A bit of scripture, short meditations and stories, prayers, news and maybe a touch of humor.
3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians10:3-5 Continue reading
Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
39b Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” 41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:39b-42
1 This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. […] 5 Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city.6 And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant. Jonah 4:1,5-6 Continue reading
1 In the beginning God sang the heavens and the earth into existence.] 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was singing over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God sang, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. Then he sang division, separating the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day that God sang into existence. Genesis 1:1-5 Leonard Bernstein Version.
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 32:7 NIV
Sounds of Silence
Granted, Leonard Bernstein Version is not a recognized version of the Bible, yet I believe that Bernstein would support the wording of Genesis 1. He believed that ‘sang’ was a better translation than ‘said’ in this Genesis passage. Friedrich Nietzsche said that without music life would be miserable, in fact life would not exist at all. I agree with both statements. Do you?
Mark Batterson, in his book, A Million Little Miracles, said this: “God sang the universe into existence, and it’s that song that sustains the universe. That first song – “Let there be light” – is still creating galaxies at the edge of the universe. But wait – there’s more. God rejoices over us with singing, Zephaniah 3:17. God is singing songs of deliverance all around us all the time! Psalm 32:7 These songs may be inaudible to human ears, but that doesn’t make them any less real.”
But I wonder if we missed the songs of God because we choose not to listen. If we believe God created the universe, and yet God is a personal spirit within us, why are we not listening carefully to the murmurings that come to us during our time with God, whenever we sit and surrender to the Lord, even in silence. I wonder if we sometimes miss the Spirit speaking to us in the words and music of secular songs, the beauty of art, and the majesty in scenes of nature. Do we miss the deeper meaning, the impact that each has on us?
Do you remember the 1967 movie The Graduate, starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft? The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel was one of the songs featured. “Hello darkness, my old friend I’ve come to talk with you again because a vision softly creeping left its seeds while I was sleeping and the vision that was planted in my brain still remains, within the sound of silence.”
I am fairly sure that Paul Simon did not intend to communicate a spiritual message in the lyrics, and yet, when I read the words and hear the music, I do sense a spiritual message. Darkness is our personal sadness, our separation from God that keeps returning as we slip from His presence. The “vision” is the Spirit of the Lord planting seeds, ‘I am with you, I am with you. Be at peace.‘within us, speaking loud and clear in the sounds of silence. In our meditations, our Bible readings, do we allow the silence to surround us, to assure us, to enclose us in His Peace? God speaking in the silence of our time with Him.
— Stan
Sing to God a brand-new song. He’s made a world of wonders! He rolled up his sleeves, He set things right. God made history with salvation, He showed the world what he could do. He remembered to love us, a bonus To his dear family, Israel—indefatigable love. The whole earth comes to attention. Look—God’s work of salvation!
May the sounds of silence be the language of the Holy Spirit, always leading us, always there for us, surrounding us, never leaving us to the darkness. Help us to listen with our hearts, we pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Create in us a clean heart oh God, and renew a right spirit within us! Psalm 51:10
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:17-18 Continue reading
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11
37 On the last day of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart. John 7:37-38 Continue reading
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So, when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.” Psalm 32:8-9
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you
Making the Team
In high school, I learned that I made the basketball team! I had worked hard and had made it! As the first game of the season approached, I was thrilled to know that I would start! A couple of errant passes, a missed layup and a foul, and I found myself on the bench. Crushed!
While in college, I had aspirations of becoming an actor. I auditioned for a part in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and was cast in the role of Sebastian, one of the male leads. A few years later, in another city, I auditioned with the local Civic Theater for a role in Bus Stop, and was cast in in the role of Beauregard ‘Bo Decker, the male lead. My “aspirations” were encouraged.
Still later, while playing the role of Horace Vandergelder in Hello Dolly! I discovered a major flaw in my plans. There is a point in the play where my character rushes out on to the stage to make an important pronouncement. I made my entrance but for the life of me I could not recall my lines! I stood center stage for what seemed like an eternity, until a fellow cast member started feeding me my lines, and the play went on. However, the damage was done. My confidence was shaken. My aspirations faded away, the Oscar disappeared into the dust of my embarrassment!
I believe we all experience missed opportunities, disappointments, and times when we failed to meet our goal. How do we get through those times? Sometimes it is a mind-set, or perhaps it is a conviction that this is all part of God’s plan for our lives. The resume’ of our strength and weaknesses, our talents, our limitations are all gifts from God. We are not living someone else’s resume’, we are living our own. We just need to embrace it.
Here are some truths: We are not auditioning, we already have the part in God’s Master Play. We are not trying to make the team, we are on God’s Team. We need not wait for God’s Gifts, they are already ours. We need not try to earn God’s Love, we already have His Love.
So, what are you going to do? You are living out God’s plan, with the gifts He has given you, with the assurance that His love will never fail you. So, what have you dared? Do you step outside your comfort zone with confidence? You may have forgotten your lines for the moment, and may not be sure of which way to go, stage right or stage left, but listen very carefully, for God is prompting you, and showing you the way.
Talking to God is a really good plan, right? Even these bumps in the road that we are all experiencing, they are all part of God’s plan for each of our lives. You know He welcomes conversations with us. He’s listening right now, are we? May God bless us.
— Stan
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6.
Heavenly father, you know every decision that I need to make every challenge I face please forgive me for the times I try to figure this life out on my own. I need you. I need your Holy Spirit to give me strength wisdom and direction for today.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your guidance. Forgive me for getting ahead of Your plans, and help me know when to stop and listen for Your direction. Your ways are perfect, Lord. Thank You for offering gentle grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
33 When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. 35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” 40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:33-43 Continue reading
10 This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:10-14a.
16He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters. 17 He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. Psalm 18:16-17 Continue reading
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Ephesians 4:7
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7
The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17
Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you 1 Timothy 4:1 Continue reading
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Ephesians 4:7
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17
Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you. 1 Timothy 4:1 Continue reading
10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:10-15 NIV Continue reading
