Looking for an earlier Watchword?
- Trust - Trust: Jesus tells us to trust Him and not to be afraid, despite the many things in our lives that feel out of our control. We don’t find it easy to adapt to ‘new normals’. I know because, although I have lived at in my retirement community for 14 years, five days ago I left that apartment for a place in the Manor, in some ways it was exciting, while in other ways I felt slightly out of kilter. Old comfort zones were left behind and new ones had to be established over time. So many of you have experienced just that kind of transition. Continue reading
- At Jesus’ Feet – Part 2 - At Jesus' Feet - Part 2: Yesterday was Pentecost, the 49th day from Easter. The infilling of the Holy Spirit, equipping the disciples, and us, to be the eyes, the voice and the hands of the Lord. Our faith journeys are many and varied, but each one is led by that Holy Spirit. Yesterday we considered the walk that Mark followed to discipleship. Today, let’s consider the journey followed by others that helped transform God’s Will into our own path to belief. Biblical facts mixed with a bit of fiction: Capernaum, on the Sea of Galilee. The four boys had lived in the city all their lives, and had grown up to become fisherman, in partnership with their fathers. It was a good life, they made an adequate living. Continue reading
- At Jesus’ Feet – Part 1 - At Jesus' Feet - Part 1: Imagine you are in Jerusalem, at the house of Mary. She’s expecting Jesus and his friends to arrive soon, and she is preparing a simple meal. She’s looking forward to this time together, it is always a good evening, filled with stories and humor. And here they are, Jesus and many of his disciples and followers, they smile as they file in and make themselves at home in the gathering room. They have been here many times, using Mary’s house life a fellowship hall, a church. These times together follow a comfortable routine, because everyone likes the easy way Jesus has of relating to all those present and they like what he has to say and they listen. It will be later when we understand fully those conversations; friendly, full of humor and lessons in life are from not a man but God himself. But who do you say I am? You are the Messiah. Continue reading
- Abide with Me - Abide with Me: I think too often when we hear that phrase ‘be strong and of good courage’ we may think of action heroes coming to the rescue, saving us from really bad things, at the very last moment. But it is God saying to us to abide in his word and not lose faith, He will walk with us through our present Jordan. As believers in Jesus Christ we need to allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit than to reach out with courage and compassion tor others who are suffering through this time. We cannot do this on our own, that’s the reality of our frailty. But we can do it with Jesus who will give us the strength. Continue reading
- In Memoriam - In Memoriam: Memorial Day for our nation. The reality is that we have been, and still are, a warring nation. We just can’t seem to stay at peace for very long. Our reasons for going to war always seem plausible at the time and at other times we are misled. One has to wonder how long this nation can continue to be the world’s peacekeeper? And yet, we are a country founded “under God” and supremely gifted by our benevolent Lord with the wealth and resources to love in practical ways that moves toward peace, God’s peace. May it be so for our children, and their children. Continue reading
- Be Still and Know - Be Still and Know: Be still and know that I am God, is a marvelous statement of spiritual truth. A beautiful blend of passive and active voice, eight words providing direction and purpose. What follows is…you sense the voice of God, speaking from the depths of your being, “Be still so that you can hear my voice,” that wee small voice that nudges us along, that seems to be coming from within, or perhaps echoes of a loved one speaking to you from a distance, or a remembrance. Continue reading
- I Am a Servant - I Am a Servant: The words of Mary on being told that she was highly favored and blessed among women to have the honor of bearing the savior within her womb. Don’t miss the broader truth, that this privilege, extended to all of us for bearing the word, may come with difficult times, with inconvenience, even pain. There is no place of privilege in the kingdom of God that is not also a place of special suffering. Continue reading
- If It’s Not There - If It’s Not There: Jesus’ parables are stories like the one about the Sower, the scatterer of seeds. The seed is the Word of God, and when planted on ‘good soil’, or the receptive heart, the life-bearing seed grows steadily and produces gifts without any human effort. This is the unseen work of God – a work of grace. Only God makes the seed grow, but it must be planted, and in that regard, we are all farmers. In our life stories, there is a whole packet of God’s seeds. We don’t always have those written in story form or in devotionals or books, but they are written all over our lives. Continue reading
- A Dialog with Jesus - A Dialog with Jesus: And Jesus says, just keep in touch. Don’t worry about the Prayers, they will come. The important thing is the communication, it’s the human, I created, reaching out to Me. Don’t worry about the Prayers, they will come. In My own time, they will come. Stay tuned, always stay tuned to Me, the Lord and your fellow man. Do not lose touch. Don’t worry about the Prayers, they will come as inspiration springs from thoughts and calls and compliments and criticisms, from feelings, from isolation and loneliness, and even from a loss, for, My Child, I know all of this. So, don’t worry about the Prayers, they will come. Continue reading
- Do Not Fear - Do Not Fear: In times like these, it is easy to let fear grip our hearts and occupy our minds. What we heard last night in the latest news, garners even more fear, if we let it. You know, much of it is fear of the unknown. That kind of fear fills our mind, too much of the time. We need to remember these important truths: God is with us, God is for us, God is in charge and God loves us. His voice continues to instruct us: do not be afraid. Brothers and sisters, we are not alone. When the storm rages all around us, and darkness seems to close in, he offers us peace and refuge in the midst of it. He promises us hope and strength. Proverbs 3:5 is a true watchword: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Continue reading
- Forgot Your Password? - Forgot Your Password?:Have you seen that question -- "Forgot your password"? Probably not more than three thousand times! You want to get into one of YOUR accounts? Accessed denied! What’s your password? Forgot your password? That denial and the accompanied question causes a flicker of frustration for me. How about you? The protocols (the password) for entering that part of the tabernacle, beyond the curtain, called the Most Holy Place, were a bit more elaborate. The penalty for getting this "password" wrong? DEATH! Continue reading
- Walking on Dark Waters - Walking in Darkness: Do you remember, eight years ago, 2018, when 12 boys from Thailand, along with their soccer coach, descended into a cavern intending to have an afternoon of exploring and adventure? There was an unexpected rising of water that forced them deeper and deeper into the cavern and It would be 17 days later before rescuers could lead them out. The prophet Isaiah described a world of darkness, one overrun by violence and greed, shattered by rebellion. Hope was fading, and yet Isaiah insisted that this growing despair was not the end of it. His belief rested on God’s mercy there would be no more gloom for those who are in distress. He was convinced that God would never abandon his people in the face of this darkness. Continue reading
- Fellow Water-Walkers - Fellow Water-Walkers: The Matthew passage is an amazing story of shaky faith on the part of the disciples. Think about this; they were fresh from the feeding of thousands from virtually nothing, and yet they doubted. They had witnessed healings of lepers, sight and sanity restored. Yet, they doubted. Not only that, but Peter underscores their doubt by saying “if it is you, tell me to come.” So, Peter calls on Jesus to let him come to him on the water, and He does. Is it that Peter wants proof that it is the Lord? But after a step or two he gets scared, his faith leaks out, and he panics. “Lord, save me.” Note, Peter now calls him “Lord”. He realizes who Jesus is, but still he was not all in, he had some tentativeness, some doubt. He did have “little faith”. Darn that Peter! Oh, wait a minute. Darn, Peter? How about darn you and I? Continue reading
- Water Walking - Water Walking: The men in the boat were experienced, and yet the change in the wind, and the roughing of the sea caused great concern. Then they saw Jesus walking toward them, on the waves. Peter called out, “If that is you, Lord, let me come to you.” Water-walking, risk taking, trying something new are all best done in the trusting embrace of our Lord. How about the start of a new day? Yes. How about worry? An awareness of all that you must do, and how will you get it all done? The water is rising all the way up to your chin, and the waves are getting higher, and you simply don’t know what to do. Then you remember the “Escape Clause”. Continue reading
- My Cup Overflows - Drinking from My Saucer: I had never heard this song nor read these lyrics until recently when they were sent to me by a friend. It touched me so deeply, that I want to share it as the meditation for today. Too often we take the blessings that flow to each of us from our Lord, and move on to the next challenge of life without the recognition of whose we are and how loved we are, and how His graces affect our lives: I've never made a fortune, It's probably too late now, Oh, but I don't worry about that much, 'Cause I'm happy anyhow. As I go along life's journey, I'm reaping better than I sow. I'm drinking from my saucer, 'Cause my cup has overflowed. Continue reading
- Power of Rest - Power of Rest: I think we underestimate the power of ‘rest’. We are not designed for 24-hour non-stop thinking, or working or even creating. God gave us a clear model of that when He set aside a day of rest. I have heard any number of sermons based on the need for us to recharge our batteries, to set aside worries, and to make a fresh start. To be clear, “rest” in the midst of struggles we all face, is not really the point. Yes, we have exhausted ourselves at times, and find ourselves separated from our comfort zones, but what “breaks” or times of rest have you practiced in order ro restore and to recharge? Your rest is part of God's plan for your life. Pay attention to it, it's important to honor your rest which is honoring God. Continue reading
- Are We Lost? - Are We Lost? I don’t believe that spiritual discernment is a single thing, an isolated act, or a change in broad behavior. Or even a change of heart, or a change of mind. Spiritual discernment is all of those things, and so much more. In some ways, spiritual discernment is a bit like the learning process. When you know that you should do something, and you do it, you realize that you know more, that you understand more fully a situation, or a person, or yourself, or where the Lord is leading you. Too often, I believe, that if we were to examine closely, where our spiritual walk was not a central focus of our belief, we would find that it might track back to something that we should have done, but failed, because, at the time, there didn’t seem to be an immediate call for our involvement. Continue reading
- I’m a Mermaid, Deal with It! - I'm a Mermaid, Deal with It! Robert Fulgham describes in his little book All I Really Need to Know I learned in Kindergarten a confident 5-year-old girl's question. The little girl asked, “Where do the mermaids go?” When he explained, that there was no mermaid category, she asserted, “You may believe that only giants, wizards, & ogres exist, but you are wrong. I am a mermaid! Deal with it!” I wonder what thoughts have occurred to us, when we have felt lost, out in a desert, or possibly out on the ocean, where the familiar, and the comfortable no longer can be seen. Or, you simply don't fit in, a mermaid amid giants. And you wonder, is this part of God's plan for me? If it is, I need Help, God. Continue reading
- Our Failures - Our Failures: Jesus is not praying for us in our success! He is praying for us in our failures! Wow. What a statement! Do you believe that? Jesus is rejoicing in the success He sees in our lives, which is different than the success we may aspire to, and the success He sees in us does not surprise Him. He has equipped us for that success, He has foreordained that we would succeed. So, in our equipping and in the foreordaining, He has set the stage for what would follow…our success through His will. Continue reading
- Our Father God - Our Father God: Our Heavenly Father has a love for us, His children, that is unmatched. All the heavens and earth were created with us in mind. He wanted a beautiful place for His family of mankind. He provides everything we need and much of what we want. He cares about every aspect of our lives: our health, our family, our life’s work, hobbies, dreams, and even our desires. Father God not only loves us in church, He loves us wherever we are. He loves what we do and what we become. He watches over us while we sleep and wakes us up every morning to start a new day in His love! Continue reading
