A bit of scripture, short meditations and stories, prayers, news and maybe a touch of humor.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, and the people he chose for his inheritance. Psalm 33:12
1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior. Timothy 2:1-3 Continue reading
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. John 4:7
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13
Christ-Centered Person
I share with you a meditation I originally posted in a July 2020 Watchword. This bit of poetry by Gertrude Roberts Rays touches a responsive chord in describing a truly Christ-centered person. As you read this, feel the meaning behind the words, and be blessed.
He Met Me in the Quiet Village
He met me in the quiet village street—
And stopped and stood and talked a while—
Did lend himself entire to me. Moments fleet
Raced by! He taught me how to be a Friend.
He led me in my groping to a King,
And in his meek simplicity I caught
A soul-illumined likeness of the thing
That men call love in his own person wrought.
He lifted me to the eternal crystal height
Where he abode from early morn ‘til late,
The while he walked the earth with kindly might
In quiet gentleness that makes men great.
My Friend, my Teacher, Prophet, God-filled Man—
A Masterpiece in life’s unfolding plan.
Isn’t that a beautiful and blessed piece of poetry. As you read that, prayer-like, you can almost get caught up in the presence of God. For me the phrase “He taught me how to be a Friend”, brought tears of wonder. And “…he walked the earth with kindly might in quiet gentleness that makes men great” should cause the poet in each of us to pause and ponder that truth.
In the interest of honesty, I found that prose as the dedication in a little book entitled What He Lived By, honoring Edward Increase Bosworth, Dean of The Oberlin Graduate School of Theology. Dean Bosworth was my dad’s favorite professor in Seminary in the early part of the 1920s. The book, compiled in 1931, is a collection of Bosworth’s prayers. My dad honored me by giving me the good Dean’s name.
Dad only spoke to me once about Dean Bosworth. As a child, I never knew why I had that name, I wondered and, at time, resented it because in my young mind it was hard to spell and Stanley was hard enough! The answer came in 1974 when he gave this little book, and told me that Dean Bosworth was the greatest man of God that he ever knew. That is when my pique turned into pride.
“He taught me how to be a friend.” How do you teach that? What are the nuances of that process that results in learning that Grace?
A few years ago, I wrote an essay entitled “Not by Accident” where I explored that process, that means of communicating and teaching those graces that make a person of God. In that essay I asked, how do we teach love, or faith, or trust, or generosity, or compassion? I then made the following observation:
“We learn compassion because we have seen it in action. We have watched those that we love and respect, reach out to others and make a difference. We learn love, perhaps, because we have felt it, and because it was part and partial of our lives from our earliest remembrances. We learn trust because we have relied on it and it did not disappoint. We learn about faith because of the model that was right there in front of us as we grew up, and then it became our own.”
I think that is part of how we embrace those qualities, but it is not complete. The qualities that make for a Christian are God-given graces. We don’t earn them, we don’t copy them, we don’t need to define them, we just need to act them out: Go and make disciples, do likewise, love as I have loved you, to name just a few of Christ’s lessons.
Who were your models growing up? Were you aware of the affect they were having on you? How have you passed those on? Whether we are conscious of them or not we do pass on, both the good and the bad, the language and the habits, our little idiosyncrasies, speech mannerisms, and on down a very long list, all of which get passed on, in one form or another, to those who look up to us, who have counted on us.
I have had occasion to think about Dean Bosworth, and what his qualities were that impressed my dad and so many others. I read many of his prayers and I can imagine him standing in front of his class teaching, sometimes theology, sometimes humor, always Christ.
Oswald Chambers reminds us — “It is not your duty to go the second mile, or to turn the other cheek, but Jesus said that if we are His disciples, we will always do these things.” He went on to explain that we cannot imitate the very nature of Jesus, it is either in you or it is not. The point is, in those given situations, we might ask ourselves, what would Jesus do? But, if you have Jesus, then you already know the answer. Amen.
God of love and mercy, embrace all those whose hearts today overflow with grief, unanswered questions and such a sense of loss. Grant them space to express their tears. Hold them close through the coming days. Help them, Lord, to feel the intimate closeness of Your Presence. These prayers we offer in the Name of Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid, you are more valuable to God than I whole flock of sparrows. Luke 12:7
Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 16:31 Continue reading
2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. […] 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. James 3:2, 7-10
I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me. Jeremiah 33:8 Continue reading
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. Psalm 19:1-2
Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the Earth you have set your glory above the heavens. When I consider the work of your fingers, the moon, and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him. Psalm 8:1,3-4. Continue reading
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Commentary: How is it possible to obey this instruction to give thanks in all circumstances, especially when our circumstances are defined by discouragement that seems to surround us? What fuels thanksgiving when life seems to herald darkness? There is only one way, and Jesus tells us — I am the way and the truth and the life… John 14:6. Continue reading
He Is Your Life — So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ. Colossians 3:1-4 The Message
Commentary: In Colossians 3, Paul begins a section where he focuses on practical Christian living, with a clear understanding that practical Christian living is built on the foundation of theological truth. Because we believe in the Resurrection, the FACT of the Resurrection, and we identify with Him. In that divine security we can step forward in confidence. ‘Come, follow Me’.
8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. James 4:8
Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23-42
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 Continue reading
46 Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. 47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” 48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” So, they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” 50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
52 Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road. Mark 10:46-52 Continue reading
10 I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased and i know how to abound. 11I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself in. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation, whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty or want; 13 for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power. Philippians 4:11-13. Living Bible Continue reading
1 The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” 5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. 9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”
11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him. John 2:1-11 Continue reading
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8
But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48 Continue reading
