Tuesday, November 10, 2009

November 10th - Reflection

Video
http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=d9dfb0e0d612bcdbfbe6

Readings
Ezekiel 21:1-22:31
Ezekiel 21:26 - thus says the Lord GOD: Remove the turban, take off the crown; things shall not remain as they are. Exalt that which is low, abase that which is high.
Hebrews 10:1-17
Hebrews 10:10 - And it is by God's' will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Psalm 108:1-13
Psalm 108:13a - With God we shall do valiantly...
Proverbs 27:12

Reflection
We certainly have a message to proclaim. We have action to take. What a privilege those actions are. Washed by our baptismal waters, we are anxious to go out day after day to act out the love that God has shown to us. We go out, on fire to tell others, the love He has shown to us. We go out, in response to the love and the forgiveness and the salvation that God freely gave to us, to exalt the low and speak to the high and mighty. We go out sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. We go out and shall do valiantly. Yes, we have a message to shout to all the world. Yes!

Prayer
Lord, I give You thanks for all You have done. I give You thanks for Your love. ---Amen

Monday, November 09, 2009

November 7th-9th Reflection

Video
http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=4619a89ac8eebf331d7e&mui=6974c0a9b90143e37db255f6dee6ff9d



Readings
Ezekiel 16:42-20:49
Ezekiel 18:30b-31 - Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!
Hebrews 8:1-9:28
Hebrews 9:26b - But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Psalms 106:13-107:43
Psalm 107:31 - Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.
Proverbs 27:7-11

Reflection
That trust in Christ. That trust that only God can give to you in faith. We can worry and fret and try to work all things out on our own, but we will fail at this. It's not about how good we are or about how we can take care of ourselves. When we try to do it all on our own, we will come up short. At some point in the endeavor to solve all of our problems we will realize that we need help. And then the breakdown occurs. So we turn and reach out. We reach out in need to someone. And when we reach out and that someone embodies a little Christ to us, we are given the strength to carry on.

Turn and repent and give up that sin. Turn and give up that worry. Turn and give up that selfishness. Turn and give up the need to do it all on our own. Turn and receive a new heart and a new spirit. Turn and see Christ who appeared once for all to remove sin through His sacrifice. Turn and give life to receive a new heart and spirit. Turn to Christ and you will find yourself reaching out to that one who is lost. Turn and Christ will work in and through you. Turn and you will see Christ face to face in the stranger, in the soldier, in the person right next to you. Turn and Christ will be with you and in you day after day. Turn from sin and repent, for the Lord shows a wonderful work in His steadfast love. Turn and show that same love to the ones God gives to you this day.

Prayer
Lord, I turn to you. I give my life, my worry and my sin right to you, for your steadfast love is wonderful. ---Amen

Friday, November 06, 2009

November 6th - Reflection

Video
http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=f0d1a31ab1a0e3097353

Readings
Ezekiel 14:13-16:41
Ezekiel 16:6b-7a - I said to you, "Live! and grow up like a plant of the field."
Hebrews 7:18-28
Hebrews 7:25 - Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Psalm 106:1-12
Psalm 106:1 - Praise the LORD! O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.
Proverbs 27:4-6

Reflection
Something scares us and we run for protection. We run towards what we know will keep us safe. We run to what has kept us safe in the past. It may be instinct or it has become instinct. We get a little curious sometimes and then, Boo! --- something scares us back to our source of protection. We run back to our source of life.

Is your source of life rooted and grounded by the Truth? Is your source of life based upon the Word? Is your source of life proven through a sacrificial Love? Is your source of life willing to protect and save you at all costs? Is your source of life that which gives you growth and life? Are you able to approach your source of life? Does your source of life love you so much that it would run to you when you are in danger?

Praise the Lord! Give thanks to Jesus, the source of life, for His steadfast love endures forever.

Prayer
Lord, You are my source of life. I give thanks for Your welcome and open arms when I'm afraid and run to You. I give thanks that You ran to me when I was in trouble and too stupid to realize it and You ran to me. I give thanks, that You alone are my source of life. ---Amen

Thursday, November 05, 2009

November 5th - Reflection

Video
http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=1d0fc8ce5bcd3059fc40

Readings
Ezekiel 12:1-14:11
Ezekiel 13:1 - The word of the LORD came to me...
Hebrews 7:1-17
Hebrews 7:17 - For it is attested of him, "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."
Psalm 105:37-45
Psalm 105:43 - So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing.
Proverbs 27:3

Reflection
The Word of God comes to us and invades our very being. We get absorbed into the mystery of the Word and the Word gets absorbed into us. Then the Word springs into action. Not out of our own glorification for doing "right." The Word springs into action in and through our lives because of the exceeding and passionate joy we are freely given. We realize how God is with us in this Word made flesh. We realize how this Word has redeemed us from our sinful self and the devil and death. Out of extreme joy we react and gladly go out to our neighbors, to behave likewise to what we were taught by the Word. And in this way the Spirit moves. The Spirit of God moves throughout all creation healing one another through each other in a movement and a reaction of joy to what God has already done for us.

It's a wonderful and truly amazing way that God's Spirit moves through broken people to permit us to become whole through Him and the Word made flesh. Why did Ezekiel have such a passion to act out the Word? Why did Ezekiel's love run so deep that he would do some of the things that he did? It was without a doubt the Word active in and through Ezekiel that permitted him to show love to the people of his day.

Likewise, we have been show a love through Jesus. We can look at this same Word in Scripture and receive the joy of grace and react to it just as others have acted for years. In joy for what God has done and revealed to us, we go out. We go out and live this same joy and passion that is implanted into our being through the Spirit and touch those in need. Forgive and seek forgiveness and heal and mend where needed. All in this broken world that sees a vision of hope in the Word made flesh, every day.

Prayer
Lord, You reveal Yourself to me each day. In joy, I ask that You be revealed through my actions this day that all may point to You and You alone. ---Amen

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

November 4th - Reflection

Video
http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=6f7388141e5637b807d4

Readings
Ezekiel 10:1-11:25
Ezekiel 10:9-11 - I looked, and there were four wheels beside the cherubim, one beside each cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like gleaming beryl. And as for their appearance, the four looked alike, something like a wheel within a wheel. When they moved, they moved in any of the four directions without veering as they moved; but in whatever direction the front wheel faced, the others followed without veering as they moved.
Hebrews 6:1-20
Hebrews 6:19-20 - We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Psalm 105:16-36
Psalm 105:17 - ...he has sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
Proverbs 27:1-2

Reflection
The Word of God comes alive. Each and every moment of the day the Word of God is living. The Word is born within the old and within the infant, within the feeble and within the fetus, within the mother and within the father; the Word is born. Let that Word grow and live and move within you each and every day. Let the wheels turn and churn and lead you in the way that the Word will take you.

You see, a Man has been sent ahead of us to lead us in all circumstances. The Word of God is alive! The Word became flesh and dwelt with you and with me. The Word comes alive and is born in your soul. Feel the burning of the Spirit deep within and follow. The Word is your forerunner, the Word is your high priest. The Word of God comes alive. The Word is born into an infant this day. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, let Your Word be born within us this day, infant, child, adult or elderly; let Your Word live, today, tomorrow and forever. ---Amen

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

October 31st - November 3rd Reflection

Video
http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=68a4c2bc6bc5ba337b4e

Readings
Lamentations 4:1-5:22
Lamentations 5:21a - Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored...
Ezekiel 1:1-9:11
Ezekiel 3:2 - So I opened my mouth and he gave me the scroll to eat.
Hebrews 2:1-5:14
Hebrews 4:12a - Indeed, the word of God is living and active...
Psalms 103:1-105:15
Psalm 103:11-12 - For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.
Proverbs 26:23-28

Reflection
As far as the east is from the west. Lord, how far? You remove my sins how far? Each morning I come before you renewed yet humble. Each evening I recall my sins of the day and hear Your voice telling me that You have removed those sins...how far? Each morning I arise a new man. I break forth from under those baptismal waters of the evening before, when You chose to drown my sin of yesterday and cast those sins...how far? As far as the east is from the west!

Each morning once again I taste the sweetness of that scroll you give me to eat. I taste the Word made flesh. I taste you and look to scripture and see You in every story and in every circumstance of the word. My eyes open to the scriptures, looking through Your eyes, and You are revealed. Each morning, I take you into my mind and body. A communion of bread in the Word, and wine in the blood that I see through Your eyes in the scriptures. Each morning I hear Your voice speaking to me this day and leaving me with a message to remember and live for that day.

Each morning, indeed the Word of God is living and active, and restoration takes place. Each morning, as far as the east is from the west, You move and hold Your people in Your hands! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, I give You thanks that this morning once again You have held me, lead me, taught me and fed me. Send me out filled with Your love and compassion that I may do likewise to those You give to me this day. And as others in this world go to sleep or arise cast their transgressions as far as the east is from the west and fill their lives with the restoration only You can give. ---Amen