7.1.16 Jeremiah 22:29 MSG
O land, land, land,
listen to God’s Message!
listen to God’s Message!
This is how I want to shout sometimes,
perhaps like Jeremiah! “Listen, people
of the world! Listen to God! Listen to the message of LOVE! Stop the
carnage! World, world, world, LISTEN!” I didn’t read the before or after for this
single verse, because I think just the verse alone stands alone. So, I don’t know the context for Jeremiah’s
plea. But it is a message we need to hear
again today. And not just spoken…..lived.
Eternal
God….your word stands firm today with a message to love one another. Amen.
7.2.16 Ezekiel 36:23 GNT
…. I will use you to show the nations that I
am holy.
God uses us – it’s that simple. Miracles happen, but most of the time, God
gets the job done through ordinary people like you and me. And when we all work together in God’s name,
holy things happen. They truly do.
Holy God....use me to show your holiness. Amen.
Do we have laws today that bind people
down rather than release them? Laws that
degrade or devalue the humanity of an individual? Perhaps in fighting such laws are where we
still need to stand strong for freedom.
We have many, many laws in our ‘country of freedom’. Sometimes I think we legislate because the
common decency of human beings has been lost.
If we only could all live under the LAW
of LOVE, and treat one another as such.
7.5.16 Ephesians 3:12 MSG
Holy God....use me to show your holiness. Amen.
7.4.16 Galatians 5:1 VOICE
So stand strong for our freedom! The Anointed One freed us so
we wouldn’t spend one more
day under the yoke of slavery, trapped under the law.
An appropriate message for this, our
nation’s 240th birthday. (Not
that old by European or Asian standards!)
But Paul is talking about a more internal freedom, as evidenced by his
final phrase, trapped under the law. The
Hebrew code of laws, as found in Leviticus and the Torah, had become a form of
slavery. Christ freed the people from
that bondage.
Do we have laws today that bind people
down rather than release them? Laws that
degrade or devalue the humanity of an individual? Perhaps in fighting such laws are where we
still need to stand strong for freedom.
We have many, many laws in our ‘country of freedom’. Sometimes I think we legislate because the
common decency of human beings has been lost.
If we only could all live under the LAW
of LOVE, and treat one another as such. 
7.5.16 Ephesians 3:12 MSG
When we trust in him, we’re free to say whatever needs to be
said, bold to go wherever we need to go.
Trust
equals freedom because trust has our back and gives us confidence. Placing that trust in God frees us from the
worry of failure. We might still fail at
times, but know that God will help pick us up and allow us to start over
again.
Where is God’s throne? I can picture God’s throne as the peak of the
mountains, the vista of the Created World laid before God, a pinnacle of beauty
and wonder. What does God’s robe look
like? I can picture the robe of God as a
sweeping sunset sky, the swirls of color the folds and billows of God’s robe
filling the temple of a vast sky. Where
do you see God’s throne, God’s robe? Look around.
The throne and robe are everywhere.
In verse two of the Isaiah passage, the winged creatures
are singing this verse. Yesterday Rick
and I took what I like to call our Annual Anthony Anniversary Amble – a wildflower
hike in the Anthony Lakes basin. It was
a beautiful, perfect hiking weather, day.
At one point I could see the throne of God on each peak, with the cloud
forming the billows of God’s robe. And
the winged creatures? They were
everywhere! Osprey, hawk, songbirds, and
Clark’s Nutcrackers filled the air with music – music that voiced, ‘God’s glory
fills the world’.
7.6.16 Isaiah 6:1 GNT
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. He was
sitting on his throne, high and exalted, and his robe filled the whole Temple.
7.7.16 Isaiah 6:3 GNT
“Holy, holy, holy!
The Lord Almighty is holy!
His glory fills the world.”
The Lord Almighty is holy!
His glory fills the world.”
In verse two of the Isaiah passage, the winged creatures
are singing this verse. Yesterday Rick
and I took what I like to call our Annual Anthony Anniversary Amble – a wildflower
hike in the Anthony Lakes basin. It was
a beautiful, perfect hiking weather, day.
At one point I could see the throne of God on each peak, with the cloud
forming the billows of God’s robe. And
the winged creatures? They were
everywhere! Osprey, hawk, songbirds, and
Clark’s Nutcrackers filled the air with music – music that voiced, ‘God’s glory
fills the world’.
Rick found the ceramic bird feeder I made years ago in the
shed and put it up in the lilac tree. I
filled it with seed, even though you really aren’t supposed to feed the birds
in the summer time. But the effect was
instantaneous. Our lilac tree is
suddenly alive with music and chirps, the tiny wrens and chickadees flitting
from branch to feeder to fence top to ground.
They are singing, ‘God’s glory fills the world!”
Almighty God....your glory indeed fills the world. May I stop to listen to all Creation sing. Amen.
Last
night’s news was filled with tragedy in Dallas, TX, as protest snipers have
been shooting police officers in the wake of another unjustified death of a
young black male. ISIS has been bombing
cities throughout the world in mass deaths.
The upcoming Olympics, the gold standard of a moment in time when the
world stops fighting and unites, is marred by turmoil, chaos, and potential
terrorism. There seems to be no hope for
our world. AND YET…. We are a people who
have seen the hope of God. We can BE the
hope of God if one by one we begin to LIVE into that HOPE.
Almighty God....your glory indeed fills the world. May I stop to listen to all Creation sing. Amen.
7.8.16 Isaiah 6:5 GNT
I said, “There is no hope for me! I am doomed because every
word that passes my lips is sinful, and I live among a people whose every word
is sinful. And yet, with my own eyes I have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
Key
words here are ‘and yet’. We are a
people inclined to sin, AND YET we are a people loved by God. We are surrounded by blatant violence against
one another, AND YET we live also in a
world filled with God’s glory. We can
say there is no hope, AND YET with God, hope is always present.
 |
| I posted this photograph today as we drove around Lake Tahoe. I just had to cartoon it for today's prayers. |
God of hope….give me the courage to live the hope
you provide to a hurting world.
Amen.
Then our mouth was filled
with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
Then they said among the nations,
“Yahweh has done great things for these people.”
7.9.16 Isaiah 6:6-7 VOICE
Flaming Creature: Look! With the touch of this burning ember on your lips,
your guilt is turned away;
All your faults and wrongdoings are forgiven.
your guilt is turned away;
All your faults and wrongdoings are forgiven.
Burning embers on my lips? Ouch!
But maybe we are reminded that forgiveness isn’t always pain-free, that
it involves a little sacrifice and denial on our part as well. But forgiveness is freely given by God. Unfortunately, we aren’t always so free in
our acceptance of such forgiveness, or free to bestow the same grace on
others.
Forgiving
God…may I feel the burn of grace and transfer such blessing on another.
Amen.
7.10.16 Isaiah 6:8 VOICE
Whom shall I
send? Who will go for Us? Here I am!
Send me!
Not a lot to say on this busy morning. This is my Habitat mantra, “Here I am, Lord,
Send me!” Now…..if I will just continue
to act on my words!
Here I am, Lord, send me. Amen.
7.11.16 Psalm 126:2 GNT
 |
and our tongue with rejoicing.
Then they said among the nations,
“Yahweh has done great things for these people.”
My comments today will be brief as we are traveling over
600 miles home from California. But I
simply love the gist of this passage – Laughter and Joy in God! God HAS done great things, God is doing great
things, and rather than respond with fear and questioning, we must let the JOY
of God fill our hearts and lip. Laughter
IS the best medicine. Laughter brings
people together. You cannot be enemies
when you can laugh together! Laughter
bonds us to one another in a way no theology, ideology, or political view
can. JOY connects, joy builds
relationships rather than breaks them down.
Lord, link us with
laughter in the joy you bring to us.
7.12.16
Proverbs 23:22 MSG
Listen with respect to the
father who raised you,
and when your mother grows old, don’t neglect her.
and when your mother grows old, don’t neglect her.
Words about parentage, mothers and fathers, always ring
true when I have been to the place of my upbringing. This past weekend we were in Sacramento for a
wedding. I spent Saturday morning with a
long-time friend, but one I haven’t seen in over 25 years. He spoke of my father with memories deep
rooted in respect and admiration. I
attended the church my father started and again let the memories flow deep of a
loving, supportive childhood, not just from my immediate family, but from my
church community. Along with my sister,
we saw to the needs of our 96+ young mother, who I hope never felt
neglected! It was a good visit.
Loving father and mother…
help me to hold tight to my childhood instruction and tend to those who gave it…always. Amen.
Don’t let anyone put you down because you’re
young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith,
by integrity.
7.13.16 1 Timothy 4:12 MSG
The first line in this passage lends credence to our youth,
but the second line pretty well sums up the totality of how we should
live. Teach with our life. Or as the great theologians say – use words
only when necessary. Our actions speak
far louder than our words. Jesus said we
must approach with the clarity and
innocence of a child, and often youth can see a situation without all the
baggage that life adds to the mix.
Lord of life...use my life to teach in ways my words can never preach. Amen.
7.16.16 Judges 2:7 MSG
7.14.16 1 Timothy 5:1 MSG
Don’t be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as
you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers.
7.15.16 1 Timothy 5:8 MSG
Anyone who neglects to care for family members in need
repudiates the faith. That’s worse than refusing to believe in the first place.
I am going to play catch-up here, and
consider yesterday and today’s passages together. Both of these Timothy passages are part of
the advice Timothy is given because of his age.
He is young and the scripture is sound regarding relationships and
family. I actually opted to use the last
verse of this section today as it related to ALL family, not just widows as 5.3
referenced. Our service begins with
those closest to us, yet often they are the very people families sometimes
ignore. It is easier to give money to a
faceless entity on the other side of the world than to face the challenges that
family relations sometimes bring.
Charity begins at HOME. Hmmm….how
well am I doing?
7.16.16 Judges 2:7 MSG
The people worshiped God throughout the lifetime of Joshua and
the time of the leaders who survived him, leaders who had been in on all of God’s great work that he had done for Israel.
How quickly we can forget. While leadership is strong, the crowd can
follow, but when those who have lived through events pass away, the vision
blurs. I am looking at current events in
our world and thinking we are close to repeating the horrors of the past
because those who truly LIVED those horrors are dying off. The new generation may be apt to repeat
mistakes. The young Israelites were
frustrated in the Sinai peninsula and quickly forgot God’s acts of mercy in
Egypt. Moses wasn’t present at the time and the golden calf resulted. As nations wall themselves off in protective
stance, intolerant of our diversity and culture, are we in danger of rebuilding
the Golden Calf of World War 2? Are we
about to elect a president who epitomizes intolerance? We must remember God's great works.
God of all the ages....help me remember. Amen.
God of all the ages....help me remember. Amen.
7.18.16 Ephesians 4:15 MSG
God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it
in love—like Christ in everything.
Tell the truth in love. Grow up in
love. Know love. Be love.
And in so doing, we will be like Christ in everything. It sounds so simple to merely live love. Why
is it so difficult to practice? Why?
Holy
God of love….may I live your love, everyday.
Amen.
Don’t turn me out to pasture when I’m old
or put me on the shelf when I can’t pull my weight.
I find this an interesting scripture
passage. Does it imply that we lose
track of God in our declining years? For
many, that is when God becomes very real!
Perhaps the lesson is that a firm foundation in God early on will
prevent us from becoming a dour old person who is soured on life. A proper focus on the holy will help keep us
aging folk on the right track.
God of my youth....may you be also the God of my declining years and keep me focused on you. Amen.
I think I am feeling old just from
this week’s scriptures! Who knew the
Bible had so much to say about aging? And
aging gracefully and gratefully! This is
a rather well-known piece of scripture, however, because the next two verses
continue, “Even
those who are young grow weak; young people can fall exhausted. But those who trust in the Lord
for help
will find their strength
renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary;
they will walk and not grow
weak.” That is the secret
to aging – trusting in God throughout the process! And with that trust, we can fly to new
heights, new dreams, and new hopes!
The implication here is that the
leaders are all our elders. And while
that is often true, sometimes the youth have much to offer and teach in the way
of leadership themselves because they are not caught in the binds of experience
or fear of failure. On the brink of this
presidential election, I can understand if a lot of youth find a lack of
leadership to follow!
Do not neglect the gift. Do not fail to use the talents God has
bestowed upon you…for God, to the glory of God.
How often do we use the excuse of ‘I don’t have time’ or ‘I’m not good
enough’? Do we think our ‘feeble’ gift isn’t enough; it won’t really make any
difference? We fail to realize that if we just commit to
start, God will help us MAKE the time or EMPOWER us in ways we didn’t think
possible. We fail to remember that if we make a difference in ONE life, our
gift matters! The gifts have been
granted. The gifts are needed in our
world today. Have we put our special
gifts in a closet and forgotten them?
Have we let the busyness of our life preclude exercising our gifts? Have I?
7.19.16 Psalm 71:9 MSG
Don’t turn me out to pasture when I’m oldor put me on the shelf when I can’t pull my weight.
The next few days of scripture
passages focus on aging and relationships between youth and old. This passage
from Psalms seeks God’s help but from the standpoint of the elderly. While perhaps not physically strong, the aged
have a great deal to offer in terms of experience and memory. We can’t ‘put them out to pasture’ and figure
they are too old to do anything! Habitat
Care-a-Vanners has sure proven that.
While our backs might not be young, the amount of construction work a
group of retired folk can accomplish is amazing. Not time to sit on a shelf or a lazy boy
yet!
God…help
me to contribute in whatever ways I can despite my declining youth. Amen.
7.20.16 Ecclesiastes 12:1 GNT
So remember your Creator while you are still young, before those dismal
days and years come when you will say, “I don't enjoy life.”
 |
| Not sure why, but the colorful array of t-shirts hanging from our backyard clothesline seemed extraordinarily beautiful today... perhaps even holy. |
7.21.16 Isaiah 40:29
VOICE
God strengthens the weary
and gives vitality to those worn down by age and care.
and gives vitality to those worn down by age and care.
God of eagle strength...may I trust in you for renewed strength. Amen.
7.22.16 1 Peter 5:5 MSG
And you who are younger must follow your leaders.
The implication here is that the
leaders are all our elders. And while
that is often true, sometimes the youth have much to offer and teach in the way
of leadership themselves because they are not caught in the binds of experience
or fear of failure. On the brink of this
presidential election, I can understand if a lot of youth find a lack of
leadership to follow!
But in general, we learn from those
older than us, those who have experienced life with God and can pass that
knowledge on. We learn from our parents
and parental role models.
At this point in my life, I question, ”What
kind of leadership do I offer? Am I the
role model God wishes me to be?”
Christ….may
you be my role model and may I serve as such in your name. Amen.
7.23.16 1 Timothy 4:14 GNT
Do not neglect the spiritual gift that is in you, which was
given to you when the prophets spoke and the elders laid their hands on you.
 |
| I attended a spirituality workshop today and one activity involved 'soul cards'. I chose a card similar to the above with a blue shape and face circling inner rays of orange and gold. Hidden within were faces. What did it mean to me? I may be blue, depressed, or strained on the outside, but the inner light of God can and shall break through. God is hidden in the faces of those who bring me light. We also learned to draw a Classic Labyrinth, so I used it for the outside circle. |
Gifting
God….help me share the gifts you have granted me. Amen.
I
paused today before noting which part of this scripture I deemed most important
to include on my Prayer Log, lingering between moderation, respect, and the
concept of living unbroken faith. All
good advice! Why this is advice only for
the older men I don’t know. I should
read the rest of the chapter for context.
And when I first saw this, I thought, why advice only for men, what
about the women? Well, that will be for
tomorrow!
7.25.16 Titus 2:2 VOICE
Here’s
what I want you to teach the older men: enjoy everything in
moderation, respect yourselves and others, be sensible, and dedicate yourselves to living an unbroken faith demonstrated by your love
and perseverance.
I
paused today before noting which part of this scripture I deemed most important
to include on my Prayer Log, lingering between moderation, respect, and the
concept of living unbroken faith. All
good advice! Why this is advice only for
the older men I don’t know. I should
read the rest of the chapter for context.
And when I first saw this, I thought, why advice only for men, what
about the women? Well, that will be for
tomorrow!
What does it mean to live an unbroken
faith? Titus goes on to say that it is
demonstrated by love and perseverance.
Hanging on through the tough times with the faith that God is with us. Unbroken love; unbroken hope. Googling the word on the internet reminded me
I have yet to see the movie Unbroken which
chronicles the life and faith of an Olympic runner and WW2 survivor.
God of
unbroken presence….may I mirror your love in my unbroken faith. Amen.
I
almost have to laugh when I see the gender differences in Titus’ advice to the
older men and women! Yes, respect is a
common term in both. But women are
admonished to be careful of drink and gossip, as if the men never drank too
much or gossiped. (Ok, perhaps the
latter is more in the realm of a female trait….) So I guess I would prefer to just lump the
two verses together as advice to ALL, men, women, younger, older. I think the last line of verse 3 is the key: ‘so
you can teach what is good’. We teach
with our lives. People learn from
watching our actions and behavior. If we
do good, we mirror Christ. If we err and
ask forgiveness, knowing God’s grace will be granted, we reflect the kind of relationship God wants
to have with us. How well do I follow
Titus’ advice??
God of grace…once
again, may my life teach your love.
Amen.
I
find myself reading this passage and going, ‘so what?’ It doesn’t stir me to any thoughts really at
all. So maybe I need to think a little
deeper on this warm, summer morning. Who
joined the ranks? Outsiders.
Greeks. Rich women. Not the ones, perhaps, that Paul and Silas
expected. Perhaps I need to remember
this when we are responding to those who walk through our church doors. Sometimes it isn’t the young professional
families (you know, the ones EVERYONE flocks to make welcome!), but the
marginalized who we are called to witness.
Such a newcomer came to worship this past Sunday. He wants to come to the Progressive
Dinner. May he feel the welcome and love
of our church family.
Eternal God...may I use my age and wisdom to proclaim your message of love through eternity. Amen.
7.26.16 Titus 2:3
And
here’s what I want you to teach the older women: Be respectful. Steer clear of gossip or
drinking too much so that you can teach what is good…
 |
| Key words from the past two scriptures are embedded in this practice try for drawing the classical labyrinth pattern. I think I've got it! |
7.27.16 Acts 17:4 MSG
Some of them were won over and joined ranks with
Paul and Silas, among them a great many God-fearing Greeks and a considerable
number of women from the aristocracy.
I
find myself reading this passage and going, ‘so what?’ It doesn’t stir me to any thoughts really at
all. So maybe I need to think a little
deeper on this warm, summer morning. Who
joined the ranks? Outsiders.
Greeks. Rich women. Not the ones, perhaps, that Paul and Silas
expected. Perhaps I need to remember
this when we are responding to those who walk through our church doors. Sometimes it isn’t the young professional
families (you know, the ones EVERYONE flocks to make welcome!), but the
marginalized who we are called to witness.
Such a newcomer came to worship this past Sunday. He wants to come to the Progressive
Dinner. May he feel the welcome and love
of our church family.
Welcoming God…may we reach out to those ‘outside
our circles’ and share your love.
Amen.
What
a beautiful piece of scripture, especially for one approaching the end of
life. To know one has done their best,
persevered, and been ‘unbroken’ in their faith.
Yet, when I wrote the word ‘unbroken’, unlike my whole post on the word,
this time it reminded me of Pastor Al’s sermon on grace as the knots God ties
when we have broken ourselves from faith.
Each knot brings us CLOSER to
God as our faith is strengthened in those times of brokenness. In fact, that was my very first Scribble
drawn.
7.28.16 2 Timothy 4:7 GNT
I have done my best in the race, I have run the
full distance, and I have kept the faith.
What
a beautiful piece of scripture, especially for one approaching the end of
life. To know one has done their best,
persevered, and been ‘unbroken’ in their faith.
Yet, when I wrote the word ‘unbroken’, unlike my whole post on the word,
this time it reminded me of Pastor Al’s sermon on grace as the knots God ties
when we have broken ourselves from faith.
Each knot brings us CLOSER to
God as our faith is strengthened in those times of brokenness. In fact, that was my very first Scribble
drawn.
But
I’m off the ‘track’ of the race of life, the full distance of years of service
and trust. This is such a common and
well-known scripture, and one of Timothy’s best verses. The race may be long or short, but run it in
faith, passing on the baton of love, to every other runner along the way.
God of the race…may I keep running in love and
trust the full distance of my years.
Amen.
7.29.16 Psalm 71:18 GNT
Now that I am old and my hair is gray,
do not abandon me, O God!
Be with me while I proclaim your power and might
to all generations to come.
Do not abandon me, God – I am off to
drive a long distance solo and I will need your help (and Debbie Macomber’s) to
stay awake! BTW, God, my hair isn’t too
gray yet, but I’m not complaining! It is
a beautiful day and I am excited to drive around Mt. Hood as an option. I’ll proclaim your glory the whole way!! do not abandon me, O God!
Be with me while I proclaim your power and might
to all generations to come.
Eternal God...may I use my age and wisdom to proclaim your message of love through eternity. Amen.
 |
| Mt. Hood was glorious today, plus I loved all the fuchsias growing on the Willamette University campus! |
7.30.16 1 Samuel 3:19 GNT
As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and made come true
everything that Samuel said.
I’m
not so sure about God making true everything that I say, but I AM confident
that God is with us – with you and with me – every step of this journey we call
life. Any estrangement from God is on
our part, not God’s. We are the ones who
distance ourselves from the source of Truth.
May I walk confidently in the days ahead, knowing that God is with all
of us.
More
driving today! Bandon is in sight. A good visit with Jed overnight.
God of our journeys….may we know with assurance
that you are with us every step of the way.
Amen.
7.31.16 John 1:12 GNT
Some, however, did receive him and believed in
him; so he gave them the right to become God's children.
The ‘right’ to become God’s
children. We all have that right. The grace of God grants such privilege. What a family in which to be a part! God’s family includes all – sinners and
saints, young and old, black and white (and inbetween!), conservatives and
liberals, ALL. One family. One God.
I received a call this afternoon from
one of my family. It was a call of
concern and encouragement, a call that brought a smile to my heart and love to
my soul. That’s what family does. Liz and I met with sisters in Christ after
church who were filled with love and concern for Mom – because that’s what the
children of God do for each other.
This is a pretty amazing family to be
a part of. Thank you God!
Thank
you, Mother-Father God, for this family of faith in which we dwell. Amen.
