Daily Meditations
Faith is not the opposite of doubt. The opposite of doubt is disbelief. Doubts make us ask questions. They make us struggle, study more and learn. Doubts stretch us and make us grow. Don’t be afraid of having doubts. We can’t know everything. Only God has all the answers.
Amazing God, forgive us for thinking that we can know all the answers. Help us to continue to learn and grow in our knowledge of you. AMEN
The only sin which we never forgive in each other is a difference of opinion—————–Ralph Waldo Emerson
We are so good at sticking to our own opinion and rejecting the opinions of others. Each of us is on a journey toward God and each of us is at a different place in that journey. Be mindful of the thoughts of others and be careful not to put rocks in their path. Your thoughts may be good ones but they may not be ready to hear them.
Amazing God, help each of us on our journey toward you and remind us not to hinder others. AMEN
Our feelings and moods change from day to day. Today we may feel that God is close and our faith is strong. Tomorrow God may feel distant and we question. Sometimes our faith is challenged by something painful and we may back away from God. But God never changes and is always there waiting.
Present God, thank you for putting up with our moods and feelings. Thank you for always being present no matter what we feel. Help us to see your presence. AMEN
You give but little when you give your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.-——–Kahil Gibran in “The Prophet.”
I have noticed over the years that there are times when something needs to be done and people do what I can”throwing money at it.” They have no desire to get involved or take on work but they are willing to pay for it. That is so much easier. You are really only connected and engaged with a need when you are willing to take it on yourself.
Forgiving God, help us to dive in and truly help. AMEN
The soul hardly ever realizes it , bu whether he is a believer or not, his loneliness is really a homesickness for God. ——–Hubert ban Zeller
We each have a God shaped hole inside of us just waiting to be filled. When we don’t reach for God we try to find other things to fill it: money, power, things, sex, drugs. We think that these things will help but they never do. Look carefully at the number of well known figures who are unhappy. Reach for God. That is the only thing to fill the hole.
Loving God, you know that we are empty without you. Help us to seek you instead of the things that will never help. AMEN
Human misery is too great for men to do without faith.————–Heinrich Heine
I have often wondered what people do who have no faith to support them. What do they turn to for help with terrible things happen? I cannot imagine life without God as my support..can you?
Gracious God, thank you for all the love and care you have given us. Let us remember each day to thank you. AMEN
If I can stop one heart from breaking
I shall not live in vain
If I can ease one Life the Aching
Or cool one in pain
Or help one fainting Robin
Unto his Nest again,
I shall not live in Vain.
Emily Dickinson
We often wonder “why are we here?” What is the point of this life? I think that this poem tells us why. We are here to love God’s world and everything in it.
Miraculous God, help us to cherish everything in this world. AMEN
Micah 6:8Â New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
8Â He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
    and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
    and to walk humbly with your God?
This is such a wonderful verse and sounds so simple. What could be easier? Actually the question should be what could be harder? Are we always kind? I doubt it. Do we walk humbly? For us this is counter-culture. We need to keep this verse in front of us and read it every morning.
O Lord, our God, you ask so little and yet to us it seems to be too much. Help us to write this verse on our hearts. AMEN
Why are we the last ones to see what God wants? —————Suzanne Boyd
We go to church. We supposedly read the Bible. We take classes about God. We talk to other Christians but how often do we spend time listening? We have been told that God speaks in silence and yet silence is something most of us don’t like. We watch TV, listen to music, read electronic media but we don’t just sit in silence and wait for God. That is why we are the last to hear God speak.
Patient God, you speak to us again and again and yet we seldom stop to hear. Help us to learn to stop and listen for your voice. AMEN
The Gospel was just too good to be true—for a future oriented, product-oriented, and win lose worldview. ————-Richard Rohr in Falling Upward
It is true. We spend most of our time acquiring “things’, trying to outpace the Jones-es, and win, win, win. This is not the message of the Gospel. No wonder we have trouble with it. Things like he who wants to gain his life must lose it…you must turn your back on your family and many others. These do not work with our worldview. Unfortunately it is our worldview that is wrong. We must LIVE the Gospel, not just read it.
Forgiving God, just like the disciples we don’t get it. Help us to learn to live the Gospel. AMEN
Hear God in Other Voices 