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Friday, March 26, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Ordinary Time: Thursday, January 28, 2010
Old Testament Lesson
Genesis 16:15-17:14
One of the things about God, that He does, is He make covenant with us. He comes to us and make an agreement. He made covenant with Noah, Abraham, the people of Israel, and with us. He comes to us and says, if you will do, I will do this. And here's the thing about that. He doesn't have to. He doesn't have to make covenant with us. He's God. We're not. He can tell us what He will do. He can tell us what we will do. He's God.
Genesis 16:15-17:14
One of the things about God, that He does, is He make covenant with us. He comes to us and make an agreement. He made covenant with Noah, Abraham, the people of Israel, and with us. He comes to us and says, if you will do, I will do this. And here's the thing about that. He doesn't have to. He doesn't have to make covenant with us. He's God. We're not. He can tell us what He will do. He can tell us what we will do. He's God.
But, He doesn't do that. He respects us, respects our will, respects our choices. He gives us choices each day. To serve or not to serve. To love or not to love. To care or not to care. To forgive or not to forgive. Each day. Today, may we choose to be and live as He would have.
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 10:1-10
The writer of Hebrews reminds us over and over again, it all comes down to Jesus. Not about what we do, not about the law or the codes, it's about Jesus. He did it all for us. We can't earn it, we can only accept it. It's not about what we can do/should do, it's about what He did for us. He has, through the cross and the empty grave, enabled us a way into the throne room of God. We are accepted by God, because of what Christ did. Know that our worth comes not from what we've ever do, but from what He has done.
Gospel Lesson
John 5:30-47
Jesus reminds us today that true life is found only in Him. No where else. We can search for life in lots of places and in lots of ways, but it is only found in Him. Today, rest in His life. Live in life. Serve in His life. Forgive in His life. Know that your life is found in Him. Today, and always. Rest in Him; live in Him. He is life.
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 10:1-10
The writer of Hebrews reminds us over and over again, it all comes down to Jesus. Not about what we do, not about the law or the codes, it's about Jesus. He did it all for us. We can't earn it, we can only accept it. It's not about what we can do/should do, it's about what He did for us. He has, through the cross and the empty grave, enabled us a way into the throne room of God. We are accepted by God, because of what Christ did. Know that our worth comes not from what we've ever do, but from what He has done.
Gospel Lesson
John 5:30-47
Jesus reminds us today that true life is found only in Him. No where else. We can search for life in lots of places and in lots of ways, but it is only found in Him. Today, rest in His life. Live in life. Serve in His life. Forgive in His life. Know that your life is found in Him. Today, and always. Rest in Him; live in Him. He is life.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Ordinary Time: Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Old Testament Lesson
Genesis 16:1-14
We see here what doubt can do. It can cause us to seek a way, other than God's way. We see here that Sarah started to doubt what God said He would do, and so she decided she had to take it into her own hands, do it her own way, make her own plan and take care of it all herself. Instead of trusting.
Genesis 16:1-14
We see here what doubt can do. It can cause us to seek a way, other than God's way. We see here that Sarah started to doubt what God said He would do, and so she decided she had to take it into her own hands, do it her own way, make her own plan and take care of it all herself. Instead of trusting.
Trusting is hard. It is not easy. It is not easy to trust when we don't know how it's going to turn out. It's hard to trust when we are unsure of the way. It's hard to trust in times of uncertainty. But remember, God is true to what He said He would do. He is true to who He is. And, we can trust Him. No matter what.
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 9:15-28
Remember that Jesus Christ Himself speaks on our behalf before God. He is at the right hand of God, interceding for us, pulling for us, cheering for us, praying for us. You're not in this alone. I know it may feel like it sometimes. You're not. God is with you. Jesus is on your side. He's pulling for you. Trust (there's that word again). Trust in Him. He will not lead you astray.
Gospel Lesson
John 5:19-29
Jesus reminds us that this life is not the end. There is life beyond this life. This life is just a foretaste of true life. This life is just the beginning. Don't forget in the midst of your struggles and trials and problems. This life is not the end. There is more to come. Hold fast to one that made you, that loves you, and that has called you. Trust in Him. And find His life.
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 9:15-28
Remember that Jesus Christ Himself speaks on our behalf before God. He is at the right hand of God, interceding for us, pulling for us, cheering for us, praying for us. You're not in this alone. I know it may feel like it sometimes. You're not. God is with you. Jesus is on your side. He's pulling for you. Trust (there's that word again). Trust in Him. He will not lead you astray.
Gospel Lesson
John 5:19-29
Jesus reminds us that this life is not the end. There is life beyond this life. This life is just a foretaste of true life. This life is just the beginning. Don't forget in the midst of your struggles and trials and problems. This life is not the end. There is more to come. Hold fast to one that made you, that loves you, and that has called you. Trust in Him. And find His life.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Ordinary Time: Tuesday, January 26, 2010
I wanted to pass along something I received today as a devotional. Many of you may be like me and have read the Upper Room at some point every day for almost all your life. Being the geek that I am, I have the daily Upper Room Devotional emailed to me each day. I thought todays was really, really good and I really spoke to me. So, I wanted to pass this along to you and pray that it's a blessing to you as it has been to me
You can get this devotional mailed to you each day by clicking here
Andy
Fruits of the Compost Heap
Suggested Bible Reading
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God's gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him.
-Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 (NRSV)
Today's Scripture
[God] has made everything beautiful in its time.
-Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)
I keep a compost pile and love to put things into it to ferment into clean, healthy soil. I put in vegetable scraps, old leaves, grass clippings, and even paper. Every few weeks, I stir the pile to make sure that all the content is turned over. When the heap is dry, I water it. Other than that, I do nothing but let natural bacteria do their job. After a few months, I find that my "garbage" has turned into rich, fresh soil for my garden.
Often something similar happens in my life. I have felt that things I did or did not do were wasted and fruitless. At times, I have been very hard on myself. But I realize that God is not as hard on me as I can be on myself. My great failures have been turned into something positive. God quietly works, and later, when I expect it least, I find wonderful new soil ready to nurture a new phase in my life. The rotten oranges and moldy leaves of my life -- my failures and shortcomings -- have been transformed, to give me a new perspective or stronger confidence.
We can always start again when we turn our will and life over to God and allow God's power to quietly work.
Sarah B. Joy (Indiana, USA)
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we are weak and vulnerable. Help us to accept your guiding strength in our lives; and when we fail, help us trust you to use even that to teach us how to serve you more faithfully. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Andy
Fruits of the Compost Heap
Suggested Bible Reading
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God's gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him.
-Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 (NRSV)
Today's Scripture
[God] has made everything beautiful in its time.
-Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)
I keep a compost pile and love to put things into it to ferment into clean, healthy soil. I put in vegetable scraps, old leaves, grass clippings, and even paper. Every few weeks, I stir the pile to make sure that all the content is turned over. When the heap is dry, I water it. Other than that, I do nothing but let natural bacteria do their job. After a few months, I find that my "garbage" has turned into rich, fresh soil for my garden.
Often something similar happens in my life. I have felt that things I did or did not do were wasted and fruitless. At times, I have been very hard on myself. But I realize that God is not as hard on me as I can be on myself. My great failures have been turned into something positive. God quietly works, and later, when I expect it least, I find wonderful new soil ready to nurture a new phase in my life. The rotten oranges and moldy leaves of my life -- my failures and shortcomings -- have been transformed, to give me a new perspective or stronger confidence.
We can always start again when we turn our will and life over to God and allow God's power to quietly work.
Sarah B. Joy (Indiana, USA)
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we are weak and vulnerable. Help us to accept your guiding strength in our lives; and when we fail, help us trust you to use even that to teach us how to serve you more faithfully. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Thought for the Day
God can use our failures to bring new growth.
God can use our failures to bring new growth.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Ordinary Time: Monday, January 25, 2010
Old Testament Lesson
Genesis 14:1-24
We one of the smaller characters in scripture today, but one of the more important - King Melchizedek of Salem. This king was of God, and was also a priest. And Abraham gave to him a tenth of what he had, the first time a concept of a "tithe" is found in scripture.
Genesis 14:1-24
We one of the smaller characters in scripture today, but one of the more important - King Melchizedek of Salem. This king was of God, and was also a priest. And Abraham gave to him a tenth of what he had, the first time a concept of a "tithe" is found in scripture.
But, he is important not just because of that fact, but he's important because we see here that a man of God was there for Abraham at the time when he needed. God has a way of sending to us what we need; who we need; when we need. Now our schedule and God's schedule don't always match up. But know, God will give us what we need. Trust in Him. Today and each day.
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 8:1-13
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that God has made with us a new covenant and He writes the Law upon our heart. God's worried about our actions, He wants us to live in a good and holy manner. But He's more worried about our hearts. Our outward actions start with our inward heart. Our God writes His law, His love, His grace upon our hearts. May our hearts be drawn closer to our God and in that, we'll find our lives being drawn ever closer.
Gospel Lesson
John 4:43-54
This man in the text; he believed. And in that belief, great things were done for His son. It all starts with faith; it all starts with belief. Believe me, I want to know everything, I want to understand everything. But, I don't you don't. In life, we have to make a leap of faith sometimes. And, when we believe in faith, we see. Today, take a step of faith. And in that, God will place you where He needs you to be.
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 8:1-13
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that God has made with us a new covenant and He writes the Law upon our heart. God's worried about our actions, He wants us to live in a good and holy manner. But He's more worried about our hearts. Our outward actions start with our inward heart. Our God writes His law, His love, His grace upon our hearts. May our hearts be drawn closer to our God and in that, we'll find our lives being drawn ever closer.
Gospel Lesson
John 4:43-54
This man in the text; he believed. And in that belief, great things were done for His son. It all starts with faith; it all starts with belief. Believe me, I want to know everything, I want to understand everything. But, I don't you don't. In life, we have to make a leap of faith sometimes. And, when we believe in faith, we see. Today, take a step of faith. And in that, God will place you where He needs you to be.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Ordinary Time: Thursday, January 21, 2010
Today, just a quick thought:
God comes to us before we go to Him. This is God's habit. God came to Abraham when there was nothing to come to, just an old man at a dead end. But that's God for you. That's the way God likes to work. He comes to old men and to infants, to sinners and to losers. That's grace.
James Van Tholen
God comes to us before we go to Him. This is God's habit. God came to Abraham when there was nothing to come to, just an old man at a dead end. But that's God for you. That's the way God likes to work. He comes to old men and to infants, to sinners and to losers. That's grace.
James Van Tholen
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Ordinary Time: Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Old Testament Lesson
Genesis 9:18-29
One of the things that's hard for us to do sometimes is to learn a lesson. We see here in the stories of Noah and his family right after the flood that they didn't fully learn a lesson. The Lord has just washed everything away through a flood, caused by the wickedness of humanity, and yet still, this soon after, Noah, and one of his son, fall into the trap of sin. Noah, into drunkenness, his son into disrespecting his father.
Genesis 9:18-29
One of the things that's hard for us to do sometimes is to learn a lesson. We see here in the stories of Noah and his family right after the flood that they didn't fully learn a lesson. The Lord has just washed everything away through a flood, caused by the wickedness of humanity, and yet still, this soon after, Noah, and one of his son, fall into the trap of sin. Noah, into drunkenness, his son into disrespecting his father.
Lessons were not entirely learned. May we not make the same mistake. May we learn from the lessons of our lives, may we learn from the falls we endure, may we learn from the mistakes that we make. Today, and each day, may we learn.
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 6:1-12
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 6:1-12
The author of Hebrews encourages us to keep on going, not to fall back or backslide away from the truth. In life, we will all fall down. We will all make mistakes. We will all fail. We will all sin. You will. I will. It is just part of our human condition. We will all fall down.
What do we do then? When we fall, what do we do? When we make a mistake, what do we do? Do we get up and keep going? Do we dust ourselves, up, and, by the power of God's grace, keep walking? That is what God calls us to to do. When we fall, God still loves us. And after we make a mistake, may we get up and keep going. That is what we are called to do.
Gospel Lesson
John 3:22-36
John says today that He must increase and I must decrease. In our lives, we must allow Christ's light to shine through us more and more and more. When we live for ourselves, we don't fully know the power of Christ and His life. But, when we decrease, when He shines through, we find there is life beyond us. Today, may we decrease and may He increase in our lives.
Gospel Lesson
John 3:22-36
John says today that He must increase and I must decrease. In our lives, we must allow Christ's light to shine through us more and more and more. When we live for ourselves, we don't fully know the power of Christ and His life. But, when we decrease, when He shines through, we find there is life beyond us. Today, may we decrease and may He increase in our lives.
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