May 31, 2014

Proverbs 16:  3  Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.

Solomon continues to give advice based on wisdom and faith.  Here are some other gems:  "Pride goeth before destruction" and "Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife."  Even Paul offers great advice in today's NT reading:  "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."  He advises us to befriend the lowly, not to seek status with our friendships.

All of this is great advice, but I chose the best advice of all.  I can see how my life is better when I am in touch with God.  The Holy Spirit guides my way. If only my actions matched my intent, if only I didn't get caught up in the frenzy of my day-to-day life, then I would see God's good intent for me all the time.  My life would be amazing!

Prayer:  Lord, I want to fully commit to You in my life.  I want to hear Your voice, guiding me to the best places and actions for my life.  I trust Your plan for me, and I want to follow it.  Guide me towards You in everything I think, say, and do.

Amen

May 28, 2014

Proverbs 9:  9 
Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
    teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

Solomon has warned against folly.  If you try to correct mockers, the ones who invite insults, you will be hated and abused.  But if you instruct the wise, the righteous, then you will contribute to their growth.

I apply this to my teaching.  It is hard to control the mockers.  They enjoy their own humor and reinforce each other in their abuse.  The wise students take the opportunity to learn.  Why should they be impeded by the mockers?

Prayer:  Lord, guide my remaining days as a teacher so that I can contribute to the knowledge of the righteous students, so that I can add to their wisdom.  Help me to avoid the mockery and abuse of the foolish ones.  Guide my actions to minimize their influence as I instruct the willing ones.

Amen

May 26, 2014

Proverbs 3: 3  Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.

Solomon is directing a son in the ways of life.  Honor wisdom, do not be drawn astray by temptation.  Be good to your neighbor.  The rewards of a wise life are many, and the foolish way leads to shame.

I love this verse!  Love and faithfulness bound to you, written in your heart.  If only people could achieve this!  It is hard to be loving and faithful however.  We are drawn off by the daily demands of life on Earth, and we react with anger and jealousy when we do not get our way.  Take a deep breath and remember that love and faithfulness are part of you too.  Draw on those, and let the sinful desires drain away.

Prayer:  Lord, guide me in a loving and faithful path to Your will for my life.  Help me to feel Your presence when I am tested.  Make my response be the way You would choose for me.

Amen  

May 24, 2014

Psalm 136:  26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

The Psalmist lists all God has done for his people throughout history.  Every line ends "His love endures forever."  Creation is detailed, as is the trip to the Promised Land.  Great victories are cited.  And through it all, one thing never changes:  His love endures.

It is easy to be thankful as spring is here.  The world is blossoming & growing.  Everything is green, and the temperatures are mild.  Summer vacation plans are coming together.

Prayer:   Thank you, Lord, for the beauty of Your creation.  We glimpse a hint of Your glory in the life all around us.  The trees and the grass are growing.  There are blooms everywhere, changing as the days and weeks unfold.  You have been good to Your people throughout the history of the world, and we are witness to the glory of Your world every day.  Praise be to God.
Amen

May 22, 2014

2 Chronicles 5:   ¹³ The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang:

“He is good;
    his love endures forever.”

 

This is the celebration which follows the completion of Solomon's temple.   Solomon has given a lot of thought, time and money to the building of just the right home for the Lord.  Then he adds the things his father had prepared for the temple too.  And the party begins!

 

 This  is just awesome!  A jam session for God!  Solomon is a good guy, with his heart in the right place.  He also knows how to praise the One who made all his good fortune possible.  This was no low-key mumbled prayer--this was an all-out party! 

Prayer:  Lord, thank you so much for all my blessings.  I may not be able to make a place for Your worship with all the glory of Solomon's temple, but I can and will promise to make a place for You in my heart!  You are the center of my life.  I am so grateful for all You have done for me, not the least of which is the gift of faith which makes me able to see You in all Your glory.
Amen

May 21, 2014

Psalm 98 :  ⁴ Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

The Psalmist praises God for his goodness and righteousness.  The whole world joins in, with the mountains, the sea and the rivers singing along.

It is a good life that we live.  There are hardships, and we live through them, but all in all, God is very good to us.  We probably don't give that enough thought; we dwell on the negative way too much.
I pledge to make a more joyful noise and give more praise in the future.

Prayer:  Lord, You are mighty and merciful.  You are all we need, and I do not give You the honor and glory I should.  I will sing your praises, loudly and clearly, so that all who meet me will know what a great God I serve.
Amen

May 18, 2014

Psalm 78:     ⁷¹ from tending the sheep he brought him
    to be the shepherd of his people Jacob,
    of Israel his inheritance

This Psalm is a recounting of the people of Israel from their days in Egypt all through David's days as king.  David's reign ends with the anointing of his son, Solomon.  Before that are the wondrous stories of the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the manna and quail in the wilderness, and even the loss of the Ark to the enemy.  David has brought the people together.  He has been loyal and faithful to God. 

David had a lowly beginning.  He was raised by faith to be the head of his people.  Isn't is amazing what faith can do? I need to rely on my faith more fully.  I need to be in contact with my God like David was. 

Prayer:  Lord, make me more faithful.  Let me see that I must turn to You first, before trying the Earthly way to solve my challenges.  Help me to pray continuously.  Make my entire life a prayer of devotion to my Father and Savior.
Amen

May 16, 2014

Psalm 91:    ¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.

David uses great imagery to come to this conclusion.  God will save us from a snare, gathering us under his wings.   Pestilence, plague, night terror--none of these will touch us!

This is the place I want to be.  I call on God, He answers, He stays with me, and I honor Him.  Easy peasy... if it  wasn't for the distractions of this pesky world.....  I run around in a near panic, jumping from one task to another until I collapse in an exhausted heap.

Prayer: Lord, I call on You.  I have many troubles, and I pray for the troubles of so many others as well.  I wait for Your answer.  I give You all honor and praise.
Amen

May 15, 2014

1 Thessalonians 4:  ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Paul has instructed the church about interpersonal relationships.  He then turns to eternal life and the promise of being reunited with those we love in the hereafter.  We will meet them and our Savior and Lord forever.

This is so good that I am surprised I haven't heard it at funerals.  It is so promising, so positive and upbeat.  It really would lighten the mood of the believers who are left behind.  It would also make a great Christian rock song!

Prayer:  I want to be with You forever, Lord.  I want to be reunited with those I have loved and lost.  I look forward to the time when my eternity begins in Paradise.  Thanks be to you, O Lord.
Amen

May 13, 2014

Psalm 30:      ² Lord my God, I called to you for help,
    and you healed me.

David has been through an awful time. He was tempted, and he succumbed.  He didn't trust God.  He was too proud.  He has faced God's wrath, and he is now meek.

I need healing too. I have been sick, I have been stressed, I have neglected my faith.  I need God to help me now.  I am gaining strength, but I am not fully healed.  I need God's help to make my life better.

Prayer: Lord, be with me when I call out to You.  I ask so much for myself and for others, but I really need Your help.  I cannot make it on my own, regardless of how hard I try.  I need healing, and I need Your guidance in my daily life.  Please lead me to Your will.
Amen

May 11, 2014

Matthew 28:  ⁷ “Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.’ That’s the message.”

The two Mary's are at the tomb.   An angel descends from heaven and tells them Jesus has risen, just as he said he would.  Later they will meet Jesus himself.  Then he will meet everyone in Galilee to send them to do his work, founding the church.

The women must have been in shock.  They are mourning, beaten down by the events of the crucifixion.  Then everything changes!  The angel...the empty tomb...Jesus himself!  What a great day for them, and for eternity!

Prayer:  Thanks be to God, for He has surely provided for our salvation through the death and resurrection of His only son!  Our lives are forever changed b/c of this!  Praise God!
Amen

May 10, 2014

Matthew 27: 
¹⁹ While court was still in session, Pilate’s wife sent him a message: “Don’t get mixed up in judging this noble man. I’ve just been through a long and troubled night because of a dream about him.”

Pilate is not pleased to be dealing with Jesus already.  He doesn't see what Jesus has done which is a crime, but Jesus won't defend himself either.  And the Pharisees are so insistent!  Jesus must die for his blasphemy.  Then Pilate gets this message, "washes his hands and seals his fate."  (Quote from The Rolling Stones)

You have to wonder what would have happened if Pilate had taken his wife's message more seriously.  Of course, that wasn't God's will, but would it have changed history?  She calls Jesus a "noble man."  What if Pilate had trusted his wife's judgment enough to release Jesus on her call?  Instead he offers the crowd a choice--the insurrectionist Barabbus or the innocent Jesus.  The crowd still wants Jesus's blood.  Pilate orders him whipped (WHY?) and walks away.

Prayer:  Lord, I cannot imagine how You stood by and watched this scene unfold.  Even though it was for the good of so many, I cannot imagine how it hurt You to see Your innocent son insulted, whipped and ultimately killed.  You knew how much good would come of it eventually, but it must have been agony for You.  I know you feel for all Your children, but Jesus was someone so special.  I suffer a bit along with You.
Amen

May 9, 2014

Matthew 26: 
²⁵ Then Judas, already turned traitor, said, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?”
Jesus said, “Don’t play games with me, Judas.”

They are at the Last Supper.  This is just before Jesus offers the first Communion.  Jesus has told the disciples that one of them will betray him.  They are shocked, but Judas speaks up.

I am loving this translation in The Message.  Jesus is blunt, going right to the point.  He does the same later when Judas betrays him with a kiss, calling it a "charade."  Judas has been right there for the whole ministry, acting as treasurer for the group.  How can he be so misled?  How could he have convinced himself that this betrayal was for the best for anyone?  And yet, it was, in  a way.  It was not the best for Judas, who died in disgrace, but it led to my salvation thousands of years later.

Prayer:  Lord, I pray for all of us, Your people, who needed the ultimate sacrifice of Your son to save us from ourselves.  How easily I am led astray, how easily I am diverted from the truth of life lived in Your will for me.  Temptation is all around me, and I wander into it.  I don't want to play games with You---I want to live in accord with Your holy plan for me.  Help me to see the way that leads to life eternal with You.
Amen

May 8, 2014

Matthew 25:  ⁴⁵ “He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.'"

Jesus is still talking about the second coming.  He tells of the 10 virgins with the lamps waiting for the bridegroom. He tells about the master who left his servants with money, and he tells of his anger with the one who did nothing with the investment.  Then he tells of those turned away from the gates of heaven b/c they didn't care for their fellow men.

I know I fall short here--we all do--b/c we react with emotion and self-concern instead of loving kindness.  I changed translations b/c I like this so much more than "the least of these."  That feels demeaning,. where this feels more accurate.  We overlook and ignore those who don't appeal to us on so many levels.  We need to feel their needs and take care of them.

Prayer:  Lord, make me more nearly Your servant.  Help me to see the needs of those around me, and guide me in the path which will relieve their suffering.
Amen

May 7, 2014

Matthew 24:  ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

Jesus is telling about the second coming.  It will be an awful time; a time when you must run away from everything you have acquired.  It will be even worse for pregnant women and mothers of young children.  There will be false prophets, but the end will be very clear to all.  Some will be gathered by the angels, but many will not.

I don't like thinking about this.  I don't understand people who long for it.  It sounds awful, and I know it would be very emotional as people leave everything--everyone--behind.  I know the very end will be good--when Jesus is on his throne and all is done according to God's will, but the interim is horrible to contemplate.

Prayer:  Lord, I pray for those who will suffer through the second coming.  I want my Jesus; I long to spend eternity in accord with Your will, but I fear the upheaval and suffering of the day of Christ's return.  Comfort me.  Help me to know that it will all be all right in the end.
Amen

May 6, 2014

Matthew 23:  ¹² For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Jesus is instructing the disciples.  None is to be called Rabbi or Father.  He explains, in no uncertain terms, what is wrong with the leadership of the church.  The Pharisees are hypocrites, showing off and preventing others from following God while glorifying themselves. 

This is not the meek and mild Jesus.  This is the get-down Jesus, who spares no emotion in letting his followers know what they are and what they are not to do.  It must be hard to read these words when you are a leader in the church, b/c the temptation to abuse power is there today as it was in the past.  Humility is the call, but how do you balance that with the people's need to see someone who "speaks with authority," as Jesus himself did?  I guess we must constantly guard against the human tendency towards pride.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to be humble.  Guide my words and actions so that You and not I am glorified.  I am so grateful for the gift of faith You have given me.  Your loving guidance has brought me so far, and I seek the path to follow Your plan for my future.
Amen