2.29.16 Monday Luke 9:18-20 MSG
One time when Jesus was off
praying by himself, his disciples nearby, he asked them, “What are the crowds
saying about me, about who I am?” They
said, “John the Baptizer. Others say
Elijah. Still others say that one of the
prophets from long ago has come back.”
He then asked, “And you – what are you saying about me? Who am I?”
Who is Jesus? Our answer not only determines Jesus’ role,
but ours as well. Are we a
follower? A student of the Teacher? Are we sheep of the Shepherd or branches of
the Vine? A holy question with a holy
answer. Who am I? What is my identity as a holy child of
God?
If I have to answer this question to
Jesus, my answer has to be, “You are the son of God; you are a part of God that
God has chosen to reveal to us. You are
our example of what relationship with God can be. You are holy.
What is my role in my answer? Who am I?
Jesus the Messiah….who am I? Amen.
3.1.16
Tuesday Romans 11:16-18 MSG
Behind and underneath all this
there is a holy, God-planted, God-tended root.
If the primary root of the tree is holy; there’s bound to be some holy
fruit. … you are now fed by that rich
and holy root…you aren’t feeding the root; the root is feeding you.
I
am a branch in the holy tree of God, sustained by God, fed and nourished by
God. My branches are holy because my
roots are holy. I am fed through
scripture, prayer, fellowship, and worship.
I am nourished with song, service, and sharing. I am nourished by the God-root. How will I bloom? What kind of branches am I producing?
Rooted in Christ….branched out for God. Amen.
3.2.16
Wednesday 1
Thessalonians 4:7 MSG
God hasn’t invited us into a disorderly,
unkempt life but into something holy and beautiful – as beautiful on the inside
as the outside.
We have a beauty within us, a holy beauty, that must be shared with the parts of our world that aren't so beautiful. We must share the love, the glory, the wonder of God to combat the distrust, hatred, abuse, and apathy that constantly lurk in our world today. Heavens knows, you only have to look at the US political scene currently in process to know a little beauty, a little holy, is needed!
God, help me….to reflect an inner beauty to a sometimes ugly, outside world. Amen.
3.3.16
Thursday
Deuteronomy
7:6 MSG
You are a people set apart as
holy to God, your God. God, your God,
chose you out of all the people on Earth for himself as a cherished, personal treasure.
I am a treasure of God. Treasured.
Valued. Cherished. Wow!
That is an overwhelming thought.
Society has its means of valuation and measurement, but God’s ways are
totally different. We are set apart as
holy, chosen as holy, cherished as holy.
How will we manifest our holiness?
How will we share it?
God chose me….I choose God. Amen.
3.4.16
Friday
Colossians
3:12-14 MSG
So, chosen by God for this new
life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility,
quiet strength, discipline. Be
even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the
Master forgave you. And regardless of
what else you put on, wear love. It’s
your basic, all-purpose garment. Never
be without it.
Love. It’s the "little black
dress" of God’s wardrobe. The
all-occasion, can’t go wrong outfit. The
rest of the wardrobe is important, but without love we won’t win any fashion
show.
(I find it ironic that I write about fashion. Me…who spends most of my life in thrift store
jeans and t-shirts. But…..I DO have a
little black dress. Perhaps I should
wear it more often. Or, better yet,
could blue jeans also be the all-purpose garment of love? THAT’s a love-wardrobe I could readily adopt!)
The message is clear. Love is holy. Love is never the wrong answer or the wrong choice.
Holy God,…..clothe me well.
God's job is redemption. God is a life-saver. God breaks people out of prison and sets them free. We don't always see this side of God, unless we have been held captive by circumstance or been drowning in the waters of life and really experienced the redeeming power of the Almighty. We may not have recognized God in the mini acts of redemption carried out on a daily basis: forgiveness for the sins of omission, those gentle nudges to act or follow-through, the chance encounters that in hindsight made all the difference. All God at work. Being God is an enormous job. I'm glad our Redeemer is up to it!
Isaiah 43:2 MSG
3.5.16 Saturday Isaiah 62:12 MSG
Zion will be called new names:
Holy People, God-Redeemed, Sought-Out, City-Not-Forgotten.
God's job is redemption. God is a life-saver. God breaks people out of prison and sets them free. We don't always see this side of God, unless we have been held captive by circumstance or been drowning in the waters of life and really experienced the redeeming power of the Almighty. We may not have recognized God in the mini acts of redemption carried out on a daily basis: forgiveness for the sins of omission, those gentle nudges to act or follow-through, the chance encounters that in hindsight made all the difference. All God at work. Being God is an enormous job. I'm glad our Redeemer is up to it!
Redeeming God….set me free. Amen.
3.6.16 Fourth Sunday in Lent
Isaiah 43:2 MSG
“Don’t be afraid. I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
Our call to holiness is
individual. God has called each of us by
name, God knows each of us by name. The call is unique for each of us, tailored to
the gifts we have been given. My holy is
not the same as another’s holy. But
together we can reflect the holiness of our Creator in more ways and to a
greater degree. May we seek our brand of
holy, may we hear the call, may we share those gifts.
Holy, holy, holy…..what is my unique call?
No comments:
Post a Comment