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

July 31st - Reflection

7th Sunday After Pentecost
Matthew 14:13-21 (NRSV)

Jesus feeds 5,000
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Reflection

Compassion-Healing-Giving-Blessing-Filling

Jesus had compassion on the people and saw a need for curing the sick and did so. The disciples saw a need for food and Jesus simply took what was available, blessed it, broke the bread and multiplied the food enough to fill all those present.

God has been doing this all along. God has always been multiplying bread and fish, so why not here? To us this seems amazing, but to Jesus, creation is normal. The breaking and distribution seems normal to Jesus as well. We give a piece of ourselves in relationship with God and God to us. That piece given is distributed to those we are with and spread about. As it spreads it feeds many others of whom we have no contact with. The Holy Spirit works in and through those other people to spread that piece, that Word to even others. A normal creation and multiplication of God's Word and way to Jesus.

It is amazing when we become part of this process through the distribution of the bread and fish. And it is an example of how we are to live our lives. We are to give pieces of ourselves back to God and to those God gives us so that God's Word and Way may be multiplied.

So what looks like division is multiplication. Just imagine what that Messianic banquet at the end of the age will be like. Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, I give you thanks for your compassion. I give you thanks for your healing. I give you thanks that you show me how to give of myself and yet have an eternal supply of your grace still on hand. I give you thanks that you gave yourself to all people to save each individual who believes in you. I give you thanks for teaching me that giving is not subtracting or dividing the whole but adding and multiplication of the whole. Thanks! --- Amen

July 30th - Reflection

Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21 (NRSV)

You open wide your hand
The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord is good to all,
and his compassion is over all that he has made. ...

The Lord upholds all who are falling,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
You open your hand,
satisfying the desire of every living thing.
The Lord is just in all his ways,
and kind in all his doings.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desire of all who fear him;
he also hears their cry, and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.

Reflection

Notice how many times "all" and "him" were used in the passage? It seems to me that the psalmist is making a point that all y'alls are included in God's compassion. We call...God is there. We desire...God is there. We cry...God is there. We fall...God is there.

God is abounding in steadfast love. God puts up with it all and still loves. God has compassion over ALL he has made. It sounds like God loves his creation and desires more than anything to take care of it, nurture it, and watch it grow and mature.

And on top of that, it seems to me, that God will protect and defend all creation from wickedness. Sin, death, and the devil. They don't stand a chance against God's judgment and righteousness. Through God's grace he draws near and responds and hears and saves. In fact, God walks with us in Jesus and through the Holy Spirit.

All y'alls can't help but to respond to that with the praise and blessing of God's holy name...today...tomorrow...and forever! Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, just one glance around me, wherever I may be, brings forth a joy in all you have created, loved and saved. Be with all this day in the joys, the tears, the pains, the sadness, the worship, the praise, and the work and play that we will do in your kingdom. You are God and your love is great...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen

July 29th - Reflection

Romans 9:6-13 (NRSV)

True descendants of Abraham
It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all Israelites truly belong to Israel, and not all of Abraham's children are his true descendants; but "It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you." This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants. For this is what the promise said, "About this time I will return and Sarah shall have a son." Nor is that all; something similar happened to Rebecca when she had conceived children by one husband, our ancestor Isaac. Even before they had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God's purpose of election might continue, not by works but by his call) she was told, "The elder shall serve the younger." As it is written,
"I have loved Jacob,
but I have hated Esau."

Reflection

You can pick your friends but you can't pick your relatives. Well...maybe not all the time. God can call his relatives and God can pick his friends too. In God's promise to the children of God, we discover that to be a child of God is much more than just to be a relative. We are children of God by call.

At baptism, God claims us as his children. Promises are made to bring that child up and give that child the tools to make a decision on their own with God. As the child (and child doesn't mean by age), they are given the Word, taught the Ten Commandments, their eyes are opened to the creeds, and to the means of a relationship with Jesus through the sacraments, prayer and many other ways. This is a child of God by call. God has called this child to be his own. A child that can choose to become a disciple of Christ or deny and turn and run. A child of God by call.

The Word of God has not failed. The promise is not broken but is fulfilled. A real claim is made to the children of the flesh and the promise. It is faith not heritage that determines the heritage to God. God is free to select and develop and give the grace God gives to all people through the loving act of Jesus Christ in his life, ministry, suffering, death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sin and gift of eternal life.

God chooses you! What a wonderful gift of life! God chooses us and through faith and trust in God we grow in the Word and live to follow Jesus. Thanks be to God! I am a child of God! Not by chance but by the purpose of God's action in Christ. Wow!

Prayer

I love being adopted! I love the fact that you came for me and for everyone near me. Open the eyes of all that they may see you and give you glory and follow you and grow in faith...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen

July 28th - Reflection

Philippians 4:10-15 (NRSV)

Being well fed and yet hungry
I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress.

You Philippians indeed know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone.

Reflection

Paul reflects on a gift from the church that comes from the heart. There is a time when we are able to give and those times when our gifts take on varying methods of giving due to low income. But at all times we give. And we give because we have been given to and joy overflows. It's a giving that is not a sense of payment but a giving that has the sense of the joy of presence.

When the Father gave Jesus to us, we couldn't do anything to re-pay the favor. But we can respond in joy and thanksgiving and give to one another and return thanks and praise and gifts to God. Not to make favor with God. How could we ever be more favored in the eyes of God? Jesus saved us! But we give out of a deep joy and thanksgiving and love that God has shown and taught us himself.

With our lives focused on Jesus our relationship with one another changes dramatically. We give out of love, one for another. We give out of joy and the united hope we all have in Jesus. Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, open my heart today and expose the power of your love that I may give in whatever way is suitable, through your grace...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen

July 27th - Reflection

Mark 4:30-34 (NRSV)

Jesus' use of parables

He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade."

With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

Reflection
A couple of ways to take this at least. Traditionally one may consider that the kingdom of God grows from very small beginnings to the greatest of all kingdoms. Another way to take this would be to consider the greatness of the shrub and it's branches that evil birds can nest in that greatness.

It seems throughout much of the lives of the kings of Israel and Judah that when greatness is achieved and the power and rule of the king has expanded, a fall is soon to follow. That applies to our lives as well. There is a caution that we must consider when our lives in the kingdom expand; we are targets of the devil. The devil loves more than anything to see a fall of an expanded and mature child of God at the height of faith.

But isn't faith a little relative. Who of us, in comparison to all the faith there could be, ever is expanded and awesome. Sure we are gifted children of God, but our lives have so far to go that we can't even imagine the destination. Our lives need to be so rooted in the trust of Jesus that we follow, ask questions, are obedient, we learn and grow, but we trust in the direction of Jesus to the point that our hope lies in all that is about Jesus. We don't leave our hope in our own direction but in the direction of God.

When we fall into the trap, is when we think that we have done this or that and surely will get to heaven if we just pray and go to church, or do things to earn God's favor. It doesn't work that way at all. We could never do enough things, even the goody goody things, to get into heaven. Our only way into heaven is through Jesus. We are followers of Jesus into heaven, not by what we do, but by the faith we have that Jesus will lead us where we need to go. Heaven is not an earned place. Heaven is a gift from God that only God chooses to grant through the life, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. I didn't do any of that...Jesus did that! So follow Jesus.

Don't you just love how God chooses to use earthly illustrations in parables and sacraments and salvation. God sent a man, in Jesus to save us. I understand a human. God uses water in baptism. God uses bread and wine to help with understanding communion and the great sacrifice he gave for our lives in Jesus. God uses a lamb and other animals to illustrate a sacrificial offering. God uses so many earthly elements to illustrate and point out his goodness and grace so that we may begin to understand just the tip of God's greatness and grace and love for us.

So few words in this passage, but such abundance of grace. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, you lead and I'll follow and obey and learn some on the way. I trust in your direction, even when the going gets tough. --- Amen

July 26th - Reflection

1 Kings 4:29-34 (NRSV)

God gave Solomon wisdom
God gave Solomon very great wisdom, discernment, and breadth of understanding as vast as the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, children of Mahol; his fame spread throughout all the surrounding nations. He composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He would speak of trees, from the cedar that is in the Lebanon to the hyssop that grows in the wall; he would speak of animals, and birds, and reptiles, and fish. People came from all the nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon; they came from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.

Reflection

God gave Solomon wisdom, a broad wisdom, a largeness of mind. All people are showered with gifts from God. We are blessed with talents and abilities that God gives to each one of us. And God chooses for us to put these gifts and talents to use to bring glory to God. Sometimes this happens and God is glorified. At other times people become selfish with the gifts God gives and use them to their own advantage only thinking that they can glorify themselves. This may or may not happen. Sometimes this type of action ends in tragedy.

We can't depend on ourselves alone. We need God. If we selfishly use the gifts God gives us for ourselves alone we will soon find out that we need the help of another to survive.Solomon had the gift of wisdom which carried a wide swath of what is needed to live life with God, but it's not all that is needed. Solomon still depended on God for many other things.

If we view our gifts as an instrument in the orchestra, we see how we need to be there with our gifts, giving glory to God, combined with the gifts of other's to really offer a wonderful gift to God. We need the other members of the orchestra and they need us. Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, I give you thanks for all your blessings. May I use your blessings to return praise to you. May I use your blessing to give joy to another. May I use your blessings and combine them with the blessings of your children that together you may be filled with joy as we return your gifts in praise and glory to you...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen

July 25th - Reflection

1 Kings 3:16-28 (NRSV)

Solomon's wisdom in judgment
Later, two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. The one woman said, "Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth while she was in the house. Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. We were together; there was no one else with us in the house, only the two of us were in the house. Then this woman's son died in the night, because she lay on him. She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your servant slept. She laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast. When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, I saw that he was dead; but when I looked at him closely in the morning, clearly it was not the son I had borne." But the other woman said, "No, the living son is mine, and the dead son is yours." The first said, "No, the dead son is yours, and the living son is mine." So they argued before the king.


Then the king said, "The one says, 'This is my son that is alive, and your son is dead'; while the other says, 'Not so! Your son is dead, and my son is the living one.'" So the king said, "Bring me a sword," and they brought a sword before the king. The king said, "Divide the living boy in two; then give half to the one, and half to the other." But the woman whose son was alive said to the king -- because compassion for her son burned within her -- "Please, my lord, give her the living boy; certainly do not kill him!" The other said, "It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it." Then the king responded: "Give the first woman the living boy; do not kill him. She is his mother." All Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered; and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him, to execute justice.

Reflection

Solomon has asked for wisdom and God gave wisdom to Solomon. This wisdom from this passage is a practical wisdom, wisdom with immediate use in judging cases between people. Part of this wisdom must have been the ease of access that the prostitutes had to come to the king to obtain a judgment. The king must have decided that he would make wise judgments for any and all of his people, not just the rich and powerful.

An additional point that seems to come forth from this passage is that idea of compassion of the real mother willing to give up her son in order that he remain alive. This compassion is said to have come from her heart, or bowels or womb. According to Hebrew meaning this is the center of strong emotional feelings. A deeper meaning than just her heart or love from her heart but an emotion that centers in her very core of emotions.

I wonder if God the Father had this same feeling when he gave Jesus to die on a cross for our sin. There was no person that stood up and stopped it all. But God must have had this deep emotion of giving Jesus the life of God to all the world to die for our sin. It must have been a compassion and love so deep that it came from the core or very center of God.

Then taking this thought one step along the way. When we invite Jesus into our hearts; do you invite him into the core, the very center our your being? The center of all emotion and love and compassion is where Jesus comes to dwell. Jesus wants the very center of not only your being, but of your life and of your passion, and of your ministry, and of your work, and of your every waking moment of every day. That's huge! And when we crack that door...we live a life of Jesus in Spirit in action in our lives. Let the Spirit flow and experience life like you never have before...or you could choose to fight it and be miserable...or you could choose to run away and be lost. Choose to live! Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, you are my judge. Invade my bowels, my very center and give me life in abundance. Let your love and compassion flow through me to those you give to me...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen

July 24th - Reflection

6th Sunday After Pentecost
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 (NRSV)

Parables of the reign of heaven He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."


He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened." ...

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

"Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes." And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."

Reflection

When I think back on my walk of faith with God, I think of all the simple things that turned out to be the greatest. I think of my memories of Mom reading the Bible. I think of a dream of Jesus at my door. I think of Frank Menscik teaching me a Sunday School lesson when I was the only one there. I think of singing Beautiful Savior in Vacation Bible School. I think of fellowship on softball and bowling teams. I think of working together with others on IHN. I think of giving a sermon every now and then. I think of the first time I read as a deacon. I think of wine drops on the altar rail. I think of singing in choirs. I think of prayer partners. I think of book readings. I think of times sharing God in lives of one another. I think of serving, serving serving. I think of teaching High School Sunday School with a very dear friend. I think of Churchwide Assemblies. I think of helping lead Youth Trips. I think of CRHP. I think of Men's Group studies. I think of hospital visits. I think of baptisms. I think...

So many thoughts come to mind that seem to grow, build on another, but go on and on. I wonder if heaven is an explosion of all of this. Like the mustard seed exploding into a great plant. Like yeast exploding and growing in the Bread of Life. Or even like the value of a treasure found. Sometimes I think all of our faith walk with Jesus is just a small small taste of heaven. Just imagine what it would be like! What hope we have been given! Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, your love goes way beyond what I can imagine. But, I sure have fun imagining...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen

July 23rd - Reflection

Psalm 119:129-136 (NRSV)

Light and understanding
Your decrees are wonderful;
therefore my soul keeps them.
The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.
With open mouth I pant,
because I long for your commandments.
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is your custom toward those who love your name.
Keep my steps steady according to your promise,
and never let iniquity have dominion over me.
Redeem me from human oppression,
that I may keep your precepts.

Make your face shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes.
My eyes shed streams of tears
because your law is not kept.

Reflection

God's Word just amazes me! I can't get enough of it! I can't ever understand it but I'm drawn to it every day. Simply put, God's Word is wonderful. God's Word illuminates something inside of me that brings a fire and a warmth and a glow from deep within. God's Word draws me out with a joy to obey and learn.

Prayer

Lord, I'm back to listen, learn, see and feel your Word. I come to you in overwhelming joy. --- Amen

July 22nd - Reflection

Acts 7:44-53 (NRSV)

Solomon's temple cannot contain God
"Our ancestors had the tent of testimony in the wilderness, as God directed when he spoke to Moses, ordering him to make it according to the pattern he had seen. Our ancestors in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our ancestors. And it was there until the time of David, who found favor with God and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the house of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with human hands; as the prophet says,
'Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,
or what is the place of my rest?
Did not my hand make all these things?'

"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it."

Reflection

Stephen infuriated the religious leaders in his statement that God doesn't dwell in a house made with human hands. He was talking about the great temple after all! This was one of the most precious and special places for the Jewish people.

It wasn't unusual for people of the day to build a temple and a beautiful structure to contain the gods of the people. Stephen was trying to make the point that God could not be contained in a temple or a house or any structure that humans could create. Even the idea that humans could create something that could contain God is absurd.

Yet we still do this same thing today. Maybe not with temples or buildings, but certainly with our ideas and actions and thoughts. We try to contain God into something we can grasp, control, understand and even manipulate. I am certainly guilty of this in one form or another.

How foolish it is to try to contain God. If earth is God's footstool and heaven is God's throne just think of how wonderful eternal life in God is now and in the future. This gives a hope for something unseen. Through God's act of sending Jesus to earth and to your life and mine, we can believe and have an awesome hope and faith in a God that promises us something we can't even imagine. What joy this brings! Thanks be to God, that we can look forward to and live now, a most amazing life. If this is God's footstool that we live on just imagine what heaven will be like. What hope!

Prayer

Lord, forgive me when I try to limit you. I can only imagine what it would be like. And oh what fun it is to imagine. And the joy you bring to my life knowing that you cared enough to come to me to save me and lead me to you...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen

July 21st - Reflection

1 Corinthians 4:14-20 (NRSV)

Reign of God depends not on talk but power

I am not writing this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you might have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers. Indeed, in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. I appeal to you, then, be imitators of me. For this reason I sent you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ Jesus, as I teach them everywhere in every church. But some of you, thinking that I am not coming to you, have become arrogant. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power.

Reflection

A guardian would take the student to school. There are many guides or guardians but few fathers. Maybe there were even too many guardians willing to take young Christians to school and teach their values. The father was closer to the student and the teaching. The father's actions exhibited the teachings.

As we learn and grow in God's Word our actions become more than just talk or conversation. Our faith deepens and our actions exhibit our belief through a joyful love towards God and one another. This is the power of God at work in and through us. Sometimes we know what to do but we need to wait on that power to fill us and action is taken. It's God's action in and through his children with the power of the Spirit. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, as I study your Word and hear it spoken and as I see evidence of your activity in the sacraments; fill me with knowledge and the joyful power of the Spirit that I may go out into this world in love towards you and loving service towards others...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen

July 20th - Reflection

Matthew 12:15-21 (NRSV)
God's chosen servant

When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them, and he ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
"Here is my servant, whom I have chosen,
my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
He will not wrangle or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
He will not break a bruised reed
or quench a smoldering wick
until he brings justice to victory.
And in his name the Gentiles will hope."
Reflection
We hope in the name of Jesus. Jesus, as a Jew, reaches out to all people, not just the Chosen People. In that reaching out we too are chosen. Not chosen by anything that we could have ever done, but chosen because of what God has done for us through Jesus and the Spirit upon him.

Jesus approach was not one of a salesman or one that needed to make a big announcement. Jesus didn't need to do any of this. Jesus himself was God in flesh, no grand entrance needed. Jesus was the grand entrance and that alone was all that we need.

Now our response to what Jesus has done for us is a far different thing. Why wouldn't we shout it out in the streets? Why wouldn't we declare to our friends and family what God has done through Jesus? Why wouldn't we describe the hope we have in Jesus day after day? Jesus has come to save! What hope and joy that brings to all people of all nations. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Jesus, thanks for the hope you have given me and all people...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen