The Foundation

Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. Psalm 33:22

Jesus says, “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20

REFLECTION:
Our world changes so rapidly now, I think it gives people an emotional version of whiplash.

With a 24-hour news cycle, in which cable news channels have to make every new story sound like it is 'breaking news,' we slip into a sensationalized, hyper-vigilant mode where it truly feels like the world is "going to hell in a handbasket."

However, I just don't believe this is true. We have access to more information now, so we know more than we ever used to about the terrible things that happen in the world. And the terrible things that happen are the only things that are sensational enough to draw big headlines and catch our attention. So, when that's all we hear, we end up feeling like those stories are telling the whole story.

It would be like if you had a child in your life who occasionally would act out and do naughty things. If you ignored that child every time they were playing quietly in their room, but only paid attention to the moments when the child was acting out, you would eventually end up with the assumption that he was just a "bad child." But I've never met a "bad child." I've met children who want attention. I've met children who want love and affirmation. I've met children who don't have the best role models in their life. But I've never met a "bad child."

This is what the information age has done to us. We are so constantly bombarded with information that there is too much to take in, so we wait until something extreme enough to catch our attention happens; and that means we are literally ONLY paying attention to the world when things are terrible.

As a pastor, I can tell you there are a MILLION beautiful moments in every day. There are a million moments where everyday people are doing incredible things for their friends, neighbors, and people they have never met. There are calls, prayers, tears, laughter, meals being brought, hugs, and so much more we never see because it just isn't sensational enough to capture our attention. In fact there is something beautiful about this...those things happen SO MUCH, every day, that they are in a sense "routine." They don't capture our attention because they are there all the time in the background.

God's steadfast love is like that. No matter what changes, there is Love. There is always Love. God is Love. That is like the foundation on which our lives are built. And sure, a board here or a board there may need to be taken down, or parts of the structure may need to be re-built from time to time. But the foundation is solid. It is love. Steadfast love that stands no matter what changes.

May your day be built on that; God's foundation of love for you, and for all people. And may we have the courage to build on that foundation with a million humble acts of love and service to others. Those things won't capture headlines, but they are closer to the "truth" than any headline will ever be.

PRAYER:
God, we are humbled and in awe that you care for us by name. We respond with praise and rejoicing. As we feel this peace, may we also respond with love for ourselves and for each other. Forever in your care, we say Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts

The Story Behind the Story

The word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. Psalm 33:4

Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17

REFLECTION:
This morning, as my daughter was getting ready for school, she had a few extra minutes to snuggle before she headed out for the bus. We sat on the couch together and watched a YouTube video entitled "5 theories about the Harry Potter books that are too good not to be true."

The video explained connections that only make sense once you have read all the books; connections that deepen your understanding of the story, and reveal how elements of the early books actually point to a much richer and more complex story line.

As she hopped on the bus just now, and I looked at the daily texts for today, I was struck by the thought that the life of Jesus challenges us to see the whole arc of God's salvation narrative in a similarly deep way.

On the surface, it seems as though Jesus has a lack of regard for the traditions and laws. In the Gospels, we hear how the Scribes and the Pharisees were frustrated with Jesus, and in many ways frightened by him, because of this surface reading. They were convinced that he was a threat, acting in ways that abolished the law and the prophets.

However, as Jesus challenges them (and us) to recognize, his actions and life are NOT inconsistent with the deeper and more complex story line of God's action in the world. The more detailed laws associated with the original covenant, are, in fact, fulfilled in Christ. We learn that, indeed, "...God IS love" (1 John 4:8), and that "...the one who loves another has fulfilled the law" (Romans 13:8).

Lastly, we learn that the WAY of love is how we are called to walk in the fullness of the law as well;
"Bear one another's burdens, an in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2)

Today, as we walk through whatever the day holds, my prayer is that we be given the vision to see the deeper narrative beneath the surface reading. God is love. Love fulfills the laws. And our call is simple; to help bear one another's burdens.

May we be given the insight, and the courage, and the strength, to live in that deeper story today.

PRAYER:
Unchanging God, thank you for wanting to be in relationship with us. As we see you in history, and in our lives, we gain new insights. May our faith be strengthened as we see clearly your desire to bring us closer to you, and to each other, in love. Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts

We Have Made Mistakes...

In his love and mercy the Lord redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Isaiah 63:9

You were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25

REFLECTION:
For several days, the themes of the daily readings have pointed me toward humility. Today's passages are no different, reminding us that like sheep who get lost 6 inches at a time as they search out new grass, we wander. But we are sought out, carried, and welcomed home.

Today, I am going to let the words of a song I heard yesterday be our devotion. This song is by a group named "The Oh Hellos." The song is simply titled "I Have Made Mistakes."

Here is the YouTube link to listen to the song, and I'll post the lyrics below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czFgKa7YcIQ

As you listen and read along, be comforted by the fact that you are loved and valued beyond every mistake. Indeed, with God nothing is a waste. Period.

LYRICS:
I have made mistakes, I continue to make them
The promises I've made, I continue to break them
And all the doubts I've faced, I continue to face them
But nothing is a waste if you learn from it

And the sun, it does not cause us to grow
It is the rain that will strengthen your soul
And it will make you whole

We have lived in fear, and our fear has betrayed us
But we will overcome the apathy that has made us
Because we are not alone in the dark with our demons
And we have made mistakes
But we've learned from them

And the sun, it does not cause us to grow
It is the rain that will strengthen your soul
And it will make you whole

And oh my heart, how can I face you now?
When we both know how badly I have let you down
And I am afraid of all that I've built
Fading away

The Opposite of What You'd Think

(Image: The Prodigal Son)

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Jesus told the story, “The son said: I will get up and go to my father.” Luke 15:18

REFLECTION:
In just a week, it will be Ash Wednesday; the day those in liturgical traditions mark as the beginning of Lent, the 40 days before Easter. Ash Wednesday is a day of humility, in which we name in a more intentional and detailed way our failures and weaknesses.

At first glance, this may seem like an odd thing for a group of people to do together. Our entire world is built on accentuating your strengths; being better than others. And yet, when we come together in the Christian community, we are healthiest when we are grounded in a realistic awareness of our imperfections.

I say "realistic awareness" to point out that this balance is often hard to achieve. Many times, Christians have erred on the side of condemnation of others. Many people who are not in our churches on Sunday morning have the impression that Christianity is all "fire and brimstone preaching," in which people are convinced how worthless they are. This is a twisted version of Christianity, because it lacks the context of honest, realistic awareness of imperfections. That raw honesty about our own short-comings can, when grounded appropriately, be a foundation for lasting community because it deconstructs the egos we so often use to beat each other up.

The snippet from Psalm 51 above points to an interesting truth. At first glance, you might read just that verse and think it is another version of "being a Christian means being a GOOD person." We are people with CLEAN hearts and RIGHT spirits.

Except, that verse has to be read in context. Psalm 51 is what we will read in a week on Ash Wednesday, and it is often attributed to King David, purportedly written just after his twin sins of adultery and murder. It is David asking God to give him a divine heart transplant, because left to his own devices, he has made a complete mess of things.

This is exactly the opposite of what you would think; but humility is the greatest Christian virtue, and it isn't "achieved" but given through struggle. The second reading above reminds us of one of Jesus' parables that sends the same message; the only thing the Prodigal Son does "right" is decide to return to his Father with his tail tucked between his legs, and even this is born of desperation and hunger. Yet, it is the most faithful thing he does, and the thing the rest of us can seek to imitate.

So, ironically, the most faithful thing we can "DO" in our faith is reach out to God. Sometimes, this is born out of desperation, confusion, or pain. That's OK. If you find yourself reaching for God in any way, your faith is as great as the "holiest" saints...

So my prayer for all of us today is that we reach out...to God through prayer and silence...and to others, trusting that the gifts of God almost always come wrapped in people.

PRAYER:
God, give us the courage to reach out to you...when we feel strong, when we feel weak, and when we don't know the next step. Help us to trust that you will give us a heart that beats for You and Your world. Amen.

Preparing For Guests

Once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish. Isaiah 29:14 (NIV)

The angel spoke of John: He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Luke 1:16–17

REFLECTION:
I remember the flurry of activity in our house before guests would come. It meant cleaning, tidying, taking out the trash, scrubbing the tub, washing the towels. We wanted to be prepared.

One thing is very clear in both the Old and New Testaments; in order to be prepared for God's coming, humility is needed.

In some ways, these are polar opposite reactions. When preparing the house for guests, at least part of the thought is what they might think about us. So, we clean in order that they may be presented with a clean and tidy environment, which reflects positively on us. When preparing for God's presence in my life, the best hospitality is a heart uncluttered by my "accomplishments" or works.

God knows us in our weakest moments. And what's more stunning...God loves us in those moments, too. Like we feel with a child or a best friend, there is literally no amount of putting on appearances that is necessary because of the love we feel even for the real, raw, unfiltered version of that person.

So, today, may God turn our hearts toward Love. May we be filled with a wonder at God's majesty that doesn't require we prove our own wisdom. May we be prepared to receive God's Love wherever it shows up, even if it shows up in our weakest, most "unprepared" moments.

PRAYER:
Almighty God, all power and wonder are yours. Only on our knees, in full humility, are our eyes opened to your ways, and do we gain true wisdom. Our humble, thankful hearts we offer. Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts

Awe-some

Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name. Isaiah 40:26

Paul wrote: In him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible. Colossians 1:16

REFLECTION:
What is that makes you feel a genuine sense of "awe?"
When have you stood before something, and felt the enormity of the world, or God's love, and recognized how small you are in comparison?

For some, it is a beautiful sunset.
For some, it is a stunning natural wonder, like Machu Picchu or the Grand Canyon.
For some, it is being present at the birth of a child.
There's so much more.

As I begin this day, I begin with a sense of awe; at the grandeur of God's creation; at the enormity of God's love; at the breath that fills my lungs.

May God give us all a sense of gratitude today...for the blessings we notice, and those we often take for granted. May we lift up our eyes and see...the sun; the birds enjoying an early spring day; the fog that settles on the beautiful Kettle Moraine ridge; the little feet that patter into our bedrooms to wake us; the presence of a partner; the quiet strength of an animal companion...whatever your blessings are today, may God give you the space and the time for a deep breath to appreciate the wonder of creation.

A day began in this kind of gratitude is a blessed day, indeed.

PRAYER:
God of mystery and beyond our understanding, continue to speak to us. Although we cannot fully know your ways, help us to see your presence and your desires for us. May we live our lives in grateful praise of your great love. Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts

Uncommon Wisdom

 
When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19:9-10

REFLECTION:
The longer I live, and the more I study the Bible, the more I become convinced that the timeless messages there put us in direct conflict with the prevailing "wisdom" of our time.

This is nothing new, of course...the wisdom of the Bible challenges and changes people of every time. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow; and people are people, wherever they go, and whenever they live. We live in this tension just as previous generations have; there's the "common wisdom" that guides human activities, and then there is the divine wisdom that reminds us of what a healthy life looks like.

One piece of "common" wisdom is: get the most out of something that you can. If you are a manager, squeeze every second of productivity out of your workers that you can. If you are worker, squeeze every second of productivity out of your day as you can, to please your boss and move ahead of your colleagues. If you own a company, keep looking for efficiencies and corners to cut in order to squeeze out every penny of profit possible. If you are a farmer, harvest every last item, pick every last grape in order to squeeze out every penny of profit possible. 

Except, this wisdom is not leading us to a healthy life, either individually or collectively. Individually, we even let this way of thinking guide our decisions with our time both inside and outside the workplace. We fill every last moment with volunteering, kids activities, you name it. If we are vacation, many of us schedule every last second of it with sight-seeing. How often have you heard someone say, or said yourself, "I need a vacation from my vacation!"

Read the passage above again. The instruction is clear; don't squeeze every last penny of profit out of your field or vineyard. Leave some for those who are in need who will sneak in in the middle of the night to glean some to survive.

This seems counter-productive, but we have to wrestle with the fact that this is a COMMAND from God. It IS counter-productive. Maybe productivity isn't the highest good.

While this certainly has implications socially, I am choosing to sit with this wisdom as I contemplate my days, and how I spend my time. Is productivity the highest good? Absolutely not. God wants our wholeness. God wants us to be who we have been created to be, as we discussed yesterday in church. If this is true (and it is), I was not created to be a producer and a consumer.

So, who were you created to be? What makes you tick? What do you LOVE doing? That might be the Spirit of God, nudging you to do more of that thing and less of others. Don't glean the entire field or pick every grape! Take time for rest, and for the things that make you who God created you to be.

PRAYER:
God, give us the courage to say "no" to some things in order to say "yes" to who you created us to be. Help us to take time today for rest, for prayer, and for spending time in silence. Help us to hear your voice through all the other noise. Amen. 

Here's Your Sign

Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? Isaiah 40:27

Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. Hebrews 10:35 (NIV)

REFLECTION:
The church I worked at in Columbus, Ohio had the best 'church signs' I have ever seen. (You know the cheesy church marquee signs from countless things on the internet). This church used its marquee to say creative, funny, and intriguing things that made the people driving by think.

One month, their marquee sign said, "God reigns! (All Contrary Evidence Notwithstanding)."

I love it. It is a statement of faith in the face of hardship, war, division, and pain. God still reigns. Period. We know this to be true.

Now, I won't pretend for a second that this feels true to me every moment of my life. Like everyone, I have moments when I doubt; moments when I want to shake my fist at the sky and yell, "if you are real, DO something about this!" I won't pretend that all of you reading this feel rock solid all the time either. We all wonder, in the face of struggle, if God and the love we see on the cross is real.

And yet, it's an interesting thing that we do mentally. We are so used to things going 'well' that we pay more attention to the few things that go poorly, pointing to those as evidence of something larger (the non-existence of God). I am so used to having sufficient housing, enough food, relative good health, and enough money, that when anything goes wrong, I am quick to focus on that. The good things become like the wallpaper; you just don't notice them anymore. But they actually provide the foundation on which my whole life rests.

The beautiful truth is, the blessings of my life are like a solid foundation, provided by God, that even allow me to focus on the things that are not going well. I wouldn't be as worried about the state of the world if I was fighting to find enough food for my family daily. But, since our plates are always full, I have the privilege of focusing on other things.

Today, let's ask for the clarity of vision to SEE and APPRECIATE the things that are going well, rather than giving in to the easy temptation to focus only on the things that are not going well. May we not feel invisible to God, as the first reading above indicates. May we know that we can have sure confidence in God's providing. If we need a "sign" we need look no farther than the empty cross; a symbol of the promise that will never fail us.

And may we say, in the face of all hardship, "God Reigns! (All contrary evidence notwithstanding)."

PRAYER:
Lord, how can we see you in our lives if we rely only on ourselves? Help us to feel your embrace when we feel abandoned and need you the most. Your will be done, Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts

Knowing Time Is Brief...

He knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:14

Jesus says, “Because I live, you also will live.” John 14:19

The days of our life are seventy years, or perhaps eighty, if we are strong; ...they are soon gone, and we fly away. Psalm 90:10

And maybe that candle shines for only the briefest time
In a jack-o-lantern’s heart
Oh, but one goblin’s smile should make it all well worth while
You know you might even see the starlight
And knowing that time is brief, makes it that much more sweet
When you have a jack-o-lantern’s heart
"John's Garden" by Peter Mayer

REFLECTION:
There is ancient, deep wisdom in the Scriptures. Much of it points us toward the twin truths of humility and gratitude; humility about our own abilities, and gratitude for the gifts of Life, Love, Light, and Salvation.

Today's passages are about humility.

God knows how we are made; God remembers we are merely dust, organized and animated for maybe 70 or 80 years before we fly away in the winds of time and change.

I am keenly aware of this truth this week, standing as I am between the funerals of two dear saints at our congregation. Both have rich stories; countless memories and moments, countless times when the fact that they were here blessed and touched those around them. This is a breath-taking gift when you really think about it. Both of these individuals died in their late 80s or early 90s. That means there were something like 90 years of breaths, heartbeats, hugs, tears, laughter, challenge, and love. Sit and think about that for a moment. It's incredible. Now consider how many years you have been here. Consider how difficult it would be for anyone to summarize your life. Like the dear people we remember this week, your life too is a string of moments that have left their ripple effects on the lives around you. You have lived and loved in a way that means the world is different because you are here. This is stunning, and a reminder of how God uses each life to echo divine love into the world.

I included the lyrics from the Peter Mayer song above because I think it voices the beauty I see in the Biblical call to humility. The image is a fun one; of a jack-o-lantern, given a light for a short time, knowing that time will soon pass. But the time is sweet when children in goblin outfits smile and laugh. It's a beautiful thought; rather that sit in the pumpkin patch to rot away, why not take the chance and be lit to see for a few glorious nights?

For some, the thought that we are only here for 70 or 80 years may seem a depressing thought; but for me, it means the time we have here is sweet, and needs to be savored and treasured. If I knew I'd have endless sunrises, I'd have no reason to enjoy them. If I knew I would be with my children forever, I'd have no reason to really drink in the beautiful moments with them. In a strange but deeply true way, the fact that my life is limited makes it beautiful and worthy of my full attention and presence.

Today, may you drink in whatever comes your way. May you treasure the moments you are given with friends or family as precious and important because they won't last forever. May you be lit with the Life of Christ...and LIVE today for the gift it is.

Prayer:
God, light your life in our hearts. Help us be honest, and loving, and real with each other. We thank you for the time we have today; open our eyes to the gift today will be, and make us a gift to each other. Amen.

Footnote:
If you are interested in Peter Mayer's music, please take time to check out www.petermayer.net - the sample you see above is just a small taste of an independent musician whose music has touched my heart and my life in many ways with its depth and beauty. He is one of the only artists I have in my music library of whom I can honestly say; whichever album you buy, you'll love it.

Which Comes First?

Romans 2:1-4 The Righteous Judgment of God

Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. You say, ‘We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.’ Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

REFLECTION:

Some timeless questions:

Which came first? The chicken or the egg?

Which comes first? Repentance or forgiveness?

Said another way:

Does repentance lead to forgiveness? Or is it the other way around?

I know for some, what I say here is going to be a little provocative – that's good. But consider the above verses. They were written to those who thought that the forgiveness offered through Jesus was like a free ticket. They knew they were forgiven, and used their freedom to cast judgments on others for their sins. Paul is reminding them that God's forgiveness, which is freely offered through Christ, is meant to inspire repentance not arrogance.

Here's the pitfall: When you think it is your repentance that causes God's forgiveness, it's an easy road to arrogant judgment of others. But when you recognize that God's forgiveness always comes as undeserved gift, it's a little harder to fancy yourself more deserving than anyone else.

So maybe, just maybe, we've answered one of the timeless questions above. Maybe we are doing it in the wrong order on Sunday morning – maybe God's forgiveness always comes first, and then leads us into a life of humility and repentance.

You'll have to ask someone else about the chicken/egg question…

PRAYER:
Gracious God, help us to avoid casting judgments on others – instead, help us to use our energy in humble self-assessment. Change our hearts, O God… Amen.

Every Molecule

You are the Lord, you alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. Nehemiah 9:6

Paul wrote: From him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever.  Romans 11:36

God is love. 1 John 4:8

REFLECTION:
I had a fascinating conversation yesterday with a man who had a near-death experience years ago.

Before I tell you what he shared with me, though, I want to acknowledge the inherent skepticism many of us have toward stories like this. We live in a time after the scientific revolution, which means we often want tangible proof; we want things to fit neatly into the boxes that make sense to us. And you might not expect a pastor to say this, but I am right there with you. I am a logical, rational thinker. I read science books for fun.

The problem is, the deeper I have dived into both science and faith, the more I have found that cannot be explained. The frontiers of astrophysics and string theory are revealing that the world really doesn't fit in rational boxes. Likewise, my experiences as a pastor have placed me in countless situations where my rational mind can't explain what I have witnessed or experienced. So I listen to stories like this man's with a more open mind now than I used to; because I just know there is a lot I cannot explain.

Back to the man's story.

He explained to me that, after he died, he felt a light and a love permeate him that he cannot explain. The light had no source, he said; it was all around him. He found himself kneeling, unable to look up. "It felt like pure love permeated every part of me," he said. "I felt as though every single molecule was loved intensely...with a love and a peace a million times more than anything I had experienced here." Then, a deep yet peaceful voice informed him it wasn't time for him just yet, and he fell backward back into this existence.

What struck me was his description of feeling loved down to every molecule. Intensely. Peacefully.

Read the scriptures above again. If God started this whole thing; if every single part of us is FROM God, THROUGH God, pointed TO God...if God is indeed love, then this man's story makes sense.

Today, as we celebrate Valentine's Day and the gifts of human love, take time to give thanks for those you love (lover, family member, or friend)...but let's also take a moment to hold the thought that our love for each other is only a faint reflection. Every part of you is loved. Every molecule. Intensely. Peacefully. You. Are. Loved.

PRAYER:
Lord, what a mystery you have created. We praise you for birds that fly and sing, even in the dark of winter. We praise you for flowers that bloom after a long rest. And we praise you for the wonder we feel when in your presence. Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts

Nested Inside

Romans 6:1-11 Dying and Rising with Christ

What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

REFLECTION:

At my grandfather’s house when I was a kid, there was a set of Russian nesting dolls I used to love playing with. You have probably seen these before – not really dolls, but more like egg-shaped figurines, each one smaller than the next. What makes them fun is that they all fit inside each other, so when you put them all together, all you see is the largest one, and all the smaller ones are nested inside. (I think I used to pretend they were eating each other – not really the intent of the toy, but fun nonetheless). I do remember pretending that there was some obstacle they had to get across (a river with alligators in it, or something similarly dangerous) – and so to survive, they would all hop inside the largest one, and he would keep them safe.

In the New Testament, Paul uses a similar image for what happens in Baptism. As the water flows over our heads, we are nested inside Christ…and from that point on, it is he who is righteous for us – it is he who destroys sin for us – it is he who dies for us. We pass safely through every obstacle, including death itself, because we rest safely inside the Promise.

            

So whether it is alligators in a little boy’s imagination, or the very real struggles we face, today I am celebrating that no obstacle, including the ones I myself create, can keep me from living my life to God…

I am also celebrating the life of Don Kletti, whose funeral service was this morning, and the life of Gert Roots, who died unexpectedly on Sunday morning. They rest nested safe in Christ himself, passing through death to life eternal. Thanks be to God for that incredible gift...

PRAYER:

God of the empty cross, help me to see through the challenges and brokenness in my life, so I can see you leading me to a life of thanksgiving and praise. Amen.

The Song of Hope

I will delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in Jerusalem, or the cry of distress. Isaiah 65:19

Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Romans 12:12

REFLECTION:
As I ponder God's gifts in my life, I think hope may be the greatest.

As I ponder how hope works in my life, I think of the famous poem by Emily Dickinson:

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all

When things seem insurmountable, I trust that God is with me and that I am never alone...and hope sings.

When darkness surrounds me, either externally or internally, I trust that Light always cuts through the darkness...and hope sings.

When anxiety or fear threaten, a deep breath reminds me that God no further away from me than my breathing...and hope sings.

Today, whatever you are facing, trust that the Spirit perches in your soul. Trust that the song continues, even without your words. Trust that you will be given the strength to be patient in suffering, to persevere in prayer, and ultimately to rejoice in hope. God delights in you, and the promise is clear; weeping may come with the night, but joy comes in the morning.

PRAYER:
God, quiet our fears and troubles enough for us to hear your Spirit singing its hopeful song in our souls. Re-create our trust in you, O Lord, so we can sing along. Amen.

How Do You Knock?

By awesome deeds you answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation. Psalm 65:5 (NASB)

Jesus said, “Everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:8

REFLECTION:
I knock five times. Everyone has a different number, or a different pattern. But when I come to a door I need to enter, I knock five times in the "shave and a haircut" rhythm. (If you don't know what I am talking about, try tapping out the syllables of "shave and a haircut" and you'll recognize the familiar knocking pattern...)

So that's how I knock on a door. How do you do it?

That's the question that stuck in my mind as I read this morning's passages. Jesus promises that if we knock, the door will be opened. But how do we knock? How do we reach out to God?

For some of us, "knocking" means praying...in our own way. Some of us utter a few words outloud, some of us "think" our prayers while driving to work. Some of us get on our knees by the side of the bed. Some of us bow our heads. Some of us look to the sky. But prayer can be one form of seeking God...one form of "knocking."

There are many other ways to reach out to God. Taking time on a Sunday morning to worship is a form of reaching out. Asking a close friend for advice and trusting that God has placed that person in your life for a reason is another form of reaching out.

But here's the point...NOT reaching out somehow would be like standing at a door you need to enter and never knocking...

So I don't know what you, dear reader, need today...do you need strength? Be bold enough to ask for it. Do you need to forgive someone? Pray that God gives you the power to do that when your power fades. Do you need to be able to trust God again? Make time for attending a Sunday service and intentionally place yourself in a room of other people who are, against all odds, choosing to trust in the source of Love that binds us all together.

But whatever you do...knock somehow today. Reach out somehow...in prayer, in worship, in a moment of silence you've been needing, in a call to a friend. Just knock. The promise is, whatever your pattern of knocking, the door will be opened.

PRAYER:
God give us the courage and the strength to reach out to you. Help us to trust that no matter how we reach out, we will find you reaching in to us. Thank you for the blessed assurance of your love. Amen.

Refining

But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; Malachi 3:2

Paul wrote: You wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:7–8

REFLECTION:
The word "purgatory" is nowhere in the Bible. Purgatory is a concept developed in the Roman Catholic tradition, that speaks of a place in which all of our impurities are purged from us before we are pure enough to enter heaven.

While the Bible doesn't speak of a place we go after death but before heaven called "purgatory," it does speak about what it looks like when impurities are burned away.

The prophet Malachi explains that this process is like when one uses fire to refine precious metals. The metals survive the fire, but the impurities don't. The end result is a more pure precious metal.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul speaks of the same thing without the language of a fire. The promise that God will strengthen us in order that we may be "blameless," however, reminds me that often it is painful.

I don't know about those of you reading, but this description feels accurate when I think about my daily life. It is painful when character defects are revealed in interactions with others. It is painful to acknowledge my brokenness. It is painful to humbly ask God to heal those wounds; to remove those defects of character.

It is painful...but ultimately freeing. The closer I am drawn to God in worship, Scripture, and prayer...the more I see revealed the ways I am not yet what God created me to be. The fire of God's love burns from the empty cross and is like a refiner's fire...purging impurities in order to let Christ's love shine through unimpeded.

Of course, this will never be complete until the day I stand before Christ on the banks of the river in heaven; but for now, I will pray for strength for the fire...and trust that whatever is revealed as pure comes as a gift from the one who created me.

May you have strength for the fire today; and the assurance that you are never alone.

PRAYER:
Loving God, with out-stretched arms you call us to you. We come to you imperfect, but knowing that your grace is life giving will make us whole. Healed, we say Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts

Shifting Shadows

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 (NIV)

REFLECTION:
A lot is changing these days. A shift of power in the government. Shifts in healthcare. Shifts in various public debates. And that's just what we read in the news.

Much in changing in our lives as well. Unexpected diagnoses, kids moving away, kids moving home, kids growing up, parents aging, health changing. Every day brings a million changes and challenges, and through it all, we try to find the strength and the coping skills to stay balanced and grounded.

As I read the passage above, it begins my day on the solid foundation that will never change. God's gifts to me, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, remain...and the passage clearly reminds us...these do not change like the shifting shadows.

The image is a beautiful one, recalling the relationship of the Sun that burns in our sky to the shadows that change throughout the day. One thing we can guarantee today; the sun will shine, even if hidden behind clouds temporarily.

Can we approach today with the same quiet confidence about God? God's love and light will shine on you today. It always does. Yes, the shadows shift and change. But the sun always shines. The Son always shines. May we bask in that light today.

PRAYER:
Creator God, you formed us, but did not abandon us. You offer daily presence in our lives, so that each day we may be created anew. In thanksgiving, Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts

Gratitude (and a warm winter hat)

When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 8:12,14

Paul wrote: What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift? 1 Corinthians 4:7

REFLECTION:
One of my favorite Christmas presents a couple of months ago was an Arizona Cardinals winter hat. It was a gift from Jessica's cousin, and it is the official NFL winter hat that all the players wear on the sidelines. It is fleece-lined and sturdily constructed...it is by far the warmest winter hat I own.

The other day, I walked into a restaurant, and the host looked at the hat with a little bit of awe and said, "is that one of those official NFL hats? I heard they were really great!"

Now, I could have just enjoyed that admiration, pretending as though it was something I bought for myself with my own hard-earned income. Instead, I said, "yes, it was a gift...and I love it!"

Now, this seems like a ridiculous example...who struts their stuff over a winter hat they are proud of? But the difference between claiming responsibility and acknowledging a gift is the point of today's readings...and I think it is a trap we fall into all too easily as modern capitalist consumers.

Am I able to look at everything in my life as a gift, acknowledging the wisdom of the 1 Corinthians passage above? What DO I have that I didn't receive? All of it is gift. Sure, I work to earn money to pay for the house we live in, but even the skills and health that allow me to work are a gift I did not create.

Today, may we each pause and ask for the gift of gratitude. May we humbly acknowledge that our entire life is gift...for what do we have that we did not receive?

Here's a challenge; take 30 seconds out of your day...and try to list everything for which you are grateful. No doubt, you'll find as I always do that 30 seconds is nowhere near long enough to list everything you have received. May we all be overwhelmed by gratitude today; it is a beautiful way to walk through any day.

PRAYER:
Gracious God, you fill us with your love. What more could we ask? For all that you have provided in our lives, we give thanks. In humility, Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts

God Is Near

I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Psalm 34:2 (NIV)

Paul wrote: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:4–5

REFLECTION:
These two passages stir in me a peace and a joy that is difficult to put into words...

The Psalm reminds us that when we feel afflicted, we can still rejoice because God is near.
The Philippians reading reminds us that gratitude, joy, and gentleness are hallmarks of a mature faith that rests secure in the knowledge that God is near.

So today, that's the simple message: God is near to you. God is near to me.

This gives us the courage to be joyful, even in the face of difficulty.
This gives us the grounding to be grateful, even when counting our curses seems more obvious.
This gives us the strength to be gentle, even when our world seems to say true might is found in power.

So...let joy flow. Let gratitude fill your heart. Let gentleness be your way of dealing with others.
God is near.

PRAYER:
God, thank you for caring for each of us by name. May we respond by sharing your love quietly but firmly with those we meet each day. In gratitude, we say, Amen.

The Only Qualification Needed

Waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. Isaiah 35:6

Let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. Revelation 22:17

REFLECTION:
I still remember the stress of figuring out "prerequisites" in college. Those are the classes that would be needed before you could take another class. So, for example, a prerequisite for Spanish 102 was Spanish 101. Some of them were straightforward like that, but others were more complicated, which made the process of signing up for classes and creating a schedule more complicated as well.

We have made Christianity more complicated, too. While few of us would actually say it out loud, most of us seem to operate with the basic assumption that you have to do SOMETHING to be worthy of God's love and grace. You have to go to church; you have to pray often; you have to be really sorry before you can be forgiven; whatever it is in our minds, we seem to think that we have to fit a certain picture of what a "good person" is.

I hear this when I ask kids what being a Christian means - they say, "being a good person."
I hear this in final moments, when people pray with me because they are nearing the end and are afraid they have not been a good enough person. No matter how much preachers like me try to deconstruct this, it seems ingrained in us...there must be SOME prerequisite we have to check off before being worthy of love, forgiveness, mercy, and grace.

And I'm here to say...there is. There is one prerequisite. There is one qualification. There is one requirement we have to satisfy before being washed in grace.

We have to be dry.

Yep, you heard it. That's it. In order to have streams break forth in our hearts, we have to resemble a desert.

It might sound like a strange way to say it, but it is actually good news, because we have this requirement checked off already, whether we know it or not.

Any time we try to exist on our resources alone, we are fooling ourselves.
The streams of our strength dry up when the demand is too high.
And it should be no surprise...this is how streams work in nature as well; they can't last forever unless they are being fed from somewhere else.

So, pause and re-read the two simple passages again.
Consider this thought; the areas of your life that feel strong and centered...those are the places the river is running high...and praise God that he keeps bringing the rain to fill them.
On the other hand, the places where you feel dried up and lost...the places where you know your strength alone won't cut it...take heart, because the streams are coming...and you've already checked off the only requirement...because you know you need to be watered.

Today, hear the simple word of promise...
The only qualification for streams of mercy breaking forth...is being dry.
The only qualification for taking a drink from the water of life...is being thirsty.

Let everyone who is thirsty...come.
Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
Theses are some of the final words of the Bible...may they be the first words of our day today.

PRAYER:
God, you offer living waters to all who thirst. As you bring the desert to life, so you bring us to true life, and we blossom and grow in ways unexpected. May we reflect your love and glory, Amen.

I See You

I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have taken heed of my adversities. Psalm 31:7

REFLECTION:

As we all know, there is a difference between "hearing" and "listening."

If I "hear" you, it means the sound waves from your voice have traveled into my ear.

If I am "listening" to you, however, it means I have quieted my own response and applied my energy to appreciating, understanding, and valuing your perspective.

Likewise, there is a difference between seeing someone (with our eyes) and really SEEING someone; understanding and valuing them.

In the passage above, I take comfort in the idea that it is the second kind of SEEING that God does.
God doesn't just acknowledge my struggles; God SEES them, ENTERS them with me, and RESCUES me so that nothing but His Love for me will have the final say.

This is the point of Psalm 31. If you have the time, read the full text of Psalm 31 here.
As you will notice, Psalm 31 is one of several Jesus quote on the cross. "Into your hands, I commend my spirit," are his exact words, taken directly from this Psalm. It strikes me that these words would be a good morning prayer for each of us, as well.

It also strikes me that, as people who are truly SEEN by God; people who are acknowledged and valued, it is incumbent upon us to employ our strength to SEEING our neighbors as well.

This seems to be increasingly important, as the tone of our public debate has often made whole groups into caricatures. As people who are truly SEEN by God, can we SEE each other as neighbors, not political affiliations? Can we SEE our friends as valuable enough to try to hear the genuine concerns behind their political affiliations, especially if they are different form our own?

As people who are truly SEEN by God, can we SEE the plight of refugees without speaking of them as though they are all a threat to our security? Can we find a path forward that allows entrance to those fleeing for their lives, but also follows common-sense measures toward vetting, in order to avoid (as much as possible) allowing entrance to terrorists? I hope we find this path forward together.

My big question is this: can we allow our faith to inform our approach to political matters, rather than allowing our political affiliations to inform our approach to faith? Which has greater staying power? Which is based on divine principles and which is based on our sinful human tendency to clump with "our people?" In short, which has stood the test of time and is more reliable? Our identity as Christians or our identity as political tribes?

Today, I pray we rest in the idea that we are truly SEEN by God. I also pray this gives us the courage and the vision to truly SEE our neighbors...to understand and value them, even if we disagree with them.

PRAYER:
God, we thank you for the ways you truly see our struggles and hear our cries. When it comes to seeing and hearing each other, though, we are blinded and deafened by the political tribalism we have created on both sides of "the aisle" we have also invented. Humble us all, to see each other, to see those in need, and to see the ways you call us to be part of your healing work in the world. Amen.

NOTE ABOUT THE PICTURE:
The image included with this devotion is the "God's Eye Nebula," a natural phenomena captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. I include it here for a subtle reminder of how large the universe is, and how expansive God is...and how small our political bickering is in comparison.