Month: January 2018

Always give!

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giveTeach us to give and not count the cost.                       Ignatius Loyola

Each day we have time to give. This morning I was in a cafe. A woman came in and seemed a little lost. She ordered her coffee and sat down alone. She turned and look at me and I gave her a big smile. She smiled back and seemed to relax in her chair. I gave nothing that I couldn’t do without. I don’t really know if she needed that smile but I gave it anyway. It made me feel good.

We don’t always have to think about giving away costly things. We can give a smile, a helping hand,  a kind word. We can afford to do this every day.

Lord, remind us to give of ourselves every day. AMEN

Remove the stone

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Holding a grudge is a stone in your heart.            TV show “The Good Doctor”

I would like to think that I don’t hold grudges but I can still find myself remembering some people with anger. If I do that I am still holding a grudge. It is so easy to hold onto things that hurt us. We remember with pain. The thing is we are the ones that are still being hurt by ourselves. That remembering is a negative feeling that we have to let go. We have to work at getting the stone out of our heart.

Loving Jesus, help us to forget the hurt and remove the stone. AMEN

heart of stone

All shall be well

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JulianI don’t know if you have read about the life of Julian of Norwich. I have included the info from Wikipedia.

“Julian of Norwich (c. 8 November 1342 – c. 1416) was an English anchoress and an important Christian mystic and theologian. Her Revelations of Divine Love, written around 1395, is the first theological book in the English language known to have been written by a woman. Julian was also known as a spiritual authority …”

all shall be well1

Her life was difficult but her faith enormous. As an anchoress she withdrew from secular life and is believed to have live in a sparse “cell.”

This is her most famous saying and I often lean on it when life seems fragile. Just repeat it over and over and said enough will help to bring peace.

Follow Jesus

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The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.                  Nelson Henderson

God does not just expect us to do things that help right now but also things that will help those to come. The most important of these is to live as he lived. In this way we will draw people to him. To preach is good, to talk about Christ is good and those things help ……but if we live like him no explanations are necessary. Our actions will show his love.

follow jesus

 

Jesus you call us to follow you in all that we do. Help us to do this so that others will also follow you. AMEN

Follow

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come follow

Today I was moved again by music. I have included the first verse and refrain.

Lord, you have come to the lakeshore
looking neither for wealthy nor wise ones.
You only asked me to follow humbly.

Refrain
O Lord, with your eyes you have searched me,
kindly smiling, have spoken my name.
Now my boat’s left on the shoreline behind me;
by your side I will seek other seas.

Cesáreo Gabarian

It is such a simple request. “You only asked me to follow humbly.” In the song the response is to leave the boat and job behind and simply follow. Can we do this?

Caring Lord, to follow is all you ask of us. Why is it so hard for us to follow? Help us. AMEN

Faith is a verb

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Faith is not a noun.                                 Suzanne Boyd

Too often we put ourselves down for not having enough faith. We think it is something that we “have.” Faith is reaching out each moment no matter how we feel. It is a word that calls us to action. Faith is a verb. We have to use it. We have to step out in faith no matter how we feel. Feelings get in the way. Choose to ACT in faith.

faith can move mountains

Gracious Lord, help us to take action for you each and every day. AMEN

No judging

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be kindWe are so quick to make judgements. We can decide in one moment about a person and be completely wrong. Indian lore talks about walking a mile in someones shoes. Many times I have known someone for quite a while and had no idea of the tragedies in their life. We have to let go of judging. God knows the whole story and will judge. It’s not our job.

Loving God, you know how we put people into categories and make judgements. Help us to see others with compassion and love.

Here I am Lord

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Here I am, Lord. Is it I Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go Lord. If you need me. I will hold your people in my heart. Dan Schutte

I love this hymn. It is one of my favorites and always speaks to me. When I sing the words I can feel God calling me to do his will. Do you have a hymn or song that pulls you into the presence of God? If you do sing it often. Let the words open your heart to answer God’s call. He is calling you and me. Will we answer?

god calling

God you call us in many different ways. Help us to heed your voice and follow. AMEN

Go – Serve

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Matthew 28:19 

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
discples
We are not called to sit at home and read the Bible. We are called to go out and tell about Christ. Sometimes the best way to do that is in our behavior. If our love for others makes someone ask why we act that way then we are doing the right thing.
service 3discples

And it was good

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“People of faith do not gt much help in thinking of their ordinary, physical lives as being particularly sacred.”     Barbara Brown Taylor

creationgood

Do you think of yourself as being sacred? I don’t know that I ever have. The truth is we are! God created us in his own image. We are a part of the whole creation and every part of it is sacred. Each day of creation we hear the words “and it was good.” God was clear about that. Everything in creation is sacred including us. Now we just have to believe it and live it out.

God of creation, you made us in your image and said “it is good.” All that you created is sacred. Help us to live as sacred people.