Psalm 50:1-6

Give glory to God always for He created all things. His power is infinite and judgement is unquestionable. The Father wants to be praised by His people in all
that they do and in return we are promised salvation.

Job 30:16-31

 Well isn't this a nice little passage...

I could never relate, I pray, to the life of Job.  His suffering is one of the most confusing stories in the Bible.  God holding him by the neck and throwing him into the mud is not the image of God that ever pops into my head.  But, I know that there are people that think that God is out to get them.  Those that read Job and can see themselves with the world smothering them.  Can the story of Job speak to them?  It sure gives me trouble...

Psalm 6

The times in my life when I have felt despair like this have been few and short-lived. I am lucky and I know it.

But from the few times when I have wept and cried out...I must admit to not feeling the assurance that the psalmist displays at the end of this Psalm. "The Lord has heard my plea for mercy, the Lord accepts my prayer." (v. 9)

My life is easy... and I find myself doubting whether or not God accepts my prayers. I don't doubt God's power. I doubt God's willingness to intervene - I question whether God will act on my behalf in the great vision that I cannot see.

The Bible is full of stories of people who suffer - and play their part in God's great plan...Job, Sarai, Dinah, John the Baptist, Paul, the man born deaf and blind (so that he may be healed by Christ to bring glory)....I feel like such a bit-player in this great drama.

This psalm amazes me. To know God's love so fully and to KNOW that the Lord accepts his prayer. My head questions whether I could ever stand in his shoes - wondering about God's "bigger picture". My heart longs for such assurance.

Readings for the week...

Monday: Psalm 6
Tuesday: 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1
Wednesday: Job 30:16-31
Thursday: Psalm 50:1-6
Friday: 1 Timothy 1:12-20
Saturday: Luke 19:41-44
Sunday: 2 Kings 2-12; Psalm 50:1-6; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9

Psalm 30

God is deserving always of my praise. He has given me life and abundance and saved me
from myself. I am at times at odds with Him because by nature I want my will be done not His. This struggle will follow me all my days but in turning to the Father and letting go life's journey as the Psalm expresses is over filled with joy. I owe
all to a loving God and praise is how I start my day today. Alleluia!!!

Mark 3:7-12

This section ends with Mark's refrain:

But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him. (Mark 3:12 NIV)

 I've heard thoughts on the Messianic Secret before; it was not his time to tell; he was humble and did not want to become a celebrity, etc.  Today, in the context of the passage where Jesus is amongst more people than he could handle, I wondered something else.  Perhaps, while he was on earth, he wanted people to find him on their own.  Obviously, despite the big secret, the word was getting out.  No one was charged with spreading the word, but the word spread.  There is something to be said about organic growth over the top down approach and there is also a lot to be said about seeing the man himself verses hearing it third hand.  "Do not tell them, I would rather them experience me for themselves while there is still time."

Matthew 26:6-13

I LOVE this verse!!! Can't believe I got it in the luck of the draw!

To me, this verse explains where Judas went wrong (highlighted by the fact that the Judas story is next).

Judas was the treasurer of the group. He saw the poor daily and provided for them willingly and generously from the coffers of Christ and his disciples. So when the Jewish leaders offered such a great sum to the treasury - and all he had to do was hand over the same Christ that had healed the sick and raised Lazarus from the dead - seemed like a bit of a no-brainer. I can hear Judas's thoughts: "An all-powerful Messiah won't be stopped by these silly Jewish leaders - he's bested them before - and think of the good we can do for those in need with 30 pieces of silver." Judas's actions make far more sense to me this way - than in a simple betrayal of the man he had willingly served and followed for years.

But today's scriptures are the key. Above ALL, we must serve and adore Christ. Above serving those in need. Above sacrificing for the good of others. When we find it easy to be "busy" serving those who ask for our help...we need to remember that singing Praise and giving thanks to God are more important. They can easily feel like "less" - that we should be DOING - but praising IS doing.

I LOVE these verses!

Readings for the week...

 Monday:  Matthew 26:6-13

Tuesday: Psalm 102:12-28

Wednesday: Mark 3:7-12

Thursday: Psalm 30

Friday: Acts 19:11-20

Saturday: 2 Kings 8:1-6

Sunday: 2 Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 30; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Mark 1:40-45

Luke 2:22-40

The Word made flesh is presented to the Temple to fulfill the laws of Moses. (v)40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. This is the beginning of our Savior's journey, a journey of inclusion for all who seek redemption. Through His saving grace we
all can be counted as God's chosen ones. AMEN!!!

Jeremiah 29:1-14

 Jeremiah 29:11 is a verse often quoted, although I did not know that until today.  In fact there is even a website www.jeremiah2911.com dedicated to it.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'". (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

At Pr. Heidi's ordination, Pr. Niketh preached on the gospel where Jesus commands the evil demon to come out of someone.  The sermon focused on how we should try to imagine what God looks like when God is looking at us.  The demons of this world aren't the ones you see in movies like "Paranormal Activity" or "The Exorcist.".   The demons of this world are the ones that live inside us that tell us that there is no hope.  The ones that tell us that when God looks at us, there is shame and dissatisfaction.  God is not out to rebuke us and throw us outside the city gates.  No.  We are the Holy children of God.  We have, through the power of the resurrection, the ability to give hope and life to those who battle the demons within themselves.  Every Sunday, we hear these words:

"The Lord bless you and keep you--the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace." Numb. 6:24-26.

Go in peace, and serve the lord!

Psalm 35

Ah, a Psalm of militant vengeance...not exactly a natural fit for me, my lifestyle, my reality, or my worldview.

What I do take from today's reading:
1 - in v. 7 the Psalmist talks about God's vengeance on those who dug a pit for him. My thoughts ran immediately to Joseph -whose brothers dug a pit for him. At the end of the story, Joseph treats his brothers with mercy.

2 - v. 10 ends the reading with "You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.”

- in the world of global economics, I fall more often in the category of "strong" and "robber" than I do in the category of "poor" or "needy".

So while God is my protector and solace, I also need to read this psalm as if someone else is crying out and God may be saving someone from me. In many ways, I deserve to be the object of this vengeance.
I can be callous, self-centered, and rude. While I may not intentionally be pursuing others, my single-mindedness, frustration,and fatigue can cause real harm.

Readings for the Week

Monday - Psalm 35:1-10
Tuesday - 1 Corinthians 7:32-40
Wednesday - Jeremiah 29:1-14
Thursday - Luke 2:22-40
Friday - Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
Saturday - Isaiah 46:1-13

Psalm 111

1 Praise the LORD(NIV). Three simple words, yet how often I forget them. My day
begins with reading scripture but so often that short snipet of meditation with
my Father is replaced with the anxieties and expections of the coming day. He has
given us salvation through the blood of His Son. All my worries and fears don't stand
a chance against His saving grace. How awesome that is!

Galatians 1:11-24

I guess it's fitting that last week I blogged on Saul's call and this week I am blogging on his recount of the experience in his letter to the Galatians.  But the whole story of his transformation might be here.  What is odd is that in Acts, Paul arrives in Damascus in only a few days.

"Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. " (Acts 9:18-20 NIV) 

In Galatians, it seems that after his experience:

"..my immediate response was not to consult any human being. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. "(Galatians 1:16, 17 NIV)

 

I have no idea what to really make of this, but as much as I appreciated the three days that Paul had in the Acts version, I think I appreciate more the running away for a few years before coming back to humanity.  Maybe he went to seminary or something.  You would think that someone who was as successful in ministry as Paul would take some time to create a game plan for ministry before just launching into things.  But then again, even if he took 3 years or 3 days, the point is probably moot.  The holy spirit was with him.

"They only heard the report: 'The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.' And they praised God because of me." (Galatians 1:23, 24 NIV)

Psalm 46

Whatever this Psalm may have been in my past...I can no longer read it without singing along.

God is our refuge and strength....Therefore will naw Twe fear.

It is wrapped up in my mind with powerful chords, Reformation Sunday, and all that is Lutheran.

There is an awe of God's power in this Psalm, and in the Lutheran church as I have married into it, that is not part of my own history. In my past, I sang of God's power as the "endless thundering motion" of the sea...but even then it had a "campy" feel to it.

I love the fact that no matter how much we understand new facets of God, and no matter what new insights we "grok" - there is still more to discover.

Readings for the week...

Aside from the Patriots playbook, here are the readings for the week...
Monday: Psalm 46
Tuesday: Genesis 45:25-46-7
Wednesday: Galatians 1:11-24
Thursday: Psalm 111
Friday: Revelation 2:12:17
Saturday: Deuteronomy 13:1-5
Sunday: Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 11; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 1:21-28

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Christ's sacrifice is everything...period. Everything else is secondary. That isn't
to say that all that I hold near and dear isn't important but without His life,death,
and resurrection it is empty. He calls all of us to share in this wonderful gift and
I am grateful to be one among many.

Acts 9:1-22

 Saul's calling is such a great story.  A person who caused the early Christians so much trouble becomes one of the most influential apostle.  What I appreciate in this story is those 3 days where Saul is blinded.  I can only imagine that those days are where the real transformation happened.  Sitting, blind, and holed away In a room after the voice of Jesus has spoken to you, with only your thoughts about where you life has brought you to this point.  Those "murderous thoughts" from verse 1 must have started to feel ridiculous.  Your hope in some stranger coming to restore your sight...

God certainly works in mysterious ways!

Here I am

Send me.

a prayer of assertion, a prayer of fear, a prayer of inadequacy, a prayer of trust, a prayer I don't have the courage to make, a prayer a long to make.

"Every obedience, however small (if any obedience is ever small) quickens our sensitivity to him and our capacity to understand him and so makes more real our sense of his presence."
- from The Captivating Presence by albert Edward Day

Tentative readings

I did not think ahead to grab the readings from the bulletin this week. If someone else has them, feel free to ignore what I post here and go with that.

But...if we've all forgotten, I've grabbed a list of readings from another prayer book I have - meant to be read in preparation for the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany (Meant for this week)

Monday - Isaiah 6:1-8
Tuesday - Luke 5:1-11
Wed - Acts 9:1-22
Thursday - 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Friday - 2 Corinthians 4
Saturday - John 21:15-19

Acts 13:16-25

God's will is always good. The road that led to Jesus coming into this broken world
wasn't straight or clear to those that walked it then or continue on their journey today. All that happens is according to His plan. God's plan and direction for me
has evolved over time. I'm right were I'm suppose to be and all the struggles and triumphs I have faced and will face are all part of His glorious plan!

Psalm 139:1-6,13-18

The verses chosen for the lectionary make this a very comforting psalm. God knows us inside and out; our thoughts before we think them. Those middle verses that are left out is what I sometimes think of when I hear these words.  God, why do you know me so well?  Is there a place I can escape?  Like a teenager, I just want to be left alone sometimes because I can take care of or get into trouble by myself.  But, in the end, knowing I have the support and the all encompassing love of God, frees me to be independent.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

Isaiah 41

I always have a hard time reading from the old testament. The readings are just too abstract for me to base my own reality on. So this is my attempt at making sense of this reading.

The Israelites are told that they only need to trust in their God and all will be taken care of. They are not supposed to be afraid and not supposed to take care of the needy. Trust in God and he will deliver.

Isn't that what we all are supposed to believe? Isn't that why we are Christians?

There are times however when it is not so easy to only trust that God will provide. Times when we want to take over and take are of ourselves.

I find myself struggling now with completing putting all my trust in God. With my oldest daughter in the hospital with blood clots in her lungs I find myself asking why? Why did this happen? Why does she have to go through this? I by no means blame God, I know better than that. But I do wonder why some people have to suffer.

Please keep LeeAnna in your prayers, she is in real need right now of all she can get.

Acts 22:2-16

I've sat with this scripture for about 24 hours waiting to see if something new would come to me....

It hasn't

So all I can say after a sermon about what God is calling us to...and after a lot of prayer over this past weekend about what God is calling us to...and after the actual CALL of a new pastor....is that reading about Paul's call to follow Christ has very little new to say to me today.

I wish that some of the directions in my life had been as clear as Paul explains his call to be. Perhaps they eventually are - when we've ignored the subtle hints, God may start shouting at us. I know that there have been calls in my life that have been darn inconvenient - and sent me in ways I wouldn't have gone on my own. It's hard to ignore the blinding lights and voices.

Readings for the week...and welcome Pastor Heidi!

Today Faith Lutheran called Heidi Lembke Johnston to be our pastor! Welcome to Pastor Heidi and her husband Ben! What an awesome way to bring in the new year.

The readings for this week are:
Monday: Acts 22:2-16
Tuesday: Isaiah 41:14-20
Wednesday: Psalm 139:1-6,13-18
Thursday: Acts 13:16-25
Friday: Psalm 69:1-5,30-36
Saturday: 1 Samuel 2:21-25
Sunday: 1 Samuel 3:1-10; Psalm 139:1-6,13-18; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; John 1:43-51