Invocation.... d365.org (Andrew Noe)Imagine a game of tug-o-war. Without both teams the rope would simply fall to the ground and there would be no game or fun. Now imagine on one side of the rope is "listening" and on the other side is "doing." There is a tension between the two, but they are both needed.
We can't truly listen without it changing us in some way – our ideas, our knowledge, our way of living. We can't truly do anything without first listening – to our thoughts, to God's call, or to the voices of others. We need both listening and doing.
SATURDAY, July 27, 2013 "Advice"
Proverbs 12:15 (GNT)
Stupid people always think they are right. Wise people listen to advice.What prevents us from taking sound advice? Usually pride. Pride that our way is best. Pride that we might be wrong. Advice seems like a slap in the face sometimes - a cut to our self-confidence.
What if that advice comes from God? Surely we should listen then! But do we always recognize the various forms in which God comes to us, do we always know just WHO should command our attention? May we stay attuned to the many voices of God, ready to admit we don't know it all, and heed the good advice of the Almighty. May we have the ability to discern between the voice of God and the voices of pride and egoism.
BENEDICTION.... d365.org (Andrew Noe)
Today is a day of tug-o-war,
Listening and doing pulling at you.
Sometimes listening is more important;
In other moments we are called to action.
In both, God is present.
Pray for God's guidance to know when
You should do and when you should listen.
FRIDAY, July 26, 2013 "What?"
Genesis 18:10-12 (MSG)
One of them [three visitors] said, “I’m coming back about this time next year. When I arrive, your wife Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was listening at the tent opening, just behind the man.
Abraham and Sarah were old by this time, very old. Sarah was far past the age for having babies. Sarah laughed within herself, “An old woman like me? Get pregnant? With this old man of a husband?”
Sarah was unintentionally eavesdropping! Oh, what she heard! You can't blame her response, "You've got to be kidding! What a joke! I'm too old!" She just laughs it off as absurd! And then imagine her surprise when she discovers that she heard correctly, she really WAS pregnant! When we stop and listen to God, sometimes we are amazed at what we hear! Our response might be as Sarah, "You want me to do what? That's crazy talk!" We might laugh it off because the reality is too hard to bear. Or we might stop listening because we don't like what we hear!
Am I listening with open ears and open heart? Am I ready to accept and act upon what I hear? How is God speaking to me today?
Genesis 18:6-8 (GNT)
Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick, take a sack of your best flour, and bake some bread.” Then he ran to the herd and picked out a calf that was tender and fat, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to get it ready. He took some cream, some milk, and the meat, and set the food before the men. There under the tree he served them himself, and they ate.
Did Abraham KNOW he was serving God? There are clues in the passage...he calls the visitors 'Master' and assumes a servant role. The scripture itself says God appeared to Abraham, but the story is of three hot and dirty travelers. HOW does Abraham know? I think all of us would jump into action as Abraham if we knew God-Almighty sat at our table. Bring out the tomato-sourdough bread, Baker Co. beef, huckleberries! Pull out the wedding china, God is here! Only the best will do!But... God does come every day in the faces of everyone we encounter. Do we pull out the china then? Do we offer 'only the best' or 'leftover' hospitality? The three men at the entrance to Abraham's tent are God, they are everyone, they are our neighbors. We don't have to KNOW ahead of time because ALL are worthy of our best, all the time and in every place.
WEDNESDAY, July 24, 2013 "Time for Action"
Genesis 18:1-5 (MSG)
God appeared to Abraham at the Oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent. It was the hottest part of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing. He ran from his tent to greet them and bowed before them.
He said, “Master, if it please you, stop for a while with your servant. I’ll get some water so you can wash your feet. Rest under this tree. I’ll get some food to refresh you on your way, since your travels have brought you across my path.”
They said, “Certainly. Go ahead.”
Verses in Ecclesiastes remind us, "There is a time for everything!" And Abraham demonstrates the time for action! He sees a need. He doesn't form a committee to weekly discuss the need (the strangers will be gone by then!) He doesn't check with Sarah to make sure he can share the evening's meal. He doesn't look around to see if someone else will respond instead. He sees tired, thirsty travelers, and immediately responds with Biblical hospitality: water to wash their feet. He provides food, shade, and welcome - all as a servant in the name of God. When it is the time for doing, do we spring into action as well as Abraham? Or do we allow our fears and inconvenience stop us from being the hands of God in immediate, concrete ways? This was a time for a Martha-action! And 'Abraham-Martha' responded! Can we?
TUESDAY, July 23, 2013 "Guilty"
Amos 8:4-6 (MSG)
Listen to this, you who walk all over the weak,
you who treat poor people as less than nothing,
Who say, “When’s my next paycheck coming
so I can go out and live it up?
How long till the weekend
when I can go out and have a good time?”
Who give little and take much,
and never do an honest day’s work.
You exploit the poor, using them—
and then, when they’re used up, you discard them.
I stand convicted. Guilty as charged.
Now....backtrack to the 'trial'. Recently, as we walked home from the park at Jubilee and were discussing the Fair Trade vendor, Rick and I noted that our church should adopt the use of Fair Trade coffee during Fellowship Coffee after worship. Many churches have taken this step in supporting workers in suppressed regions. Note I said the CHURCH should adopt this, not ME! Finally as we neared our home, I realized my hypocrisy and said, "Maybe I should put MY money where my mouth is and stop buying the cheapest coffee I can find here at home!"
So...with son Luke's help, we went on-line to research the options. Luke was familiar with a company just across the border, Cafe Justo, from which many groups in southern Arizona purchase coffee. I was encouraged with the depth of information on the site. We went to order a 'beginner' size 3 lb order. The site had a place to enter the coupon code. As I often do....I did a search for coupon codes. My son stood there, I think slightly disgusted, and finally said, 'Mom. You are ordering Fair Trade coffee. Why are you trying to work an angle to pay less?" Guilty as charged. Order placed. Full price. As Luke's last sermon said, 'May we listen to the wisdom of our youth and see the poor with their eyes.'
May we all put ourselves on trial and ask ourselves if the accusations of Amos ring true for us today. And then....take steps to change.
(Yes, church family. You'll be hearing more about Cafe Justo!)
MONDAY, July 22, 2013 "Stop! Listen!"
Luke 10:38-42 (GNT)
As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him in her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat down at the feet of the Lord and listened to his teaching. Martha was upset over all the work she had to do, so she came and said, “Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me!”
The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha! You are worried and troubled over so many things, but just one is needed. Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Mary.Listen.
Seek God's word and will.
Hear the quiet voice of the Almighty
Whisper in my ear.
Watch God wordlessly speak in the mouths
Of community and world.
Be still and know that God is present.
Martha.
Action. Bustle.
Action. Bustle.
To-do lists that grow
with sometimes meaningless tasks.
Well intentioned and with merit,
But not always essential to God's Kingdom.
Action without meaning.
Busy-ness.
Action is good.
Mission has purpose.
Service is a call.
But stop! Listen!
Hear God's call,
Seek God's will.
Mary and Martha.
Both important.
Listen and do.
This passage from Luke, the Mary-Martha story, has inspired two other sermon based scribbles, one from Rev. Katy and another from Rev. Al:
Action without meaning.
Busy-ness.
Action is good.
Mission has purpose.
Service is a call.
But stop! Listen!
Hear God's call,
Seek God's will.
Mary and Martha.
Both important.
Listen and do.
This passage from Luke, the Mary-Martha story, has inspired two other sermon based scribbles, one from Rev. Katy and another from Rev. Al:
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| This scribble was from Katy's EOP sermon. |
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| One of Rev. Al's "Rocks in My Knapsack" sermons on attitude. |
SUNDAY, July 21, 2013 "Worthy Guests"
Psalm 15 (MSG)
God, who gets invited
to dinner at your place?
How do we get on your guest list?
to dinner at your place?
How do we get on your guest list?
“Walk straight, act right, tell the truth.
“Don’t hurt your friend,
don’t blame your neighbor;
despise the despicable.
don’t blame your neighbor;
despise the despicable.
“Keep your word even when it costs you,
make an honest living, never take a bribe.
make an honest living, never take a bribe.
“You’ll never get blacklisted if you live like this."
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| Scribble from Make a Joyful Scribble Unto the Lord |
Jesus presented a slightly different invitation through his life: ALL are worthy. No one need quit because they feel blameless. ALL can be filled with the hope that comes with the daily challenge of living a life of virtue. We will make mistakes, we will stumble and fall. But we are assured that the invitation stands, the guest list hasn't changed. Listen to God's instructions. Take action.
Welcome to the house of God! Welcome to the party! Celebrate God! Live God!
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