August 22nd - Reflection

1 Samuel 7:3-13 (NRSV)

Samuel raises the Ebenezer stone
Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, "If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Astartes from among you. Direct your heart to the Lord, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." So Israel put away the Baals and the Astartes, and they served the Lord only.

Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you." So they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the Lord. They fasted that day, and said, "We have sinned against the Lord." And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.


When the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it they were afraid of the Philistines. The people of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, and pray that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines." So Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord; Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel; but the Lord thundered with a mighty voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion; and they were routed before Israel. And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as beyond Beth-car.

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, and named it Ebenezer; for he said, "Thus far the Lord has helped us." So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel; the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

Reflection

At some point you have to do it. You must set up that stone marker that declares that you know God has helped you. I've been stuck in so many situations where I don't know where to turn. I have tried to use all of the resources I had at hand and the solution was not present. And I muddled and muddled and just couldn't dig my way out of that hole.

How selfish could I have been. It's easy to be vague about this. Early in life and a few times since then it's easy to recreate a specific scene when I have tried to go it alone. Tried to carry the burden all on my own. Tried to be the Savior of my family, my life, my job... and then one day you realize.

It seems the Holy Spirit guides you back to catechism teachings, or in my case Pastor Klafter flat out told me to get my act together. And then the period of digging and study and going back to the Bible begins. The search to learn is on. The Spirit moves you to begin again and you do this time. You begin and grow in faith and start to learn that God was on your side that entire time. Waiting for you to return to the Father. Wanting so badly to step in but he had to wait for his son to learn.

I realized my selfish sin and confessed. Still confess every day. It's not about me anymore, it's about God and pleasing God and doing God's will in my life. Each day is a new day. Each day I arise from my sin to begin life anew. Anew as Pastor Sara mentioned Sunday as a living sacrifice. I give my life to God and get to live it. How great is that!

At some point you have to do it. Raise that stone of Ebenezer and declare your faith and hope and trust in God. One thing that old hymn would do for me was make me revisit this passage to see what the heck this whole "raise my Ebenezer" was about. Well it's time. God will take you through the battle! Raise that stone and declare a song of praise to God! "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, forgive my selfish pride as I humbly turn to you. Only you can save. In you I place all my hope, faith and trust, for you are God. I praise you and loudly, boldly, clearly sing your praise... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

August 21st - Reflection

10th Sunday After Pentecost
Matthew 16:13-20 (NRSV)

The profession of Peter's faith Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Reflection

Who is Jesus? Who do you think he is? I'm sure the disciples had this conversation before Jesus asked the question. I can just see them sitting together and discussing who is this guy? Are we sure of what we are doing following him? Then the conversation would begin and this and that would be discussed with all sorts of points of view offered.

Now the question is directly from Jesus. Peter answers, "You are the Messiah..." This confession from Peter didn't occur with little thought. Peter had thought about this. And this confession was a turning point in Jesus ministry, because from this point on we head towards the cross.

Contrast Peter's brilliant confession with some of the other things he has said and done. The Peter declared to be the rock is the Peter that is the faithful, confessing and obedient Peter, not the bumbling, stumbling Peter.

And here is our role as well. In faithfulness, we come to God and confess Jesus as the Messiah, the Savior. Once we begin this walk our trust and faith build and grow and we are called to be obedient to God and his call and way in our lives.

It sounds all a little fuzzy to me. But when you look around at your life and in your life, you begin to see how God has been active. God gives all of us the here and now. We meet people, we go through situations, we live life. God has given to us the Bible, God's Word, it's there everywhere. Pick it up and begin to read it. Reflect on those words and see how they apply to your life. God gives you people and your place in life. Apply the lessons from his Word in the Bible to your life. Live your life in obedience to God through Word and Sacrament. You are to act in kindness to the poor and love one another. You don't have to be a Bible scholar to begin. Just begin and trust God to guide you through the Holy Spirit.

And so your confession grows and deepens and your actions begin to become responses. You spend time with God thinking throughout the day in all situations of what you may recall from the Bible, sermons, the Sacraments or conversations with other Christians. And you live your life on the rock of Peter, that first confession that Jesus is the Messiah. You live your life on the trust and hope that even when you stumble and sin, Jesus will pick you up, dust you off, maybe give you a kick in the pants, and start walking with you once again, teaching you from and about your mistakes.

The confession...the faithfulness... the obedience... the rock. Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, I'm a pretty big stumbling, bumbling fool at times. You are the Messiah. I need you. I need your teaching. I need your Word. I need the pages of the Bible, that wonderful gift you have given. I need the Sacraments that teach me heavenly ways through earthly elements. I need the Holy Spirit to guide me. I need you! Pick me up, dust me off, kick me in the pants, and teach me some more, today... tomorrow... and until I'm what you want me to be. --- Amen

August 20th - Reflection

Psalm 138 (NRSV)

Your love endures forever

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness;
for you have exalted your name and your word
above everything.
On the day I called, you answered me,
you increased my strength of soul.

All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord,
for they have heard the words of your mouth.

They shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
for great is the glory of the Lord.
For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly;
but the haughty he perceives from far away.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies;
you stretch out your hand,
and your right hand delivers me.
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Reflection

God hears us when we cry out. God hears our songs of praise. God hears our words of thanksgiving. It's not just a cry out into the wind. When we pray, God hears. Prayer is so much more than thoughts. God hears. Prayer is our time to listen.

God speaks to kings and God speaks and more so regards the lowly. God not only hears, but God acts. When God's word is heard the force is so great that people act. People act and love and reach out in God's love to those in need. God hears and God acts.

God has a purpose for each one of us. As we walk through life, God has chosen to deliver us through Jesus. We will experience all the feelings and emotions of life, but that's not all there is. God has a purpose that he works in and through each one of us as God acts out Jesus' love in our lives.

God is with us here and now, in our prayers, in our joy and through the pain and God reaches out through us in lovely acts towards those God gives to us each day. Thanks be to God!

Prayer

A Psalm that seems to be for kings to hear your word, reaches out and touches the lives of all. For your faithful love, lifts all your people up. Act through me this day that your love may shine through, showing your lovely act of deliverance always. --- Amen

August 19th - Reflection

2 Corinthians 10:12-18 (NRSV)

Let those who boast, boast in the Lord
We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they do not show good sense. We, however, will not boast beyond limits, but will keep within the field that God has assigned to us, to reach out even as far as you. For we were not overstepping our limits when we reached you; we were the first to come all the way to you with the good news of Christ. We do not boast beyond limits, that is, in the labors of others; but our hope is that, as your faith increases, our sphere of action among you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may proclaim the good news in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in someone else's sphere of action. "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends.

Reflection

When we live the life and follow the teaching and continue to learn the ways of Jesus, we will begin to grow in faith as we believe that Jesus is our Savior and the Savior of the world. We become convinced through faith and trust builds and we place all of our hope in Jesus. We study the Word and listen to preaching and search for the voice of God all over the place. We see and hear the Word spoken, lived, in the Sacraments and the Spirit moves us with gifts that draw us out of ourselves and into this world to proclaim the glorious grace of God through Christ Jesus.

All of this is nothing for us to boast about, unless we boast about what Jesus has done in our lives. We stop and reflect the path we have been taken and begin to realize that the Spirit is moving in and through us with a purpose and a call. Suddenly we see that our lives have been used by the Spirit in places we could never expect.

Through our growth in faith and belief and trust in God, God's sphere of love has grown in this world beyond the limits we thought we had imposed. All of this happens not to our credit but to the credit of God. We have been so occupied learning, growing in faith, acting in love, that we didn't even see God's sphere of love expand into the world through us. And that's a wonderful thing! Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, as I continue in faithful call to learn, listen, and act out on your love, expand that love through me into all those I meet and beyond to your glory... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

August 18th - Reflection

1 Corinthians 6:1-11 (NRSV)

When believers disagree
When any of you has a grievance against another, do you dare to take it to court before the unrighteous, instead of taking it before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels -- to say nothing of ordinary matters? If you have ordinary cases, then, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to decide between one believer and another, but a believer goes to court against a believer -- and before unbelievers at that?

In fact, to have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud and believers at that.

Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers -- none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. And this is what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Reflection

This passage always seems a little harsh to me. But I come from a society based around judicial systems making those decisions involving disputes between all sorts of people. Disputes handled in court seem to be the norm. But what if the dispute is between brothers and sisters of Christ within a small community of faith?

We do tend to attempt to handle those disputes within the group inside of the congregation or even within the congregation. Some disputes become larger in nature and involve several congregations or even a portion of the denomination.

These disputes seem best handled with open and honest conversation. By turning to the Word in it's various forms, but especially the Word given to us through the Bible. We listen to one another and wrangle with the issues and make a judgment on the call in faith. We trust that God will guide all parties and individuals through their own hearts to carry out the call of God through the teachings of the Spirit and the actions of God's plan in this world and his Church.

I think the shame comes when we don't turn to one another face to face with the issue at hand, but turn and walk, looking for someone else to judge the matter between us. We are all God's children and we will dispute. We dispute because we love one another and are looking out for each other.

Some day our arguments and disputes will vanish into our common love of Christ and we will clearly see that our differences were minuscule compared to what we have in common with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We will behold Love in Love's perfect form. Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, teach me to see your love in those I meet today. Show me how to open my mind to one that thinks differently than myself. Give me the voice and the words I need to express my stand, but the heart and the compassion I need to listen to another Christian with a different viewpoint. May we see you as our source of life and not let our differences alienate us one from another, but work together in your gracious love, and with you as our sole source of love, to lift high your name in this fallen world... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

August 17th - Reflection

Matthew 8:1-13 (NRSV)

Jesus heals many people

When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean." He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I do choose. Be made clean!" Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Then Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress." And he said to him, "I will come and cure him." The centurion answered, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and the slave does it." When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, "Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you according to your faith." And the servant was healed in that hour.

Reflection
Jesus wasn't opposed to the law. When the leper was made clean, by law it was necessary for the leper to go to the priest and be declared clean after examination and an offering be given. So Jesus command for the leper not to say anything and go do what was next falls in line with the law.

When the centurion approached Jesus on behalf of his servant, Jesus was impressed with the man's faith. To have the faith that Jesus Word was good for the healing was enough for the centurion. The centurion was a Gentile after all and he possessed more faith than many Israelites had in Jesus.

As we approach Jesus in prayer, we must take him at his Word and as the Word. Jesus is the Word of God. Jesus is the Word or Logos that existed from the beginning and will always exist. God is good for his Word. We can always believe that and rest assured in that Word.

Being human, doubt creeps into our words when we pray. And that's the opening for that slimy snake to take control. Even when this does occur, we can come back to passages such as these and see the faith of the centurion and the love of the Word from Jesus. Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, I come to you for the sick, the poor, and those in need, that you may help and aid them in this world. Grow all of our faith in you that we may praise you name in all the assembly, not because of the healing or the help, but because you are our God. Increase our faith ...today ...tomorrow ...and forever. --- Amen

August 16th - Reflection

Isaiah 43:8-13 (NRSV)

Let all the nations gather
Bring forth the people who are blind, yet have eyes,
who are deaf, yet have ears!
Let all the nations gather together,
and let the peoples assemble.
Who among them declared this,
and foretold to us the former things?
Let them bring their witnesses to justify them,
and let them hear and say, "It is true."
You are my witnesses, says the Lord,
and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor shall there be any after me.
I, I am the Lord,
and besides me there is no savior.
I declared and saved and proclaimed,
when there was no strange god among you;
and you are my witnesses, says the Lord.
I am God, and also henceforth I am He;
there is no one who can deliver from my hand;
I work and who can hinder it?

Reflection

No one has shown a god that has been with his people. Not a god far away in the sky, or a sun, or rain, or clouds, but a God that is with his people.

God was with his chosen people all throughout history. God is involved with the lives of his people and present with them. God even became flesh to show himself to us in a way we can understand through Jesus. God gave his Son Jesus' life for our sin after we had fallen.

We are all witnesses to the God of our salvation. We know how God is with us. So why don't we proclaim his presence to all the world? Why don't we tell all of what God has done? We are God's witnesses. God has been and will always be with his people. It's time we proclaim God in our lives and all his wondrous deeds.

Reflection

Day after day you come to me and walk with me. You are present through the bad and with me in the good. You are my blessing. You are my honor. You are my glory. I am your witness of your love to all you give to me today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

August 15th - Reflection

2 Kings 5:1-14 (NRSV)

The foreigner Naaman is healed
Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, "If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy." So Naaman went in and told his lord just what the girl from the land of Israel had said. And the king of Aram said, "Go then, and I will send along a letter to the king of Israel."

He went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of garments. He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, "When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you my servant Naaman, that you may cure him of his leprosy." When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me."


But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel." So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha's house. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean." But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, "I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?" He turned and went away in a rage. But his servants approached and said to him, "Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, 'Wash, and be clean'?" So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.

Reflection

So Naaman thought that when he arrived with all the riches from his king that Elisha would come out and make some grand ceremony towards God and wave his hands and such and heal him. Elisha having great faith and trust in God knew that none of this was necessary. Elisha sent a messenger to Naaman to have him wash in the Jordan.

Naaman was so upset with such a simple answer. He came from a place with very clean rivers, so much better than that dirty old Jordan. And with all these gifts, surely Elisha would honor him with a personal visit!

Insulted but by the advice of Naaman's servants he went anyway to the Jordan, and Naaman was healed.

Elisha had faith and trusted God. Naaman, with a little push from the servants, was found to have a little faith. God grew that faith in Naaman that day.

Even if I have a little faith, and a little push, maybe God will grow my faith. Maybe if I come in community of a few people with a little faith and we begin to push one another, God will grow our faith. Maybe God intends for us to be this way when we gather together. As we gather, God is with us in Spirit and our faith grows, our learning grows, our trust grows and we begin to spread God's Word more effectively to those that are not with us. Just with little nudges of faithfulness. Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, when I need a nudge send someone to nudge me, when I need to nudge another make me available, that faith may grow in me and another... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

August 14th - Reflection

9th Sunday After Pentecost
Matthew 15:[10-20] 21-28 (NRSV)

The Canaanite woman's daughter is healed
( Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, "Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles." Then the disciples approached and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?" He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit." But Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us." Then he said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile." )


Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.

Reflection

Two different scenes here, both dealing with words/actions that come out of the mouth. The ceremonial laws of what is clean and what isn't clean seem to have no absolute moral validity. The mouth is not the opening of spiritual waste. The mouth is used for food that feeds the body. What comes out of the mouth in spiritual content comes from the thoughts of the heart. What defiles is not the food that the body has used for nourishment and the waste goes in the sewer. What defiles are the words that come out of my mouth that come from the evil intentions of my heart. That's the nasty stuff that I need to repent and replace with what God would have in my heart.

In the second scene we are in Gentile country. A woman approaches Jesus. Jesus must have been able to see her faith grow right before his eyes. Jews referred to Gentiles as dogs. Dogs like to sit under the table and eat the scraps that fall. Dogs weren't viewed as lovely pets then. Dogs were garbage eaters and a nuisance.

The loving mother comes in need for her daughter that is being tormented. She pleads to Jesus for help. The woman's reply to Jesus about the fairness of feeding the food to the dogs, shows her faith and strength and her love in taking this risk for her daughter. Jesus saw her faith grow before his eyes. The woman's daughter was healed from a distance by Jesus.

Isn't that somewhat similar to how we go in prayer for a loved one. We plead to God for help and comfort. We gladly sweep up the crumbs from the table and realize we have been given a banquet of blessings, small and large even in the midst of the pain and suffering. Sometimes we need to look at how our faith builds and how we learn to love God for all that we have.

Jesus love overflows to our sick relative and those in the hospital all around us. Jesus love overflows to those we meet throughout the day. The crumbs we have been fed become the very body of Christ in our day and overflows to all we meet. Thanks be to God! Our faith grows.

Prayer

Lord, all I need are the crumbs. You are my life and salvation. Those crumbs of bread and those drops of wine are enough to go all around this world. Those crumbs and those drops are mighty. To me and to my family and to all people. --- Amen

August 13th - Reflection

Psalm 67 (NRSV)

Let all the peoples praise God
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
Selah
that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.
Selah
Let the peoples praise you, O God;

let all the peoples praise you.

The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.
May God continue to bless us;
let all the ends of the earth revere him.

Reflection

A blessing. What a wonderful way to begin a Word from God, in a blessing.

Then a corporate response to how good God is to us. To be followed by a double blessing.

Are you and I mirrors of God? Can people look to us and see our Creator, our King, our Savior, our Spirit? In this psalm we see that God sees us in his mirror. A loving God that looks and is happy to see himself in his children.

But as his children, we are always trying to be like God, but know that we can't be God. God is our Father, our Maker and the Spirit within us and the Savior that saves us. We can't do these things. But we can make sure that we belong to him, are known as his, and act in ways that would be pleasing to God.

Not to butter God up, but because we are so joyful for what God has done for us that our laughter, our joy, our love planted deep within us by our Father has no place to go but out.

Our God has blessed us! Let all the ends of the earth revere God! Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, you are my life. All the blessings you have given me, all the love, all the faith, all the hope, all the courage to step out in your name; overflows me and lovingly goes to those you give to me ... today ... tomorrow ... and forever. --- Amen

August 12th - Reflection

Acts 14:19-28 (NRSV)

God opens the door to Gentiles
But Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. Then they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went into the city. The next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.

After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, then on to Iconium and Antioch. There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, "It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God." And after they had appointed elders for them in each church, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.

Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had completed. When they arrived, they called the church together and related all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. And they stayed there with the disciples for some time.

Reflection

I'm sure sometimes Paul had to get down about things when people would come out and oppose the ministry God had given to him. But Paul kept at it. When someone spoke against his word, Paul continued to reach out to the Gentiles and offer the Word to them instead. Even to point of going back a few times.

In trouble, pain and hard work, we need to have perseverance. God will supply the hope we need, but in some instances it's necessary and needed for us to gut it up and go for God. God's Word will spread in spite of ourselves. God opens the doors! Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, give me the strength to continue even through discouragement and persecution for the sake of your Word... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

August 11th - Reflection

Revelation 15:1-4 (NRSV)

All nations will worship God
Then I saw another portent in heaven, great and amazing: seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is ended.

And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:
"Great and amazing are your deeds,
Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
King of the nations!
Lord, who will not fear
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your judgments have been revealed."

Reflection

Throughout history we receive examples of God's saving grace. God led the Israelites out of slavery through the Red Sea. Noah and his family were saved from the flood through God's grace for this family. Jonah was saved from certain death and given a second chance in his ministry through God's act of loving grace. Story after story continues where God shows that he saves his people.

Today in your life and mine, we have been guided by God through decisions, illness, deaths, and rescues and shown God's saving grace. We cling to our faith. A faith that brings hope and trust in God and his saving grace through Jesus life, suffering, death, resurrection, ascension and the Holy Spirit's descending to call and enlighten each one of us.

The sea reminds me of the large bowl of water in the front of the tabernacle that the priests would wash their hands in after killing the sacrifice to be offered to God. So many images come to mind of how we gather around the baptismal font and the center of attention is not ourselves, or the baby, or the one being baptized. The center of our attention is Jesus and his actions and saving grace. The center of attention is the Father, Son and Spirit and the gift of life given through the sacrifice of the Son.

And as we gather together to remember this saving grace around the wine and the bread, the body and the blood, we celebrate, as we will once again, around the glassy sea, united as one, that saving grace God has given to us through Jesus.

What rich blessings God has given to us as we gather around one with another to celebrate our real and true and faithful hope of salvation in the loving gift and freedom from sin and death that God has given to us through the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, you paint with broad strokes and fine detail, a vision of love and grace, as we gather together here on earth and in heaven to give thanks for the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, may we dream dreams and see visions of you... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

August 10th - Reflection

Matthew 8:23-27 (NRSV)

Jesus stills the storm
And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?"

Reflection

Jesus demonstrates the power of the Creator in his rule over the wind and waves. Why should we be afraid when we can place all our trust in Jesus? Jesus is no ordinary man in this passage. Jesus is the one who brings and grants life and salvation.

In times of trouble, sometimes it seems hard to place our trust and faith in Jesus. We see, hear, feel and know of the fear and pain we witness in this world. Yet in these stormy times, we need to know that Jesus is in the boat and by our side. Take comfort and have faith, even what little faith we seem to have. Jesus is our source of life. Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, give me the faith I need to trust in you... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

August 9th - Reflection

Genesis 19:1-29 (NRSV)

God saves Lot
The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and bowed down with his face to the ground. He said, "Please, my lords, turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you can rise early and go on your way." They said, "No; we will spend the night in the square." But he urged them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house; and they called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, so that we may know them." Lot went out of the door to the men, shut the door after him, and said, "I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Look, I have two daughters who have not known a man; let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please; only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof." But they replied, "Stand back!" And they said, "This fellow came here as an alien, and he would play the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them." Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near the door to break it down. But the men inside reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. And they struck with blindness the men who were at the door of the house, both small and great, so that they were unable to find the door.

Then the men said to Lot, "Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city -- bring them out of the place. For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it." So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, "Up, get out of this place; for the Lord is about to destroy the city." But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.

When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Get up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or else you will be consumed in the punishment of the city." But he lingered; so the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and left him outside the city. When they had brought them outside, they said, "Flee for your life; do not look back or stop anywhere in the Plain; flee to the hills, or else you will be consumed." And Lot said to them, "Oh, no, my lords; your servant has found favor with you, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life; but I cannot flee to the hills, for fear the disaster will overtake me and I die. Look, that city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there -- is it not a little one? -- and my life will be saved!" He said to him, "Very well, I grant you this favor too, and will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. Hurry, escape there, for I can do nothing until you arrive there." Therefore the city was called Zoar. The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar.

Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities, and all the Plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.


Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord; and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the Plain and saw the smoke of the land going up like the smoke of a furnace.

So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain, God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had settled.

Reflection

Lot chose this land when he separated ways with Abraham. Lot thought that he had picked the better of the two choices, only to find  corruption within this city. Abraham was looking out for Lot and God was looking out for Lot through the gift of a couple of angels.

When I make bad choices, God watches out for me. Usually it comes down to a point where I have to decide to walk with God or walk away. Even when I'm in the midst of sin, God sends thoughts or perhaps angels to show me the decision I have to make. Will I run to the safe city or stay and burn in the fire of judgment? If I run from sin, I must be careful not to look back, but focus on running towards God and God's loving grace.

Sometimes this passage causes people to be the judge. However, I think rather it should cause us to look at ourselves as the judged and flee to God. Only God can save us. Only through Jesus. So run to his open arms. Even as we sink into the sea, run to Jesus, his arms are wide open to catch and save. Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, thank you for sending messengers to point out my sin and help me smell the stench of it all. Open you arms of grace and point me to that safe place to which I can run... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

August 8th - Reflection

Genesis 7:11-8:5 (NRSV)

God saves Noah from the flood
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. The rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights. On the very same day Noah with his sons, Shem and Ham and Japheth, and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons entered the ark, they and every wild animal of every kind, and all domestic animals of every kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every bird of every kind every bird, every winged creature. They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life. And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in.


The flood continued forty days on the earth; and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. The waters swelled and increased greatly on the earth; and the ark floated on the face of the waters. The waters swelled so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered; the waters swelled above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep. And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, domestic animals, wild animals, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all human beings; everything on dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, human beings and animals and creeping things and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark. And the waters swelled on the earth for one hundred fifty days.

But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and all the domestic animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided; the fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained, and the waters gradually receded from the earth. At the end of one hundred fifty days the waters had abated; and in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. The waters continued to abate until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains appeared.

Reflection

It's so much about the water. Some even call it the ordeal by water. The water comes as was told. The waters rise until all life must be on the boat. The water covers the face of the earth. Each verse begins by increasing the intensity of the waters. Even after the first forty days of water the water swelled for one hundred and fifty days.

But God had saved a few. God had saved enough to begin the multiplication of life once again. And the waters subside. For about one half of a year this continued. And God remembered Noah. God made a wind blow over the earth. That same wind that blew over the earth before and the same wind that parted the sea and released the Israelites from Egypt.

Noah was captive and fully depended on God for Salvation. Noah needed desperately that wind of the Holy Spirit to blow over the earth to be released from this prison of a boat which had turned into a tomb of everlasting life. Noah needed that breath of life from the Holy Spirit so that the earth would calm and support life. Noah needed God and the breath of the Holy Spirit to release him from this tomb of a boat.

God saved Noah and those on the boat. New life was to begin. New life in God. Oh how our baptism and the waters of the floods releases us from our tombs of death and sin of our old self.

With that breath of the Holy Sprit, a new self arises day after day to love and serve the Lord in newness of life. What joy we live each day as we follow Jesus into the kingdom and work diligently and happily out of his love for us. We show God's love and love those God gives to us each day.

Prayer

Blow you wind Lord, into my tomb and release me to new life in you... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

August 7th - Reflection

8th Sunday After Pentecost
Matthew 14:22-33 (NRSV)

Jesus walking on the sea
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."

Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
Reflection

Jesus loved to pray to his Father. A close connection of love and guidance and understanding in those precious prayers. But as Jesus ministry began to heat up and get really busy, those times of prayer were becoming more and more difficult to arrange. So Jesus took time this evening, after feeding the five thousand's spirits and bodies, to get alone to pray. The disciples were set on a boat at sea and Jesus went into the mountains to pray.

Just think of this prayer. I know it's Jesus we're speaking of, but he is human after all. He left to walk on the sea sometime between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. by estimation. So Jesus prayer must have occurred sometime between sunset and this time. Did he pray that entire time? I don't know, but I would guess since prayer was so important to Jesus, his prayers lasted much of this time. If so, when did he sleep? Surely being fully human and fully divine, Jesus still needed some sleep.

Which leads me to think that Jesus' prayers were also times to recharge, refresh and renew body and soul. A time like one of those time's in life where time itself seems not to exist. Vacations can refresh and renew and when you return it seems like time flew by. Something like that, but on a more intense level. It's something to learn from this passage about prayer in my life and yours for sure.

So Jesus sets out over the water to catch up with the disciples. I seem to think that the disciples were only concerned with resting the body. The waves were probably making sleep hard. Then Peter witnesses what looks like a ghost approaching on the water, Peter, was without much sleep and Jesus, probably likely also, was without much sleep.

Peter's attempt at sleep neither restored body or soul. Jesus short sleep coupled with prayer restored body and soul. Peter recognized Jesus and Jesus calls Peter. Peter's attempt to come to Jesus was wonderful. But Peter relied on Jesus to save him in the end. Peter could not do this on his own. Just as we can not come to Jesus on our own.

In Martin Luther's explanation to the Third Article of the Apostle's Creed he 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 kept me in true faith."

This is where Peter was and this is where you and I are as we try to walk on water and sink before Jesus feet. We must be at Jesus feet one way or another. We must raise our hands in our last pleas for Jesus to save us. We can't do this on our own.

Jesus had perfect unity with the Father through renewing and refreshing prayer that evening, and was one with the Father. Likewise when we realize that we need to fall to the feet of Jesus in prayer, Jesus will reach out and save us and bring us to perfect unity in and through him. It's Jesus' act of salvation that saves us, not our feeble attempts to save ourselves. All of our doubts will be removed. Sleep will be over and we will be refreshed and renewed in our prayer of salvation with God.

And we will exclaim without a doubt... "Truly you are the Son of God!"

Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I reach out to you to save me. Build my faith and remove all doubt. Permit me to be bold enough to step out on that water and walk towards you, yet humble enough to reach out to you for salvation. You are the Son of God!... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

August 6th - Reflection

Psalm 85:8-13 (NRSV)

I will listen to God
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people,
to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.


Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky.
The Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before him,
and will make a path for his steps.

Reflection

Are you sure about God? Do you have any doubts? I know I have many questions and there are times of doubt, but I have always felt sure about God. The psalmist in this portion of this psalm is expressing surety about God. Sure enough about God to listen and attempt to understand and follow. Sure enough about God to believe in God even when the experience of alienation takes place.

Are you sure about God when you wander in the desert of life? Are you sure about God when illness and death visit you or someone close? At these times it helps to reflect on what God has done in the past. God has always been faithful to his people. God keeps promises. God goes out of his way to save us. God gives gracefully to his children to keep them close to him. In your mind just walk through the stories of the Bible.

God is present in our troubles.God is with us. I'm reminded of a song I hear often of how Christ is before me, behind me, above and below me, on each side of me and within me. God is present in our troubles. Sometimes we don't realize this or even acknowledge this, but it is truth.

Finally, God fulfills what is promised. God shows steadfast love to sinners and is faithful to all. God is righteous to his pledge and promise. God comes close to us with salvation and grace. You can be sure about it. Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, as I listen to you, I am sure of your wondrous promises and salvation. I don't understand why and I doubt the reality of it all simply because it doesn't make sense that you would choose to love me. But you did and you have. I'm sure about this. I know of how you act in my life. I know of your rich blessings and grace. I live those miracles you show me day by day. I am sure of you, and give you all thanks and glory, even as I continue to grow in belief. Clear away my doubt and may I always be ever close to you... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

August 5th - Reflection

Acts 18:24-28 (NRSV)

A new disciple preaches
Now there came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria. He was an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures. He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord; and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately. And when he wished to cross over to Achaia, the believers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. On his arrival he greatly helped those who through grace had become believers, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Messiah is Jesus.

Reflection

Apollos was a native of Alexandria which may have given him the skill of interpreting the Scripture in allegory. Apollos was a smart man and full of fire and enthusiasm. Apollos was able to show by the scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.

That's how God moves us forward. The Spirit grants a few gifts and we are given the Scripture. As believers we boldly step forward in use of those gifts while at the same time our faith and belief in Jesus continues to grow. Scripture is our constant source of God's Word. We hear God's Word spoken and we see it acted out through other fellow Christians. We grow and go in our walk with Jesus here and now.

All in so many different ways too. Some go and grow in faith as teachers, politicians, engineers, manufacturing technicians, business workers, pastors, housekeeping, child-care workers, veterinarians, doctors, nurses... Throughout the day we interact with people in more ways than we can imagine. As we grow and go, with the fire and enthusiasm of Jesus' love in our belly, we are living demonstrations of what Jesus can do in your life.

Think about it. Gain a passion for the gifts God has given to you. And go forth in love to use them to show Christ to the world you live in that you may honor God and honor your neighbor with love and help. And this not to just look good, but to be sincere and life giving to another. Give your life and show them the life of Jesus. Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, send your Spirit today to fill me with your Word and your Love, that I may combine these with the gifts you have given me and the love your have taught me, to proclaim your Word, Will, and Way... today... tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen

August 4th - Reflection

Acts 17:10-15 (NRSV)

The good news is shared
That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas off to Beroea; and when they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue. These Jews were more receptive than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, including not a few Greek women and men of high standing. But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Beroea as well, they came there too, to stir up and incite the crowds. Then the believers immediately sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained behind. Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and after receiving instructions to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible, they left him.

Reflection

We sure have a way of getting in the way of God. The people of Beroea were receptive to what Paul had to say. The people were checking it out for themselves. Then the influence of an outside group that has already made up their minds seems to crash in after many of Beroea now believed.

One group from Beroea was there to study what Paul had to say, examine the scriptures and came to believe. Their goal was to check out this new information and form a belief or unbelief. Another group from Thessalonica came to stir up and incite the crowds. Their goal was to confuse and anger the others.

We sure have a way of getting in the way of God. But the event did force a decision. The people of Beroea did get to hear Silas and Timothy. And the Word spread just the same, even in the midst of confusion and anger. Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, as we spread your Word, teach us ways to incite love and compassion and healing, not hate and confusion. Your Word takes priority over our need to control. You lead and we follow...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen

August 3rd - Reflection

Matthew 15:32-39 (NRSV)

Jesus feeds 4,000
Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way." The disciples said to him, "Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?" Jesus asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish." Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. After sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.

Reflection

Four thousand or five thousand? Which is it? Did Jesus do this one time or two? Since Mark includes both accounts maybe it was two times. So if twice, why hesitate. Why didn't the disciples know what the answer would be? Or maybe they wanted to know if Jesus wanted to waste a parable on a certain type of people present?

My opinion? Jesus multiplies not only bread and fish but miracles and people. Jesus comes to all people with his love and compassion. If he could individually feed the world I think he may have done that. But his mission wasn't to only physically feed people. Jesus came to save us from sin, death and the devil. Jesus came to draw us from death to life in him. Jesus came to save. And if some teaching, healing, feeding and love were part of that mission, so be it. But this wasn't the totality of the love of Jesus.

The love of Jesus goes beyond our physical needs to our spiritual needs. Jesus comes to save us corporately and individually, body, soul, mind, spirit. There is so much more to this than we can ever imagine. Thanks be to God. Now trust in Jesus' salvation and follow him. 

Prayer

Lord, the depth of your love is beyond my comprehension. I can trust you though. As I follow you, take me as I am and work with me, making me into what you would have me be...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen 

August 2nd - Reflection

Deuteronomy 26:1-15 (NRSV)

A tithe from God's harvest
When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, "Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us." When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your God, you shall make this response before the Lord your God: "A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me." You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God. Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house.

When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year (which is the year of the tithe), giving it to the Levites, the aliens, the orphans, and the widows, so that they may eat their fill within your towns, then you shall say before the Lord your God: "I have removed the sacred portion from the house, and I have given it to the Levites, the resident aliens, the orphans, and the widows, in accordance with your entire commandment that you commanded me; I have neither transgressed nor forgotten any of your commandments: I have not eaten of it while in mourning; I have not removed any of it while I was unclean; and I have not offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the Lord my God, doing just as you commanded me. Look down from your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless your people Israel and the ground that you have given us, as you swore to our ancestors a land flowing with milk and honey."

Reflection

What an awesome model of prayer and thanksgiving to God. The best and first are brought before God in a basket made from the gracious gifts God has given us. A story is told of how we were before and after God's blessing enriched our lives. Finally a prayer is offered of thanksgiving for God's bounteous grace.

This too is a reflection of our lives. We come to God with our best. Not out of some need to out do another brother or sister, but as a true response to the joy and happiness God has brought into our lives. We recall our faith story and how we came to this point in our lives. We look back in reflection and learning and look forward in thanks and joy. We realize the grace we have received in the life of Jesus and his salvation. Maybe we even spend some time thinking about our new life in Christ and all the joy this have brought. Finally we offer a prayer as we give our gifts to God. A prayer of joy and thanksgiving that emanates from the heart.

What an awesome model of prayer and thanksgiving to God! Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, it has been a journey. You have taught me so much along the way. You have indeed blessed me and provided for me all that I have needed for life. You have saved me and you prepare me for call and service in your on-going kingdom. I am joyfully and honestly grateful for all you have done...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen

August 1st - Reflection

Deuteronomy 8:1-10 (NRSV)

God will feed the people
This entire commandment that I command you today you must diligently observe, so that you may live and increase, and go in and occupy the land that the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors. Remember the long way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments. He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. The clothes on your back did not wear out and your feet did not swell these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a parent disciplines a child so the Lord your God disciplines you. Therefore keep the commandments of the Lord your God, by walking in his ways and by fearing him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land where you may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you may mine copper. You shall eat your fill and bless the Lord your God for the good land that he has given you.

Reflection

Testing and training and discipline for the life in the future are all aspects of God and a wonderful father. God is preparing the Israelites for a gift. They must be able to handle this gift and a prize. They must learn to appreciate what God has given them.

God provides for all that we need to make it through our times of testing. The shoes won't wear out and the bread will last in one form or another. God will take care of us and nurture us and prepare us for something to come that is much better.

But for now, we learn to trust in God's Word. Obey his Word and follow Jesus wherever we may be led.

Prayer

Lord, lead us through this wilderness of life with just what we need. Teach us trust, faith and hope. Teach us to live out the love you have show to us with our neighbors...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen