaum. When he was safe at home, he asked them, “What were you discussing on the road?  ”The silence was deafening—they had been   arguing with one another over who among them was greatest.   He sat down and summoned the Twelve. “So you want first place? Then take the last place. Be the servant of all.”

     Jesus goes on here to use an example of a child.  Welcome a child in my name.  This reminded me of lines at school and last Sunday's bulletin blurb:  'If you want to be at the front, go to the back of the line.'  The prayer for d365.org today includes a short poem (Steve Cothram):
Though everything around today
says “losing is the worst,”
remind me that to follow you,
I must be last, not first.
     We are in the midst of the political election campaigns.  We seek strength, power, wisdom, in our candidates.  We want them to rise to the top of the list.  Yet, all that goes against what Jesus is saying.  Jesus redefines winning: service, humility, the end of the line!   

Lord, 
While everyone is pushing
shoving and fighting
to be the first in line, 
I am stepping backwards. 
You said to go there.  
My pace is slow,
And the line is long. 
It feels lonely at
the back of the line. 
It isn't very crowded.
Not many want to be here. 
The path is all roughened up,
And the walking is a little harder. 
Wait! Look!
I have company back here!
You are by my side,
Walking with me. 
Losing looks better now.  

THURSDAY, September 27
Mark 9:30-32 (Good News Translation)

Jesus and his disciples left that place and went on through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where he was, because he was teaching his disciples: “The Son of Man will be handed over to those who will kill him. Three days later, however, he will rise to life.”  But they did not understand what this teaching meant, and they were afraid to ask him.

Let's not talk about it, Lord. 
You speak of sad events, 
Inconceivable happenings;
So let's just not discuss it. 
Death is painful. 
Death means separation from loved ones. 
You are going to die?
Let's talk about something else. 
My curiosity is piqued, however. 
You mention resurrection. 
I don't really understand how that relates to you 
Or to me. 
I'd ask a question, but...
You really rebuked Peter when he questioned. 
I'm afraid to get the same,
So let's just not talk about it.  

It's been two thousand years, Jesus. 
You are still teaching.
And we your disciples are still confused.
Is it time to ask our questions?
Is it time to talk about it? 

WEDNESDAY, September 26 "No Backseat Drivers!"
Mark 8:34-37 (The Message)
"Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?"
Who is driving, Lord?
Who is in control of this car I call life?
When I give you the wheel, 
and slide over to the passenger side,
Do I still want to give advice?
Am I a backseat driver?
Do I question the route we are taking?
Do I suggest we make stops along the way?
The mall?  The theater?   Friends?
Rarely at the soup kitchen. 
Or with those different from me.
Do I tell you we are driving too fast?
Too slow?  
You really are a good driver, Jesus. 
You know the route well.
You know the stops we need to make.
You know the speed limit.
Help me get into the car and ride with you.
On this road of life to LOVE.
On our road to GOD. 

TUESDAY, September 25  "Out of My Way!"
Mark 8:31-33  (The Message)
"He [Jesus] then began explaining things to them: 'It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the elders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and after three days rise up alive.'  He said this simply and clearly so they couldn't miss it.  But Peter grabbed him in protest.  Turning and seeing his disciples wavering, wondering what to believe, Jesus confronted Peter. 'Peter, get out of my way! Satan, get lost! You have no idea how God works."
Lord, I'm confused. 
I just felt so good because I recognized who you are.
You praised me.
I don't understand why I have to keep silent, but....
I really thought I had things figured out. 
But now?
Now you have put me on par with the Devil!
'Get out of my way!
You don't understand God.'
Those words hurt! 
You're right, Jesus. 
I don't understand. 
This God you proclaim is too big,
Too embracing,
Too far-reaching,
for understanding. 
So let me just live enveloped in your embracing love.
Love that will allow understanding to grow. 
May my ideas and confusion get 'out of the way',
So you, Lord, can enter my life
And live in me.  

Addendum: Just caught a new article from Relevant Magazine (one of those that Luke introduced me to) that was short, but good reading. Check it out:
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/practical-faith/when-happy-trumps-holy

MONDAY, September 24  "Who Am I?"
Mark 8:27-30 (The Message)  
"Jesus and his disciples headed out for the villages around Caesarea Philippi. As they walked, he asked, “Who do the people say I am?”

 “Some say ‘John the Baptizer,’” they said. “Others say ‘Elijah.’ Still others say ‘one of the prophets.’”

 He then asked, “And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?”

Peter gave the answer: “You are the Christ, the Messiah.”

Jesus warned them to keep it quiet, not to breathe a word of it to anyone."

Who are you, Lord?
Who do I say you are?
My mouth utters, "GOD! Creator!
My voice proclaims, "SAVIOR! Messiah!"
My blog reads "Counselor! Love!"
But do my arms reach out in service?
Do my hands touch others with love?
Are my feet walking in harmony with the poor,
Or running in fear from those different?
Does my lifestyle acknowledge humility and trust;
Or am I caught up in possessions and status?
Are you, Christ, asking me to stay silent,
until my actions support the words I proclaim?
Oh, Messiah Lord,
May my life be lived so that it 'breathes your Word'. 
May my life be filled overflowing with your love.
No warnings. No silence.  


SUNDAY, September 23
PAUSE! d365.org (Steve Cothran)
"To find our way somewhere, we first need to know where we want to go.  Any directions we get otherwise, are pretty much useless. 
In these quiet moments, think first about where you want to go as a believer. The Spirit awaits to take you there."

Psalm 19:1-4 (Good News Translation)
"How clearly the sky reveals God's glory!
    How plainly it shows what he has done!
² Each day announces it to the following day;
    each night repeats it to the next.
³ No speech or words are used,
    no sound is heard;
⁴ yet their message goes out to all the world
    and is heard to the ends of the earth."

Creator God,

How can I possibly complain that I don't hear your voice?

How can I say I haven't witnessed a miracle?

Your words, your actions, are splashed across the heavens!

Your handiwork is on display every day, everywhere!

The moon and stars, sunrise and sunset!

Towering mountains,  shadowed forests, ever-approaching seas!

Elephants and whales, butterflies and ladybugs,

Cactus and vine, asters and columbine.

Roaring waves, hummingbird wings - songs of God!

Am I deaf?

Am I blind?

At times, yes! 

The world puts blinders on my eyes and plugs in my ears. 

Your message of love is clouded, garbled, and changed. 

With your Spirit Love, I can be whole again,

To see.

To hear.

To witness your glory!

To witness your majesty!

To witness your presence HERE.

Everyday. 

(Scribble Explanation:  These are all images from the last few days around Albuquerque, reminders that God is present.  When I arise, the sun is just rising from behind the Sandia Mountains, the hills themselves layers of shadows in the blinding light.  One morning God had created an abstract of white jet contrails lacing the skies. Hummingbirds visit Mom's feeder on the deck.  We saw turtles and Canada geese at the Rio Grande Nature Center, Datura blossoms and asters all along the bike path, wildly blooming cactus in the State Fair gardens. The voice of God present everywhere!)

FOOLISH LOVE

Saturday, September 22
1 Corinthians 1:25 (The Message)
"Human wisdom is so tinny, so impotant, next to the seeming absurdity of God.  Human strength can't begin to compete with God's 'weakness'."

      Short and sweet....we just can't compare ourselves to God!  We can't use human, wordly measuring devices.  We can't use our Ivy League colleges to evaluate intelligence or wisdom, we can't use muscle mass or Olympic standards to measure strength.  God is unmeasurable - think infinity!
    God's standards are somewhat upside-down in our world.  Strength is measured by weakness, wisdom by foolishness.  How can we begin to make sense of it all?  We can't!  We can anticipate the unexpected, and live with the excitement of knowing that LOVE trumps all! 
 
God of the unexpected,
God of the foolish.
God who works through our strengths to find our weaknesses,
And then takes those moments of foolishness and doubt,
Those times when all we have left is trust
And molds us with Your love. 
What an absurd notion, God.
But it works,
If we allow it. 
If we let you in. 
Come, Foolish God,
and fill me with such Love. 

GO! d365.org
When we let God surprise us
with expansive,
impartial,
unconditional,
all-embracing love,
we cannot help but carry that love
to our world.
Let our message catch people off-guard:
that God loves them beyond belief,
and so do we.     

Friday, September 21
1 Corinthians 1:20-24 (Excerpts from The Message)
"So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age?  Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in HIS wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb... While Jews clamor for miraculour demonstrations and Greeks go in for philosophical wisdom, we go right on proclaiming Christ, the Crucified.....Christ is God's ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one."
     Where can you find someone truly wise in today's world?  Apparently not on TV in the middle of the political election season!  (Our trip has allowed us to be TV free for much of this time and we haven't missed that part of it!)
     God uses unorthodox methods....that is plain and simple to see.  A manger?  A shepherd boy?  God isn't going to speak through the high and mighty - that simply isn't God's M.O.  We need to be prepared to accept that God's message might just be delivered by the least expected, the humble, the poor.  God's message will be proclaimed through a crucified Christ, revealed to us in amazing and unexpected ways.  Are we looking?  Are we seeking?  Are we ready?
Infinite God.
I see your presence in all the wrong places at times.
You may not be seen in the glorious cathedrals
with their stained glass and gold.
You may not be proclaimed in the lips of the tele-evangelist or in the voice of the Pope.
You may not be heard in the Mormon Tabernacle-type choirs.
Where and how will I find Christ?
Perhaps in the rustic labyrinth under the red rocks of Ghost Ranch.
Perhaps on the lips of the wrinkled and wise grandmother down the street.
Perhaps in the warbled notes of the sparrow outside my window. 
Help me keeping looking, Lord,
In those hidden, humble places you delight in.
Waiting for us to come in faith and trust.
Waiting for us to seek you.
Waiting....with love.


Thursday, September 20 "God Drummer"
1 Corinthians 1:18-19 (The Message)
"The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out.  It's written, 'I'll turn conventional wisdom on its head, I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots'." 
     I've always liked this scripture, used often at the Fools-for-Christ-type services following Easter.  The Gospel Message of God's Love is not one that makes sense in our world of science, prestige, power, money, and 'upward mobility'.  For it is a message that rewards service, sacrifice, and surrender.... to the unexplainable, 'foolish' love of our God and his Son. 
    So, walking in God's love is somewhat akin to the line, 'walking to the beat of a different drummer'.  The love of God is different, and we who walk in it, hear a non-conventional beat.  That's rather 'artsy' in nature as I think about it!  I love being an artist who does things just a little differently.  Let's be extravagant and obvious in our celebration of the sheer silliness of God's love! Let's walk, always hearing the rhythm of God's love behind every step!

Foolish Father -
I can say this because your love is silly!
It doesn't make sense.
Not the way our world puts things together.
But its very foolishness causes us to stop.
To take a look around,
and wonder.
How can we be foolish in service?
How can we sacrifice against the grain?
How can we surrender our conventional lives,
Daily,
To the sheer silliness of such love?
How?
Why?
When? 
Now.


  
Wednesday, September 19 "Cocoons"
John 3:17 (The Message)
"God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was.  He came to help, to put the world right again."
    Finger pointing, accusations, judgments against each other.  All of it negative.  Rarely progressive or helpful.  God's focus isn't on judgment and condemnation.  It is on change - change within us and our world in order to 'put things right'.  Right with God, right with each other, right with Creation.  How often do we point fingers rather than support and encourage? How frequently are we quick to pass the blame or the buck, rather than work to improve?  Let's get the focus back on the love. 

Forgiving Father. 
Your love is so inclusive, so overwhelming.
We are wrapped up like a warm winter blanket in love.
Within its cocoon there is no room for blame.
No room to wiggle out fingers of accusation.
No space for name-calling or condemnation.
Just love.
Perfect, foolish love.
Unwrap me, God,
Help me unfold my butterfly wings,
And lead me to share my blanket.
There are others who are cold.
And lonely.
And hurt.
Others who need a warm blanket
Before they are ready to fly.
 
Tuesday, September 18  "Universal Love"
John 3:16 (The Message)
"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son.  And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life." 
     Back to John 3:16 once again!  But when you are talking not just love, but FOOLISH love, I guess we come back to this verse.  
     God's love could not be limited to one person, one family, one country.  It was for the world.  Today in reading this familiar verse of John, I thought, 'Just the world?'  I consider God the Creator of our entire universe.  There ARE other worlds out there.  If we think our little earth keeps God busy, listening to the daily requests of 6-7 billion people, what about the idea that God is also doing the same for worlds light years away.   What a multi-tasker!  Our God and our God's love is so vast! 
    And why?  Just so we can be whole.  Belief alone will make it all work.  That's how God can manage ALL the worlds of the universe.  With our belief.  With our love.  Perhaps with 'foolish' love toward each other in response to the love of our universal God. It is all mind-boggling in its scope.  But that's how God is also, mind-boggling.  


Universal God. 
God of all the worlds light-years away.
Universal Love.
Love of a size and magnitude that we cannot comprehend. 
We don't understand.
We don't have to. 
We just have to give our belief.
Our trust. 
Our faith. 
Our foolish love for each other and for you.
Amen.  
     
     
Monday, September 17  "Trusting and Expectant"
John 3:14-15 (The Message)
"In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up—and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life."
     We have trouble with this thing called faith.  We have trouble with believing in things we cannot see.  The Israelites wanted proof that God was with them (and got snakes instead!) So Moses gave them a bronze serpent to look up to.  We still want miracles today.  We think "If God really exists, he would take care of that!  If God cared, this wouldn't be happening!"  God DOES exist and God DOES CARE!  And God has given us Christ - our reminder that love is present in our world, healing. 
     I love Peterson's translation with the words, 'trusting and expectant'.  There's that thing called faith again.  How often do we seek God's healing grace with an expectant attitude of 'How will God handle this?'  We think we know the answer - we know how WE want God to answer.  But do we ever gloriously wait expectant, on the edge of our seat, anticipating the unusual manner in which God will provide life abundant?  
     God is at work in our life.  I trust in that reality.  I am trying to spend enough time each day with God in joyful, expectant anticipation of whatever and however he plans to use Rick and I in this next stage.  How is God planning to make our retirement 'real life', life abundant??? Are we ready? 
Healing Lord.
Another new day of anticipation.
Keep me watching. 
Keep my eyes lifted up to you. 
Steady my pounding heart of joyful expectancy.
What will God do with me today?

Sunday afternoon.....
I went to church today with my brother and sister in law at the Lutheran Church.  The scripture readings were all different from what I read this morning, so you can imagine my surprise when the pastor said something during the sermon about the love of God is like a new parent holding an infant....exactly what I had just drawn an hour earlier!  
I did draw another picture from the James 3 scripture reading....about our tongues of fire.  How something small can become so much bigger if we aren't careful!  









FOOLISH LOVE
PAUSE!  d365.org  (Nikki Finkelstein-Blair)
The love of God has always caught people off-guard. 
When we expect micromanagement, 
God loves us expansively. 
When we expect to be ranked and rated, 
God loves us impartially. 
When we expect to be found guilty, 
God loves us unconditionally. 
When we expect to be excluded, 
God loves us with arms wide open, 
ready to draw us in.

Sunday, September 16
Psalm 98:1-5 (The Message)
"Sing to God a brand-new song. 
He's made a world of wonders!
He rolled up his sleeves, 
He set things right. 
God made history with salvation,
He showed the world what he could do. 
He remembered to love us, a bonus
To his dear family, Israel - indefatigable love. 
The whole earth comes to attention. 
Look - God's work of salvation!
Shout your praises to God, everybody!
Let loose and sing!  Strike up the band! 
Round up an orchestra to play for God, 
Add on a hundred voice choir! "
     Have you watched a first time parent with his or her new baby?  The faces they make, the words they say, the undesirable tasks they put up with?  (Oh!  Johnny just peed all over my new dress!  Isn't he adorable?)  Their love knows no bounds!  It overflows with emotions never felt before to that level.  The love of a parent for child is sacrificial, often unwarranted and unearned, and at times, almost comical to watch. 
    That's how God loves us.  Boundless, impartial, unconditional, sacrificial, foolish love.  With praise and absolute glory, how can we not respond by shouting and sharing this wonderful gift!  How can we not burst forth with that same love in the way we treat each other and the glory of the created world God has given to us.  
    Creator God.   The sun has risen.  The skies have shed the darkness of night to slowly erupt in the majesty and glory of your love.  Once again you come to us with the expansiveness of the universe with only one purpose: to love us.  May I today spread that sunlight to another. In gratitude and thanksgiving.   Amen.