May 26th People Reflection

Friday 5/26/2006

Romans 1.16-32-They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life.

1 Samuel 9.1-10.16-I have a word of God to give you…the Spirit of GOD will cone on you and you’ll be prophesying…and you’ll be transformed. You’ll be a new person!

Psalm 55-Those long hours of leisure as we walked arm in arm, God a third party to our conversation.

Acts 1.15-17, 21-26-Then they all prayed, "Lord, you know what everyone is like! Show us the one you have chosen to be an apostle and to serve in place of Judas…"

John 5.31-47-The Scriptures tell about me…

Psalm 119.169-176-I am your servant, but I have wandered away like a lost sheep. Please come after me, because I have not forgotten your teachings.

"She doesn’t understand what’s happening."- Phoebe our chocolate lab and a thunderstorm. The dog was afraid yet at the same time curious. Sometimes in my life with God, I stray. Pretend to know it all but I’m actually illiterate regarding life. I don’t understand the thunderstorm really. But I think I do. And eventually I come to realize I need God in the midst of the storm. I can’t make it on my own. I’m not all I thought I was and I must have God in my life. He must be my center and I must center in him. In Jesus. And when it comes to this finally I hear the Word of God given to me all along. I feel the Spirit come to me and transform me into a new person. Called and given attention by God to be his servant with him centered in my life. It’s never about me but about God. Yea, God in that leisure walk arm in arm as a third party to our conversation. When I forget that God is present – I fall—but with God present in that walk the Spirit overtakes both of us in the walk and we serve God in joy and happiness. That heart beating between two clasped hands must be the heart of God. Without that heart of God we have nothing but our sinful selves. God knows how everyone is- especially myself and he knows how he will use me. When I stray and turn from God he gathers me in like a lost sheep and guides me back to him. "She doesn’t understand what’s happening." – And neither do I – but I do believe as Luther states—"I believe that I cannot by my own understanding or effort believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to him. BUT the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and keeps me in true faith…This is most certainly true.

Lord, I believe through your Spirit- keep in this day and use me. -- Amen