A bit of scripture, short meditations and stories, prayers, news and maybe a touch of humor.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. John 16:22
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1 Continue reading
4 He had to go through Samaria on the way, 5-6 and around noon as he approached the village of Sychar, he came to Jacob’s Well, located on the parcel of ground Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jesus was tired from the long walk in the hot sun and sat wearily beside the well. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus asked her for a drink. 8 He was alone at the time as his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. 9 The woman was surprised that a Jew would ask a “despised Samaritan” for anything—usually they wouldn’t even speak to them!—and she remarked about this to Jesus.
10 He replied, “If you only knew what a wonderful gift God has for you, and who I am, you would ask me for some living water!” 11 “But you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this is a very deep well! Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, are you greater than our ancestor Jacob?” John 4:4-12 Continue reading
1 Later on, God tested Abraham’s faith and obedience. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes, Lord?” he replied. 2 “Take with you your only son—yes, Isaac whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah and sacrifice him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I’ll point out to you!” 3 The next morning Abraham got up early, chopped wood for a fire upon the altar, saddled his donkey, and took with him his son Isaac and two young men who were his servants, and started off to the place where God had told him to go. 4 On the third day of the journey Abraham saw the place in the distance. 5 “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the young men, “and the lad and I will travel yonder and worship, and then come right back.” 6 Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering upon Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the knife and the flint for striking a fire. So, the two of them went on together. Continue reading
God’s Revelation to Elijah: 11 The Lord said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings19:11-12
Cinco de Mayo!
Cinco de Mayo, everybody! Time to celebrate! Drink up! Oh, what are we celebrating? Nothing, really. This is the day celebrated by bartenders everywhere! The distilleries are alive with music. Some believe that we celebrate Mexican independence. No, that is in September. Then what? The Virgin Mary? No. How about Kahlo? Or Hidalgo? Or Juarez? No, no, and no. What then? Tequila! Drink up!
Is this a false holiday? Maybe, depends of how you look at it. Maybe celebrating a day, any day, is a good thing. Which is more important? The day, or the celebration?
Many of us have had the experience of the Cursillo Weekend, and have come away with a powerful, uplifting spirit, as we embrace or re-embrace our faith in Christ. That is a good thing. But, we must realize, the experience is not the spirit, the experience is simply the door through which the Spirit comes into our conscious level so that we are aware of what has taken place at a much deeper level of our being. Did you follow that? Celebration is good, but the Spirit is better.
When I was 39 or so, I was a strong Christian, or so I thought. Then, I got some wake up calls; the threat of bankruptcy, increasing stress with teenage kids, etc. etc. Somewhere in the midst of all that chaos I was confronted with the fallibility of what I considered my faith. Then I had “the experience”. Through some people’s influence and some circumstance, I had a ‘born again experience’. Celebrate!
From that point on, when I would speak about my faith journey, I would highlight that ‘born again experience’ as proof that I was, indeed, a strong Christian, or so I thought.
I was ‘out of kilter’. I was telling my story wrong! The feeling of being born again is not the transforming experience. What makes the transformation is the great thought of God behind the experience. The purpose of our stories, telling our faith journeys, isn’t us, you and me. The purpose is to convey the Good News. That powerful feeling of being born again? Maybe a Cursillo high? The cacophony all around us?That is just the celebration, announcing the Good News! Listen carefully to the “still. small voice” within, the voice of God, the Holy Spirit. Amen.
From our Poet Laureate Mac McKinley:
Of God and Man
Down to the sea I go, to read a book and rest my soul.
I sit and read and read then read some more, until at last my eyes grow weary.
I pause and watch as endless people trod to and fro;
each intent upon making their footprints upon the sand.
As if to say, “Look at me God, I exist, I belong, here I am.”
Slowly, surely the incoming tide laps at the shore; like a hungry cat at her bowl.
The setting sun signals retreat to the comfort of hearth and home.
During much of the night wind and rain did blow.
I arise before the sun and return to the shore to find a clean, unmarked, pristine sand.
I stand and muse at mankind’s feeble attempt to change God’s eternal plan.
Praying Psalm 46 – Heavenly Father, you are our refuge and our strength in the face of the trouble that surrounds us. Because we rest in that truth, we will not fear. Though everything that we thought we knew and found comfort in has changed, though all those things we felt were so important, no long are of great value. Though trouble, not of our making, draws closer and seems to be overtaking us, sweeping us into the unknown, we are not afraid. We know the Truth and the Light that overcomes this present darkness. That Truth is You, Lord. That Light is You, Lord. We are Yours, Heavenly Father, and because of that Truth, we know You are the Way. We give it all to You, Lord, in the name of Your Son, Jesus, The Christ. Amen.
(An earlier version of this Watchword was posted on May 5, 2020.)
22 But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control; and here there is no conflict with Jewish laws.24 Those who belong to Christ have nailed their natural evil desires to his cross and crucified them there. 25 If we are living now by the Holy Spirit’s power, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Then we won’t need to look for honors and popularity, which lead to jealousy and hard feelings. Galatians 5:22-26 Continue reading
Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will give you strength, and for sure I will help you. Yes, I will hold you up with My right hand that is right and good. Isaiah 41:10
Have I not told you? Be strong and have strength of heart! Do not be afraid or lose faith. For the Lord your God is with you anywhere you go.” Joshua 1:9 Continue reading
1 I may be able to speak the languages of men and even of angels, but if I do not have love, it will sound like noisy brass. 2 If I have the gift of speaking God’s Word and if I understand all secrets, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I know all things and if I have the gift of faith so I can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give everything I have to feed poor people and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, it will not help me.
4 Love does not give up. Love is kind. Love is not jealous. Love does not put itself up as being important. Love has no pride. 5 Love does not do the wrong thing. Love never thinks of itself. Love does not get angry. Love does not remember the suffering that comes from being hurt by someone. 6 Love is not happy with sin. Love is happy with the truth. 7 Love takes everything that comes without giving up. Love believes all things. Love hopes for all things. Love keeps on in all things. 8 Love never comes to an end. The gift of speaking God’s Word will come to an end. The gift of speaking in special sounds will be stopped. The gift of understanding will come to an end. 9 For we only know a part now, and we speak only a part. 10 When everything is perfect, then we will not need these gifts that are not perfect.
11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child. I thought like a child. I understood like a child. Now I am a man. I do not act like a child anymore. 12 Now that which we see is as if we were looking in a broken mirror. But then we will see everything. Now I know only a part. But then I will know everything in a perfect way. That is how God knows me right now. 13 And now we have these three: faith and hope and love, but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Continue reading
I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands.” Daniel 9:4
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13 Continue reading
37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. Matthew 10:37-39
My old self has been crucified with Christ, It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So, I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 Continue reading
Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out. Proverbs 17:14
24 Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, 25 or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul. Proverbs 22:24-25
Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs. Proverbs 19:11
23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. Matthew 5:23-24 Continue reading
9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. John 15:9-10 Continue reading
1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:1-5 Continue reading
