Gifted for Mission

d365.org PRESENCE OF GOD  (Katie Sciba)
The ability to do something – something creative, something useful – that kind of ability is called a gift. It’s not something intended for personal use and benefit alone. Gifts like these are meant to be used for the benefit of others.   That’s because these gifts come from God, who has in mind not only the individual, but everyone all together.   How might we use our God-given gifts for the benefit of all the world?



SATURDAY, February 2  "Gift Exchange"
Psalm 19:7-10, 14 (Good News Translation)
The law of the Lord is perfect;
    it gives new strength.
The commands of the Lord are trustworthy,
    giving wisdom to those who lack it.
The laws of the Lord are right,
    and those who obey them are happy.
The commands of the Lord are just
    and give understanding to the mind.
Reverence for the Lord is good;
    it will continue forever.
The judgments of the Lord are just;
    they are always fair.
They are more desirable than the finest gold;
    they are sweeter than the purest honey.
May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you,
    O Lord, my refuge and my redeemer!

Obeying God grants us strength to endure. 
Listening to God gives us insight to understand. 
Trusting God gives us a sense of justice and equality. 
Putting God at the center of our lives,
Granting God the Number One spot,
Blesses us beyond measure.
It's like a strawberry coated with dark chocolate,
Ecstasy and peace at once;
Life a sweet dessert of Grace. 
But our joy comes with responsibility,
With a call to service 
That becomes second nature
Through God.
May our thoughts reflect God's love. 
May our voices shout God's glory. 
May our hands perform God's mission
At all times.
And in everything we say and do.  

d365.org Benediction  (Katie Sciba)
May your gifts burn like a fire,
Bringing warmth to everyone you meet.
May your gifts light the world
And reveal the goodness of God.
May your gifts today be embraced
And expressed
With creativity,
Making you useful in God's mercy.


FRIDAY, February 1   "Parts of a Whole"
1 Corinthians 12:25-27  (The Message)

The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.  You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your “part” mean anything.

Parts of a whole.

Individual lives,

Individual hearts.

Relationships within and without.

Groups formed, shifting boundaries.

Including, shunning.

Affirming and condemning.

Walls built to exclude,

Bridges to unite.

Without the common soul of Christ,

The body of a group struggles

To connect with all parts,

To honor and dignify all its members,
To nurture one another,
To celebrate together.

The Body of Christ serves as a vision 

Of how community functions;

Of how all parts, seen and unseen,

Are dependent on each other.

Reach out today as part of the whole

To affirm each other.

To respect one another,

With the love of God

Binding us together,

Individually part of the whole Body.  

THURSDAY, January 31  "One Body"
1 Corinthians 12:14-21  (Good News Translation)

For the body itself is not made up of only one part, but of many parts. If the foot were to say, “Because I am not a hand, I don't belong to the body,” that would not keep it from being a part of the body.  And if the ear were to say, “Because I am not an eye, I don't belong to the body,” that would not keep it from being a part of the body.  If the whole body were just an eye, how could it hear? And if it were only an ear, how could it smell?  As it is, however, God put every different part in the body just as he wanted it to be.  There would not be a body if it were all only one part!  As it is, there are many parts but one body.

 So then, the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don't need you!” Nor can the head say to the feet, “Well, I don't need you!”

One body. One Spirit. 
One body. One mission. 
Many parts. 
All necessary.  
All contributing gifts. 
'Behind the scenes' workers often the best 
At getting  the job done. 
All significant. 
All unique.  
All loved by one God. 
Equally. 
'Nuf said.  

Again, Eugene Peterson in The Message writes this passage in a more lengthy, but somewhat humorous way.  You can just hear all the parts of your body arguing as they attempt to function as ONE.  Is this how we are as the church at times?  Struggling to agree, to even LIKE all the other parts?  Sometimes with an exaggerated idea of our own importance?  Our job is to identify and acknowledge our God-given gifts (what part of the body are we?) and use them to  advance the Good News (keep the body moving!). 

I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn’t just a single part blown up into something huge. It’s all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together. If Foot said, “I’m not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don’t belong to this body,” would that make it so? If Ear said, “I’m not beautiful like Eye, limpid and expressive; I don’t deserve a place on the head,” would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it.

But I also want you to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of. An enormous eye or a gigantic hand wouldn’t be a body, but a monster. What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place. No part is important on its own. Can you imagine Eye telling Hand, “Get lost; I don’t need you”? Or, Head telling Foot, “You’re fired; your job has been phased out”? As a matter of fact, in practice it works the other way—the “lower” the part, the more basic, and therefore necessary. You can live without an eye, for instance, but not without a stomach. When it’s a part of your own body you are concerned with, it makes nodifference whether the part is visible or clothed, higher or lower. You give it dignity and honor just as it is, without comparisons. If anything, you have more concern for the lower parts than the higher. If you had to choose, wouldn’t you prefer good digestion to full-bodied hair?

WEDNESDAY, January 30  "One Spirit to Drink"
1 Corinthians 12:12-13  (The Message)
You can easily enough see how this kind of thing works by looking no further than your own body. Your body has many parts—limbs, organs, cells—but no matter how many parts you can name, you’re still one body. It’s exactly the same with Christ. By means of his one Spirit, we all said good-bye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he has the final say in everything. (This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized.) Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain—his Spirit—where we all come to drink. The old labels we once used to identify ourselves—labels like Jew or Greek, slave or free—are no longer useful. We need something larger, more comprehensive.
     There are times when Peterson gets downright verbose and this is one of them.  But I liked the explanation!  Rather than saying "we all have been given one Spirit to drink" (CEB) he talks of refreshment and sustainment at one fountain of the Spirit.  We are part of something MUCH larger than before.  We are accountable and integrated into a larger purpose and mission.  Say 'goodbye to partial and piecemeal lives'!  

     One Spirit to drink.  A common communion cup?  The reality and beauty of our Christianity lies in the many gifts and talents, the many races and backgrounds, the many economic levels --the many parts of the body.  When all work together IN CHRIST, when all drink from the ONE SPIRIT, what amazing transformations can take place within our world.  The old Coca Cola commercial showed a world united drinking Coke 'in perfect harmony'!  What about a world united all drinking a different kind of 'spirits'?  One body, one Spirit.  Drink.  Together.  


TUESDAY, January 29 "Teaching the R's"
Luke 4:16-21 (The Message)

He came to Nazareth where he had been reared. As he always did on the Sabbath, he went to the meeting place. When he stood up to read, he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written,

God’s Spirit is on me;
    he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor,
Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and
    recovery of sight to the blind,
To set the burdened and battered free,
    to announce, “This is God’s year to act!”

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in, “You’ve just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place.”

     Jesus has taken his place in the synagogue and announced why he is there and what he plans to do.  He is preaching the R's, but not Reading, 'Riting, and 'Rithmatic.  Jesus is teaching of Revelation, Release, Recovery, Restoration, and ultimately Redemption and Resurrection.   His 'mission statement' still applies today. We still need to hear the hope of the Good News revealed, liberation and healing from physical and spiritual prisons or disease, and  a renewal of our world to God's plan, God's imagination.        
     There is a line in Paul Young's book, Crossroads,  in which he writes, "Believer is an activity, not a category."  To be a follower of Christ is to DO, not just recite a statement of faith or check a box indicating Religious Preference. For what has God anointed us?  What are we to DO with our Christian faith?  What is our personal mission statement?   These are questions posed by Pastor Katy last Sunday in her sermon as well.  Day by day, week by week, we should have a plan of action.  Which of the R's might these former teachers tackle today?  

MONDAY, January 28  "Out of the Desert"
Luke 4:14-15  (The Message)

Jesus returned to Galilee powerful in the Spirit. News that he was back spread through the countryside. He taught in their meeting places to everyone’s acclaim and pleasure.
Where has Jesus been?
From where does he return?
The desert. 
A time of hardship and temptation. 
A time of faith testing.
He returns strengthened, 
Powerful in the Spirit; 
God overflowing from within. 
That's what deserts can do. 
Even though at the time
All we feel is thirst and loneliness.  
Deserts can prepare us
For Kingdom work,
Spirit work. 



SUNDAY, January 27  "Make of Me a Mountain"
Psalm 19:1-4a (Good News Translation)
How clearly the sky reveals God's glory!
    How plainly it shows what he has done!
Each day announces it to the following day;
    each night repeats it to the next.
No speech or words are used,
    no sound is heard;
yet their message goes out to all the world
    and is heard to the ends of the earth.
Make of me a mountain, Lord.
Majestic, beautiful, inspiring,
With a solid foundation in your love. 
Make the light sparkle 
As it reflects from my snowy face. 
Fill my heart overflowing with the
radiance and beauty of flowered meadows. 
Let my arms reach out like fingered ridges
Stretching in service to others.
Like the creeks tumbling from glacial summits,
May my conversations wash clean
  the troubles of those I meet.
May I take the gifts hidden within my forests:
Tree laden talents, flowery skills, and pools of opportunity
And use them to reveal your presence,
Your goodness, your love.  
No spoken sound from my silent shadows
But your glory proclaimed to all the world. 
Make of me a mountain, Lord, so that,
As I see God in the mountains I behold,
Others may see God at work in me,
Silently and with strength.  

CELEBRATING GOD'S GIFTS

d365.org PRESENCE OF GOD (Laura Rector)

"The best gifts are those received from someone who knows us well. These are the kinds of gifts that we celebrate with great gladness!

Take time to consider the gifts you have received from the One who knows you best, and celebrate God's great goodness and generosity."

SATURDAY, January 26  "Fountain of Light"

I had fun with this one!  God overflowing!

Psalm 36: 7-10 (Common English Bible)
Your faithful love is priceless, God!
    Humanity finds refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the bounty of your house;
    you let them drink from your river of pure joy.
Within you is the spring of life.

    In your light, we see light.

Extend your faithful love to those who know you;

extend your righteousness to those whose heart is right.

Psalm 36 Scribble from
Make a Joyful Scribble Unto the Lord!

So we begin and end the week with Psalm 36 and its celebration of God's love and faithfulness!  Today the line that struck me is verse 9,  "Within you is the spring of life, In your light, we see light."  The Message paraphrases it, "You’re a fountain of cascading light, and you open our eyes to light." Springs, fountains, cascades of light. God overflowing! To live within that light is to KNOW the light, to know our God.  God is life, God is light.  What an INCREDIBLE gift!  What an incredible GOD! Live in the light! 


FRIDAY, January 25  "Many to One"
1 Corinthians 12:4-7,11 (The Message)
God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits.....All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when.
Many gifts, one Giver.
Many ways to serve, one Spirit. 
Many talents, one Spirit. 
Many races, one Creator. 
Many lands, one World. 
Many denominations, one God. 
Many sins, one  Redeemer Christ. 
Many paths, one destination. 
We were created for community. 
Father, Son, and Spirit community. 
Everyone with a gift to offer. 
Everyone with a purpose to share. 
For the common good. 
For the benefit of the community. 
May we open our hearts, our hands,
And release the gifts we have received. 
May we celebrate 
The heavenly community we create together 
When the many gifts come back to the Giver
Into ONE. 

d365.org  BENEDICTION
 (Laura Rector)

"Open your heart now as you would a brightly-wrapped package,
Confident that the Giver of Life has provided you the greatest gift,
The gift of life.
Live today as a celebration, a time of giving back—
To God
And to all the world."

THURSDAY, January 24  "Spiritual Gifts"
1 Corinthians 12:1-3 (Good News Translation)

I want you to know the truth about [the gifts from the Holy Spirit], my friends.  You know that while you were still heathen, you were led astray in many ways to the worship of lifeless idols.  I want you to know that no one who is led by God's Spirit can say “A curse on Jesus!” and no one can confess “Jesus is Lord,” without being guided by the Holy Spirit.

     The Biblical world was awash with idols and a plethora of gods. It was an accepted part of life.  In this passage, Paul reminds the Corinthian church of the gift of the Holy Spirit that guides Christians to separate the false from the true, the idol from the one God.  The Spirit will not lead us astray!  The Spirit glorifies only one God and demands a singular worship of God and God alone --  with our whole heart and mind.  
     What idols do we continue to worship today that separate us from our God?  They are not lifeless if we grant them voice and the power to limit our focused love and worship of God. Money?  Status?  Power?  Selfishness?  Isolation?  Time?  Let us allow the Holy Spirit to vanquish the idol in our lives, to focus our complete love and adoration on the God of the universe.  The Holy Spirit is one of God's greatest gifts!!  
     I just finished reading Crossroads by Paul Young, author of The Shack.   It is excellent.  In the book the central character must confront the 'idols' he has nurtured in his life during a transition time between life and death.  Check it out.  

WEDNESDAY, January 23   "Water into Wine"
John 2:6-11  (Common English Bible)

Nearby were six stone water jars used for the Jewish cleansing ritual, each able to hold about twenty or thirty gallons.

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water,” and they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some from them and take it to the headwaiter,” and they did. The headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine. He didn’t know where it came from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.

The headwaiter called the groom  and said, “Everyone serves the good wine first. They bring out the second-rate wine only when the guests are drinking freely. You kept the good wine until now.”  This was the first miraculous sign that Jesus did in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

       Water into wine.  The first miracle!  But focus first on what kind of water was used.  This was hand washing water - ritual cleansing water! While freshly filled by the servants, the jars themselves had held dirty water.   Over a hundred gallons of tainted water!    Jesus takes a symbol of Jewish ritual, cleansing, and changes it beyond imagination.  The sacrament of baptism comes to my mind.   God is able to clean us up far better than we can ourselves.  Imagine the shock for the servants.  "This guy has to be crazy! Why are we hauling these heavy jars of unclean water to the host?  We need WINE!" And then to discover the  water was now the best of wines!  In overflowing abundance! I feel for the servants...they must have been blown away. But that's the kind of gifts God has to offer.  May we stop trying to clean up all by ourselves, accept God's gift of baptism, and celebrate the abundant life before us!  Drink up!     

I shall post Sunday's sermon scribble as well today, since John 2:1-11 was the text!

TUESDAY, January 22  "Do Whatever"
John 2:1-5 (Good News Translation)

Two days later there was a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there,  and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.  When the wine had given out, Jesus' mother said to him, “They are out of wine.”

 “You must not tell me what to do,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”

 Jesus' mother then told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

     Focus on Mary, the mother of Jesus, for a moment.  She sees a problem, a situation of potential embarrassment for the host family.  She tells Jesus, confident that he can take care of the problem.  While Jesus' response is somewhat cryptic, Mary simply tells the servants to do whatever Jesus says.  She doesn't put words into Jesus' mouth, she doesn't lay out a plan of action.  She trusts that Jesus will do what is best.
     Are we willing to do the same?  To lay our life before Jesus and confidently say, 'I'll do whatever you tell me?"  Too often we ask for help and then dictate our plans for how that help should be delivered.  We offer to serve, but under our terms.   May we celebrate the gifst God has given us by responding with confidence and trust in his control. 

MONDAY, January 21    "MARRIED...TO GOD"

Isaiah 62:4-5   (Good News Translation) 
No longer will you be called “Forsaken,”

Or your land be called “The Deserted Wife.”
Your new name will be “God Is Pleased with Her.”
Your land will be called “Happily Married,”
Because the Lord is pleased with you
And will be like a husband to your land.

Like a young man taking a virgin as his bride,
He who formed you will marry you.
As a groom is delighted with his bride,
So your God will delight in you.

Faithfulness.  Forever. 

Gifts overflowing with loving care. 

Our God comes to us like a bridegroom.  

Our God has chosen us to be his bride. 

A marriage that will last ... unbroken. 

A marriage filled with delight and celebration. 

A marriage seeped in trust and love. 
Hardship and turmoil will arise,

But our groom will not desert us.  Ever.

No divorce in this union. 

Just faithfulness.  Forever.  

Delight in our wedding  with God!
Delight in the gift of God's presence!

 What an incredible gift! 

SUNDAY, January 20    "INFINITE GIFTS" 

Psalm 36:5-6 (The Message)

God’s love is meteoric,
    his loyalty astronomic,
His purpose titanic,
    his verdicts oceanic.
Yet in his largeness
    nothing gets lost;
Not a man, not a mouse,
    slips through the cracks.

     Eugene Peterson in The Message is downright poetic in paraphrasing this passage from the 36th Psalm.  He doesn't mince words but  uses the biggest adjectives imaginable! I'll use INFINITE!   Our God is infinite in his love, his loyalty, his righteousness, and his justice.  Infinite in his gift of his Son.  But in all that universal-size greatness, he knows you and me.  He attends to the details of our life IF we choose to keep God in relationship.  Nothing is forgotten or lost.  Nothing too inconsequential.  Nothing slips through the cracks.  What an incredible God!  What incredible gifts! 

"SPIRIT OF THE WATERS"

D365.org  PRESENCE OF GOD (Laura Rector) 
Water is powerful – a necessity for life and also a threat to life when it surges out of control.

There is One who is always in the midst of the waters, bringing life every day and sustaining life when it is threatened. This same Spirit is with you now.  Feel and know the Spirit's presence.

SATURDAY, January 19  "Inside Out"

Luke 3:15-17  (The Message)

John intervened: “I’m baptizing you here in the river. The main character in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He’s going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.”    

     We've heard the compliment, 'You clean up nicely'!  But it usually refers to our outer appearance - a cleansing shower, hair combed or curled, dress-up clothing.  It generally implies we don't always look ythis good!  Our 'normal' is a little more casual. 

     What does a clean sweep from the inside look like?  What does it mean if someone says 'You clean up nicely' and they are referring to our character, our soul, - the essence of who we are before God?  That is the kind of housekeeping to which John refers.  That is the effect of a baptism in the Holy Spirit.  It is more than a washing of the common dirt of everyday sin.  It is like a fire burning within us -  separating the wheat from the chaff.  It is a transformation to something new, something holy.  When we are cleaned from the inside out, it becomes our normal.  The Holy Spirit works a life change within us.  

     What kind of housecleaning needs to be done in our lives?  Have we opened the door for the Holy Spirit maid to enter and begin work?

d365.org  BENEDICTION (Laura Rector)

Beside the healing stream,
Drink in the Spirit's power.
In the midst of the whelming flood,
Know the Spirit's care.

Let the Spirit carry you
As the river carries a vessel
To its destination,
To its home.

FRIDAY, January 18   "Acceptance"

Acts 8:14-17  (The Message)

When the apostles in Jerusalem received the report that Samaria had accepted God’s Message, they sent Peter and John down to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Up to this point they had only been baptized in the name of the Master Jesus; the Holy Spirit hadn’t yet fallen on them. Then the apostles laid their hands on them and they did receive the Holy Spirit.

God came for all. 
Not just the Jews. 
But the hated Samaritans. 
The Romans. 
All Gentiles. 
Women. Rich. Poor.
Accepted by God. 
Blessed and received by God.  
Can we do no less -
To view all as children of God?
Even if they are irritating. 
Or if we don't like their actions. 
Even if they are of different faiths. 
Or make war unfairly. 
All are children of God. 
All are worthy of our acceptance. 
Welcome all. 
As God does. 
Through Baptism. 
Through the Holy Spirit. 

THURSDAY, January 17   "Big Three"

Luke 3:21-22 (The Message)

After all the people were baptized, Jesus was baptized. As he was praying, the sky opened up and the Holy Spirit, like a dove descending, came down on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: “You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.” 

“You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you.”  (Good News Translation)

 “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.” (Common English Bible)

“You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” (NRSV)

     I was in a group last night and when the blessing was given, a "Trinitarian" closing was delivered in the prayer.  We commented on the reminder of "The Big Three" when often all we use to close a prayer is 'In Christ's name', etc.  

     The Big Three is present at Jesus's baptism.  This is a big event.  It is the public beginning of his ministry.  Many people are present, having also received baptism.  Many are questioning if John is the Messiah - a sense of anticipation is in the air.   How many realize the significance of the baptism of Jesus that day?  Surely if voices are heard from on high, bodily forms of doves suddenly appear, the crowd will grasp the importance of the event.  God speaks!  The Holy Spirit is visible!  Heaven opens for a moment and the presence of God is seen and heard!     What was the reaction of the people?  What is OUR reaction today?  What is our response?

     As we pray, may we remember God in all forms and messengers: Christ beside us, the Spirit within us, and God speaking to us.  May we hear the words of God daily and adopt them as our own: beloved child, pride of my life, pleasing and source of happiness.  May we pray for the Spirit to continually guide us in seeking the will and call of God.  

     In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.  Amen!!  

     

We are finally 'into' the scripture passage that was the text for last Sunday's sermon, so I will include now the Scribble I did from Rev. Katy Nicole's preaching. 
Addendum:  Comment made at a lectionary bible study review concerning 'Just a few drops of water....'  -
"It only takes a few drops of water sometime to make a difference between life and death for a plant.  Perhaps we are the same way!"  Just a few drops of water can make all the difference in the world in our lives also!  

WEDNESDAY, January 16 
"The Real Deal"

Luke 3:15-16 (Good News Translation)

People's hopes began to rise, and they began to wonder whether John perhaps might be the Messiah.  So John said to all of them, “I baptize you with water, but someone is coming who is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Could he be?

The people question with

Anticipation and expectation. 

With desire and longing,

For the Messiah to come. 

Could this John be the one?

No. 

No...says John himself.

Don't bow down to me. 

I'm not your Messiah. 

The real deal is coming. 

So much more than I can give you. 

So much more than we deserve. 

I can inspire. 

I can prepare.

I can point the way. 

But look to the Christ for the real deal. 

God-power in human form.

Not a cleansing with water,

But washed in the Holy Spirit. 

That's your Messiah. 

That's the real deal.

TUESDAY, January 15     "Created for Glory"

Isaiah 43:4-5a, 6b-7  (Good News Translation)

I will give up whole nations to save your life,
    because you are precious to me
    and because I love you and give you honor.

Do not be afraid—I am with you!...

Let my people return from distant lands,
    from every part of the world.

They are my own people,
    and I created them to bring me glory.”

Created for glory. 

Precious. Honored. 

Called by name and claimed.  

Loved. Forever loved.  

The translation doesn't matter. 

The words express one message:

God loves us fully.  

We belong fully to God. 
Every day. 
Everywhere.
Created for God's glory.  

MONDAY, January 14 "Claimed by Name"

Isaiah 43:1b-2 (The Message)

“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.
    I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.
    When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place,
    it won’t be a dead end—

Spirit waters wash over me

Cleansing, washing me anew

For a relationship with God. 

Spirit waters seal my baptism,

My adoption into the family of God. 

Called by name, individually. 

Claimed, redeemed, marked. 

I belong to God. 

And with that reality comes the realization

That I will NEVER be alone. 

I will never face hardship alone. 

I will never endure trauma alone. 

My God will be there beside me,
calling my name. 
Claiming me once again.  

Spirit waters of God. 

SUNDAY, January 13   "The Power of God" 

Psalm 29:1-6 (Common English Bible)

You, divine beings! Give to the Lord—
    give to the Lord glory and power!

Give to the Lord the glory due his name!    
Bow down to the Lord in holy splendor!

The Lord’s voice is over the waters,

The glorious God thunders;

 the Lord is over the mighty waters.

The Lord’s voice is strong;    

   the Lord’s voice is majestic.

The Lord’s voice breaks cedar trees—
    yes, the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.

He makes Lebanon jump around like a young bull,
    makes Sirion jump around like a young wild ox.

Our God is a God of power. 

Mightier than the force of the waters. 

Louder than the booming thunder. 

Stronger than the trees of the forest. 

For the Israelites the comparisons made sense. 

The waters of the Mediterranean were broad. 

The voices of the god Baal penetrating,

The cedars of Lebanon symbols of permanence. 

But how do we describe our God today?  

How powerful is our God still?

The Lord's voice is heard amid the battle sounds

    of missiles and explosions;

Our glorious God thunders in the chaos of disaster;

    hurricane, tornado, flood, or fire. 

Our Lord breaks the pillars of hatred and prejudice,

   Yes, the Lord shatters envy and selfishness.  

Our God is more powerful than all the evil of our world;

Our God is stronger than war, poverty, and indifference. 

Our God of the universe is mightier, far bigger, than 

    ANYTHING we can conceive.  

Look to the world God has created -

Look to the majesty of all Creation -

And know the power of our God

     To make things right. 

"Give to the Lord glory and power, 

Give to the Lord the glory due his name!"

For later this week....
Inside Out