PRACTICE MINDFULNESS

 

^{August 1, 2024}

 

Oh God, who is both able and willing to assist me, on what grounds should I not place my entire confidence in You, to surrender myself to Your providence and await the outcomes of Your generosity? You take care of all. Thus, I will entrust myself completely to You, living perpetually in Your presence, and being guided by Your grace and love. Amen.

 

^{Matthew 6:25-34}

25 “Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 

Ah, Worry, that sense of insecurity, unease, and fear over what negative events may happen – as unrealistic as these concerns may be – is one of the most unpleasant emotions that you can experience as a human being. It is also one of the most common. Studies suggest that our main areas of worry fall into these categories primarily: Money and the future, Job Security, Relationships, and Health. What are your worries today? Do your worries fall into one of these categories above?

From our Bible reading today we are made aware that worry is not a new experience, for even Jesus confronts worry in his teaching. So, it must have been a problem for people in his day just as it is in ours.

Anxiety, anxious thoughts, and insecurity are the byproducts of fear. This experience that we all have is one of the great distractions in our life. It really has to do with what we set our hearts toward, or on. I remember reading in Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship the following: “earthly possessions dazzle our eyes and delude us into thinking that they can provide security and freedom from anxiety. Yet all the time they are the very source of all anxiety. If our hearts are set on them, our reward is an anxiety whose burden is intolerable.”

Jesus message here in Mathhew 6 is to invite us to practice “mindfulness.” Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to what you’re paying attention to right now. In other words mindfulness invites us to live in the moment, not in the next moment, or next hour or next day. . . . 

You see, focusing on the here and now helps us to have an awareness of God, God is always in action in our present moments. The goal or purpose of spiritual practices in to help us notice where God is at work. It’s hard to notice God’s activity when we are preoccupied with worries about the future. When Jesus taught his followers to let go of their anxiety, he pointed out visible examples in the world they could see all around them. The flowers in the field and the birds flying overhead aren't troubled by worry. When you practice mindfulness, you become more like birds and flowers, present and attuned to God's provision.

Here are some ways to practice mindfulness:

1. Take a moment to still your body and mind. (Remember those breathing exercises from a few days ago?) If thoughts about the future trouble you, and distract you, give yourself permission to put those issues on hold. 

2. Pay attention to what you’re paying attention to right now.

3. Let go of the need to judge it, just give the present moment your full attention.

Can you identify your greatest fear? Could you confess it to God? Offer your fears and anxieties to your loving God in your prayers today.

Don't forget to thank God for sharing this moment with you.

Let’s Pray

God, sustain me in this present moment as you sustain all your creation. Amen

 

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

 JULY 31, 2024

Almighty God, who commands the storm and the calm, the day and the night, life and death; grant me the grace to keep my heart anchored in Your faithfulness, Your constancy, and Your love, so that, come what may, I may gaze upon You with an untroubled eye. Amen

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 8 Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Our Bible’s open with the following acknowledgement: In the beginning, God created a world of order out of chaos (Genesis 1:1-2). Yet, in Psalm 46, from the Poet’s perspective, God’s order seems to have spiraled into disorder. Look at the description in Psalm 46:2-3, there we see a picture of nature in turmoil, with seas surging beyond their boundaries and mountains quaking and shattering. The imagery of nations and political powers devolving into chaos, as described in Psalm 46:6, resonates deeply with the sense of instability and uncertainty that can pervade our world.  

Now, don't you find that this vivid depiction of chaos is unsettling? I mean this Psalm reflects those times when the stability we rely on seems to be crumbling, the "waves" of disorder threaten to engulf  all order. God’s world and God’s people are under threat. Serious stuff right. 

What stands out to me in this Psalm is that while living in the midst of disorder the psalmist is unshaken in his trust of God. Notice that He hides in God like a fortress. He draws comfort from knowing that God is with him and protecting him (Psalm 46:7, 11). God is his refuge and present help (Psalm 46:1).

In response to such unsettling circumstances, we read that God raises his voice over the noise of natural and political chaos and commands them to be still (Psalm 46:9-10). And both "out of order" nature and nations obey God’s voice. The earth obediently melts into submission, weapons of conflict and violence are broken, and battles are ended. What comfort in turmoil this is!!

Wait!! there is more "Good News". In the place of all this instability and uncertainty, God builds a city by calm and peaceful streams and lives there with his people (Psalm 46:4). While mountains quake, seas rage, and nations war, the city of God does not fall because God is there, his protecting presence is with his people (Psalm 46:5-6).

Today, as you read this I wonder how many of us are in unstable situations where you feel like things are crumbling around you. If that's you today, take this Psalm's message and challenge to heart, and lean in and trust our Good God in all things. 

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God!” The Hebrew verb “raphah” which is translated as “be still” literally means “to let something drop, to let go, or to abandon something.” I wonder what is it that you need to "drop", "let go of", "abandon" so that you may enter God's City of calm and peaceful streams. 

LET'S PRAY

God, still my body, mind, and spirit and let me know you. Amen.

GO AHEAD BREATHE, AGAIN, AGAIN .....

 

JULY 30, 2024

 

We begin today with a prayer from Howard Thurman, in his book, The Growing Edge.

Oh God, my father, I have no words, no words by which I dare express the things that stir within me. I lay bare myself, my world, before you in quietness. Brood over my spirit with your great tenderness and understanding, so that I will find, in some strange way, strength for any weakness, health for my illness, guidance for my journey. This is the stirring of my heart, oh God, my father, Amen.

 

Genesis 2:7

⁷ Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.

^{LUKE 18:35-38}

³⁵ Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. ³⁶ And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. ³⁷ So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. ³⁸ And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

 

Our breath can be a powerful connection to God. 

Through His breath, God breathed life into the first man. By focusing on your breath, you can connect with God and remember that all good things, life itself included, are gifts from your Creator.

Many ancient Christian meditative practices focus on slowing down and paying attention to your breath. One such prayer, described in “The Way of the Pilgrim” in the 19th century is called “The Jesus prayer” because in this practice with every breath you recognize your need for Jesus as a savior.

The Jesus Prayer uses your natural breath pattern to meditate on the words “, “, have mercy on me.” On each inhale you say the words "Jesus, Son of David” and on each exhale you say, “Have mercy on me.”

This phase comes from Luke 18:38, in which the blind man who calls out to Jesus is healed. 

What I really have found helpful in this spiritual practice is that we can also try the prayer with other phrases that remind us of our reliance on God. For example, we could repeat the words “Father… (as you inhale) I belong to you” (on Exhale) these words are found in Psalm 73:23. Another phrase which that we can use comes from the Old Testament, word spoken by prophets in the Bible, is “Lord… (as we inhale) here I am” (on the exhale)  (Isaiah 6:8, 1 Samuel 3:4).

Practice the Jesus Breath Prayer:

• Breath in and repeat the words, “Jesus, Son of David”
• Breath out and repeat the words, “Have mercy on me.”
• Repeat this prayer 10 times, or until your breathing becomes calm and slow.

 

Let Us Pray

 Lord, every breath I take comes from you. Help me connect with you, the source of my life. Amen.

 

LISTENING TAKES PRACTICE

 

JULY 29, 2024

God, grant me the vision to recognize and the heart to welcome all that this day brings. Prevent me from overlooking its blessings by fixating on a distant tomorrow. Help me embrace the freshness of each moment with mindfulness and thankfulness. I pray in the name of the one who renews everything. Amen.

1 Corinthians 2:6-16

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
    the things God has prepared for those who love him—

10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for,

“Who has known the mind of the Lord
    so as to instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.

Do you find that throughout each day, a multitude of demands constantly compete for your attention?

At work your boss says, “Do this now!” Throughout the day Social media screams, “Look over here!” The people you love issue demands for your time. With all these voices, and many others,  it can be hard to hear the quiet leading of God.

Connecting with God is a spiritual exercise. Like a muscle, it becomes stronger with regular practice. Let's face it there is a lot of noise in life, you and me could use some practices that would help us to turn down the volume of the noise and the voices that surround us, so that we may be able to turn up the volume on God voice. 

I suppose it really comes down to the development of some "listening practices". These practices are spiritual because they help devlop a different kind of hearing. As 1 Corinthians 2 says, God can’t be seen with normal eyes or heard with normal ears. God can only be revealed through the Spirit.

The Good News is that we can practice tuning into God’s Spirit no matter where we are. 

I know I often mention in our devotions Brother Lawrence, a seventeenth century monk, who learned to connect with God through his day-to-day labor. I think I am drawn to Brother Lawrence because I so easily distracted in my life. You may remember that Lawerence as he worked in the monastery kitchen, trained himself to view his work as something he was doing with God. While he washed dishes, he thought about how much he loved God and how much God loved him. The outcome of this practice was that it turned his work into an act of prayer. His work, even dishwashing, was something that he and God were doing together. 

Here is a little something to try today as a way to practice tuning into or connecting with God through your work:

1. Think of one manual task you need to do today. It could be washing dishes, pulling weeds, folding laundry, or anything else you need to do.

2. Before you start this task, ask God to be with you in your work.
Try to imagine the task as something that you and God are doing together.

3. Listen for any new insights, ideas, or emotions that come to your mind while working.

Let's Pray 

God, thank you for being with me in my work. May my everyday labor be a place where I can tune into you and feel your presence. Amen

THE LORD BLESS YOU!!

July 26, 2024

Heavenly Father,
In these moments, inspire me to sow seeds of kindness. May my words and actions be vessels of your love, bringing warmth to the hearts of others. As I offer myself to you, let it be with an intention to spread kindness upon the paths of those I encounter. AMEN

Galatians 6:2

2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

In our Devotions this week we have been discussing God's Blessings toward us. We have been challenged to lean into them and believe these promised blessings for ourselves. That is a very good exercise for us.

Today I want us to reflect on praying God's promised blessings over others. Someone you know needs to receive some of the very same blessings we have looked at together the last few days.

As we read above in Galatians 6:2 we are called to "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Carrying anothers burdens seems to me to include prayer for those whom God as put in our lives. Not just long time relationships but people who we have recently met, or someone that you know about that needs the movement of God's Spirit in their lives.

Below are some sample prayers for us to consider employing in our prayers for others. Use them over the next few days and watch for God's blessings.

A Prayer Healing and Restoration

Lord, I lift (name of person) to You, who needs healing and restoration.

I pray for Your mighty touch upon their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

You are the Great Physician, and I ask for Your healing power to flow through their body, bringing wholeness and restoration to every area that is broken or wounded.

Heal their physical ailments, mend their emotional pain, and bring restoration to their relationships.

May Your love and mercy bring healing in their life, bringing comfort, strength, and renewal.

In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.



A Prayer for Provision



Heavenly Father, I bring before You the financial needs of (name of person).

You are the Provider of all things, and I ask for Your abundant provision to overflow in their life.

Open doors of opportunity, grant them wisdom in managing their resources and bless the work of their hands.

Supply all their needs according to Your riches in glory.

Provide them with financial stability and freedom, enabling them to fulfill their obligations and bless others in return.

Teach them to be good stewards of the resources You entrust to them.

May they experience Your supernatural provision and witness Your faithfulness in their financial journey.

In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.




A Prayer for Wisdom



Heavenly Father, I seek Your wisdom and discernment for (name of person).

Life is filled with decisions and choices, and I pray that You would grant them clarity of mind and insights into Your perfect will.

Illuminate their path, Lord, and guide them in making choices that align with Your purposes and bring glory to Your name.

Grant them discernment to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit and to walk in obedience to Your Word.

May they experience the blessings that come from following Your guidance and may their lives be a reflection of Your wisdom.

In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen



A Prayer for Emotional Healing


Heavenly Father, I bring before You (name of person) who needs emotional healing and comfort.

Life’s struggles can leave deep wounds in the heart and soul, and I pray that You would bring healing and restoration to their innermost being.

Pour out Your love and compassion upon them, wiping away their tears and replacing their pain with Your peace and joy.

Heal the brokenness within them and bring comfort amid their sorrows.

May they find solace in Your embrace and experience the healing power of Your love.

In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.





A Prayer for Spiritual Transformation



Heavenly Father, I humbly come before You on behalf (name of person) that is longing for a deep spiritual transformation in their life.

I pray that they may surrender to your will and ask for your guidance and presence.

Open their heart and mind to receive your truth and wisdom.

Help them grow in faith, deepen their understanding of your Word, and ignite a passionate love for you.

Transform them from within, so that they may reflect your light and love to the world.

In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

THE BLESSING of WAITING

 

July 25, 2024

Lord, may nothing separate me from You today. Teach me how to choose only Your way today so each step will lead me closer to You. Help me walk by your Word and Spirit and not my feelings. Help me to keep my heart pure and undivided. Help me to rest in the truth of Psalm 86:13, that "Great is your love toward me." Amen

Psalm 62:1-2

"For God alone my soul waits in silence;

from him comes my salvation.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken"

Life is a journey of highs and lows. Yet, often the most challenging place to find oneself is in the midst of waiting. Let's reflect today on the blessings that come with patient waiting.

Maybe you're waiting for the doctor to call with test results, or waiting for a procedure, or for God to open a new opportunity. When change doesn't happen as quickly as we think it should, we start to wonder why and then we take matters into our own hand.  We get impatient in the waiting don't we?

When David wrote Psalm 62, he was under attack from his enemies. And as tempting as it might have been to take matters into his own hands, David chose to wait on God. 

"For God alone my soul waits in silence;
    from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken" Psalm 62:1-2

The safest place to be when we feel like we're under siege is waiting with God. Our God possesses all power and control. We believe that!! By choosing to wait with God instead of facing challenges alone, we can experience His power and presence in unprecedented ways.

I have found that, few life seasons draw us nearer to God than those of waiting. Our ears become more attuned to God's voice in our desperation to hear from Him. Our eyes are swifter to discern God's power and provision when we eagerly await His movement. 

Pouring out our hearts to God and patiently waiting for His guidance, being still and knowing he is God, allows us to witness God's unique works and deepens our trust in Him. As we read near the end of Psalm 62 One thing God has spoken,... : “Power belongs to you, God,  and with you, Lord, is unfailing love.”

Look at it this way. We can put our trust in lots of places — in money, in our own wit or our own abilities. But nowhere is it safer to place our confidence than with the God who made everything, knows everything, and can restore anything. 

Let's Pray

Loving God, I pray that You would teach me how to prayerfully and patiently wait on You, and to come to a true understanding of what it really means to wait on the You. Help me to be still before You, to listen to Your voice through Your Word and to abide in You.

Keep me from fretting and worry, but rather let me learn more of You. Draw me closer to Yourself and keep me from presumptuous thoughts, but rather teach me humility of heart, knowing that Your desire for all Your children is abundant living.

Amen.

THE JOY of PRESENCE

 

JULY 24, 2024

Our Father, we long to dwell in Your presence and experience the fullness of joy and eternal pleasures found only in You. Draw us close to Your heart and fill us with Your peace. Amen

 

Psalm 16:11

“You make known to me the path of life. In your presence, there is fullness of joy. At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

 

Psalm 16:11 reminds us that God’s plan for our life involves blessing us with fullness of joy in His presence. Please notice the promised blessing of Joy is found “in His Presence.” The Good News is we are always in God’s presence. Think of Psalm 139, where the question is asked “where can I go (flee) from your presence? The answer put simply is nowhere.

God’s plan for our lives involves the blessings of fullness of joy in His presence. The second part of our verses above says that “At your right hand are pleasures forever more.” Just picture it. The Psalm is saying that God’s right hand is full of pleasures, and you take some of those pleasures, and there’s more. Take some of those pleasures, there’s more. Take some of those pleasures, there’s more. There is infinite pleasure to be found in God.

We find healing for our brokenness, strength for our weaknesses, and grace for our failures. In the stillness of His presence, we are reminded that we are deeply loved, fully known, and extravagantly valued by our Heavenly Father.

You see, seeking God’s presence, daily, is not just about feeling happy or being content, or just a religious commitment, but it’s about connecting with our Creator and drawing strength from His love, care, and power. 

"I pray that you be rooted and grounded in the love of God and that His presence will fill you with overflowing joy and eternal pleasures."

Let Us Pray

Heavenly Father, I come before You with a grateful heart, seeking Your blessing of joy and the richness of your everlasting pleasures.

You are the source of all joy, and I long to experience the fullness of Your joy in my life.

Fill me with an overflowing sense of joy that transcends my circumstances.

Help me to find delight in Your presence and in the simple blessings You provide each day.

Release any burdens or heaviness that weigh me down, and replace them with the lightness and joy that only You can give.

Let Your joy be my strength and my guiding light in every season of life.

May my life reflect Your joy to others, drawing them closer to You.

In the name of Jesus, I pray.

Amen.

 

SECURE and STABLE PATHS

 

JULY 23, 2024

 

Faithful God, I'm here today, praying to you now, because I know you keep your word. Today is a gift because of your almighty and ever-present power that holds all things together. Thank you that I don't have to live anxiously but I can live confidently, trusting in your providing hands to keep me in your love. Amen.

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 offers us profound comfort and guidance: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” This passage encourages us to fully rely on God, surrendering our worries and trusting His wisdom over our own.

The Hebrew concept of trust involves a deep sense of refuge and surrender. It’s about laying down our burdens before God and finding peace in His care. This is echoed in 1 Peter 5:7, where Peter urges us to “[cast] all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.” This act of casting our anxieties onto God is a powerful reminder of His love and concern for us.

In times of difficulty, these verses remind us that we are not alone and that God is always there to support and guide us. Placing our hope in Christ alone and involving God in all our ways truly allows Him to guide us on the right path. Proverbs 3:6 and Psalm 33:4 remind us of God's unwavering faithfulness and the reliability of His word.

It's comforting to know that God presence is always with us, especially when we feel lost or uncertain. His promise to never leave or forsake us is a powerful assurance of His constant presence and support.

Trusting God fully can indeed make our paths secure and stable.

 

Here is a prayer blessing for guidance and direction which is inspired by Proverbs 3:5-6.

 

Gracious God, I come before You, seeking Your blessing of guidance and direction in my life.

You are the source of all wisdom and understanding, and I acknowledge my need for Your divine guidance.

Lead me in the path of righteousness and illuminate my way with Your light.

Grant me clarity of mind and discernment to make wise decisions.

Help me to align my will with Yours, surrendering my plans and desires to Your perfect will.

Guide my steps, O Lord, and order my path according to Your purpose.

When uncertainty surrounds me, be my compass, pointing me in the right direction.

I trust in Your unfailing love and faithfulness to guide me every step of my journey.

In the name of Jesus, I pray.

Amen.

BLESSED and KEPT!!

 

JULY 22, 2024

“May God bless you. In every way. Not just physically, but spiritually, relationally, emotionally, with a joy and satisfaction in him that supersedes even physical circumstances, even walking through difficult times. May you know the blessing of God. May he keep you. Might he hold onto you. May he uphold you with his righteous right hand today and enable you to persevere through everything you have going on in your life right now. Might he keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and God smile upon your life today. May his face radiate toward you and be gracious to you. Might you know his grace in ever-abounding ways.” Amen

 

Numbers 6:24-26

 

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

This prayer of blessing for divine favor in Numbers 6:24-26 is often referred to as the Aaronic blessing or the priestly blessing. It is a profound and powerful invocation of God’s favor and grace upon His people. The blessings in Numbers 6:24-26 declare that God will “keep” you, be “gracious” to you and give you “peace.”

Today in your coming and going, you can relax in His peaceful presence, knowing He is with you and He is for you!  

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you today. May you know you are seen, known, and loved by God, cared for by God. And may he give you peace, a peace that passes all understanding, and guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus. Might you know the peace of God in a very tumultuous world, amidst tumultuous busy schedules, amidst all kinds of things going in all kinds of different directions. May you know the peace of God today.

 

 

NICKNAMES

 

JULY 19, 2024

Lamentations 3:22-33

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him.”



The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,

to the one who seeks him;

it is good to wait quietly

for the salvation of the Lord.

It is good for a man to bear the yoke

while he is young.



Let him sit alone in silence,

for the Lord has laid it on him.

Let him bury his face in the dust—

there may yet be hope.

Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,

and let him be filled with disgrace.



For no one is cast off

by the Lord forever.

Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,

so great is his unfailing love.

For he does not willingly bring affliction

or grief to anyone.

I suspect many of you had a nickname when you were younger. We generally don’t like our nicknames, do we?  Later in life, we don’t want people to know our nickname because we probably spent a lot of time trying to live it down.

Jeremiah is often nicknamed the “weeping prophet” due to the immense personal and professional suffering he endured. His life was marked by significant hardship, including threats to his life, kidnapping, and being taken to a foreign land. Despite these challenges, Jeremiah remained steadfast in his mission to call the people of Judah back to God, warning them of the impending exile if they did not repent.

Jeremiah’s deep emotional connection to his people and his sadness and sorrow over their sins and the impending judgment are vividly expressed in his writings. As deep as Jeremiah's sorrow was, he still had hope.

He tells us why he has hope when he says, "For no one is cast off
by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,so great is his unfailing love.." Our hope is in the Lord, because He does love us, even when we have moved away from Him, neglected our walk with God, allowed other things to rule our living. Even when we cannot see any possibility of forgiveness, resurrection and new life. His heart longs to have compassion on us. That’s a beautiful reflection on the hope and compassion found in God’s love. Jeremiah’s words remind us that, despite the grief and discipline we might face, God’s steadfast love and compassion are always present. His ultimate desire is to bring us back to Him, no matter how far we’ve strayed.

Jesus, you may recall was "nicknamed" in Isaiah as the “Man of Sorrows,” a person who embodies love and sacrifice. By taking on our sins and suffering on our behalf, He offers us freedom and new life. His resurrection is the ultimate symbol of hope and renewal for all.

If you’re feeling distant from God, remember that His love is unwavering, and He is always ready with open arms to welcome us into the experience of His grace and mercy.

For no one is cast off

    by the Lord forever.

32 

Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,

    so great is his unfailing love.

33 

For he does not willingly bring affliction

    or grief to anyone.

 

THORN ANYONE?

 

July 18, 2024

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

“A thorn was given me in the flesh,” says Paul. Scholars argue about what exactly it was—bad eyesight? Some speech impediment? Injured hip? Irritable bowel syndrome? Some horrible disease? Truth is it doesn't really matter what it was. My guess is we all recognize the concept from our own lives. What was/is your "thorn in the flesh"?

Our "thorns" are often something about us personally that we don't like, something that we hate about ourselves, because it emphasizes our weakness. Our "thorn" keeps showing up, and we can't seem to get rid of it, it is this major distraction, "a messenger from Satan" that causes us to hold back our service or worship, and when we pray for help, God says to us what He said to Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness."

Whatever it is, our "thorn" it's something that keeps us humble and dependent on Christ. I believe that anything that drives us back to Jesus is to be considered a blessing in the end. As I heard said recently "To have Jesus plus suffering or embarrassment is ... still to have Jesus, right?"

To "have Jesus" means to have the One who loves us so much that He laid down His life for us, only to take it up again. It's to have Jesus always with us, closer than our own breath, strengthening us, comforting us, carrying us when we need it. To have the power of Christ rest on us. We have Jesus, and that is enough.

LET'S PRAY

Jesus, let me have You, 

and that is enough for me. Amen.

IN THIS FOR THE LONG HAUL

 

JULY 17, 2024

PSALM 84


How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise! Selah
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.[b]
6 As they go through the Valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
each one appears before God in Zion.
8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
9 Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed!
10 For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
12 O LORD of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you!



Are you familiar with the feeling of being stuck? Those times in life, perhaps you're experiencing one currently, where you feel caught between your current situation and where you aspire to be?

Perhaps you have mapped out your life, highlighting all the objectives you want to accomplish. By the ages of 35, 40, 55, and 65, many have envisioned a future of financial stability, with mortgages settled, a family life blossoming with children and grandchildren, and perhaps even an early retirement to embrace the joys of travel. Yet, there comes a time when you awaken to find yourself not at the destination you had planned, with no straightforward solution to this unplanned reality. In such moments, how do you proceed when the path you're traveling diverges from your expectations?

The Psalm above, Psalm 84 reminds us that God does not withhold good things from His children. We read, “the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold.” (Psalm 84:11). There is nothing wrong with making plans, but our plans should always be enlightened by God's Word and in obedience to His will. I know, I know, obedience? Would the word “submission” be better? Fact is words like “obedience” and “submission” do not sit well with us who want to be in control of our lives, do they? The concepts of "obedience" and "submission" often clash with our pursuit of freedom. We're guided by the principle of "looking out for number one," which usually means prioritizing ourselves.

However, the phrase "looking out for Number One" takes on a praiseworthy meaning when it reflects the priority of putting God first and endeavoring to align our actions with His intentions. It's important to recognize that God has a perspective on our lives from start to finish. He understands our needs and has plans for us that are flawless.

Focusing solely on our desired path can lead to unexpected detours that diminish our joy. However, embracing the journey God has planned for us allows us to grow stronger, regardless of the direction life may take us in. Listen to what Psalm 84:5-7 reminds us of:

“5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6 As they go through the Valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
each one appears before God in Zion.

More significant than the life goals we achieve or fail to achieve, is the companion we share our journey with. Ultimately, our hearts yearn for the time spent with God. A day devoted to God can enrich our souls in ways that mere achievement of goals cannot.

Go ahead and make plans, seek God's guidance, and rejoice in your achievements. But let's not cling too tightly to our plans that we forget the One who guides our journey. Recall the Psalmist's words: "A day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere... Blessed is the one who trusts in You!"

SAFE TO SHORE

 

JULY 16, 2024

John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 1:5 

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Psalms 119:105

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

On Sunday in our worship service, we sang together Rend Collective’s song My Lighthouse. You know the one whose chorus goes:

My lighthouse
My lighthouse
Shining in the darkness
I will follow You
My lighthouse, my lighthouse
I will trust the promise
You will carry me safe to shore

I love lighthouses, it's something I inherited from my dad, because he loved lighthouses, we would often go places where there were lighthouses and sit on the rocks at the edge of the shore where we could see the lighthouse as we looked out over the rough sea or ocean. Being an east coaster, living in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island we didn't have to travel far to see a lighthouse.

I'm sure most of you have seen a lighthouse, or perhaps climbed the winding stairs to the top of the structure to look out over the choppy waters whose waves would come crashing onto the rocks along the shoreline. In years past, ships, boats, and vessels relied on a lighthouse to warn them of danger and guide them safely to shore.

The lighthouse has been a wonderful theological image for me. Lighthouses make me think about Jesus “the light of all mankind. The light, that John's gospel says, "shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5) Just like a lighthouse, Jesus came to earth to be the constant and never-fading light in our lives, Jesus in John 8:12 puts it this way,  “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” And we know that His Word is like a lamp that guides us (Psalm 119:105). So, the lighthouse is a wonderful reminder that when we follow Jesus, we may trust his promise that he will light our way and guide us “safe to shore.”

The song we sang Sunday reminds that even in our struggles and doubts, through any storms we may face, we can trust the promise that God will guide us through and lead us to safety, like a lighthouse guiding ships to shore.

May we together,

walk in the light, beautiful light.
Come where the dewdrops of mercy shine bright.
Oh, shine all around us by day and by night.
Jesus, the light of the world.

Amen