June 30. 2015: I John 13:34-35

I John 13:34-35

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Reflection:

“The Loving Heart lifts up the Christian as one of genuine relationships rooted in truth and love. I deeply believe that the only reason we can? ourselves in love to God and to others is because God first loved us. God loves us so much that he gave himself to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord. I John 4:19 states: “We love, because he first loved us.”  

A song that came to mind after reading this statement from Tim is “Here I am, Lord.” This should be a familiar tune to many.  The first line is, “I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry. All who dwell in dark and sin my hand will save.”   This demonstrates what a loving heart is. When we hear of those struggling, we reach out to help. This is an action of love. 

Reflection Questions:

When did you first feel loved?

How has God demonstrated how to love you?

Prayer

Lord, we are thankful for the ways in which You teach us to love. You hear our cries and You comfort us. Allow our hearts to be guided during this time to grow closer to You. Amen

June 29, 2015: James 2:9 - 11

James 2:9 - 11

“But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For the one who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.”

Accountability

In all of my years in education, I have always been a rule follower. I did my best to follow the rules. I can remember a few instances where I was called out for my behavior. When that happened, I felt horrible.  I would be so disappointed in myself and I became embarrassed.  I recall sitting in sixth period of English in 7^th grade. For some reason, the students had become unruly. Students were yelling and talking back to the teacher. I was mortified.  I did sit quietly by as this chaos unfolded around me. However, I didn’t really do anything to help the situation.  When the class got in trouble, I was disheartened by my classmate’s behavior. I knew and still know that I was not responsible, but when we sit idly by, we contribute.

This is partly why this part of the scripture can be difficult. It clearly states that if you fail to keep the whole law you are accountable for it all. Basically, there is no greater sin; all sin is equal. We often judge others for their behavior. We can quickly identify their transgressions. However, we must be alert and aware of our sins to become accountable.

Reflections

How have you been aware of your sins?

What are ways in which you can be held accountable for your actions?

How can you become closer in your walk with God?

Prayer: Forgiving God, we thank you that you hold us accountable to our ways. We give praise that you help us to see our transgressions and that we are able to forgive others around us. Please guide us to be aware of our sins today. Let us learn to be accountable for our actions. In your name we pray. Amen.

June 28, 2015: Psalm 113

Psalm 113

Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord;
    praise the name of the Lord.

² Blessed be the name of the Lord
    from this time on and forevermore.
³ From the rising of the sun to its setting
    the name of the Lord is to be praised.
⁴ The Lord is high above all nations,
    and his glory above the heavens.

⁵ Who is like the Lord our God,
    who is seated on high,
⁶ who looks far down
    on the heavens and the earth?
⁷ He raises the poor from the dust,
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
⁸ to make them sit with princes,
    with the princes of his people.
⁹ He gives the barren woman a home,
    making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!

Reflection: 

In the past month, I have had the good fortune of visiting two beautiful and inspiring church camps. One morning I woke up a little too early and sat on a bench overlooking Bear Creek Lake in Marianna, Arkansas. I pulled out my phone and opened my Bible app to this passage. I was struck by these words, “The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?” Looking over God’s creation, I was taken aback by the feeling that God was at once all around me and removed from me. I struggled to comprehend how God could be clinging to me like the humidity of that spring day and looking down from the heavens and the earth. It is incomprehensible. Instead of worrying about the details, I resigned to feeling of being wrapped in mystery and chose instead to pray and praise.

Reflection Questions:
Morning: Is there a place where you can sense God’s presence more than anywhere else? What does that feel like?
Noon: How do you wrestle with knowing God is both close and far?
Evening: In the midst of mystery, how will you chose to praise God today?

June 27, 2015: 2 Corinthians 6:1-14

2 Corinthians 6:1-14

6 As we work together with him,^[a] we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. ² For he says,

“At an acceptable time I have listened to you,
    and on a day of salvation I have helped you.”

See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! ³ We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, ⁴ but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, ⁵ beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; ⁶ by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, ⁷ truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; ⁸ in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; ⁹ as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

¹¹ We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. ¹² There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. ¹³ In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also.

Reflection:
At the end of his passage, Paul is urging for the Corinthians to open wide their hearts.  Their is such love and grace that is to be given to them, but they are some how closed off to this notion.  We look around our world today and maybe are reminded of the Corinthians.  We have seen such violence, hate, judgment, and more.  What if we allowed our hearts of stone be made for love alone. What might change in the world?  Maybe we aren't the ones who need to open our hearts, but we know of others who might need to.  As we witness such acts in our lives, maybe it's time that we urge our brothers and sisters to have their hearts open wide.  It is time.

Reflection Questions:
Morning:  How has your heart been open to God's love?
Noon: Are you ready to open your heart?
Evening: How can you help others to open their hearts? 

June 26, 2015: Psalm 98

Psalm 98

A psalm.

¹ Sing to the Lord a new song

because he has done

wonderful things!

His own strong hand

and his own holy arm

have won the victory!

² The Lord has made his salvation

widely known;

he has revealed his righteousness

in the eyes of all the nations.

³ God has remembered his loyal love

and faithfulness to the house of Israel;

every corner of the earth has seen

our God’s salvation.

⁴ Shout triumphantly to the Lord,

all the earth!

Be happy!

Rejoice out loud!

Sing your praises!

⁵ Sing your praises to the Lord

with the lyre—

with the lyre and the sound of music.

⁶ With trumpets and a horn blast,

shout triumphantly before the Lord,

the king!

⁷ Let the sea and everything in it roar;

the world and all its inhabitants too.

⁸ Let all the rivers clap their hands;

let the mountains rejoice out loud

altogether ⁹ before the Lord

because he is coming to establish

justice on the earth!

He will establish justice

in the world rightly;

he will establish justice

among all people fairly. ^[1]

Reflection: After completing a huge mission project with our church and the local community I was ecstatic! Many people told us it could not be done.  It would cost too much. No one would give that kind of money to a project they had never seen before.  It would take too much coordination with too many people. There is no way we would have enough volunteers.  The excuses were nearly endless.  However, a few people caught the vision.  They became enthusiastic. God spread their enthusiasm and one by one people began to get on board with our God-sized dream.  Eventually, we raised enough money and recruited more than enough volunteers.  The local newspaper and several TV stations got involved.  It was an amazing experience that changed the face of our church and community.

Reflection Questions:
Morning: How has God moved in unexpectedly amazing ways in your life?

Noon:  What is something that God is pulling you to do that scares you?

Evening:  How can you take that next step of faith towards your God given dream?

Prayer: Lord, may we praise you in the morning and in the evening.  May we remember all that you have done for us.  May we be a vessel of your love and an agent of your good news.

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^[1] Common English Bible (Nashville, TN: Common English Bible, 2011), Ps 98.

June 25, 2015: Psalm 34

Psalm 34

Of David, when he pretended to be crazy before Abimelech, who banished him so that he left.

א ¹ I will bless the Lord at all times;

his praise will always be in my mouth.

ב ² I praise the Lord—

let the suffering listen and rejoice.

ג ³ Magnify the Lord with me!

Together let us lift his name up high!

ד ⁴ I sought the Lord

and he answered me.

He delivered me from all my fears.

ה ⁵ Those who look to God will shine;

their faces are never ashamed.

ז ⁶ This suffering person cried out:

the Lord listened and saved him

from every trouble.

ח ⁷ On every side, the Lord’s messenger

protects those who honor God;

and he delivers them.

ט ⁸ Taste and see

how good the Lord is!

The one who takes refuge in him

is truly happy!

י ⁹ You who are the Lord’s holy ones,

honor him

because those who honor him

don’t lack a thing.

כ ¹⁰ Even strong young lions

go without and get hungry,

but those who seek the Lord

lack no good thing.

ל ¹¹ Come, children, listen to me.

Let me teach you

how to honor the Lord:

מ ¹² Do you love life;

do you relish the chance

to enjoy good things?

נ ¹³ Then you must keep your tongue

from evil

and keep your lips

from speaking lies!

ס ¹⁴ Turn away from evil! Do good!

Seek peace and go after it!

ע ¹⁵ The Lord’s eyes

watch the righteous,

his ears listen to their cries for help.

פ ¹⁶ But the Lord’s face is set against

those who do evil,

to eliminate even the memory of them

from the earth.

צ ¹⁷ When the righteous cry out,

the Lord listens;

he delivers them from all their troubles.

ק ¹⁸ The Lord is close

to the brokenhearted;

he saves those whose spirits

are crushed.

ד ¹⁹ The righteous have many problems,

but the Lord delivers them

from every one.

ש ²⁰ He protects all their bones;

not even one will be broken.

²¹ But just one problem

will kill the wicked,

and those who hate the righteous

will be held responsible.

²² The Lord saves his servants’ lives;

all those who take refuge in him

won’t be held responsible for anything. ^[1]

Reflection: I once joked about borrowing a friend's handicap placard so I could get a better parking spot at the store. Little did I realize how insensitive that was to my friend who really struggled with her disability. In many ways, she felt alone in the world. Most people did not understand her disability and how it affected her life.  Moreover, people tended to stare or make fun of her without getting to know her. This further alienated her from society.  However, my friend was also a constant reminder that even though she had a disability, God would use her. In the midst of my friend's pain, she took comfort in trusting God to put her in places and situations to share the love of Christ.

Reflection Questions:
Morning:  How can we respond differently when we feel like the world is out to get us?

Noon:  How can we offer hospitality to those who are different from us?

Evening:  In what ways can we partner with our disabled sisters and brothers to share the love of Christ?

Prayer: Lord, help me not to be self-centered.  Help me to see people through your eyes so that we can share your gospel together.

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^[1] Common English Bible (Nashville, TN: Common English Bible, 2011), Ps 34.

June 24, 2015: Ezekiel 34:11-16

Ezekiel 34:11-16

¹¹ The Lord God proclaims: I myself will search for my flock and seek them out. ¹² As a shepherd seeks out the flock when some in the flock have been scattered, so will I seek out my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered during the time of clouds and thick darkness. ¹³ I will gather and lead them out from the countries and peoples, and I will bring them to their own fertile land. I will feed them on Israel’s highlands, along the riverbeds, and in all the inhabited places. ¹⁴ I will feed them in good pasture, and their sheepfold will be there, on Israel’s lofty highlands. On Israel’s highlands, they will lie down in a secure fold and feed on green pastures. ¹⁵ I myself will feed my flock and make them lie down. This is what the Lord God says. ¹⁶ I will seek out the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the wounded, and strengthen the weak. But the fat and the strong I will destroy, because I will tend my sheep with justice. ^[1]

Reflection:

My brother recently lost his dog.  In the midst of loading the family into the car for a weekend event, his dog escaped. Him and his kids chased after it, but they could not catch it.  Unfortunately they lost sight and had to resume the search later.  For several days they looked for their little dog.  They posted signs on the street lights and went door to door asking their neighbors. Finally, several days later, someone called having found their dog.  They were so happy to be reunited and the dog was happy too. Jesus told several stories looking for his lost sheep and searching for those that wanted and needed to be found.  Jesus also said he was the good shepherd. For him, rescuing, feeding, and caring for his sheep were metaphors for taking care of God's children. I am always comforted to know that when I get lost, Jesus is there to lead me back to God.  I am always challenged to remember that I too am an agent of God's love when I seek, find, help, feed, and care for the lost sheep of Jesus.

Reflection Questions: 
Morning: What does it mean to you to know that Jesus is consumed with finding, caring for, and loving you?

Noon:  What is something you lost that consumed you when you looked for it?

Evening:  How does it bring levity to your perspective when you consider that God wants justice through our service to those who need Jesus?

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember that you are always calling me closer to you, so that I too can help lead others to know you.

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^[1] Common English Bible (Nashville, TN: Common English Bible, 2011), Eze 34:11–16.