July 31, 2015

Psalm 107:  43
Let the one who is wise heed these things
    and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.

The Psalmist tells about the scattered Chosen People. They have wandered away from the Promised Land and all that it represents. He also tells how God rescued them. The Psalm begins and ends with praise for a faithful God who listened when His people were in need of Him. 

It's tough to find your way in this world. There are so many distractions, and we take our eyes off God. Satan would like to help with this, so he whispers all kinds of negative messages into our ears. We need to ignore them, and we need to return to a faithful God who only wants what is best for us. 

Prayer:  I will ponder Your loving deeds, Lord. I will follow the path You choose for me. I promise to be more faithful to the One who is always there for me. You are almighty and worthy of praise. 

Amen

July 30, 2015

John 1:  5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.  (Overcome could also be translated as understood)

John skips the whole nativity story and goes instead to the essence of Christ. He tells us that Christ was with God from the beginning. Nothing was created without him. His life is mankind's light, but darkness doesn't get it. It can't overcome it. 

I love the "not understood" slant. Why else would anyone reject God?  They just don't get it. A great light is available, but they fear and mistrust it. The need for control is their guide. 

Prayer:  Help me to overcome the need I have to be in control of my life. Help me surrender to following the light You send me. I know that my mighty God has the best path for me. 
Amen

July 29, 2015

Isaiah 58:  6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?"

Isaiah goes on to cite examples:  sharing food, providing shelter, clothing the needy. If we don't turn away from humankind, then God will hear us and be with us when we call on Him.

It's hard to be held to such a standard. I don't pass homeless people in my hometown, but the internet connects me to need in the larger world as well as in my community.  I respond to many requests for help, but not all of them. I speak out against injustice, but I am no activist. I certainly don't break every yoke. 

Prayer:  Lord, guide me to the places You need me. Don't let me grow numb to the pleas of my fellow man. Let Your will be the gold standard I live by. 

Amen

July 28, 2015

Isaiah 55: 1 Come, all you who are thirsty,
    come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without cost.

The invitation is sent. Everyone is welcome. The promise included in this invitation is that you will be satisfied. You will find joy and peace. 

In The Message translation, you are rejecting junk food and cotton candy for the satisfaction of God's food. It's interesting that the thirsty and penniless are the ones who are called. Those who are not in need aren't included. You must feel the need in order to accept the call. 

Prayer: Lord, I pray for those who need Your comfort. Guide them to Your comforting presence. Open their eyes to all that You offer. Help me to see when I am oblivious to Your guidance as well.

Amen

July 27, 2015

Isaiah 52:  7
How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
    who bring good tidings,
    who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
    “Your God reigns!”

Isaiah is telling how the Lord will save Israel. The unfaithful have suffered for so long, but now they realize where their blessings came from. They will regain the prosperity they lost, and everyone will know how mighty our God is. 

I love Isaiah's writing style. He paints pictures with his words. I can see the messengers in my mind's eye. I can feel the joy of the followers. 

Prayer: Help me to find this kind of faith in those around me, the faith that proclaims peace, good news and salvation. Let me join with others to show the world how great You are, my Lord. I stand in awe of Your power. 

Amen

July 26, 2015

Isaiah 47:  14 See, they have become like dry grass. Fire burns them. They cannot take themselves away from the power of the fire. This is no fire for making one warm, or fire to sit by! 

Isaiah is warning Babylon. God has allowed his unfaithful people to be held captive, but they will be freed. The Babylonians have relied on false prophets, and this verse describes their worth. 

I spent much time around the campfire at Little River. I love this description. For us, it was the pine boughs that burned this way. You could use them to help set the more substantial pieces burning, but they flamed up and were gone. You can't count on them for the long haul. 

Prayer:  The people of my country need Your help. We can show other nations our mighty power, but we chase the latest craze, instead of relying on You, the one true God. Guide our leaders to see the truth that lasts forever is greater than the greed for power that controls so much of our policy.
Amen

July 25, 2015

Isaiah 45:  18 This is what the Lord Who made the heavens, the God Who planned and made the earth, and everything in it and did not make it a waste place, but made it a place for people to live in, says, “I am the Lord, and there is no other."

This daily reading was all about who God is and what He does for us, both OT and NT. It's about His loving care for people who turn away from Him. He has great plans for those who know Him. 

It's hard to imagine all that God is. It's really incomprehensible to us. We only see a small part of the big picture, and then we see a dim outline shadowed by our own egos and selfish desires. 

Prayer:  I stand in awe of Your mighty presence, Lord. You are at the root of everything in my experience. Protect and guide me from all that would divert me from Your plan for me, including my own prideful impulses. 
Amen

July 23, 2015

1 Peter 2:  1 Put out of your life hate and lying. Do not pretend to be someone you are not. Do not always want something someone else has. Do not say bad things about other people. 

Peter has great advice. He tells believers to be extra cautious about the example they set for non-believers, but we are to love other Christians. We should respect the leaders, even if they don't treat us well. We should think WWJD. 

I need to follow these simple rules. I don't lie, knowingly anyway. I try not to hate nor to focus on the feelings caused by insensitive people. I don't waste any time on envy. Now if I could just quiet my negative thoughts and never speak badly of others!

Prayer: Lord, make me strong and fair. Keep me from negative thoughts and words about Your people. Let me use this life to promote You. 
Amen

July 22, 2015

1 Peter 1:  21 Because of Christ, you have put your trust in God. He raised Christ from the dead and gave Him great honor. So now your faith and hope are in God.

Peter makes a case for the trials of the followers. They are being tested, like gold in the fire. They, and we, will be stronger because of all we have endured. But we are ultimately the blessed ones, our lives enhanced by the gift of faith. 

Prayer:  Guide my faith, Lord. I have put my trust in You. My hope is to someday celebrate the new kingdom You will bring.  
Amen

July 19, 2015

James 3:  17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

James talks about the tongue. He compares the relatively small tongue to the rudder of a large ship. The larger body can be controlled by the small part. The evils that come from the tongue are not heavenly; they are earthly. 

I need to contemplate James's list of heavenly alternatives to the wicked tongue. I'm not sure how submissive I want to be. I have got sincere down. I'm generally the peace loving type. I try to be considerate, impartial and maybe even merciful. Submissive is tougher. 

Prayer:  Lord, guide me to control my tongue. Help me to be more submissive if that's Your will. Help me to be more merciful. You are everything good. I want to be more like You. 
Amen

July 18, 2015

James 2:  13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James warns the reader about faith without deeds. He says that we can't show favoritism. We must be merciful to all, rich and poor. 

This got to me because of recent family events. I don't want to fail to show mercy to everyone, but that's hard when you are hurt. You want to protect yourself against more hurt. 


Prayer:  Help me to be merciful. I want to follow the example of Your son, but I am weak. Guide me to do whatever it takes to heal the hurt. 
Amen

July 17, 2015

James 1:  27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James warns us about anger. We should listen lots and speak little. If we give into the lures of this world, our religion is worthless. 

I am struggling this morning. I am finding my little world is polluted by my hurt feelings. I would like to go home and stay in my cocoon. I will stay here with the widow, the orphan who has no family left, and I will do my best to stay unpolluted. 

Prayer: I need comfort. The world has hurt me. Help me to see the blessings You send me. Help me to stop chasing the acceptance of a polluted world and to be content with Your will for me. 
Amen

July 16, 2015

Hebrews 13:  21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him,through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The previous verse reads:  " Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep."  Paul is wrapping up his message to the Hebrews. 

This is a great prayer. I like the combination of a request for power to do God's will with one that we work through Christ to please Him.  That's all I really need. I need to discern God's will and to follow through on it. If only life wouldn't throw these roadblocks in my way!  I love God's people, and they let me down over and over. Then doubt and sorrow creep in. 

Prayer:  I need Your comfort, Lord. I need to let go of the thoughts that torment me. Show me how to keep peace in my heart and with others. 
Amen

July 15, 2015

Hebrews 12:  14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy;without holiness no one will see the Lord. 

Paul is warning the Hebrews that they are being watched. The others see their weakness and judge their God by the faults of His people.  Jesus faced the same sort of scrutiny and judgment, so we must follow his example. Others will see God through us. 

It's a hard thing to serve the Lord. We are judged and found lacking. We can't do anything right. People try to involve us in their drama. We must resist this, however, and live our lives as God wills. Then others will see our righteousness. 

Prayer:  Guide my walk, Lord, and help me to find Your way for me. Help me to maintain the peace.  Help me to be holy. Let my actions be a light to those who don't know You. 
Amen

July 14, 2015

Hebrews 11:  16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Paul cites many examples through the OT which show us people who lived in faith. Moses, Abraham, Rahab, Isaac and Jacob, and many more are described. They lived in faith with no promise of a reward in this life. 

We live that way too. I'm trying to hold it together on this trip, doing the right thing by my family members, but I am frustrated. I feel that I am giving more than getting, and it's an old pattern. I'm tired of doing my best when others don't seem to reciprocate. I live in faith, however, that God knows how I am trying. God isn't ashamed that I am His follower.

Prayer:  Lord, be with me and strengthen my resolve to be righteous. Don't let me sink into bad feelings towards those I care about. Guide my thoughts towards loving kindness, as You call me to serve You. 
Amen

July 12, 2015

Hebrews 9:  29. He  said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”

Paul tells of Moses, who has shaken calves' blood over the tabernacle to cleanse it. The sacrifices are a necessary part of the covenant. Shedding blood is a prerequisite to the forgiveness needed. 

I was struck by the closeness of this to our Communion liturgy. We say, "This is the cup of the new covenant."  Now Jesus has already made the sacrifice, so we only need to accept that. Jesus was the sacrifice that allows us to be forgiven. 

Prayer:  I need forgiveness. I'm not the person God wants me to be. How blessed I am that the sacrifice needed for my forgiveness was made by Your son, Lord!  Praise be to God!  
Amen

July 8, 2015

Psalm 100:  1
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

This begins a very well known Psalm. We are told to come to God with praise and thanksgiving. We should sing and worship, because God's goodness endures forever. 

I'm singing the praise song in my head. I could use a little joy. It was a rough night, one with little sleep. Now I am tired, but we have to leave our home for 2 weeks. I'm worried about Mother, and I hate to leave the dogs, all at the same time. I know that I have many blessings, but I am not feeling so joyful. 

Prayer:  Lord. help me to find the resources I need for these next few days of travel and to make good decisions regarding Mother. I'm alone in that, and we need Your guidance. Make Your will clear to us. 

Amen

July 7, 2015

Hebrews 4:  12 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Paul discusses the division in interpreting God's word. He talks about those who have heard the good news, but who are not moved by it. He speaks of the all-knowing God. He says that we must approach our God with confidence, with true faith, in order to really gain the ultimate goal. 

If you don't understand grace, then you don't understand Jesus's sacrifice. Jesus faced every temptation we face, but his connection with God was so strong that he never sinned. We sin all the time, no matter how great our resolve is. Without grace, we are sunk. But Jesus took that burden from us. 

Prayer:  I approach Your throne, my Lord, with a heavy sense of my own unworthiness. I have confidence only in Your faithfulness and mercy. I'm so grateful for your gift of grace. I need Your support. Please be with me always. 
Amen

July 6, 2015

Hosea 6:  3
Let us acknowledge the Lord;
    let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
    he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
    like the spring rains that water the earth.”

Hosea reminds the Israelites of all God has done for them, but they have mocked his power and indulged their appetites at the expense of their relationship with Him.   

God is warning His unfaithful people, but they won't listen. How frustrated He must be!  He has been so faithful. They only need to turn back to Him, but they let their pride get in the way. Sounds like today. 

Prayer:  Lord, I turn to You. I understand only a small part of Your power, but that's enough for me. I acknowledge Your goodness.  I choose to follow You wherever You lead me. Be my light. 

Amen

July 5, 2015

Hoses 4: 12
Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites,
    because the Lord has a charge to bring
    against you who live in the land:
“There is no faithfulness, no love,
    no acknowledgment of God in the land."

The people are in trouble. They have not been faithful to God, and He has had enough. They spend all their time and money satisfying themselves, breaking God's laws and ignoring all He has done for them. Now He is taking His blessings from them. 

I saw my country in God's charges against Israel. He intends to bring Israel back, to court her so that she is like the nation at its beginning. Maybe we need to go back mentally, go back to the Amazing Grace we felt when we were first saved. 

Prayer:  Guide Your people to see what is truly important. Help us to be more faithful. We are so distracted by all the shiny things around us. I confess my distraction. I want to be more of a child of God. Help me. 

Amen

July 3, 2015

Philemon 1:  16 no  longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

Paul is sending the slave, Onesimus, back to his owner. He would have liked for him to stay, but he didn't want to be unfair. He wants Philemon to do the right thing because he wants to, not because he feels he must follow Paul's orders. 

This is a Paul I would like to meet. He knows that he could keep Onesimus there, but he doesn't want to seem heavy handed.  Paul is often heavy handed, and I guess he wouldn't care to hear what a woman thinks, but this gives me hope that we could work out a relationship. He saw Onesimus in a new way, so maybe he could get over his prejudice about women too. 

Prayer: I want those I care about to do the right thing because they see it's the right thing. I don't want anyone to say that they believe in You because of social or familial pressure. I hope that Your people will open their eyes and do what is right for their fellow men. Guide Your people, Lord. Help us to do Your will. 
Amen

July 2, 2015

Isaiah 5:  1 I will sing for the one I love
    a song about his vineyard:
My loved one had a vineyard
    on a fertile hillside.

God is the one Isaiah loves. God made his vineyard fertile, removing the rocks and planting the best vines. He even set a watchtower over it. But all he got was bad fruit, so now He will let it be destroyed. 

God's heart must be broken by us. We never live up to His holy plan for our lives. We are weak and stupid. We lack faith. We make and break our promises to Him and to each other. We find fault in everything. 

Prayer: I confess my weakness, Lord. I'm not the person You want me to be. I don't follow Your guidance. I rely on myself to my detriment. Please forgive me. 

Amen

July 1, 2015

Titus 3:  2 to slander no one,to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone

Paul offers great advice. The people once lived with anger and envy, but they have been saved by a merciful God. Now their behavior needs to change. 

We are living in a summer of discontent. One controversy after another rolls out. There are horrible natural disasters, and hate crimes are killing people, including Christians targeted for their faith, all over the world.  It's good to consider these words, and it's even better to follow them. 

Prayer:  I need to remember to be more gentle and considerate. I need to pray for those who suffer, even those who lash out against others in their pain. I need to avoid controversy when it is just an exercise in vanity, but I need to rush in when my words and actions can lead to peace. 
Amen