Daily Meditations
Jesus tells us stories so our lives will be transformed. —————-Michael Williams
Jesus told parables. We call them parables but they are stories. The stories that he told made sense to his audience. Stories help us to see things differently. They don’t have easy answers. They make us thinks. It is also easy for us to put ourselves in the story. Read the parables!
Lord Jesus, you told stories to help us understand. Help us to see the meaning. AMEN
The truth is a person not a set of rules.————–unknown
The truth is a person and that person is Jesus. Jesus is not a set of rules. We humans have tried to turn our faith, our belief, our Christianity into a set of rules. A set of do’s and don’ts. Jesus said love one another. Love God and your neighbor. That’s all it takes. If we could just do those things life would be amazing.
Extraordinary God, help us to see the truth and follow it. AMEN
There is no way to peace. Peace is the way. ———-A.J. Muste
The people who have taught us the truth of this statement come to mind quite easily. Jesus, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. It is obvious that they understood this. All of them changed the world in amazing ways by following the path of peace. It should be obvious to us that walking the path of peace changes things for the better. We should do the same.
Loving God, your son showed us the path of peace. Others followed his example. Help us to do so too. AMEN
Kindness has converted more people than zeal,science, or eloquence. ———Mother Teresa
In church we often hear the word evangelism. There are those who call it the E word and run whenever someone whats them to go out and do it. We are thinking of this word in the wrong way. To go out and tell people about our faith is fine but to live out that faith speaks volumes. We need to live so that people ask “why are they so kind and loving?” This is what will draw people to Christ.
Lord Jesus, you showed us how to live. You drew people by your works. Help us to do the same. AMEN
No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. ——————-Holy Bible 1 Timothy 5:23
See! The Bible tells us that it is ok to drink wine. I’m sure that Timothy means for us to do this in moderation. There are many things in the Bible that we can read as rules. Some think that drinking alcohol is wrong. If it is for them then they should abstain. The important thing to remember is that we can never be good enough to follow God on our own. Following rules will not work. It is not a bad thing to do but it will not save us. We are called to follow the path of Jesus the very best we can. We need to continue to try…always.
Loving God, we can’t reach you by following rules. Help us to follow Jesus instead. AMEN
God does not expect us to change all at once. It is not possible. But each day we have the chance to change something. Each day is a new opportunity to live more like Christ. The choice is up to us.
God our creator, thank you for making us in your image. Let us choose to be more like you every day. AMEN
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
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
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7
We can’t ever stop learning. God gave us our brains for a reason. By learning we grow. Don’t be afraid to study and learn new ideas and new thoughts. There is so much that we can learn and never grow close to knowing all about God. His wisdom is so far above ours.
Jesus, we learn so much from your teaching. Help us to continue to seek knowledge and growth that we may draw closer to you. AMEN
Hear God in Other Voices 