Category: choose

Responsibility

worrylessjourneyLeave a comment
Genesis 1:26-28 from the Messge
God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.” God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female. God blessed them: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.”
Genesis 1:26 from the NRSV
Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”
If we have any question of why mankind has not cared at all for the earth these two translations show the difference in wording. Many different translations…many different ideas.
earth responsibillity
We were to care for God’s creation not destroy it. Now we are faced with the consequences of our actions. The cause of the things happening now may not be entirely of our making but our view of the earth has been plundering its resources instead of caring for them. I hope it is not too late.

Journey with God

worrylessjourneyLeave a comment

A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery while on a detour.  Unknown

journey with god

 

Life is never boring. We never know what is around the next corner with one exception. That exception is God. God may have a journey for us that we never imagined. We have to learn to take that journey and find joy in it. God with be with us each step of the way

Use it well

worrylessjourneyLeave a comment

God, give us work til our live shall end and life til our work is done. 

The New Zealand Prayer Book

use it well

 

This is something I think about a lot. I do feel that we are here for a reason and each of us want to finish our task. Sometimes it is not possible but our lives still have meaning. We leave things behind us like ripples in a pond. God has given us life. Now it is up to us to use it well.

Too much?

worrylessjourneyLeave a comment

We read this psalm in church this morning and I almost don’t think it needs much discussion except to say that we are the society that has to have storage containers to store our extra “stuff.” Think about it.

moreclutter

Psalm 49

The Folly of Trust in Riches

1 Hear this, all you peoples;

    give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high,
    rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom;
    the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;
    I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.

5 Why should I fear in times of trouble,
    when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
6 those who trust in their wealth
    and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 Truly, no ransom avails for one’s life,[a]
    there is no price one can give to God for it.
8 For the ransom of life is costly,
    and can never suffice,
9 that one should live on forever
    and never see the grave.[b]

10 When we look at the wise, they die;
    fool and dolt perish together
    and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their graves[c] are their homes forever,
    their dwelling places to all generations,
    though they named lands their own.
12 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
    they are like the animals that perish.

13 Such is the fate of the foolhardy,
    the end of those[d] who are pleased with their lot.Selah
14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
    Death shall be their shepherd;
straight to the grave they descend,[e]
    and their form shall waste away;
    Sheol shall be their home.[f]
15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
    for he will receive me.Selah

16 Do not be afraid when some become rich,
    when the wealth of their houses increases.
17 For when they die they will carry nothing away;
    their wealth will not go down after them.
18 Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy
    —for you are praised when you do well for yourself—
19 they[g] will go to the company of their ancestors,
    who will never again see the light.
20 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
    they are like the animals that perish.

Jesus the way

worrylessjourneyLeave a comment

Jesus came to us as an example. His life tells us how God wants us to live. He flouted all the culture of the day and showed us how to love unconditionally.

jesus talks

Hebrews 12:1
[ The Example of Jesus ] Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
1 Timothy 1:16
But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life.

Sing

worrylessjourneyLeave a comment

sings prays twice

We are called to make a joyful noise and what can be more joyful than singing. It doesn’t matter if you feel you can’t sing. God doesn’t care. What matters is that we sing will a full heart.

Singing shows that we are joyful and it can also turn things that are not so great into joy.

Sing!

Faith is a choice

worrylessjourneyLeave a comment

faith is the thing

 

Faith is not something you can explain to someone else. It is a step into the unknown. Science needs everything to be provable. Faith accepts something that cannot be proved. It is a choice….a decision and it may have to be decided over and over. It can be slippery if we attach it to feelings. It is not a feeling but a choice.

We earn it

worrylessjourneyLeave a comment
Romans 13:7
Pay to all what is due them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Respect-quote
Our behavior sets the tone for how we will be treated. These things in the quote are earned. Christ had respect for everyone he saw. No one was beneath him. Even the homeless on the streets deserve respect.

Cruelty from weakness?

worrylessjourneyLeave a comment

All cruelty springs from weakness.        Seneca

where-our-strength-runs-out-gods-strength-begins-unknown-sharon-37507158

This quote really make me think. Are those who are cruel using their dominance to assure themselves of their strength? They are looking for strength in themselves. The place we need to look for strength is our God. God is always there ready to hold us up. We are not weak when God is with us. My aunt always said “God hates ugly.” By that she meant those who are unkind or cruel. We don’t need to be cruel to find strength.