Daily Meditations
Time is something we take for granted. We think we have an unlimited amount. We don’t. That is a blunt statement but true. Because our time is precious we need to choose our priorities carefully. Do you set aside time for prayer? Do you take time for church? Do you read the Bible? We tend to put these things on the bottom of the list. Make sure you keep your priorities in order!
Gracious Lord, you allotted each of us time to follow you. Help us to remember what is important.
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use. —–Galileo Galilei
For a long time religion and science were at odds. Sometimes they still are. Some people find the theory of evolution and god’s creating everything to be in conflict. There is the fear that we will uncover some fact that makes God irrelevant. But I think God gave us not only our brains but also our curiosity about the world around us. I don’t think he is concerned about what we will discover.
Amazing God, help us to use our minds and our curiosity to bring about your kingdom on earth. AMEN
Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand. ————–Mark Twain
“Love your neighbor as yourself. Turn the other cheek. Follow me.” These are passages from the Bible that I do understand. There are many more. The trouble is that they call me to be a better person. Who they ask me to be seems impossible. How can I learn to be the Christian you want me to be?
Lord help me! I do understand these words you have given me, but I don’t seem to be able to follow through. Help! AMEN
A faith of convenience is a hollow faith ——Father Mulcahy in MASH
Christianity did not begin as a belief of convenience. In fact, it was very inconvenient as the early Christians were persecuted and killed. Now that it is an “accepted” religion we take it for granted. We can conveniently choose to go to church or not. the number of Christians is declining in our country but increasing in the places that Christians are persecuted. Maybe we are too comfortable.
Patient God, move us out of our comfort zone and help us to not take you for granted. AMEN
“Science is a belief —a belief in only what you can see and touch —I believe in more.” from the TV show Grey’s Anatomy
For quite a while science has been king. People believe in science. It can be proved. Yet, there are things that cannot be proved. Things that we just have to accept or reject. I also choose to believe in more. I believe in love. I believe in miracles. I believe in God.
None of these can be proved but I choose to believe. Do you?
Gracious God, I cannot prove your existence and yet I choose to believe in you. Help us to get up each day and make that choice. AMEN
Prayer is not a pious decoration of life but the breath of human existence. —–Henri Nouwen
Prayer is important. Prayer is not something we do lightly. We need to pray. We need to thank God for everything that he has given us. We need to praise him and tell him so. We should never think of prayer as just an opportunity to ask for things that we want. This is too often what we do. As Nouwen tells us prayer is the breath of life. Remember that.
Amazing God, let our prayers be as incense that rises to you. AMEN
Faith is not the acceptance of centuries-old traditions but an attitude which grows from within. —Henri Nouwen
We need to learn about our traditions. The stories of those who have gone before us and struggled with the same questions are important. But that is not all we need. We have to take the next step and spend time with God to let Him infuse the soul. Time with God is critical to our growth and faith.
Intimate God, you are with us always. Help us to stop and just BE with you. AMEN
Lent is a time to take stock. A time to look inside ourselves. Each of us may find a different way to observe this time. Some will give up something that is meaningful to them such as sweets or something electronic. Others might take something on such as reading a spiritual book, being kinder, visiting someone you have neglected. Whatever you choose doing something makes the time meaningful and helps to make Easter a joyous occasion.
Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair. —–G. K. Chesterton
We are told to love God with out whole heart or whole soul and our whole mind. We are not told to prove that God exists. We are just told to love Him. Can we let go of all our trying to understand all of this and just love?
God of love, help us learn to just love you with all that we are. AMEN
Hear God in Other Voices 