August 24, 2015: Luke 9:28-36

Luke 9:28-36

Passage:

²⁸ About eight days after Jesus said these things, he took Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray. ²⁹ As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed and his clothes flashed white like lightning. ³⁰ Two men, Moses and Elijah, were talking with him. ³¹ They were clothed with heavenly splendor and spoke about Jesus’ departure, which he would achieve in Jerusalem. ³² Peter and those with him were almost overcome by sleep, but they managed to stay awake and saw his glory as well as the two men with him.

³³ As the two men were about to leave Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it’s good that we’re here. We should construct three shrines: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—but he didn’t know what he was saying. ³⁴ Peter was still speaking when a cloud overshadowed them. As they entered the cloud, they were overcome with awe.

³⁵ Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my chosen one. Listen to him!” ³⁶ Even as the voice spoke, Jesus was found alone. They were speechless and at the time told no one what they had seen. ^[1]

Reflection: I often wonder what it was like to follow Jesus around the countryside. It seems like he was always on the move. In fact, following the scripture narrative, he moved from place to place to place each time with a different purpose. He was often called upon to heal someone.  Sometimes, he travelled just to meet others. A lot of his ministry took place on a seemingly continuous journeys back and forth between Nazareth and Jerusalem. That 140 plus kilometer trek normally took at least three days.

Walking all day can be exhausting, then mix in all the crazy things that happened.  The amazing miracles, the constant demand of people's attention, the opposition of the religious and political leaders.  It's enough to make one exhausted.

It seems like Jesus' disciples were always trying to take a nap. Some may have even claimed they were lazy. Considering all the traveling and adventure, it's no wonder the disciples were tired. They usually found the most inopportune times to take a nap. Jesus transfiguration, the feeding of the five thousand, and in the Garden of Gethsemane come to mind. Each time, Jesus was doing something or preparing to do something amazing. In this instance, in the middle of their fatigue, God spoke to them. Maybe that's why it is so important that we take time to rest and just listen to God.

Reflection Questions:
Morning: How can you find a quiet place to listen to God?

Noon: In what ways does God give you rest?

Evening:  How can you prioritize your life to take time to listen to God, rest, and meet the obligations of your family, church, job, and school?

Prayer: Lord, help us to find our rest in you.  Speak to us so that we may hear your words in a way that leads us into your life.

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^[1] Common English Bible (Nashville, TN: Common English Bible, 2011), Lk 9:28–36.

August 23, 2015: Ephesians 6:10-20

Ephesians 6:10-20

¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. ¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹²For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. ¹⁵As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.¹⁶With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.

¹⁹Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak. 

Reflection:

                As you grow up and read the Bible you hear stories of people standing up for God and being courageous prophets: Elijah, Daniel, David, Esther, Moses, Paul and the early church. These people risked everything to proclaim God's Word, worship God, and protect the people of God. While these stories are inspiring, I often cannot relate. I have not risked life and limb to proclaim the Word of God, as a Christian in the United States do not risk losing my job, being ostracized, or imprisonment as Paul and the early church did. How can I "wear the armor of God?"

                The metaphor of the armor of God is not limited to fighting persecution or dying for one's faith. The armor represents boldness, truth, righteousness, salvation, and prayer. We can practice these things at all times and in all places. As you get dressed this morning, think about truth, righteousness, faith, and prayer. Remember that are physical bodies are gifts from God and can be a tool for God's work.

Questions:

1. How can I declare the gospel boldly?

2. In what ways do I avoid being bold concerning my faith?

3. How can I use myself as an instrument of God's work in the world?

 
Prayer: Triune God, Thank you for your many blessings in my life; help me to use these blessing, including my feet, hands, arms and legs, as tools for your work in the world. In Jesus' name. Amen.

August 22, 2015: 2 Peter 1:16-19

2 Peter 1:16-19

Passage:

¹⁶ We didn’t repeat crafty myths when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Quite the contrary, we witnessed his majesty with our own eyes. ¹⁷ He received honor and glory from God the Father when a voice came to him from the magnificent glory, saying, “This is my dearly loved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.” ¹⁸ We ourselves heard this voice from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. ¹⁹ In addition, we have a most reliable prophetic word, and you would do well to pay attention to it, just as you would to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. ²⁰ Most important, you must know that no prophecy of scripture represents the prophet’s own understanding of things, ²¹ because no prophecy ever came by human will. Instead, men and women led by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. ^[1]

Reflection:

Have you ever experienced something amazing and told someone about it? It seems like when that happens, there are always those who doubt what you said or did.  Not only do they doubt you, but they make up an arguments as to why what you did or said was false. Then, when you were able to prove yourself right, you might have been tempted to say "Ha! Told you so!" and maybe even shame them a little.

Here, Peter is recounting the time of Jesus' transfiguration.  He was there!  He saw it happen with his own two eyes!  He experienced hearing the voice of God tell him whom Jesus was and is. It certainly had an impact on his life and after Jesus' ascension he was compelled to let others know exactly what he knew about Jesus.

Yet, instead of shaming people, he tells them it would be pointless to make this stuff up. That humans do not dictate what God does.  Rather, it would be a good idea for us to listen to what he has to say so that we could understand the will of God. He encourages them to prove what he says is true and in doing so, they may discover for themselves the power and love of God through the Holy Spirit.

Reflection Questions:
Morning:  Does your life reflect that you fully trust in God?

Noon:  How can you fully trust in God today?

Evening:  How can you encourage others to fully trust in God?

Prayer:  Lord, help us to trust in you. Help us to hear your words and believe them so that we may life with your light in our life.

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^[1] Common English Bible (Nashville, TN: Common English Bible, 2011), 2 Pe 1:16–21.

August 21, 2015: Song of Solomon 2:8-13

Song of Solomon 2:8-13
The voice of my beloved!
    Look, he comes,
leaping upon the mountains,
    bounding over the hills.
My beloved is like a gazelle
    or a young stag.
Look, there he stands
    behind our wall,
gazing in at the windows,
    looking through the lattice.
My beloved speaks and says to me:
“Arise, my love, my fair one,
    and come away;
for now the winter is past,
    the rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth;
    the time of singing has come,
and the voice of the turtledove
    is heard in our land.
 The fig tree puts forth its figs,
    and the vines are in blossom;
    they give forth fragrance.
Arise, my love, my fair one,
    and come away.

Reflection
Think of the most epic love story you’re ever read/seen. Yes – the Notebook was pretty good. Romeo and Juliet is a classic. When Harry Met Sally is a cute 80’s romance-flick. However, all of these pale in comparison to the love that God has for us. This scripture from Song of Solomon paints a poetic picture of God’s love for humanity. The poem describes a God who pursues us with a love that brings life. The flowers are blooming. The snow has melted away. Birds are singing and the trees are bearing fruit.

When we experience the ever pursuing grace and love of God we thrive. We are invigorated with new life. When we hear the voice of God, we can’t help but find our true identity. We are the beloved of Christ. He says to us, “I love you. I have redeemed you. Don’t be afraid. The old has gone away and the new things have come. I have come to renew you, just as spring blooms from winter chill, because you are mine.”

Questions
Morning: God loves you today, right now, in this moment. You are defined by love. How does being defined by love affect how you will live and interact with the world today?

Afternoon: Read the scripture again. How does this kind of love relate to hope?

Evening: Tell someone close to you how much you love them. Does love change a person or a relationship? How?

August 20, 2015: Luke 1:39-56

Luke 1:39-56

Mary Visits Elizabeth

 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’

Mary’s Song of Praise

 And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
   and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
   Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
   and holy is his name. 

His mercy is for those who fear him
   from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
   he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
   and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
   and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
   in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
   to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
 And Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her home. 

Reflection:

Mary sings this song of praise.  When you begin to break it down. You see how it begins with Mary then moves to third person.  She is relating back to God’s chosen people. 
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
   Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

What are you thankful for? What can you give praise to God for?

Then, Mary shifts to lifting up the lowly.  She is remembering the God of the Hebrew Bible.

 His mercy is for those who fear him
   from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm;
   he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
⁵² He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
   and lifted up the lowly;
⁵³ he has filled the hungry with good things,
   and sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
   in remembrance of his mercy,
⁵⁵ according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
   to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

Mary’s song maintains inclusion of all people in God’s plan. We can be better friends, spouses, mothers/fathers, daughters/sons, grandmothers/grandfathers, and neighbors as we say yes to the new thing that God is doing with and within us. (Trisha Lyons)

Mary sings of the yes of God that she has learned through her Jewish faith. She knows God can be trusted, and she is therefore willing to say yes to God, even when she does not understand how a virgin like herself could bear God’s Son.   This song flips the norms.  It calls for reversal. The lowly to be lifted up. Our world is need of the norms to be flipped and may we say yes to those that are the victims of rejection, hatred, discrimination.

 

August 18, 2015: Ephesians 5:15-20

Ephesians 5:15-20

¹⁵Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,²⁰giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection:

                There are 613 laws in the Old Testament. Today, many Orthodox Jews still follow these laws diligently. These rules dictate worship, community life, and also details of everyday life: dress, food, drink, and home life. While for many Christians this seems extreme and restrictive, I see a beauty in that lifestyle. By making a point to keep all 613 laws from the Torah, Orthodox Jews are inviting God into all aspects of their daily life: how they raise children, prepare food, dress, and sleep. Nothing is too big or small for God's dominion.

                While I am not suggesting that we follow the Old Testament law exactly, I do suggest that we follow the advice of the author of Ephesians: "Be careful then how you live…Be filled with the Spirit…giving thanks to God the Father at all times." Bring God into all aspects of your life, not only your church life. See God in the big and small pieces of your day and act accordingly.

Questions:

1. Are there any areas of my life (family, finances, work) in which I try to shut God out, or do not recognize God's presence and authority?

2. How can I shape my daily life to be more attune with God at all times?

3. What habits should I drop or add in order to be filled with the Spirit at all times?

Prayer:

Dear God, creator of the universe and author of my life, you are present in all times, in all places, in all situations. Help me to incorporate my faith into all parts of my life, shutting you out of nothing. In Christ's name. Amen. 

August 17, 2015: 1 Kings 8: (1, 6, 10-11), 22-30, 41-43

1 Kings 8: (1, 6, 10-11), 22-30, 41-43

Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the ancestral houses of the Israelites, before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion.

Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the most holy place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.

And when the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands to heaven. He said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart, the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared to him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your hand. Therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant my father David that which you promised him, saying, ‘There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children look to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.’ Therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you promised to your servant my father David.

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built! Regard your servant’s prayer and his plea, O Lord my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you today; that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may heed the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. Hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place; O hear in heaven your dwelling place; heed and forgive.

Reflection
“Come, O Lord, and fill up my life. I long for your presence. This is my heart’s desire.” – Presence, Newsboys

What would happen if we truly sought the presence of God in the world every day? What would happen if the children of God really recognized that God is present with us every moment of every day? How would we act? How would we live? How would we love?

In this scripture Solomon is bringing the Ark of the Covenant into the house of the Lord. He is in awe of the idea that an everlasting God dwelling on earth with humanity. He is drawn to worship. The presence of God filled the room like a cloud and the glory of God was hanging in the air.

Just like in that time of Solomon, God is with us in this world through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. From the moment we wake up we are sustained by God. Every breath that we wake is the breath of God. The holy presence of God gives us life.

Questions/Activities
Morning: Listen to Presence by the Newsboys and use it as your prayer this morning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw4WvZIBpFw

Afternoon: Pray: Holy God, as the noonday sun brings light to the earth, may I recognize the light and presence of your Son, Jesus Christ, filling my being. Give me strength to continue with my days work as a holy and living sacrifice to you. Give me eyes to see all those who I come in contact as your children. Help me love and take risks as if my entire life rests on your sustaining presence. Fill me so I can pour myself out for others.

Silence

In Jesus’ name – Amen.

Evening: Think about today. How did you experience God’s presence in your life today? Through friends, co-workers, nature, prayer, challenges?

August 16, 2015: Psalm 99

Psalm 99

Passage:

¹ The Lord rules—

the nations shake!

He sits enthroned on the winged

heavenly creatures—

the earth quakes!

² The Lord is great in Zion;

he is exalted over all the nations.

³ Let them thank your great

and awesome name.

He is holy!

⁴ Strong king who loves justice,

you are the one

who established what is fair.

You worked justice and righteousness

in Jacob.

⁵ Magnify the Lord, our God!

Bow low at his footstool!

He is holy!

⁶ Moses and Aaron were among his priests,

Samuel too among those

who called on his name.

They cried out to the Lord,

and he himself answered them—

⁷ he spoke to them from a pillar of cloud.

They kept the laws and the rules

God gave to them.

⁸ Lord our God, you answered them.

To them you were a God who forgives

but also the one who avenged

their wrong deeds.

⁹ Magnify the Lord our God!

Bow low at his holy mountain

because the Lord our God is holy!^[1]

Reflection: If God loves justice, mercy, and righteousness, then we can please God when we live out those things.  In fact, God has called us to be holy people just as God is holy. Moreover, when we become Christians, we become part of a new people. We become a new nation of God’s people.  God’s people are priestly people.  We are God’s ministers to this broken and hurting world.  According to this psalmist, when we have such an opportunity, we really have an obligation to pursue justice, mercy, forgiveness, and righteousness. We do this all to lift up the name of God and show the world that God is holy.

Reflection Questions:
Morning: How has God forgiven and restored you?

Noon:  How has God offered you mercy and brought justice?

Evening:  How can you offer someone mercy, forgiveness, and be an agent of justice and restoration?

Prayer: Lord, help us to live into your mercy, forgiveness, justice, and holiness as we serve and love your children who are our neighbors.

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^[1] Common English Bible (Nashville, TN: Common English Bible, 2011), Ps 99:1–9.

August 15, 2015: Psalm 45

Psalm 45 

Ode for a Royal Wedding

To the leader: according to Lilies. Of the Korahites. A Maskil. A love song.
¹ My heart overflows with a goodly theme;
   I address my verses to the king;
   my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

² You are the most handsome of men;
   grace is poured upon your lips;
   therefore God has blessed you for ever.
³ Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
   in your glory and majesty.

⁴ In your majesty ride on victoriously
   for the cause of truth and to defend the right;
   let your right hand teach you dread deeds.
⁵ Your arrows are sharp
   in the heart of the king’s enemies;
   the peoples fall under you.

⁶ Your throne, O God, endures for ever and ever.
   Your royal sceptre is a sceptre of equity;
⁷   you love righteousness and hate wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
   with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
⁸   your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
⁹   daughters of kings are among your ladies of honour;
   at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

¹⁰ Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear;
   forget your people and your father’s house,
¹¹   and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him;
¹²   the people of Tyre will seek your favour with gifts,
   the richest of the people ¹³with all kinds of wealth.

The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes;
¹⁴   in many-coloured robes she is led to the king;
   behind her the virgins, her companions, follow.
¹⁵ With joy and gladness they are led along
   as they enter the palace of the king.

¹⁶ In the place of ancestors you, O king, shall have sons;
   you will make them princes in all the earth.
¹⁷ I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations;
   therefore the peoples will praise you for ever and ever.

Reflection:
How we love the royals.  People adore their lives.  They are willing to wake up at an odd our of the night just to watch the Royal Wedding.  All I had to say was royal wedding and people immediately thought of Kate and William.  Psalm 45 is a wedding song celebrating the marriage of a king of David's dynasty to a foreign princess.  In some of this song, we see traits of God being spoken.  I ponder if this was a wedding that people came from miles and miles away to witness. If people were speaking of this grand affair for a long while.  We often hear about weddings as the party, what people wore, the glamorous decorations, the FOOD, and more.  How do we look for the traits of Jesus in the people that are to be wed? What if we looked for God in all the parties we attended? I believe we be changed people. We would begin to see and act differently to those around us.

 

August 13, 2015: Psalm 97

Psalm 97

Passage:

¹ The Lord rules! Let the earth rejoice!

Let all the islands celebrate!

² Clouds and thick darkness surround God.

His throne is built

on righteousness and justice.

³ Fire proceeds before him,

burning up his enemies on every side.

⁴ His lightning lights up the world;

the earth sees it and trembles!

⁵ The mountains melt like wax

before the Lord,

before the Lord of the whole world!

⁶ Heaven has proclaimed

God’s righteousness,

and all nations have seen his glory.

⁷ All those who worship images,

those who are proud of idols,

are put to shame.

All gods bow down to the Lord!

⁸ Zion has heard and celebrates,

the towns of Judah rejoice,

because of your acts of justice, Lord,

⁹ because you, Lord, are the Most High

over all the earth,

because you are so superior

to all other gods.

¹⁰ Those of you who love the Lord,

hate evil!

God guards the lives of his faithful ones,

delivering them from

the power of the wicked.

¹¹ Light is planted like seed

for the righteous person;

joy too for those whose heart is right.

¹² Rejoice in the Lord, righteous ones!

Give thanks to his holy name! ^[1]

Reflection:

We know that God is creator of the heavens and the earth.  We know that God rules righteously over creation with justice and love. We know God takes care of us. We know that God is always there with us.

Yet sometimes it doesn’t feel that way.  In fact, sometimes we feel all alone, abandoned, like no one really cares about us at all. We imagine that God has abandoned us. 

Except, that’s not the truth. Those are the moments when we can remember the truth. The truth is that God is not only with us, God is giving us the strength to continue. God is giving us the Holy Spirit so that we can know that we are never alone, never forsaken, and that God does really, truly, indeed care about us and our welfare.

So, what we can do is live a testimony like the psalmist wrote.  That no matter where we are, we can thank God. We can remember God’s goodness. We can overcome our own bad day, week, or month by remembering that God is working through us because God loves us too much to allow us remain as we are.  That’s something worth telling others about.

Reflection Questions:
Morning: How can you see God’s goodness today?

Noon:  How can you help others see God’s goodness?

Evening:  How can you help yourself remember the goodness of God on your worst days?

Prayer: Lord, help us to remember that when we stumble, you pick us up. May we live a life that demonstrates how you have rescued, healed, and resurrected us.

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^[1] Common English Bible (Nashville, TN: Common English Bible, 2011), Ps 97:1–12.