September 2016 Scripture Meditations

9.1.16       Psalm 25:4-5 MSG

When I look out my back window from the bed in the
early morning hours, this is my view.  Amazing. 

Show me how you work, God;
School me in your ways.

         Show me how you work, God.  School me.  Teach me so well that the ways of God are ingrained, second nature, in my heart.  I won’t have to think ‘this is the right thing to do’ – I will just DO IT without any SHOULD thoughts.  That’s a big order for God.  Yet I think God has tried again and again to do the God-part of the job.  I’m not sure I’ve always been a good and willing student at the God-ways school.  It’s Back to School time all over the nation.  Time for me to do a little studying as well. 

School me, Lord….I’ll try to be a better student.  Amen. 

 

9.2.16       Jeremiah 33:3 MSG

Another in my Glacier NP series of prayers.
This is Mt.Clements up at Logan Pass. 

‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.’

         Call to God.  Initiate and God WILL respond.  In God-time and in God-way.  Creative ways we wouldn’t even consider.  It’s pretty astounding if you really think about it.  All we have to do is pick up the Prayer Phone and make the call.  We won’t get a busy signal or put on hold.  (Only in our imagination because we operate on Man-Time!)

Answering God….may I more frequently make the call that leads to amazing results. Amen. 

9.3.16       Nehemiah 9:5 GNT

“Stand up and praise the Lord your God;
    praise him forever and ever!

         We are hiking to the top of Mt. Oberlin today with fellow CAVs Rick and Paula, Peter and Wendy, and Rusty.  I can think of no place more appropriate to stand and praise the Lord our God!  Two years ago, Rick and I spent a Sunday morning on top of this mountain.  The sense of God-presence was overwhelming then.  I can only hope we find the same reality today.  

         Later note.  We didn't make Mt. Oberlin.  Too cold and windy on Logan Pass.  We hiked the Highline Trail instead, under the Continental Divide.  Still filled with God-glory....AND a grizzly bear!!  

Lord, when I witness your Creation in all its glory, I cannot help but praise you forever and ever!  Amen. 

9.4.16       Psalm 90:12 Voice

Teach us to number our days
    so that we may truly live and achieve wisdom.

         Make each day count and live each day to the fullest.  Don’t wait until tomorrow or sometime in the future to do what really matters.  Genia is teaching us this lesson over and over again with her uncertain future.  May we learn from her and ‘truly live’. 

Lord….help me to live each day fully with the faith you have my future in your hands.  Amen. 

9.5.16       Job 8:9 GNT

Our life is short, we know nothing at all;
    we pass like shadows across the earth.

         This passage is very similar to yesterday.  Yet it makes it seem as if our life doesn’t matter at all.  It may be brief in the overall scheme of universal time, but our individual action DO matter and CAN make a difference.  The key is to live each day to the fullest.  To make our shadow pass over another with impact and compassion. 

Lord….may my shadow make a difference to another today.  Amen. 

9.6.16       1 Thessalonians 4:11 MSG

Stay calm; mind your own business; do your own job. … We want you living in a way that will command the respect of outsiders….

         Live in a way that commands respect, minding your own business and doing the job you are given to do.  There are times on the Habitat site when differing opinions come to the forefront; when people have learned different ways to do the job and disagree about how to proceed.  When that is the case, we must not offer too much advice, but stick to the work we have been given.  Let the supervisor work out the problems. 

Lord,….may I do my best on the job I am given.  Amen. 

9.7.16       1 Corinthians 10:24 Voice

We should stop looking out for our own interests and instead focus on the people living and breathing around us.

         Pretty sound advice.  Don’t be selfish, think of others first.  What more do I need to say? 

God….Others first. Amen. 

9.8.16       Leviticus 19:31 MSG

“Don’t dabble in the occult or traffic with mediums; you’ll pollute your souls. I am God, your God.

         I am having trouble knowing how I want to respond to this verse.  Maybe it is the term occult and mediums that seem so strange, but if I just look at the ‘pollute your souls’, I can probably think of many ways that we pollute our heart.  Language, movies, books – the opportunities are out there to dirty our minds and hearts with non-God-centered thoughts and deeds.  Keep our focus on God; it will then be clear and clean. 

One God…keep me focused, Lord.  Amen.  

9.9.16       Hebrews 11:6 MSG

 It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.

         How can you profess to believe in God if you don’t have the faith that God cares and responds?  It would be an empty faith full of wasted efforts and futile prayers.  If you truly believe God listens, then you willingly enter into a relationship that reaps spiritual results. 

God…I know you exist, I know you listen, and I believe you care.  Amen. 

9.10.16     Hebrews 12:2 MSG

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. 

         Keep your eyes on Jesus.  Keep your focus on God.  You can’t go wrong if this is the practice day in and day out. 

         Back on the road today, heading home to Baker.  Much to get done in the short time I will be home.  Keep my focus where it belongs and all will work out. 

Lord of all…help me stay focused on that which is most important: you.  Amen.  

9.11.16     Psalm 10:14 GNT

But you do see; you take notice of trouble and suffering
    and are always ready to help.
The helpless commit themselves to you;
    you have always helped the needy.

Voice begins with But Wait! It reminded me of the infomercials on TV, the ‘But Wait, there’s more!’  I’m sure God wants to tell us that over and over.  Wait!  I have more to say!  Wait!  I have more for you to do!  We are impatient and don’t want to operate on God-time.  May we take the opportunity to stop, pause, and take notice of what needs to be done for those around us. 

God, help me to wait, and listen, and act.  Amen.   

9.12.16      Nehemiah 9:6 GNT

“You, Lord, you alone are Lord;
    you made the heavens and the stars of the sky.
You made land and sea and everything in them;
    you gave life to all.

         I didn’t have time yesterday to do anything except finish Saturday’s prayer picture of the sun rays.  So I was going to do a Sunday-Monday prayer on one of the pre-drawn formats.  I did that.  And then I saw what today’s scripture was and remembered I had saved some of the sunrise-sunset pictures from Kalispell just for today’s ‘heavens and stars’.  So there are no prayers in this picture, just a reflection of the beauty of God’s creation. 

Creating God….continue to remind me each day of your power and love when I look at the sky and the world around me. Amen. 

9.13.16     1 Kings 22:5 MSG

But before you do anything, ask God for guidance.”

         What incredibly good and sensible guidance.  It reminds me of the phrase, “Have you prayed about it?” when we are in the midst of a stressful situation or event.  When we are in doubt about the course to follow, ask God.  When we wonder if we have made the right choice, ask God.  Better yet, ask God BEFORE making the decision!  Keeping God in ‘the loop’ will guarantee God is part of the results.  And we can’t ask for anything better than that!

Lord…constantly remind me to come to you first for advice.  Amen. 

Today’s drawing – I am writing up my reflections for Saturday’s Memorial Service for Pat Fessel.  Pat loved to collect camels and teddy bears, so these come to mind when I think of Pat.  

9.14.16     Romans 2:6-7 Voice

As it goes, everyone will receive what his actions in life have cultivated. 

         You get what you grow.  Nothing more, nothing less.  Except….God is behind the growing and the getting and sometimes that can lead to some amazing results.  This summer we bought a couple of plants to plop into an empty space in the front gardens.  The tag said they would winter over in our climate and they were perennials.  It seemed they were more what I expect in Hawaii, but what the heck!  Plant ‘em and water ‘em.  When we got home, I was amazed to find large buds on both plants.  The next day?  A BLOSSOM 7” WIDE!!!  Thank you, God, for surprises of joy!  Thank you, God, for holding off on the bloom so we would see it because….it only lasted a little over a day. 

         I’m sure plants and flowers wasn’t what Paul was referring to in today's verse, but that’s my message for today!! 

God of joy…thank you for surprises along the way.  Amen.  

9.15.16     Leviticus 19:32 GNT

“Show respect for old people and honor them. Reverently obey me; I am the Lord.

        We spend a lot of time with ‘older folks’ on the Habitat trail; those we are working with!  There is a great deal of wisdom and knowledge in this group.  (But most of the homeowners are young families seeking a first time home and that is truly a pleasure as well!)   But I think Leviticus is speaking more of the elderly who cannot still be as productive as they would like - those in assisted living or who are losing control of their lives. The elderly who wonder if anyone still cares or notices.   How can we honor and respect them while still keeping them safe? How can we stop and spend the time necessary to value their wisdom and input?   It is a delicate balance, but one worthy of our attention.  Perhaps the word I seek is the ‘reverently’ one.  When we revere another, we are able to render the respect and honor due.  Our elders deserve such reverence.  Our God deserves it as well. 

God of all ages….help me to revere and honor my elders, seeking the wisdom of their years.  Amen.  

9.16.16     John 5:30 GNT

“I can do nothing on my own authority; I judge only as God tells me, so my judgment is right, because I am not trying to do what I want, but only what he who sent me wants.

         I understand what the Gospel writer is saying – his actions are not his own, but what he is led to do and say as God speaks to him.  But I question this verse in light of our judgmental society today who seem to use “God told me to do it” in a very haphazard way.  God told me to kill the abortion people.  God told me that all Muslims are bad.  God told me this or that which is very much in direct opposition to loving others and leaving judgment to God.  Maybe it was the use of the word judge in this translation that led me to this interpretation or thought.  I would like the verse better if it simply read, “I do nothing without consulting God first.”  And that takes us back to Tuesday’s advice of seeking God’s guidance. 

Lord…you are the judge of all.  May I love and act under your guidance.  Amen.  

9.17.16     1 Chronicles 16:11 GNT

Go to the Lord for help, and worship him continually.

         I am seeing a pattern in these last few verses!  Seek God’s advice, go to God, focus on God.  In other words, MAKE GOD THE CENTER OF ONE’S LIFE!  Make all of living a worship experience.  Not just on Sunday inside the walls of the church, but in the day to day situations of life.  In our work, in our play, in our relationships.  It’s rather like the scripture of pray without ceasing.  Worship without end!  Amen!

Living God…may we make all our life a worship experience in your Name.  Amen.  

9.18.16     Amos 5:4 MSG

God’s message to the family of Israel: “Seek me and live.”

         Seek God and live.  The text is from a time when the Israelites were making poor choices.  Today physical life and death might not be the issue, but the quality of life is what we are seeking.  Seek God and you will TRULY live. 

9.19.16     Ephesians 4:29 MSG

Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.

         I really like the last part of this bit of scripture.  ‘Say only what helps, each word a gift.’  How rarely do we think this through before we blurt out words that we immediately regret.  How rarely do we think of our words as a gift?  But in that context, our speech becomes something sacred, something holy, something not to be taken lightly. 

         I have a bad habit of interrupting in my haste to add to a conversation.  For some reason it has become my modus operandi of participation.  So wrong - The wrong kind of gift.  The gift of speech I need to offer much more is listening. Active listening will truly help make each word I utter a gift. 

God of speech and conversation….help me offer often the gift of listening to others.  Amen.

9.20.16     Acts 17:27 MSG

We could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s near.

VOICE: Yet, in truth, God is not far from any of us.

         Yesterday I arrived at my mom’s and after lunch I took the opportunity to stretch my legs from two days of driving and head down to the beach.  The sun was shining, the wind was light, yet it was high tide and there was little to beach to walk.  I rarely head down during the peak of the tide.  But what a treasure of a walk, although short as I couldn’t get past Strawberry Point.  God seemed to be playing hide and seek in a multitude of little inlets of water, each filled with the debris of crab, mussel, seaweed, and shell.  Life and death.  The water was frothy and as I waded through some of the pools coming back, I was surprised by a wave that barely crested the top of a dune and then left behind a God-frosting of pattern.  It was exquisite in form and beauty.  God is not remote, he’s near; never far from any of us.  (John Ortberg’s book, God Is Closer Than You Think, comes readily to mind!)

         Jed put a new photo program on my phone, so I had to play with it this morning in rendering a picture of the foam frosting. 

God of nearness….may we feel your presence in and through all. Amen.  

9.22.16     Matthew 13:22 MSG

The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.

         The parable of the seeds and soil!  Am I a seed cast in the weeds?  Do I fail to have the faith that carries me past the worry and what ifs?  Do I fret about having enough and wanting more?  In all that worry and desire, does the Good News of God get strangled?  Too many questions on this beautiful sunshiny morning!  Mom is up and about, life is good, and while the sun dropped into the sky without much fanfare last night, the clouds gave a final parting piece of glory! 

Thank you, God!   In the midst of seeds and soil, I will celebrate sunshine and the Son!  Amen.  

9.22.16     Psalm 79:9 MSG

  Hurry up and help us; we’re at the end of our rope.
You’re famous for helping; God, give us a break.
    Your reputation is on the line.

         This text always reminds me of a sermon I once heard in Albuquerque while worshipping with Rick’s mom.  That’s the power of visuals and sermons….I remember the picture of being at the end of our rope!  Unfortunately, how often do we wait until the end of the rope to ask God for help?  The last desperate measure,….when if we had come to God sooner the process might have been easier.  Sometimes, though, we have to reach the rope’s end before we have learned what God wants us to learn. 

         But a rope isn’t part of my picture today.  Instead, I finally found a limpet on the beach yesterday.  Often called a volcano shell.  But yesterday I saw a hump, a camel’s hump and memories of Pat Fessel.  I think the shell will forever more remind me of Pat and I shall rename it a camel shell. 

Thank you, God, for always being ready to rescue and save.  Amen.

9.23.16     Lamentations 5:21 GNT

Bring us back to you, Lord! Bring us back!
    Restore our ancient glory.

         As I was getting out of bed this morning, I remembered bits of today’s verse as ‘Come back to us, Lord’ and my first thought was, ‘God hasn’t left us, we’ve left God!’  Now, as I read the actual scripture, I find that is exactly what it says!  Only it is asking God for help in the return!  It reminds me of a Children’s Message I once gave with a poem about where God was hiding.  In the end, ‘God wasn’t lost, It must have been me!’ 

You are always near, God….help us see your presence each day.  Amen.  

9.24.16     Proverbs 26:20 GNT

The steps down to the beach are covered with leaves. This is a
Mondrian Prisma rendition of that image.  

Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, quarreling stops.

         Without intolerance, wars would end; without bigotry and prejudice, racism would cease.  Without inequality, poverty stops; the list can go on and on.  If we can erase the root causes of injustice, we can create a world where love reigns.  How often are WE the fuel?  Our words, our actions?  Am I fanning the flames of discontent in a particular situation? How can my actions be part of the solution, rather than the problem? 

Holy God…help me to create justice in all I do.  Amen.  

9.25.16     2 Peter 1:21 GNT

For no prophetic message ever came just from the human will, but people were under the control of the Holy Spirit as they spoke the message that came from God.

         When a message is truly from God, God will give us the words to say.  If we are unsure about our message, it is probably our own and not God’s.  We’ll know it when the Spirit comes!  (I write that from faith, not experience, although….there ARE a few times when I have wondered how on earth I had written what I did!) 

         I am sitting and gazing out the window at another beautiful morning on sunshine dancing on the eternal roll of white foam as waves coil and crash.  It is time to get dressed for church.  Will God speak to me today?  Will I have my ears and heart open to hear God? 

God of prophecy….open my heart to your message that my words may reflect the Spirit in me.  Amen.

9.26.16     Nehemiah 9:6 MSG

You’re the one, God, you alone;
You made the heavens, the heavens of heavens, and all angels;
The earth and everything on it, the seas and everything in them….

         Creator God.  A good message for this period at the beach as I have been rewriting hymns as I stroll the sand.  My first attempt was This Is My Father’s World when I realized there were no verses about the ocean in my favorite hymn.  So I wrote some….lots of them!  Then I wrote new verses for ‘For the Beauty of the Earth’.  For a Creation theme morning, I’ll just include them both here! 

THIS IS MY FATHER’S WORLD 

Ocean Words!

This is my Father’s world  The waves roll on and on

The frothy foam  Brings shells back home

The gulls sing Spirit songs.

This is my Father’s world  The wind a gentle breeze

The mist of fog  O’er a driftwood log

Wide span of azure seas.

This is my Father’s world  Creation at its best

Bits of rock and shell Come with ev’ry swell

My soul finds constant rest.

This is my Father’s world  The seagulls take to flight

The crabs never sleep  Shells secrets keep

The waves reflect God’s light.

This is my Father’s world  The flaming sunset skies

With bands of gold  The clouds unfold

God’s love reflects my eyes

This is my Father’s world  I walk among the waves

This baptismal font Cleans my ev’ry want

God’s grace redeems and saves. 

FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH

For the beauty of the sea  Waves that roll eternally.

Sand and seaweed, foam of white  Seagulls soaring into flight.

Lord of all to Thee we raise,  This our hymn of ocean praise.

For chiseled peaks cloaked deep with snow  And shrouded valleys far below

Tamaracks and stately pine  Lupine, phlox and columbine.

Lord of all to Thee we raise,  This our hymn of mountain praise.

For flaming bands of crimson light  Sunsets draw us into night.

Bolts of lightning,  clouds of white  Stars and planets shining bright.

Lord of all to Thee we raise  This our hymn of celestial praise.

Eagles and hawks that soar on high  Ravens and lowly dragonfly

For deer and bear and mighty moose  Chickens, pigs, and barnyard goose.

Lord of all to Thee we raise  This our hymn of creature praise.

For the beauty of the sand  Cacti creatures dot the land.

Coyote, fox, and tiny shrew, Armadillo, lizards too.

Lord of all to Thee we raise  This our hymn of desert praise. 

Creator God…

Thank you, that we are surrounded with evidence of your power…..your love.  Amen. 

PS.  I just noticed that I used the exact same scripture just two weeks ago!  In checking my yearly chart, I was supposed to use Nehemiah 9, verse 5 earlier, but opted for verse 6 instead.  Oh well!  Here is the missing verse 5 taken from the Good News Translation:

“Stand up and praise the Lord your God;
    praise him forever and ever!
Let everyone praise his glorious name,
    although no human praise is great enough.”

A hymn of praise to God seems appropriate enough for today’s text!!  

9.27.16     Zechariah 8:21 GNT

Those from one city will say to those from another, ‘We are going to worship the Lord Almighty and pray for his blessing. Come with us!’

         Come with us!  Invite others to join in a celebration.  Share the Good News!  How often have I failed in this?  How rarely have I spoken boldly to neighbors and strangers of the strength I find in my faith community.  I’m not without fail, but I certainly haven’t made this kind of evangelism my focus.  Something to work on.  (Another thing, there are so many!) 

Lord, help me to be bold in my invitation to join in the celebration of your praise.  Amen. 

9.28.16     1 Peter 3:18 GNT

For Christ died for sins once and for all, a good man on behalf of sinners, in order to lead you to God. 

         We don’t find God all by ourselves, although I firmly believe that anyone who spends time surrounded by the wonder of Creation can’t help but sense a God ‘out there’ in charge of it all.  In that sense, God finds us.  But Jesus’s coming and resurrection helps us see how a relationship with God can work, can make us better people and the world a better Kingdom-of-Heaven type place.  Christ can lead, are we willing to follow?

Lord…. Lead me to a trusting relationship with the Father.  Amen.  

9.29.16     1 Chronicles 16:10 MSG

Broadcast all God’s wonders!
Revel in his holy Name,  God-seekers, be jubilant!

  

       Rick broadcast God’s wonders today as he sent me a text from the top of Elkhorn Peak.  I have been sending out daily collages of the wonders of the beach and all creation within.  God sends us wonders EVERY day.  Do we notice?  Do we proclaim our praise?  Are we jubilant and do we revel in the glory of God?  We should! 

         An amazing sunset last night.  I waited and took my walk after dinner – the tide was still relatively low.  I was able to wander through Tunnel Rock and see anenomes.  I found NO limpet shells, but I did find what I needed to finish my rock nativity.  The wonders of God were everywhere.  

God of glory!  Let us broadcast our praise!  Amen! 

9.30.16     1 Peter 1:8-9 Voice

Although you haven’t seen Jesus, you still love Him. Although you don’t yet see Him, you do believe in Him and celebrate with a joy that is glorious and beyond words…

         Faith is believing in what we cannot see.  Faith is loving that which we don’t understand.  Faith is celebrating hope everyday in a God that is present and forgiving.  With joy, with gratitude, and with all.  Come!  Drive with me today in celebration!  Somewhere along the way can I share a bit of good news?  Who can I touch? 

Lord…help me find opportunities to celebrate and share the joy of faith.  Amen.