August 2nd Reflection

Ephesians 4:1-16 (NRSV)
​Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it is said,
"When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive;
he gave gifts to his people."
(When it says, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.

Reflection
Yes, we are One. We are One together and we are One apart. For in our Oneness we are in Christ.

We are not One like some thing is one. We are not boring or even all the same.

We are One in our unity in Christ but so different one from another.

This is the beauty of the Church of God. There is variety and application of all sorts of blessings through our One Lord.

Christ draws us together in the unity of the cross and in the fulfillment of the resurrection. All of our unique skills, abilities, callings and blessings, work together for One. That's with a capital O for the Oneness of God.

Even as we peer into the mystery of the trinity... God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit all different yet all One; we can see the workings of God in the life of the Church in this world that is leading to that glorious Church eternal.

What a glorious day for each and for all when the baptized realize the beauty of each special life, each child of God that will be part of the ONE.

Thanks be to God!

Music

Prayer
Lord, lead us in faith and works to the ONE you would have each of us be in you... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

August 1st Reflection

Psalm 78:23-29
​Yet he commanded the skies above,
and opened the doors of heaven;
he rained down on them manna to eat,
and gave them the grain of heaven.
Mortals ate of the bread of angels;
he sent them food in abundance.
He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens,
and by his power he led out the south wind;
he rained flesh upon them like dust,
winged birds like the sand of the seas;
he let them fall within their camp,
all around their dwellings.
And they ate and were well filled,
for he gave them what they craved.

Reflection
Oh the manna and the quail. How abundantly does our God rain down upon us blessing.

Lord, give us this day our daily bread.
Yes, our daily bread; all that we need to live this life on earth and all the we need to live life in eternity.

God gives us not only what we need to sustain our bodies, such as food and clothing and the money necessary to our needs. God also blesses us with livelihood and friends and family of all types.

God provides for all of our needs. God even gives us graciously, salvation. Salvation from sin, death and the devil.

Oh... the manna and the quail.

And how God rains down all of this on all people. Not just some of the people but all of the people.

See how this blessing was provided to all the Israelites in the wilderness. Those that followed in God's commands and those who didn't.

Our God is a God of abundant grace and blessing to all.

Now what? How do you respond to such blessing?

Clear your doubt for a moment and reach out in the same love God has shown to you and to  all the people in your life with abundant and gracious blessing.

Not so easy? Not at all! Think of blessing those you hate! Think of blessing and providence for those you can't stand!

Yes, if we are to respond, we are to open our minds and our wills and our ways to all the people.

After all... isn't that what God has done for you?

Thanks be to God!

Music
I Am The Bread Of Live~Suzanne Toolan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuxJ8bcHTbQ

Prayer
Lord, how we hunger for the "bread of angels." As you rain down upon us the gracious bread and wine and as we partake of your body and blood; may we go forth fully fed to serve and love in abundance all you those given to us... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen