July 31st Psalm by Bill Lynch

Read Psalm 78:23-29

Psalm
The LORD blesses me with all I need.
When I'm hungry... God feeds us
When I'm sad... God comforts us
When I'm ill... God brings healing
When I'm hurt... God sustains us
When I'm in any need... God blesses us



The LORD blesses us
The heavens open and God pours water abundantly
Water to sustain and refresh us
God blesses us in times of trouble
Through those around us... God works
When we are in any need... God blesses

Prayer
Lord, open my eyes to your miraculous and constant intervention into this world. Open my eyes to your abundant blessings poured out like rain from the sky... constantly minute by minute. You are here and at work... Today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

July 22nd Just Some Personal Ramblings

Ramble On and On

It's been a while since I last entered a blog on this my Daily Reflections Blog. Daily? Sure, I've been in deep daily reflections. Reflections of the wonderful moments I spent at my Mother's death with my sister. Moments of watching Mom pass from this world to something else. Something new and wonderful. Something of an entire new way of being and living. Something I can't understand. Something spiritual and hopeful and pleasing. Something that drew the fascination of my sister, my wife and my daughter all together to glory at the wonderful love of God. A truly wonderful experience that was interrupted by this world's needs and desires within minutes of such a wonderful experience. Unneeded immediate planning that took place in the minutes, probably less than 5 after my mother's death. Emotions that were enraged by the break-in of this world into a spiritual experience. Yes, sinful emotions on my part and on the part of the need to plan. A range of emotions that passed me from one world and the closeness of God at the time into this present world and it's sinfulness in me.

How I longed to remain as long as I could in the spiritual realm that my mother had passed. Remain as long as possible. But, oh how quickly the needs of this world interrupted that special moment. I was present at my Father's death also twenty some years ago. The moment was precious and uninterrupted. It was memorable and moving. It was pleasant in the face of death. Pleasant in the hope that all Christians have for one who has been saved by Jesus Christ. Saved by Jesus' life, ministry, healing, suffering, death, resurrection and ascension. Pleasant in the hope of the communion of the saints. Pleasant in the unity of all yesterday, today and those to come in the life God has blessed us with through Jesus.

But, that wasn't the case this time. This moment was interrupted. Interrupted by my sinfulness and the sinfulness of this world and those present in this world. Mourning was delayed in this instance also. I went from tears to rage. The days to follow were blessed with the presence of my grandchildren from Texas. A blessing that distracted me from mourning my mother's death. As my grandchildren and daughter left to return to Texas, I felt the mourning process resume. An unwelcome delay that brought on and possibly triggered a Crohn's flare and depression. As I mourned and recovered at the same time, I began to process my emotions and to feel the closeness of God and my Mother in worship on Sunday's. I could sense my Mother telling me to pay attention in worship. I had the feeling that she was telling me, or that I was interpreting in my own crudeness a message... "This shit is for real!" This whole "God" thing is for real. Sure, I knew this all along, but now it took on deeper meaning. Wake up and pay attention, Billy! All your reading and worship and reflection and life is a gift from God. Pay attention and live out God's call. God gives life here and now and in death. See it even in the midst of your range of emotions. See it in those special spiritual times and see it upon your return to the earthly times. This shit is for real! Live it to the fullest. Live it in communion with the saints above and live it in communion with the sinful below. Live life with all those God gives to you.

As the days passed from Mom's death, I fell behind in my Old Testament readings. Some of my close friends realize that I read through the Bible each year. This is a separate activity from the blogging that I do in these reflections. So I decided to take time to listen to what God was telling me through scripture and began spending increasing time with my Scripture reading. I delved into my past Old Testament readings in Kings and Chronicles. I ceased to blog as I read and listened and prayed to God to speak to me. God surely speaks through the Word in the Bible, in the Sacraments and in the Word spoken at worship and through so many people day by day. God speaks through creation and life in this world and in the next. I delved into conversation with God in many ways.

And God speaks. God speaks in this world and the next. As my wife struggled with the declining health of her mother and father, God speaks. As I struggled with mourning and this decay of my own body, God speaks. But God also speaks in the joys of family. The joys of my grandchildren playing... the joys of spending time with Stephanie and Sarah... the joys of working with my son, Bryan... the joys of those I work with... the joys of plays and worship at church... the joys of spending time with Sue... the joys of walking and reading... the joys of new Y classes... On and on God speaks loud and clear.

So, I've been spending time with God... the joys... the struggles... my sinfulness... and my journey on this earth with God. I'm healing. I'm healing in a wonderful way. I'm healing in the pain and the joy of life. Life both here and now and life to come.

Daily Reflections... sure, I've been deep in reflection. And soon I will be blogging and posting once again. This blog entry I choose not to email or post on Twitter or Facebook. This blog entry is just a flow of thoughts from mind to keyboard. If this blog entry finds God speaking to you... wonderful! But, if not, please be patient with me.  I'll be emailing and telling the world of all that God does in my life and in the live's of those God gives to me. Thanks to a range of emotions that take place daily, I will continue to follow Jesus each day and listen to him and complain to him and converse with him into eternity. Thanks be to God!

July 8th Story by Bill Lynch

The Father's Love


Rodney was there for the entire time. He remained at home to learn the trade of his father. Eventually the day came when Rodney's father became weak enough that he couldn't keep working. So Rodney took over the business and made sure that his father was well cared for in his old age.

Rodney loved his father deeply. As Rodney grew and became an adult, his father would teach him all of the tricks of the trade. Along with the trade, Rodney's father would also teach Rodney the tricks of life. Rodney's father was a wise, gentle and kind man, yet fierce with passion when it came to standing up for the weak and compromised. One did not wish to cross Rodney's father with selfishness or deceptive actions.

It wasn't as if Rodney's father was without fault either. His father has made mistakes of his own. His father had been selfish and deceptive also at times. This is where Rodney's father developed his fierce passion to stand against selfishness and lies. Rodney's father had seen and been part of the hurt that comes to so many people in the face of selfish actions and lies.

So Rodney grew to be a man of honor and dignity in the face of his father. Rodney recognized strong character of person when he saw it in another. Rodney was there for the entire time.

Rodney's brother Josh had left home when he completed high school. Josh followed in the ways of his father too and grew with strong moral character. Josh studied his father's trade with a group of people that studied for a lifetime. Josh studied a different kind of trade of his father's. Josh studied his father's trade of honesty and selfless acts. Josh grew into a man that gave of himself completely and stood up for the poor, ill and hurting of society. Josh was a man of action and compassion.

The day that Josh returned to town, the people couldn't believe what a change had taken place. The people were sure that Josh would return with hands of skill at the trade of his father. Yet Josh had returned with the hands of skill at the trade of his father in a far different manner than that of Rodney.

Josh followed first the skill of the love of compassion for other's of his father. Sure, Josh had the hands of the skill of the trade of his father but the order was somehow different. Rodney, by contrast developed the working hands of the trade and then the compassion of love that his father had taught.

The people understood Rodney but rejected Josh. Both men were spitting images in all ways of their father. Both men were honorable men in the image of their father. But, Rodney was accepted and Josh rejected by the townsfolk.

Rodney was there for the entire time. As Josh left town, rejected by the people, Rodney stood up and followed his brother. Both men loved the Father. Both men stood up strong in the faith of the Father. And Rodney stood strong in faith and followed Josh to the ends of the earth and beyond. All in the teaching and faith of the Father. The Father that their father had taught them to live and trust and place all of their hope and faith and life in.

Prayer
Lord, as I hear your Word, as I read your Word, as I live your Word and take it all in; teach me how to stand up in love and compassion in unselfish ways to follow you in a strong, fierce faith... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

July 7th Reflection by Bill Lynch

Mark 6:1-13 (NRSV)

The Twelve sent to preach and heal 

He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.

Then he went about among the villages teaching. He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. 

Reflection

Jesus had returned to Nazareth. Once before Jesus was rejected, but now he had come again. Before Jesus left as just one of their own, but now Jesus returned as a Rabbi. What would the response be this time?

We seem to miss many miracles today. I think they missed the miracle in Nazareth in this passage also. Here God is among us and in this passage God is among the people in Jesus. 

But God appears as one of themselves, disguised as one of the children from home who had left and come back with knowledge and power. But this couldn't be a miracle of God's presence! This must be the act of the devil and a deception. This is no miracle in the sense that God has shown God's presence in Jesus. They missed it! And we miss is so many times in our day as well.

Jesus' sidekicks became witnesses to the miracle of God present here on this earth. Jesus sends the disciples out to extend God's presence in all the world. The disciples of that day and of this day too are sent to preach repentance, cast out evil and heal the sick. 

Don't miss it yourself. God is present on this earth this day through the movement of the Holy Spirit throughout time and space into this world and throughout heaven, as all the saints declare the awesome miracle of the love of God in Christ Jesus that saves the sinful, heals the sick and defeats all sin, death and evil. Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Father, Jesus, Spirit... your presence is a miracle. As you abide with us this day send us with your power to proclaim to all the world the miracle of forgiveness, life, and love for all your creation. --- Amen

July 6th Reflection by Bill Lynch

Read Mark 6:1-6

Hands



In the early years we spent much time in the dirt and with the scroll. Playing in the dirt was one of my favorite things to do, but rolling the scroll was by far the best. As I rolled the scroll, eyes became as if one with the Word they gazed upon. It was as if as I rolled the scroll, my being became flesh with the Word and the entire body sprang to life.

Then as I grew older, I worked with the wood. The wood became my way of bringing life from dead wood. Wood that once had life and lost it, sprang to new life and new creation in the things that my Father and I created.

But this day was different. I was with those I had lived with all my life and the healing and new life from me was hard for them to believe. Only a few sick were healed. Why can't the believe in this flesh, this Word, this new life?

Prayer
Lord, open my eyes to your Word, your Flesh, your Blood and the new life you have come to give us all that I may believe. --- Amen

July 5th Hymn by Bill Lynch

"Oh, Happy Day When We Shall Stand"
Text: Wilhelm A. Wexels, 1797-1866; tr. composite
Verse 1

Oh, happy day when we shall stand
amid the heav'nly throng;
and sing with hosts from ev'ry land
the new celestial song,
 the new celestial song.

"O Lord We Roll Our Eyes T'wards You"
Text: Bill Lynch

O Lord we roll our eyes t'wards you,
And see you face to face.
We sing with joy with all the saints
and praise you in this place
and praise you in this place.

This day we come to see you now,
is only through your grace.
Your love shines brightly from above,
and shines upon our face,
and shines upon our face.

We live your love in earthly life,
and seek to do your will.
We fail and sin and seek your grace,
and yet you bless us still,
and yet you bless us still.

Here now our praise in heaven above,
the Savior saved us still.
For we have seen your Kingdom here,
our life has been fulfilled,
our life has been fulfilled.

July 4th Psalm by Bill Lynch

Reference Psalm 123


Psalm by Bill Lynch


Lord, I cast my eyes towards heaven.
As I live in this decaying flesh,
I cast my eyes towards heaven.

I desire your presence.
I long to be free of pain and sorrow.
I cast my eyes towards heaven.

I realize your presence here in this place.
I hear your call to this earth.
Yet, I cast my eyes towards heaven.

You give me all I need each day.
I live in your presence day to day.
I cast my eyes towards heaven.

Yet, here you are in this earthly place.
You lead me in this life today.
I cast my eyes towards heaven.

Yet, I see heaven in your presence.
On this earth. In this pain.
I cast my eyes towards heaven.

And I realize that heaven is here.
Here with you and with the hope to come.
I cast my eyes towards heaven.

And see your love wrapped all around.
For you have cast your eyes on me.

July 3rd Reflection by Bill Lynch

My Granddaughter spent the evening with her Aunt Sarah, known to Kaiya as Aunt Horsey. Horsey's love demonstrated through the childhood joy of a horsey ride on the back of an adult. Kaiya is here shown in her joy and love of the presence of Horsey and the play they enjoyed that evening. In some way Kaiya in heaven with Horsey.

Read 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

The man was snatched away, kind of like the rapture. The man was taken to the presence of God. The man was blessed by God and was with God. What a wonderful thought and an awesome act of God this must have been for this person. Exciting yet fearful in the presence of God. Fearful in the sense that to be in God's presence is at the same time humbling yet exciting and wonderful that God would care that much for one person.

And then the thought of Paradise. Paradise in the sense of a park. A wonderful park like the Garden of Eden. A place of glory and mysterious. It seems that heaven is left this way for us as we read the Word in the Bible. Heaven is mysterious but the image that we paint in our minds is one of hope. Heaven it seems is deliberately blurry but the Word is detailed in our need for salvation to come into the presence of God in Heaven.

Contrast this thought with Paul's situation. We have heaven on one hand and the reality of this present world and the sins, and disease that are present with us now. The flesh brings pain and suffering. We become ill, we decay and we die. We all suffer from the thorn of depression or some illness or just the pain of aging. We desire to be released from our pain and suffering, yet must learn to live with the pain for most of our life. A pain that humbles each one of us in the presence of God.

A contrast of earthly life in the here and now and the heavenly life in the here and now and the yet to come. But we find that God has richly blessed us now in the hope of heaven. God is with us and we are in the presence of God now in our sorrow and pain and we will be in the presence of God in the glorious victory of Jesus Christ defeat of sin and death on our behalf.

God has called us to run the race as we live life on this earth. God has called us to stand tall in the presence of pain and witness God's love to all people that God gives to us each day. There is a salvation to be proclaimed through Jesus Christ that all need to hear and witness to. A salvation made plain and clear in the Word made flesh. A salvation that leads us through this life to a heavenly reward we did not attain through our own, but through the love of God in Christ Jesus.

July 2rd Reflection by Bill Lynch

Stand up and Listen


Read Ezekiel 2:1-5

"So what is heaven like?" Words that I heard said to me the other day. A complex question as we live in this world. If I were to take the passage above and apply this question to it; I would say that heaven is being called by God and given God's words to say to a people that would save a people. Heaven would be the moment that the Spirit entered into me and gave me the power to carry out God's wishes and desires with strength that was beyond my own strength. Heaven would be the salvation of people in a corporate sense. God comes to us individually, for sure, but God also comes to us as a people. God loves and saves the people.

Reflect passages of the Bible and realize that we have a God that is a corporate God saving people and nations. God may come to you as an individual and the Spirit may move in and through you, but it's not for your own benefit as much as it's for the salvation of God's People.

So stand up and listen to God. Stand up not just for yourself. Stand up and may the Spirit move in and through you, not for one person alone all of the time, but perhaps for God's People some of the time too.
Stand up... and listen to God.

Prayer
Lord, if you call, I will stand and listen to your Word. If you don't call I will stand up and listen to your Word and take action by standing up for your People, by their side and to their defense in compassion and love for all you have taught through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

June 29th Animation by Bill Lynch

The Robe
Read Mark 5:21-43

You know I  was a little damp that day. It happens when you are a robe out in a boat. You can't help but to take on the weather in one form or another. If it's dusty, I get dusty and dirty. Sometimes I'm damp from the weather and sometimes I'm damp from the sweat of the Savior wearing me. This day I was damp from being on the boat and damp from the sweat of the Savior and the crowd we were walking through.

A ruler of the synagogue came up to Jesus and told him about his daughter that was dying. This father wanted Jesus to lay his hands on his daughter and heal her. You could tell the man was worried about his daughter. Seems father's get this way especially about their daughters. A father's love for a daughter is a unique and caring love that brings forth deep love from the heart of the father.

So off I go with the Savior, flowing through the crowd and pressed by every side. I was rubbing against so many people that I was getting dirty just from the dust of not only the earth but the dust that had clung to the hands and robes of the many people around me.

Then Jesus proclaimed..."Who touched my robe?" Well, everyone was touching me at the time. What did Jesus mean by who? Who could tell? But one woman confessed that it was her. It was strange. When this woman touched me, I could feel a flow of power from my Savior... through me... to the woman. It was as if I was energized somehow.

The woman had been bleeding and wasn't able to be cured  to this day. She confessed to the Savior that she had touched his robe looking for healing. Jesus told her that her faith had made her well. She touched the Savior for healing, believing that she would be healed, and was healed. It was amazing for the woman and for me too.

Finally Jesus gets to the home of the daughter. The people at the home told Jesus that he was too late. The girls was dead. But the Savior told them that she was just sleeping. Now come on! Everyone knows the difference between sleeping and death, even an old robe like me can tell this difference. But Jesus chose to ignore these words and had everyone step outside. Well, I was there! After all Jesus wore me into that room. The Savior told the girl to get up and she got up! The Savior took her to the people and told them to give her something to eat. Just like that!

The events of this day fascinated me for years. I felt power flow through me and bring healing to the bleeding woman, I saw power flow from Jesus in the raising of the daughter. I'm only a dirty, dusty, muddy robe but Jesus used me to move his power through me. I think Jesus uses many more things than myself to convey God's power to people in need. I think Jesus has called all sorts of things, animals and yes, even people who have faith and some who don't to convey this healing, loving, living power of life to God's creation.

It's amazing to see and feel God active in this world today. You might say that God touching our lives is a miracle that happens all the time. Maybe we should all pause and look and see and be open to being the one to convey that power of God to those God gives to us each day. Wow! What a miracle life is... today... tomorrow... and forever. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Jesus, you step into this world and give life. You work miracles we don't see and miracles we choose to ignore. Open our eyes to witness the miracle of your power and grace before our eyes each and every day. And when needed use us to show the awesome power of your love... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

June 22nd Reflection by Bill Lynch

Happy Birthday!

It's my birthday today! A day 56 years ago that a new life was brought into this world. A new life born through the struggle and pain of childbirth. A new life that also would live the struggle between carnal desires and spiritual freedom. I was born before the rise of the sun around 4:00 a.m. The day had yet to begin.

The new summer season was fresh within a day. A season of full life. Nature at the height of it's glory and in full bloom. Green grass, flowers everywhere, why even the insects are hard at work during this time of the year. The time of vacations that relax and vacations that exercise the mind, body and soul. Summer is a time full of life and activity.

Summer is also a time when the heat cranks up and people come out and crime increases. Humans seem to be at their best and their worst during the summer season. Summer is a time of contrast. Good and evil side by side in the usual struggle. We become hungry yet don't feel like eating when it's too hot. Motorcyclists desire the danger of speed to feel open and powerful. Traffic accidents increase, yet leisurely walks with the dogs become habitual. Summer is a time of contrasts; sometimes contrasts in extremes.

Yes I was born 56 years ago this day before sunrise. By contrast 56 years later my Mom died on this day after sunset around 11:30 p.m. A day when faith was expressed in love. Christ expressed love in life through a personal relationship with each one of us. In relationship we learn of faith and love. Mom expressed, throughout her life, a relationship of faith and love. As 56 years ago Mom began to teach me the expression of faith and love through relationships with those God gives to me each day, she exhibited her own faith and love for the moment, this day, through relationships with Jesus and each person that crossed her path.

My Mom displayed in her daily life with the Holy Spirit, this expression of faith and love. One of my favorite memories of Mom was seeing her read that Bible on the coffee table, by herself each day. This act displayed her relationship with God to me. This act demonstrated the importance of God active in the here and the now. What does God have to say for me at the beginning of this day? The question would intrigue me to daily reading of the Word for my lifetime also. Mom demonstrated the importance of relationships and the living of the moment.

We live life in this world of contrasts. We live in this world of plans and priority lists, yet we must always live this life in the moment in relationship with God and each other. It's not the plans that matter, it's the relationship of the moment that takes priority over everything else. This moment will only last a moment and then will be lost forever. It's this moment and relationship that matters in the now. Plans can always be made but not at the sacrifice of the moment and the relationship with God and one another.

Works and rites can become a stumbling block to the cross. If we focus continually on works, salvation ceases to be of grace. Works can bind up our spirit. By contrast grace frees our spirit to be in relationship with God in the moment. Jesus has freed us to live a life devoted to him, not through servant obedience for self justification, but through Jesus justification and the obedience of love forever. When Jesus frees us from the law we don't live lawlessly, but we live under Christ with charity and morality that gives up selfish control and comes to life in the sacrifice of our own will and way, to the will and way of God in Christ Jesus. It's no longer about our plans but about our life in the moment in love for God and one another. In Christ we live a life of relationship in the present because the past is done and the future is in God's hands. Our conduct is now controlled by the moment of Christ in our life. Our new freedom in Christ implies service to others.

It is here that we experience the presence of Christ. In the moment we sit at Jesus' feet. In the moment we discuss our sin at the well. In the moment we wash Jesus feet with our tears. In the moment we pour perfume on our Lord and Savior. In the moment we shed tears to Jesus' final words from the cross. In the moment we run from the tomb to shout glorious praise. We now live each moment in the presence of God. We live in the moment, knowing that the future has been lovingly cared for through the grace and love of Christ Jesus and knowing the comfort we have in the Spirit of God in and with and through all God's people.

We walk the day with the Spirit of God by our side. Walking in the moment with full trust for the future held in God's hands. For God has shown us a love beyond our human understanding. A love that is in the moment, before the moment, after the moment and forevermore. We are led by the Spirit through faith and love.

I recall as a small child, perhaps nine or ten, a moment that goes on in the Spirit that I had with Mom. Living on Sutphin Street in Middletown, at the kitchen table, Mom brought out a Bible, some paper, scissors and perhaps crayons, pens and pencils. The exact details blur a little but the act is what stands out in my mind. Mom read to me Galatians 5:22-24

Paul states:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

And with these verses in mind we cut out the shapes of various fruit and named them love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and strung them together as if from the same tree. As each fruit was created Mom would relate the spiritual meaning.

Love-God's love revealed in Christ- not a selfish love desiring control but a love that gives away control
Joy- Happiness in relationship with God and our love for God
Peace- A peace with God that affects our relationship with others
Patience- forbearance with one another in relationship
Kindness- Regard for human personality and human need
Goodness- character that is not fake but real as God created each of us to be ourselves yet softened with love
Faithfulness- Faithful devotion to God and one another
Gentleness- we submit to the will of God and to consideration in relationship to one another
Self-control - curbing the fleshly desires

All words of relationship first with God our Creator, Savior, Redeemer and Spirit and words of relationship with those that God gives to us that we may give ourselves as Jesus has taught us. We live in the moment, remembering the past and trusting the future to God.

It's with this passage that I recall my life with Mom. As Mom, this day... 56 years ago... brought new life to me... prior to sunrise... in a wonderful world that Jesus walked... that I clasp Mom's hands and look into her eyes with  a smile as wide as could be... that after sundown... Mom breathed her final breath with the hands of my sister and I... that I witness to you a life filled with the fruit of the Spirit... in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.


Happy Birthday Mom! 


What a wonderful gift you have given on this my birthday too. 


Happy Birthday to you! 


Thanks be to God!

June 12th Psalm by Bill Lynch

Reference Psalm 130

Psalm of the Day
When I think of my sin,
Lord I can no longer stand.
I deserve your punishment.

So hear me as I call out to you.
Listen to my humble plea.
My life depends on you.

As I wait for you,
I look for your face.
Return to me the favor of your listening ear.

Forgive me and renew me.
Give me new life to live.
All hope rests with you.

Your forgiving love is awesome.
You forgive and make new.
Creation shouts for joy.

I give you thanks and glory,
For your intervention through time.
Each one a miracle.

You give hope and show love.
Walk with me this day as I love
You and all you give to me.

Prayer
Lord, your love is astounding and gracious and merciful. Thank you for claiming me and calling me and using me in your service. Teach me your ways that I may follow you and love those you give to me day by day. --- Amen

June 11th Reflection by Bill Lynch

"So, which song did you like the best?"
Words said by my daughter Sarah,  yesterday evening after I had attended her music concert in Dayton.

When you stop and think about all the work that goes into a concert, you really appreciate the music. It's not only music that you hear, you also are receiving a piece of the choirs lives. Together with the director and all those who accompany the choir, you are listening to the result of hours of practice, learning, rehearsing and musical enjoyment that the group had prior to their performance in front of you. They are nervous, but delighted to perform in your presence. The musicians expose themselves to your judgment for a moment as they perform. But the audience is eager to be delighted and are always delighted as they consider the music and those who perform the gift of this piece of their lives in your presence.

Read 2 Corinthians 5:6-17

As Christians, we live our lives with the aim of pleasing God. God has given us renewed life through Jesus our Savior, and we give our lives in response to please God. In this pleasing of God, we take in as much as we can from God's Word active and alive today. We use the gifts God has given us to reflect God's glory and to proclaim Jesus' saving grace to all the world. Although we are nervous to perform in God's presence at times, we are delighted to perform and do God's will. We expose our talents to those we serve and to God. We give away our lives to God in our concerts of life.

2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold the new has come.

"So, which song did you like the best?"

Prayer
Lord, as I hear and see your Word, may I learn how to please you and those you give to me... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

June 10th Story by Bill Lynch

The Discovery


It was a discovery, no doubt. But it wasn't what she expected. As Carmen picked it up to examine it and read it she had no idea what she had found. There it was laying in the side yard, a simple little book of what looked like some stories. But as she read this dirty, moldy book she had found a new world began to open up. She began to see things in a different manner. She began to act differently. Carmen really still couldn't make out what kind of small book this was that she found. It seemed to be a mixture of history, story, poem and science fiction. The more she read this book the more the world opened before her eyes. The more she read the more this feeling deep inside began to grow. She couldn't help but to run to her friends and family and relate the words from this book to all of their lives each day.

It was a discovery, no doubt. A discovery that would lead Carmen into a great new kingdom. A small 2 inch by 3 inch book she found in the dirt of the side yard. It's like it dropped from heaven.

Prayer
Lord, open to each one of us your kingdom that we may begin to understand how you came to this earth to save. Open to each one of us your kingdom that we may serve you and those you give to us in the love shown to us through Jesus Christ... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

June 9th Reflection by Bill Lynch

2nd Sunday After Pentecost
Mark 3:20-35 (NRSV)

Doing the work of God 

And the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, "He has gone out of his mind." And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons." And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.

"Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" - for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."

Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you." And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother." 

Reflection

Jesus enters and house and faces opposition from all sides. He faces opposition from his family and the religious leaders of the day. Jesus' family outside was concerned for his well being. Family concerned for their own in that they feared that his religious manic character was beginning to overtake his actions.

There was opposition from within the house from the religious leaders. They hated Jesus. They hated what he was doing, what he was saying and the power that he had obtained from the common people. They even attributed Jesus' work to the work of Satan.

A great difference between these two oppositions that Jesus experienced this day. The family opposition was a caring, loving response yet misguided. But the opposition of the scribes was a denial of God's Spirit active through Jesus. One opposition could be forgiven, but the opposition of denial of the Holy Spirit is a blatant refusal to believe in Jesus. This opposition only leads to death. This sin against God leads to death.

As we fall to sin, Jesus reaches out to us in love to save and redeem us. May God work in our stubborn hearts to bring us to turn humbly and repent of our sin. May Jesus lead us back through the saving Holy Spirit.

Prayer

Lord, forgive my sin. I turn to you this day for forgiveness of those sins I mention now... and for forgiveness of those sins of which I am not aware. Lead all your people together in community to our knees as we confess before you and one another. May our lives be pleasing to you... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

June 8th Reflection by Bill Lynch

The Rope

I don't have any idea what got into me that night. I was strong as ever. A man from heaven came down to this earth and wrapped me tightly around another man that fell from heaven. Now this man that fell had always been able to tear me apart into pieces when earthly men attempted to bind him. But this time was different. This man from heaven supplied to me the awesome strength to hold tight.

The man from heaven seemed to come to this earth for this very reason. To bind the one who fell and to give the earthly, a freedom they could never accomplish on their own. This man, this Savior, this God, from heaven gave me the strength to carry on.

There were times that I broke after this man from heaven, this Savior, this God, had left. But I always knew that I could turn to my Savior and depend on his power and strength to overcome. This Savior, this God, this man from heaven, gave me joy, hope and everlasting life.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, you came to this world and bound evil, death and the devil. I give you thanks that you have saved all those you believe and have faith in you. Lead us this day in your will and your way that each one of us may be pleasing to you... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

June 7th Hymn by Bill Lynch

"The Church's One Foundation"
Text: Samuel J. Stone, 1839-1900
Verse 1

The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
she is his new creation by water and the word.
From heav'n he came and sought her to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.

Hymn
Text: Bill Lynch


We come to you, Lord Jesus, to hear your word this day.
We sit in awesome wonder, at all the words you say.
You make a new creation, a new life is unfurled.
We're filled with your own Spirit, to go into this world.

Prayer
Lord, gather your people together in unity that we may all show the love you have shown to one another and take that same Spirit of love and grace to all you give to us... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

June 6th Reflection by Bill Lynch

Read 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1


Now there is a smile. Of course my opinion is biased. This is my grandson. A companion to me and someone willing to sit on my lap and listen to stories. Other times he is someone that gets me out of my chair to play and have fun and imagine like a youth.

Some activities with this young man are physical, some are mental and some are spiritual. He and his sister love to go to church. They march straight to the nursery and enjoy the company of those giving care and love.

It's this loving action that we see exploded to eternity in the love of God for each one of us. Jesus suffered and died so that we could wear a wide smile. God's love showing brightly and fully on our faces as we realize that there is so much more than this world. We have a kingdom beyond the physical and into the spiritual to live in. In the Son of God we believe and we speak. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Jesus, I can't help this smile on my face as I ponder your grace. --- Amen

June 5th Psalm by Bill Lynch

Psalm


God, you know how it is.
You know me,
All that I think or do.

Here I am in my sin.
I cry to you.
I can't handle this on my own.

I turn to you and seek forgiveness.
Over my head and deep,
I plead that you hear my cry.

As I wait for your reply,
all hope is in you.
For you are my Savior.

Prayer
It's all about you, Lord. I've discovered that my selfishness leads to sin. It's all about you. Show me the way and lead me this day. --- Amen

June 4th Reflection by Bill Lynch

"I didn't know you were into this big of a job." 

Words that my son, Bryan, said as he came over to give me a hand with my front door. There was some insect damage that had taken place around the side light of my front door. As I investigated further I located those pesky and destructive little termites just eating away at my door. The further I went the more I had to remove of the side light and door frame. It ended up that I removed the entire front door. In the next few days an exterminator showed to treat our home.

Termites are viscious creatures that work behind the scenes. The signs of their presence are subtle. They cause much damage inside and behind. In some ways I'm reminded of the passage from Genesis as the serpent persuaded Eve and Adam to eat the fruit of the tree that God did not want them to eat.

Once the sin was committed Adam and Eve felt their nakedness and hid from God. As the termites did their dirty deed to my house, once exposed I was upset that I had neglected this spot that I knew was their months prior. Sin works into our lives and eats away at our inner selves. I know that I can't treat this on my own and must turn to God for salvation. As I live in this world of sin, I continue to suffer the consequences of my action, but I also know of a Savior who lived and died for my sin. I turn to Jesus to save me from the eternal damage I deserve and witness the love of God active through the Holy Spirit in the lives of myself and so many other believers.

Prayer
Lord, I have sinned.  Forgive me and protect me and save me from sin and evil. Send now your holy angel to watch over me so that the evil foe may have no power over me. I place all hope in Jesus act of grace in this world for your people. Lead me in your will and your way that I may work and live to your delight... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen