Maundy Thursday “Love in Action”

Daily Scriptures: https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=34

John 13:1-17, 31b-35
13:1 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

13:2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper

13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,

13:4 got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.

13:5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

13:6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

13:7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

13:8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.”

13:9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”

13:10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.”

13:11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

13:12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?

13:13 You call me Teacher and Lord–and you are right, for that is what I am.

13:14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

13:15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

13:16 Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them.

13:17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

13:31b When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.

13:32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.

13:33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’

13:34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.

13:35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Love In Action

What do you like most about your feet? If you are like many people, the least favorite part of their body is their feet. In some ways, it stands to reason. (no pun intended). We walk on them all day every day. We often enclose them in shoes, and generally, unless they are causing a problem, we neglect them. This modern perception is also an ancient one. We find even in this Biblical text a sense of how body perception can drive behavior. Maundy Thursday and the history of foot washing established by Jesus tells us a lot about our roles as followers of Jesus. We never stand so high as when we stoop so low as to wash anothers’ feet.

In our text we find Jesus, sensing the magnitude of the life he has been called to live. It’s a couple days after his “flash mob” parade into Jerusalem, and a day or so before his public execution. A lot is weighing heavy in his spirit. One thing we see about Jesus is although his life is in the balance, he never stops teaching. Jesus is the ultimate example of how to live until you die. Instead of running and hiding, or over-indulging in creature comforts, Jesus in our text is found on his knees, washing the feet of his disciples. That almost doesn’t sound right. The Master, the Lion of Judah, the Prince of Peace, the Son of GOD, on his knees, washing the feet of a group of followers whose faith wobbled, and actions were erratic to say the least. Not only that but Jesus washes the feet of the very man who will betray him in less than a day, and of another who will deny even knowing him. I don’t know about you, but that blows my mind. I can think of the times I have to challenge myself not to think of myself as other. When I say that I mean there are times it takes work to find the connection between myself and the people who are least like me. I can assure you, kneeling and washing the feet of someone I couldn’t trust would be the last thing on my mind. And that is why I love Jesus so. Jesus is showing me that no matter how high I fly I am never better than anybody. Jesus is showing me that if I have been blessed abundantly it is to share and not to show off. Jesus by kneeling helps me to stand up to the worst parts of myself and become a better person.

Now Jesus stooping to bless did not thrill everybody. In fact, Simon Peter said, “You shall never wash my feet”. I like Peter. Stil,l Jesus’ response to Peter gives us our marching orders. Jesus says, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Wow! Jesus does not take the easy way out. I might have said, shoot I didn’t want to wash your stinky feet anyway. You’ve been walking through the unpaved roads of the country side, stepping on GOD knows what, with open toed sandals and no socks, Yeah Pete you can have your stink feet. But Jesus, responds in a way that reminds every believer, you are never too good to serve. Secondly, our service is not based on the merit of the people we are serving. Peter was on the verge of denying Jesus and yet Jesus washes his feet. Love is an action word. Love is a verb.

Today on Maundy Thursday I encourage you to bless somebody. Humble yourself and serve.

Point to Ponder: How can YOU serve? Are there any jobs that you feel are beneath you? Would you wash the feet of someone that might betray you?

Holy Week Tuesday “Life and Death”

John 12:20-28

²⁰ Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. ²¹ They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” ²² Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

²³ Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

²⁷ “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name!”

Life and Death

Death is life’s common denominator. At some point in the life of every living creature, death comes. Instinctively all life forms pursue what it takes to perpetuate life until the moment the pursuit of life ends. In essence, life ends in pursuit of life. This being said, it sounds peculiar to hear that this is a good day to die. Why would anyone say that or believe that? We tend to run from death, so how is it possible to be a good day to die? Jesus gives us a response to this query.

In our text, recorded in the Gospel of John 12 we find Jesus in the last week of his earthly ministry. He has arrived in Jerusalem to a crowd and this crowd continues to gather around him. Yesterday we said, “Don’t believe the hype”. Even though crowds may gather people are fickle and the mood of a crowd can change like the weather.  Knowing this Jesus senses a mood shift in the atmosphere and knows the praises of men and women are Not a foundation to build upon. Jesus responds to an inquiry of his presence by Greeks in the crowd by saying, “24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Reading these words knowing the end of the story makes it difficult to imagine how the disciples must have heard them. My sense is they heard Jesus, in essence, say “it’s a good day to die.” It is clear that Jesus sees that life has no meaning when all one is doing is avoiding death. Jesus begins to unlock a door in the hearts and minds of people that had long been a fear-inducing mystery. Death! nobody likes talking about or even hearing about it, yet the Master Jesus uses nature to teach, There can be no forest or fruit unless a seed is willing to sacrifice its life. As long as a seed holds on to its “seedness”, it misses its life-giving purpose. Inside the seed is life. This life, however, cannot be experienced without the death of what has been familiar. As long as we stick to the familiar spaces of our comfort zones, there may be no new life coming from us. As long as we fight for the status quo we ultimately refuse to live. Jesus challenges us by giving us a broader vision of life. Jesus offers eternal life to those who value the Spirit over the flesh. Those who love their life in this world which is temporary will lose it. Those who hate their life in this world will gain eternity. It’s a good day to die. It’s a good day to die to the pursuit of this worlds delusive dreams. It’s a good day to die to selfishness. It’s a good day to die to petty arguments and foolish pride. It’s a good day to die to greed and fear. It’s a good day to die to any ideas of scarcity when we deal with a GOD of abundance.

This week reminds us as we follow the steps of Jesus that Death is not to be feared as an ending but embraced as a new beginning. I encourage you to no longer be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. If anyone be in Christ they are a new creature. If you want to live you must die. #livebig

PRAYER: LORD, teach us to value your presence, more than your presents. Enable us to die to the things that compromise your glory from shining through. We surrender as our big brother Jeshua did, aware of the risk, help us to say yes to your will. AMEN

Point to Ponder: What death needs to occur in your life in order for you to be fully alive? How often have you gone through the motions of your faith journey, devoid of passion and vitality? Do you have the courage to say, “Not my will, but thy will be done”?

LENT 2020 Day 39 “Amazed or Afraid?”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2031:9-16;%20Lamentations%203:55-66;%20Mark%2010:32-34

Mark 10:32-34  (NIV)

³² They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. ³³ “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, ³⁴ who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

Amazed or Afraid

Walking into unknown territory can be overwhelming. There are some days and weeks when we have reasonable assurance that we will need the fullness of our awareness to successfully navigate the path. When the odds we face are unfavorable and there are no guarantees we live through it we must choose a response. Very much like soldiers going into a battle knowing the opponent has a larger army, more weapons, and maybe even more skilled warriors, the soldier has to choose. Will I walk in fear of a fatal outcome or active anticipation of deliverance. Will we be amazed and actively seek the presence of YHWH or will we be afraid?

Our text from Mark’s gospel is drawn from Jesus’ declaration to the disciples and others following him that the week ahead was going to be rough. Jesus is preparing the disciples for his betrayal, condemnation, and death. That is as you can imagine hard to hear. It’s hard to know that someone you love may have to suffer. It is troubling to hear someone who you have seen do miracles and a multitude of marvelous deeds say I am about to go through the crucible of the crucifixion and there’s nothing YOU can do. Even worse is this devastating outcome is going to be led by his own people. It will be the chief priests and teachers of the law. The people who should know better will not behave better. How disappointing. Yet this is not all that’s in the text. Jesus does not just prepare them for the disaster he also prepares them for the delight. Jesus says its gonna be rough and then its gonna be better. Jesus speaks of the third day. Jesus says I will be down but I will not be out. I will be betrayed but I will not betray. I will be hated on but I will not hate. I will be condemned but I will rise above it. Three days later I’ll rise. There is pain ahead but in the end, we win.

This is the last day of Lent and tomorrow begins Passion week. We have walked daily and I will write through Holy Week ahead. I realize there are challenging days ahead and I also remind you, they will not last forever. It may get rough and loved ones may die, still to be absent from the body is to be present with the LORD. Be encouraged, Death could not hold Jesus down, he is the Risen King.

Point to Ponder: The days ahead may be filled with uncertainty. Will you be amazed and look for life in the midst of death or will you be afraid? The scientist say for some places the coronavirus will surge ahead this week and many lives will be lost. Can YOU see YHWH in our midst? Be alert.

LENT 2020 Day 38 “Ride or Die”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2031:9-16;%20Job%2013:13-19;%20Philippians%201:21-30

Job 13:13-19  (NIV)

¹³ “Keep silent and let me speak; then let come to me what may.
¹⁴ Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands?
¹⁵ Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely^[a] defend my ways to his face.
¹⁶ Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless person would dare come before him!
¹⁷ Listen carefully to what I say; let my words ring in your ears.
¹⁸ Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated.
¹⁹ Can anyone bring charges against me? If so, I will be silent and die.

Ride or Die

“Life’s not fair”. These are the first spoken words in the classic film The Lion King. Scar seems to believe he has been wronged by the universe. Have YOU ever felt like Scar? Have YOU ever gone through a tough time and YOUR friends with good intentions found ways to get on your last borrowed nerve? Has life ever challenged you to the core of your very soul and caused you to reexamine your views on just about everything. Have YOU ever had to express the courage of your convictions despite visual evidence to the contrary? In short, have you ever had to determine what it is that you believe so strongly that you will ride with it even if it means you die from it?

Our text from Job comes at a critical point in Job’s journey. With his body racked in pain and his family all dead, his friends have been carrying on a dialog that ends in him being blamed for his troubles. Job seems to be fed up and responds, “Keep silent and let me speak”. Earlier he has said to his friends, “If only you would be altogether silent! That for you would be wisdom.” Now the challenges Job faced were real and his friends like many of us equate being blessed with having a reduction of struggle. We believe that good things happen to good people and when bad things happen we must have done something wrong. This is logical but not always true. To know the whole story of Job is to know Job was blameless and yet he was afflicted on every level. The response here is epic. Job says, ¹⁵ Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. Job is saying in effect no matter what happens to me I’m ride or die with YHWH. Job says even if I die, I will not lose hope. Job would rather die with hope than live in despair. Friends Job is confident that he has done no wrong and if he has he is willing to be accountable if only YHWH would tell him his offense. This text from Job speaks to an attitude we can approach the pandemic we face. There have already been some saintly people who have died and some villains. The pandemic is no respecter of persons. No matter the outcome, living with hope increases your chance for survival. Hope says it will be alright in this realm or the next. Hope says we will pick up the pieces when this is all over. Hope says we are going to make it, somehow, someway.

As Lent draws to an end, the season of struggle will remain. The hope is that times of reflection and consecration enhance our ability to walk by faith. The journey of Lent like the 40 of Jesus in the wilderness will present temptations to overcome and grace to guide us. To be ride or die for YHWH is to be all in, and I am convinced trouble don’t last always.

Points to Ponder: How are YOU dealing with the pandemic? What are your fears? What inspires you to be ride or die?

Lent 2020 Day 35 “Before and After Grace”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20143;%202%20Kings%204:18-37;%20Ephesians%202:1-10

Ephesians 2:1-10 

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Before and After Grace

Scanning through social media I came across a picture labeled before and after. The picture showed the contrast between the persons size before and after their decision to embrace a more healthy lifestyle. As you can imagine the contrast was startling. The person had lost almost 60 pounds. Quite an achievement. The question that could be asked is what was the turning point? What made them stick to the plan and eat and exercise even when sleep and slumber would have been easier. That same contrast can be observed in the life of a person who walks with Jesus. In the believers’ life there should be a before and after picture that shows the contrast between before and after grace.

The writer of Ephesians either Paul or his protege directs our attention to life before grace. Before grace, the writer say we were dead people walking in our transgressions and sins. In other words, we were caught up in an unproductive deathstyle. We were not alone. Living to satisfy our natural desires like misery loves company. When we walked that path we grew a crowd. Before grace, we were destined for wrath and destruction. We were self-consumed and selfish. We clung to a life of me first and fulfill every thirst. And then came grace. Grace, the writer says was initiated by the love of GOD and transforms us from a “deathstyle” to a lifestyle. We were once dead in sin and we became alive in Christ. Grace comes on the scene and is given to us before we started walking with GOD. Grace was the invitation to come alive. Grace sees the best in the midst of the mess in us. Grace is given not earned because if we thought we could earn it we might also think we could deserve it. There was nothing the reader could do to validate the opportunity to come alive and thrive. Grace was given without merit so that we could not boast but so that we could believe and be better for ourselves and others.

Nearing the end of the Lenten season the question is what will our before and after picture look like? Will there be any evidence of the residence of GOD in our life? Will we be more loving or patient or playful? Will our light shine brighter and our load be lighter? I encourage you today to walk with GOD and make sure we leave this experience with GOD refreshed, renewed, and restored.

Points to Ponder: Reflect on life just 35 days ago. When we began the Lenten season there was no shelter in place, no quarantine in America, no stimulus package, and no schools shut down. Now we are in another world it appears. How will you be better when the Covid19 runs its course? Will you be more loving, caring, or compassionate? What will be your before and after?

Lent 2020 Day 33 “Is There Any Hope?”

Daily Scripture: https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=28

Ezekiel 37:1-14
37:1 The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 37:2 He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. 37:3 He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.” 37:4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 37:5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 37:6 I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD.” 37:7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 37:8 I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. 37:9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon this slain, that they may live.” 37:10 I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude. 37:11 Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ 37:12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 37:13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people.
37:14 I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act,” says the LORD.

Is There Any Hope

Have YOU ever been in a place of YOUR life where everything around you seemed dry and desolate? Have you ever downsized your dreams until they fit neatly into your back pocket as a mere memory? A dream that once gave you a sense of life and hope and purpose is now like a dusty, crusty, exfoliated skin cell. You are essentially walking in the graveyard of your hopes and destiny. While in this dry desolate place, you suddenly wonder, Is there any hope?

Our text in Ezekiel is set in a valley of dry bones. The prophet Ezekiel is led into this valley and it is there that he hears a word from the LORD. This word is “Can these bones live?” In other words is there any hope. The Israelites have been exiled and have been brought so low that their dreams and aspirations are decaying matter. It is a very odd question to ask because it seems rhetorical, Can these bones live? Bones are a representation that life has been lived not that life will be lived. And Yet the prophet answers, Oh LORD GOD YOU know. What follows as GODS response is for the Israelites and we can draw some hope from it as well. The LORD responds by giving instructions that ultimately lead to a resuscitation of the dormant life forms. The LORD says Yes there is hope for Israel. Its been a long time coming and yes there are dry bones but they will be reanimated. The dream will be rekindled and the land will be restored. Today I draw hope from this text as the pandemic of Covid19 ravishes the world and many deaths are occurring. There is the question, is there any hope? I say yes,

As we draw close to the end of the Lenten season we living in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic. As believers, we recognize this virus is no respecter of persons and the sheer magnitude of anticipated deaths can be overwhelming. Bw honest with your feelings, commit to remaining hopeful, and LIVE BIG here in the present moment.

Points to Ponder:  What dreams have become dry bones in your life? What have you given up hope of ever seeing? Who can you observe in your life that needs a little more hope? Will you purpose to give it to them?

Palm Sunday 2019 “Needed By Jesus”

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29        John 12:12-16      Luke 19:28-40          Matthew 21:1-17
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21%3A1-17&version=NIV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+118%3A1-2%2C+19-29%2C+John+12%3A12-16%2C+Luke+19%3A28-40&version=NIV

Its Palm Sunday. We have arrived at the end of our 40 Days of Lenten Devotions. I am grateful for all who have followed or read these devotions over the last 40 days. I will continue to post up to Resurrection Sunday and then as the spirit leads.

Have you ever recognized the gap between where you are and where you want to be? Have you examined yourself honestly and recognized your blemishes and flaws. IN short have you ever in the presence of GOD felt, awkward, unworthy, even ugly? After forty days of reflecting and drawing closer to GOD, repenting of my past wrongs, I now see how much further I have to go. Whenever we draw closer to the light, we are able to see more details. We have a tendency to only see the gaps but miss the glimpses of grace and glory. What I am driving at is even though we may not yet be all we can be, after forty days of discipline we are better than we would have been. The triumphal entry of Jesus on a donkey is an example of how GOD can use the ordinary to fulfill an extraordinary purpose.

In our text we have the Master preparing to enter Jerusalem for what would be the last time. He prepares by asking two disciples to run ahead and get a donkey and a colt to ride on. There is no indication that Jesus was anticipating the crowds gathering yet they did. As Jesus rides in on the donkey, a beast of burden, Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan in THE LAST WEEK, indicate there was another procession on the other side of town. The sense is Pilate was also arriving around the same time. The contrast between these two arrivals is stark. Pilate would have arrived with military guards on Stallions with pomp and circumstance and the show of power and authority was intentional, for all to see. On the other side of town, arriving through an olive grove on what would have been a side street, Jesus arrives, with a crowd that seems to gather and they start a commotion, shouting Hosanna. Now Hosanna literally means save us. As we say Hosanna today we will be saying save us. The question is, save us from what? From the oppression of external pressures? From sexism, racism, ageism, or any other ism? Or save us from what we have learned about ourselves over the last 40 days. How we can be cranky or prone to acting out on our worst desires? What are we asking to be saved from and saved to?

As Jesus arrives a few things come to my mind. First he chooses a donkey. Donkeys are low to the ground, they are generally, beasts of burden, and rarely have you ever heard that’s a fine looking donkey you have there. They may resemble horses but they aren’t admired of adored like horses. I believe Jesus chooses to enter like this and even say the LORD has need of the donkey to remind us, no matter how scarred we may be, no matter how ignored we may be, no matter what our past may be, The LORD still has need of us. GOD can use us no matter what we look like. GOD can use us despite the gaps in our life or the gaps in our teeth. The LORD has need of you.

Today and as we continue into this Holy Week, be encouraged. GOD can use you to do a mighty work for the kingdom. The challenge is for us not to simply get caught up in crowd celebrations because as we follow the story throughout the week, crowds can be fickle. One moment they cheer and the next they jeer. One moment they can say Hosanna and the next they say hang him up and kill him. Beyond the crowd check the core of your heart. Save us from us and from others. Live In Victory Everyday, Believing In GOD. LIVEBIG.

PRAYER: LORD you have revealed yourself in so many ways. Unfortunately our vision has been obscured and we have not noticed you. Open our eyes that we may see your royalty on a donkey. Guide our footsteps on the pathways that our praises are sincere and we resist the pull of the crowd.  Grant us courage and compassion. AMEN

Point To Ponder: How many times have we missed the presence of GOD in our midst because he didn’t meet our expectations? How will you look in the unfamiliar places for the faces of Yeshua in our midst?

Lent 2019 Day 39 “Broken”

 

 

Sat Apr 13

Psalm 42, 43, 137, 144

Jeremiah 31:27-34

Romans 11:25-36

John 11:28-44

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2042%2C%20Psalm%2043%2C%20Psalm%20137%2C%20Psalm%20144%2C%20Jeremiah%2031%3A27-34%2C%20Romans%2011%3A25-36%2C%20John%2011%3A28-44%C2%A0&version=NIV

^{Psalm 42:1} As the deer pants for streams of water,
    so my soul pants for you, my God.
² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When can I go and meet with God?

^{Psam 137:1} By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
    when we remembered Zion.
² There on the poplars
    we hung our harps,
³ for there our captors asked us for songs,
    our tormentors demanded songs of joy;
    they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

Where have we hung our harps? Trials and tribulations can take their collective toll on a people and soon they begin to forget who and whose they are. After enough pain it can appear that prayer is simply wishful thinking wrapped in an illusion of possibility somewhat like Santa Clause. When this begins to happen we may tend to forget or over-remember. When I say over-remember I am saying we can often glorify the past in such a way that it is altered. Today as we near the end of our 40 days of Lenten meditations, I challenge us to reclaim our songs of joy no matter what our situation.

Through these 40 days we have explored different facets of ourselves and of our GOD. We recognize the high level of commitment to consistency in service that GOD desires. We have challenged ourselves to be stronger and more resilient in the face of internal and external pressures. Today knowing that soon we will be eating whatever we want and freeing up some more time listen to your heart. Where is there a song of joy in your heart? A song that situations can’t take from you. A song that adds meaning to your misery. The senior saints of my childhood would sing, this joy that I have the world didn’t give it to me and the world can’t take it away.

The Psalmist shares the predicament the Israelite community faced. Being in exile and often on the run they hung up their harps. The left their music makers behind. In other words they cried and gave in to the full expression of their depression. It can happen to the best of us. We get to thinking and forget to remember the powerful presence of our loving Divine Daddy. We can get into the woe is me and I can’t sing because there’s nothing to sing about. If you are here let me suggest you sing on credit. Sing not because of your situation but in spite of it. Sing because you know trouble don’t last always. Sing because over your head you hear the songs of the birds who sing even when they are caged. Sing because you know there is a GOD somewhere. Sing on credit, for in due season you will reap a harvest if you faint not.

PRAYER: LORD return to us the joy of our salvation we have so carelessly lost. In the midst of our pain erase our shame, and help us find our way back to you. Fix us where we are broken and heal us where we are hurting. continue to change our mourning into dancing we pray, AMEN

Point to Ponder: Write a song of defiant praise that you will sing in your most trying time. Encourage someone without judging them for needing encouragement.

 

 

Lent 2019 Day 37 “If We Must Die”

Thurs Apr 11

Psalm 131-133, 140, 142

Jeremiah 26:1-16

Romans 11:1-12

John 10:19-42

 If We Must Die

^{Jeremiah 26:4} Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: If you do not listen to me and follow my law, which I have set before you, ⁵ and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened), ⁶ then I will make this house like Shiloh and this city a curse^[a] among all the nations of the earth.’”

⁷ The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord. ⁸ But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the Lord had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized him and said, “You must die! 

^{Psalm 131:1} My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
² But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child I am content.

³ Israel, put your hope in the Lordboth now and forevermore.

Be careful. Drive safe. Eat right and exercise. Watch the company you keep… Daily the people in our lives who love us most will often encourage us to play it safe. We are admonished to take few risks, don’t poke hornets nests, and by all means stay away from danger. This is good caring advice, and yet, in the end, we all have a date with destiny that cannot be avoided. No matter what we do at some point we all die. We will all have our heart stop beating and our shell will be laid to rest for the last time. If we must die, and we must, how will we choose to live? How will we maximize each moment and fill it with meaning?

Jeremiah is faced with an unfortunate task. Jeremiah must be the bearer of bad news. This is an unenviable place to be especially in a day and time when shooting the messenger was in full effect. Jeremiah has a word from the LORD that not even the priests and prophets wanted to hear. Many faith leaders want to sugar coat the word of the LORD so they won’t face condemnation from the people. Many will play it safe and yet Jeremiah chooses GOD over personal glory. Jeremcteniah may have been connected with the Psalmist who wrote, I have calmed and quieted myself… I am content. Claude McKay penned this poem in response to the perilous situation African Americans were facing in 1919 due to numerous mob attacks by whites in what is often referred to as the “Red Summer”

If We Must Die

BY CLAUDE MCKAY

If we must die, let it not be like hogs

Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot,

While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs,

Making their mock at our accursèd lot.

If we must die, O let us nobly die,

So that our precious blood may not be shed

In vain; then even the monsters we defy

Shall be constrained to honor us though dead!

O kinsmen! we must meet the common foe!

Though far outnumbered let us show us brave,

And for their thousand blows deal one death-blow!

What though before us lies the open grave?

Like men we’ll face the murderous, cowardly pack,

Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!

As our Lenten season draws closer to its conclusion on Sunday, let us heed the words of the Psalmist, Put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore. If we must die, o let us nobly die.

Point to Ponder: What keeps you feeling safe? How valuable to you is that feeling? How will you respond to the inevitability of death? What will your legacy be?

Lent 2019 Day 26 “Wickedness”

Sun 4 Mar 31

am: Psalms 66, 67 pm: 19, 46

Jeremiah 14:1-9, 17-22

Galatians 4:21-5:1

Mark 8:11-21

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+66%2C+Psalm+67%2C+Psalm+19%2C+Psalm+46%2C+Jeremiah+14%3A1-9%2C+17-22%2C+Galatians+4%3A21-5%3A1%2C+Mark+8%3A11-21&version=NIV

^{Jeremiah 14:20} We acknowledge our wickedness, Lord,
and the guilt of our ancestors;
we have indeed sinned against you.
²¹ For the sake of your name do not despise us;
do not dishonor your glorious throne.
Remember your covenant with us
and do not break it.
²² Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain?
Do the skies themselves send down showers?
No, it is you, Lord our God.
Therefore our hope is in you,
for you are the one who does all this.

                                                              Wicked

Evil. Nefarious. Vicious. Wicked. These are not words we generally want to be associated with. If we run into a person with these attributes we instinctively turn in the other direction. To call or be called any of these words is never a compliment and is an indication something needs to be done. A change is in order. The world we live in has a flirtatious love affair with wickedness and evil. As I write right now my heart is heavy with the news of a young rapper named Nipsey Hussel who was gunned down today. Watching the nightly news highlights the condition of many in our world. When we see acts of violence and innocent children being locked up and taken from their parents we come face to face with evil. With as a backdrop very rarely will we be willing to confess our actions or behaviors as wicked. We like softer more gentle words to define our bad behavior, and this may be the problem. By not confronting our sin as wicked acts against a loving GOD, we minimize the motivation to address our actions.

The writer here in Jeremiah takes a different approach. The writer appears to have adopted the idea that one cannot erase what one will not face. Jeremiah calls it what it is, wickedness. Jeremiah says we acknowledge our wickedness and the guilt of our ancestors. The truth may be unpleasant at the time but a lie will only perpetuate itself. The season of Lent is a time to get real with who we have been. We must face how our action and inaction has caused harm to ourselves and others. If we are to grow closer to GOD we must make sure our hope remains in the GOD who is able to forgive us and give us life more glorious and abundant than we have ever imagined. Our hope remains that wickedness can be turned into worthiness as we face our faults and fears. This is either a launch pad to greatness or a landing strip to grovel. The choice is up to us.

Point to Ponder: What have you been unwilling to face about yourself? How has wickedness and sin affected your faith journey? Today how will you make a difference and combat wickedness in our society?