MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN

INVOCATION..... d365.org  (John Ryan)
It’s all about determination—the decision to accomplish something in spite of all the resistance that wells up inside.   When you want to make a change, when anyone wants to shake things up, there is always “push back.” Moving from old to new, even when everyone agrees it’s a good idea, is hard.

That’s true even for God’s good ideas about transformation, which often encounter resistance. Still, God has a pretty good record when it comes to things—and people. Now might be a good 
time for you to decide it’s time to give in.

SATURDAY, August 24, 2013  "Delight"
Psalm 37:4
Seek your happiness in the Lord,
    and he will give you your heart's desire.  (GNT)
Keep company with God,  get in on the best.  (MSG)
Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart. (NRSV)
    What a 'delightful' verse for a Saturday morning.  The NRSV and NIV translations caught my eye because we focused on the word delight at the lectionary Bible Study last Thursday.  What does it mean to delight in the Lord?

     The MSG and GNT translations perhaps give a hint of two concepts:  to delight is to keep company, to be present with and for, and to seek happiness and pleasure.  Webster lists synonyms such as rejoice, glory, exalt, please.  I most appreciate Webster's definition of delight as a transitive verb: to pleasure (someone) greatly.  This makes delight an active word; delight is something we DO, it is not just done to us!!  
     The second half of the verse alludes to receiving whatever we want (our grandest desire!), but I think The Message comes closer: get in on the best.  God knows what is best for us, our heart's desire (which isn't always the same as our desire for a new phone or other gadget of some kind!).
     How can I demonstrate my delight in God today?  If nothing else, just the word delight puts a smile on my face and that's a good start!  

BENEDICTION.....  d365.org (John Ryan)

Every single encounter with God 

Holds the promise of 

A new direction;

A new perspective;

A change of heart and mind.

Go now resolved that your life will be

Different;

Transformed;

Made over again
By the overwhelming grace of God.

(Blog postings will discontinue on a daily basis with this week's offerings.  The daily drawing has become somewhat a chore rather than a joy.  Internet access on our next trip will be intermittent, and I am ready for a different emphasis in my morning devotions.  But....stay tuned for weekly posts and occasional scribbles along the way!)

FRIDAY, August 23, 2013 "Housemates"

John 15:4 (MSG)

“Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me."

"Abide in me as I abide in you."  That's a common translation for this scripture.  When you live WITH someone you really get to know them.  And that's how God wants to be in our lives and how we need to seep ourselves in God.  Then, and only then, can we proclaim the good news effectively, serve with boundless love, and witness to the resurrection in all we do.  In other words, only then can we produce good fruit.  Take up residence with God as your housemate!!  

THURSDAY, August 22, 2013 "Run of the House"

Colossians 3:16 (MSG)

Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God!

Toddlers sometimes have the run of a house. 
And chaos ensues!  
Toys and clothing everywhere!
Spilled food and handprints,
Constant activity and energy. 
What if we gave God the same permission
To run amok in our lives,
To turn our attempt at order into chaos 
With persistent love and transformation?
What if we tripped over God as we move
From room to room,
Day to day?
Would chaos reign, or
Would we find hearts so full of love
That a song would fill our soul
And burst forth in praise?!
Take over the house of my life, God!
Fill me with laughter and love! 

WEDNESDAY, August 21, 2013  "God's the Boss!"

Proverbs 16:1-3 (MSG)

Mortals make elaborate plans,
    but God has the last word.

 Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good;
    God probes for what is good.

 Put God in charge of your work,
    then what you’ve planned will take place.

     Put God in charge? What a crazy idea!  We like to think we can control our own destiny, make our own decisions.  After all, don't we know what is best for our own lives?  Not really.  Whatever our plans, if we seek God's guidance and blessing, we will probably succeed through God.  Alone?  Often not.  To make change happen, we must first ask God to take the helm.  And then, do and go as God directs!  

TUESDAY, August 20, 2013  "Seek God"

Deuteronomy 4:29 (MSG)

"But even there, if you seek God, your God, you'll be able to find him if you're serious, looking for him with your whole heart and soul."

Where's God?

Bad things are happening

People are dying.

War rends communities,

Conflict chars hearts. 

Where's God?

Souls are lonely, empty with sorrow.

Disappointment their only mate.

Is this a game, God?

Ollie ollie oxen free??!

   Stop!  Look within.

   I'm not hiding.

   I'm right here, with you. 

   Seek and you will find!

Whole heart and soul....

God is here...waiting and ready

To help me handle the world. 

MONDAY, August 19, 2013  "God First"

Matthew 6:33 

Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things.  (GNT)

Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.  (MSG)

     "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God" - the words of a familiar song ring in my ears.  Put God at the top of the list for making change happen...and then watch and be amazed!  I love The Message version, "Steep your life" - saturate everything you do, say, and be with God.  Make God a reality in all parts of your life.  You are changed, others are changed, life is changed.  Is it really that simple?  Yes.  Easy?  No.  But if God-first is our goal, at least we will be heading in the right direction!  

SUNDAY, August 18, 2013  "Restitution"

Luke 19:8 (CEB)

Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I repay them four times as much.”

     Again, I feel God's response to current life events in today's devotion.   Yesterday was a day to pay tribute to a Baker City heroine for change, Peggi Timm.  We heard over and over stories of persistence and tenacity for the sake of change that would benefit a community, fill a need, make the world better.  Peggi was a transformer, one who unashamedly 'shook things up' and never took 'NO!' for a final answer. She MADE THINGS HAPPEN!  Peggi worked her magic because she had an abidingly faith in God and God's power to transform, and in people to work God's purpose.  

     As a new school year begins within our church family, as Rick and I prepare to once again venture forth in travel, as Baker City moves ahead to a post-Peggi era, may we seek to feel God's nudge and, like Zacchaeus, make decisions to enact the change God wants to see. Zacchaeus's first move was to make restitution to those he had wronged.  Change within ourselves first can cause a chain reaction of changed attitudes in the world around us.  Change not for the sake of change itself, but transformation to something new and stronger and closer to God - that should be our resolution.   

Lent Week 3 - SEIZE GOD

SATURDAY, March 9  "Seize Prayer"
1 Thessalonians 5:25 (CEB)
Brothers and sisters, pray for us.
Prayer chains. 
Prayers of the people. 
Congregational prayers. 
Collective prayers of friends and family,
Spiritual prayer partners. 
Offered prayers and answered prayers. 
Amazing ways in which God responds, 
On God's timetable,
Within God's plan. 
Support, encouragement, 
Sustenance in difficult times. 
Prayer can make a difference. 
Seize prayer. Seize the bond that prayer provides. 
Say a prayer and watch God work. 

The best kind of friend is a praying friend.  (ODB)

Sources for Devotions:

d365.org:  Passport On-line Devotions

WwW:  The One Year Walk with God Devotional, Chris Tiegreen, Tyndale Publisher

ODB:  Our Daily Bread, published by RBC Ministries

RCL:  Revised Common Lectionary

FRIDAY, March 8  "Seize a Team!"

Luke 5:27-28 (GNT)

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting in his office. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.

1 Corinthians 1:27 (GNT)

God purposely chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise, and he chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful.

     Rick and I recently watched a movie (Moneyball) about the Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane who rocked the baseball world in 2002 when he assembled a major league team of what others considered 'has-beens' and 'over-the-hill' players.  He didn't (and couldn't) purchase the super stars, the recognized players of the day.  While they didn't win the World Series, this rag-tag team did win their division and put together a record-breaking 20 game winning streak.  

     Jesus used somewhat the same approach in putting together a team of disciples.  He included fishermen, tax collectors, zealots:  ordinary men of a varied backgrounds.  They were not the powerful or the influential.  Did they all agree on the theological and political issues of the day?  Probably not!  Were they all of the same economic status?  No!  Yet, they worked together because they had a common purpose, an incredible 'manager' (Jesus) and a loving general manager (God) They worked together for a winning streak that continues to this day in its influence. 

     How do we assemble our 'team' for life?  Do we treat everyone the same? Do we seek the support and advise of those society would consider the 'lessers'?  What about those with physical limitations?  We all have gifts to contribute to the team.  God loves us all equally.  We can do no less in the respect and honor we afford each other.     

     Seize a team as Jesus did!  A team with a colorful and diverse background can only add to our spiritual winning percentage!  

       I got to thinking later about the TEAM approach and CHRPA, where Rick and I are currently volunteering.  CHRPA has four full time employees, but none of them are contractors or specifically trained in the building fields.  They come from a variety of backgrounds, much as the disciples.  Other workers are all volunteers, youth and old, with a vast array of skills.  TOGETHER, our 'manager' Scott has formed an ever changing team to serve the community.  Yesterday I was part of the roofing team!  What an experience! 

THURSDAY, March 7 "Seize Consistency"

Psalm 61:7-8 (CEB)
So I will always sing praises to you, as I offer you daily what I have promised.
Philippians 3:15-17 (GNT)
Only let’s live in a way that is consistent with whatever level we have reached.

A night on the town with friends, 
A fancy place - a dining experience! 
I feast and gorge myself on new flavors and tastes. 
The service attentive, it is a night to remember.
And tomorrow? I'll eat again. 
Afterall, my body is programmed to eat daily.  
Spiritually? 
Are we as consistent in providing spiritual sustenance?
Or do we have a 'mountaintop' moment
And expect the soul feast to last a few months. 
God is consistent and ever present in love for us. 
God's compassion is not sporadic, but daily. 
If we strive to be in the image of God,
We must seize consistency in our spiritual life. 
We must daily come to the table to feed our souls. 

WEDNESDAY, March 6  "Seize Patience"   

James 5:11 (GNT) 

We call them happy because they endured. You have heard of Job's patience, and you know how the Lord provided for him in the end. For the Lord is full of mercy and compassion.

Hardships. 

Financial trials.

Family heartbreak.

Pain and disease.

Speed dial God.
Push the relief button. 
God will fix it. 
If not today,
Surely tomorrow. 

But God doesn't work
By instant response. 
God demands patience,
God requires perseverance. 
God's may be on speed dial, 
But not necessarily speed relief. 
Spiritual maturity takes time to grow. 
Seize the opportunity to wait;
Find time to spend with God in the waiting. 
Concentrate on the blessing,
Rather than the hardship. 
Trust the one in control and the final destination  
Will be more than worth it. 
(WwG, ODB)

"When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away your ticket and jump off.  You sit still and trust the engineer."  (Corrie ten Boom) 

TUESDAY, March 5 "Seize the Gold"

Job 23:1-12 (CEB)

Surely he knows my way; when he tests me,  I will emerge as gold.

     One of my favorite OT metaphors is that of refining the impurities from gold.  Only through trials of fire is the brilliance and purity of gold revealed.  Such is our life.  Untested, our TRUE colors really never fly.  We can preach peace, but until confronted with violence, we haven't really practiced peace.  We can't show pure love until confronted with hatred.  Faith is strengthened when it endures trials.  
     Every test or trial God puts before us should be considered a blessing in disguise!  It is gold waiting to be mined!  WE are gold waiting to be purified!  God is working to purify each one of us.  Seize the gold of God and be ready to shine!  Seize the trials of the day!  
     "In shunning a trial, we are seeking to avoid a blessing." (Charles Spurgeon)
Source: WwG

Monday, March 4

"Seize the Kingdom"

1 Corinthians 15:31-32 (The Message)

It’s resurrection, resurrection, always resurrection, that undergirds what I do and say, the way I live. If there’s no resurrection, “We eat, we drink, the next day we die,” and that’s all there is to it.

     The Carpe Diem philosophy, somewhat rampant in our culture, is not new.  Paul refers to it here in Corinthians.  It is mentioned in Ecclesiastes and Isaiah.  And in one viewpoint, it has merit.  We should think of it as live each day to the fullest.  Make the absolute best of what is before us. 

     But the philosophy itself is based on the assumption that there is nothing but death to expect in the tomorrow, so do it all today!  And we, as Christians, know differently. Eternity awaits.  We need to conduct ourselves and live as if the resurrection matters;  we must live in the light of eternity.  We must "Seize the Kingdom of God" and the long term rewards, rather than the short term gain of momentary glory, or profit,

     How do I live my life? Spend my money and time? Use my talents?  Am I living a 'Seize the Day' or a 'Seize the Kingdom' life?  

Source: WwG

Good Sunday morning!  (March 3)
 I  found the following while browsing Christ Presbyterian church website today (trying to decide where to go to church!)  It is from the weekly message of Rev. Sue Westfall, Stated Clerk of Presbytery of Christo:

Two young boys were making a cross to be used in a Holy Week procession. They had decorated the cross with vibrant colors and covered it with flowers. The pastor, seeing their work said, “Well, that’s very nice but the cross on which Jesus died was hard wood, rough and rugged. It was ugly.” To which the boys responded, “But pastor, have you ever seen Jesus touch anything and leave it the same way he found it?”

     I haven't even glanced at my devotionals this morning because I found this and thought WOW!  Yes!  As soon as we are touched by Jesus, we are CHANGED!  God can bring out beauty in us we didn't know existed.  Christ can transform!  AND we can transform others with the touch of Christ as he lives in us.  

"Seize the Wisdom"

Proverbs 3:13-14, 18   (GNT)

 Happy is anyone who becomes wise—who comes to have understanding.  There is more profit in it than there is in silver; it is worth more to you than gold. .....Those who become wise are happy; wisdom will give them life.

Matthew 6:33  (The Message)

Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

God comes to offer a gift. 

What shall I choose?

I seek happiness and success,

Security and comfort. 

What gift will grant such peace?

Choose the godly. 

Choose that of the Kingdom,

   not of the world. 

Ask God for God-success.

Wealth means more worry, maintenance,

   and uncertainty.

Power doesn't buy happiness.  

Wisdom buys understanding of God. 

Seek the gift of God-knowledge,

And God will grant the

   happiness and success,

The security and comfort, we seek. 

WwG

Sources for Devotions:

d365.org:  Passport On-line Devotions

WwW:  The One Year Walk with God Devotional, Chris Tiegreen, Tyndale Publisher

ODB:  Our Daily Bread, published by RBC Ministries

RCL:  Revised Common Lectionary

    We worshiped today with the Shalom Mennonite Fellowship, which is the parent church for the Mennonite Volunteer Services house (VS house of mostly young people, similar to YAVs) and CHRPA headquarters and shop.  Church was full with many new volunteers having arrived.  We seem to be the only ones staying at "Resort CHRPA", as others are residing in the SOOP house or in RV parks of their own choosing.  All of us were introduced!  
 The service was casual - the opening song was one of the theme songs from General Assembly - "Here in This Place".  I was surprised to find the Mennonites follow the Common Lectionary!  The service was contemporary at times with a little praise music, drums and guitar, as well as screen and projector, and very traditional at others.  I shall post my Sermon Scribble!