Some days when I get up to read, I have to look hard to find something to write about, something coming from the Scriptures I read, that speaks to me and that I can pass along. So I start off with a reading from the Psalms, then a reading from a Gospel account, and then these days I also read the Moravian Daily Text which gives some hymn readings as well as 3 others, one from the Psalms, one from their reading the Bible through program and another from the New Testament.
Surely, in one of those readings, there will be something that catches my eye, or mind, or something. I've got 5 or 6 chances to listen to God speak through His Word, and, no matter how dense or sleepy or what, in any given morning, I should find something.
So today what do I find? Buried deep with an account of David and Solomon in 1 Chronicles there is a section on David's instruction to his son, who will be king soon, and this is basically to follow what God has said and do right.
I think about that as I walk the neighborhood this morning. Do the right thing. It is easy to just say "no doubt about that, what else is there to do?". If there is a choice between doing the right thing or the wrong, the choice is obvious. Do I always take it, nope, but it is obvious nevertheless.
But how about a choice between two good things, how do I make that? Hopefully most of my choices are these kinds, but there must be some criteria to make a choice in those situations. It might be easy to say, "well, you just choose the one that is best and leave the other good one alone". Sounds like a good plan, but choosing the "best" is not always easy to do.
If I look around at my own circumstances and especially any other people that will be impacted by whatever I decide, it becomes easier. If I think of others and what is best for them, and leave my own desires at the door, most of the time the way to go is clear.
I think God wants me to choose what is best for others, no matter how "good" the other choice might be.
God first of all, others second, and I'll leave me for third.
Do I always choose right over wrong? no way. How about the "best" over the "good"? Not always here either, but at least I think God has shown me what He wants. Now to do it consistently.
Ho, Ho, Ho
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
A Foggy Day in....
If there is a psychiatrist in the house, he or she might have a field day with all of this, but when I walked out the door this morning and looked into the foggy morning, I thought to myself, "this is a great day to walk".
I'm not sure what it is about the fog, but I like it. The quietness of the morning with all sounds muffled is part of it, but maybe I like looking off into the distance and not being able to tell what is actually out there. I don't like it at 70 mph on the interstate with the possibility of a 50 car pile up, but, for a walking time, it may be my favorite.
It is the same way when I get up to read in the morning. As I look at several verses, my first thought is to look and see what they might say to me, and what meaning they may have for the day in front of me. Part of me would like to have spelled out in those words on the page, just exactly what is in store for me in the day and days ahead, but the other part is glad that they are kinda foggy.
As I try to live out each day at a time, and I try to see what God would have me think and do, I come back to the issue of trust. Do I trust God to give me the day he has for me, or do I try to work it all out in my mind beforehand? Do I worry about what might happen or simply let it come? I know He gives me a mind to think and consider alternatives, but do I want to be able to plan the smallest detail? Where is the trust in His goodness and plan? Do I want to be in control, which I do sometimes, or do I live out His word when He says He wants what is best for me?
A lot of questions, and maybe not a lot of specific answers, but I'm working on the trust thing.
When I walk out into the fog, I can see where I am right at that moment and in that place, it is only that "out there" that is not clear.
And that can be a good thing.
I'm not sure what it is about the fog, but I like it. The quietness of the morning with all sounds muffled is part of it, but maybe I like looking off into the distance and not being able to tell what is actually out there. I don't like it at 70 mph on the interstate with the possibility of a 50 car pile up, but, for a walking time, it may be my favorite.
It is the same way when I get up to read in the morning. As I look at several verses, my first thought is to look and see what they might say to me, and what meaning they may have for the day in front of me. Part of me would like to have spelled out in those words on the page, just exactly what is in store for me in the day and days ahead, but the other part is glad that they are kinda foggy.
As I try to live out each day at a time, and I try to see what God would have me think and do, I come back to the issue of trust. Do I trust God to give me the day he has for me, or do I try to work it all out in my mind beforehand? Do I worry about what might happen or simply let it come? I know He gives me a mind to think and consider alternatives, but do I want to be able to plan the smallest detail? Where is the trust in His goodness and plan? Do I want to be in control, which I do sometimes, or do I live out His word when He says He wants what is best for me?
A lot of questions, and maybe not a lot of specific answers, but I'm working on the trust thing.
When I walk out into the fog, I can see where I am right at that moment and in that place, it is only that "out there" that is not clear.
And that can be a good thing.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Compassion
This morning as I awoke, I thought of the things that were on my plate this day. There were some things that did not look too pleasant, as well as other more mundane items. Naturally, my mind wanted to dwell on the aspects of the day that I did not look forward to, but then my glance fell on a letter that was sitting on my table, a letter that needed to be answered. I thought of the sender and what must be going through his mind this morning, in a land filled with poverty and violence. What was his mindset as he awoke to another day? Were the worries overshadowing things he could look forward to?
For a few years now, Mayre and I have been sponsoring a boy in Kenya through an organization called Compassion International. We send a small amount of money each month to this ministry, and they use the funds to help with poverty and education in countries around the world. All of this work is done in the name of Jesus, and we are happy to be a small part of that.
Compassion urges sponsors to write to their children, putting a face to those who want to help them. The children, also, write to their individual sponsors, telling them about themselves and their lives, making the whole project personal to both parties. I know it is good PR and adds the personal touch to the monetary transaction, and I know it helps to keep the money flowing in to fund the various projects, but it is also a blessing to see the boy we are helping and catch a glimpse into his mind as he lives his life, far away in a much different environment.
Two things caught my eye as I read a letter from Peter, who lives in Nairobi with his family and who we support with our small gift. I had sent him a picture of a visit our family made to the Sea Turtle Center over on Jekyll. He said in response to that photo, "I have never seen a turtle and request to know where the turtle lives". I guess I could not imagine a boy anywhere who had not seen a turtle, so I will send him more information on these and show him that I do read his letters and care enough to respond to his request. A little thing perhaps, but something that I can do.
The second item in his letter was more troubling to me. His words: "In our country of Kenya there have been many happenings. There has been bombings where some people died and many were injured. Policemen were also killed by bandits as they were going to take back some cattle that were stolen. Please pray for our country for peace."
What goes through the mind of a 10 year old boy as he hears about bad things that are happening all around him. Even in his home city of Nairobi, I know there is unrest, so it is there also. I am reminded to pray for him, and millions of other children around the world, who live in the midst of violence and poverty, not only overseas, but here in the US as well.
I think of the first verse of Psalm 41 from the reading this morning:
"Blessed is the one who considers the poor!"
What we do is a pittance in the sea of need around the world, but it might make the difference in the life of one boy, and through him to others who will be in his sphere of influence as he grows up there.
There is also that chorus that I remember:
Little is much when God is in it!
God makes all the difference. I need to remember that.
For a few years now, Mayre and I have been sponsoring a boy in Kenya through an organization called Compassion International. We send a small amount of money each month to this ministry, and they use the funds to help with poverty and education in countries around the world. All of this work is done in the name of Jesus, and we are happy to be a small part of that.
Compassion urges sponsors to write to their children, putting a face to those who want to help them. The children, also, write to their individual sponsors, telling them about themselves and their lives, making the whole project personal to both parties. I know it is good PR and adds the personal touch to the monetary transaction, and I know it helps to keep the money flowing in to fund the various projects, but it is also a blessing to see the boy we are helping and catch a glimpse into his mind as he lives his life, far away in a much different environment.
Two things caught my eye as I read a letter from Peter, who lives in Nairobi with his family and who we support with our small gift. I had sent him a picture of a visit our family made to the Sea Turtle Center over on Jekyll. He said in response to that photo, "I have never seen a turtle and request to know where the turtle lives". I guess I could not imagine a boy anywhere who had not seen a turtle, so I will send him more information on these and show him that I do read his letters and care enough to respond to his request. A little thing perhaps, but something that I can do.
The second item in his letter was more troubling to me. His words: "In our country of Kenya there have been many happenings. There has been bombings where some people died and many were injured. Policemen were also killed by bandits as they were going to take back some cattle that were stolen. Please pray for our country for peace."
What goes through the mind of a 10 year old boy as he hears about bad things that are happening all around him. Even in his home city of Nairobi, I know there is unrest, so it is there also. I am reminded to pray for him, and millions of other children around the world, who live in the midst of violence and poverty, not only overseas, but here in the US as well.
I think of the first verse of Psalm 41 from the reading this morning:
"Blessed is the one who considers the poor!"
What we do is a pittance in the sea of need around the world, but it might make the difference in the life of one boy, and through him to others who will be in his sphere of influence as he grows up there.
There is also that chorus that I remember:
Little is much when God is in it!
God makes all the difference. I need to remember that.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Neighbors
In the Moravian Text reading for this day, there was a hymn given.
"These are the ones that we should serve
"These are the ones that we should serve
these are the ones that we should love
all are neighbors to us and you
Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love
show us how to serve the neighbors
we have from you."
Now I don't know this song, but it, and the prayer that closed this same reading:
"May we experience your holy presence, guiding
us to serve our brothers, sister and strangers, in your name
Amen"
Both of these went along with some thoughts that I entered my mind as I walked earlier. I think of the people that I saw, even as the world woke up.
I saw a condo neighbor waiting for her husband to pick her up. She was all dressed up and told me that they were on their way to a grandson's game in a town 2 1/2 hours up the road.
I saw a man coming out to get his paper, talking on his cell phone, to whom at that early hour I could not fathom.
I saw a man running on the cart path who panted a "hello" as he plodded past.
Then I remember the saying that we can choose our friends, but it is God who gives us our neighbors, and, as the hymn says above, we are to serve those He has placed in our lives.
I think of the man in Luke who asked Jesus the question: "Who is my neighbor?" From the parable of the Good Samaritan, I know it is anyone that comes into my life in some way.
It is the couple in our condo complex that I see coming and going. It is the man on the phone, who lives on my walking route, and it is even the jogger that I pass on the path. It is also all those others that have entered my life in some way in the past and those whose lives will intersect with mine today and in the future.
So the question comes, how do I serve them in His name?
Then the answer, "In whatever way He shows, but always with my ears and eyes open to hear and see what that might be in each instance".
Be willing, be seeing, be hearing and be ready to act, and I add another as I start this day; Remember what I have been prompted to think about and to write as the day unfolds, not just publish and forget.
all are neighbors to us and you
Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love
show us how to serve the neighbors
we have from you."
Now I don't know this song, but it, and the prayer that closed this same reading:
"May we experience your holy presence, guiding
us to serve our brothers, sister and strangers, in your name
Amen"
Both of these went along with some thoughts that I entered my mind as I walked earlier. I think of the people that I saw, even as the world woke up.
I saw a condo neighbor waiting for her husband to pick her up. She was all dressed up and told me that they were on their way to a grandson's game in a town 2 1/2 hours up the road.
I saw a man coming out to get his paper, talking on his cell phone, to whom at that early hour I could not fathom.
I saw a man running on the cart path who panted a "hello" as he plodded past.
Then I remember the saying that we can choose our friends, but it is God who gives us our neighbors, and, as the hymn says above, we are to serve those He has placed in our lives.
I think of the man in Luke who asked Jesus the question: "Who is my neighbor?" From the parable of the Good Samaritan, I know it is anyone that comes into my life in some way.
It is the couple in our condo complex that I see coming and going. It is the man on the phone, who lives on my walking route, and it is even the jogger that I pass on the path. It is also all those others that have entered my life in some way in the past and those whose lives will intersect with mine today and in the future.
So the question comes, how do I serve them in His name?
Then the answer, "In whatever way He shows, but always with my ears and eyes open to hear and see what that might be in each instance".
Be willing, be seeing, be hearing and be ready to act, and I add another as I start this day; Remember what I have been prompted to think about and to write as the day unfolds, not just publish and forget.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Satisfaction
With what will I be satisfied this day?
The very end of a Psalm reading, number 17, for today states:
"As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness;
I will be satisfied [d]with Your likeness when I awake."
And I think, when I come to the end of this day, what will I look back on and be satisfied? But that is not the only question. The verse says that when I wake up, I will be satisfied if You are there. Then I question, what does that look like in my life as I go out early today?
For one thing, thinking about this verse puts the Scripture forefront in my life, and I find that it comes to my mind several times during the day. One satisfaction is the knowledge that the Scripture can be brought back to my senses, and the question enters at that point asking "is what you are doing right now bringing satisfaction?"
I write this just after coming home from a round of golf with 3 friends. As I remember what I had read this morning and read what I wrote earlier in the day, I ask myself about satisfaction so far this day. If I do not take my golf too seriously, I find that I can be satisfied with the other things that go along with the outing. Friendship, discussions, the beautiful day and the physical activity are all important parts of those hours on the course. Now a good golf score is like icing on a great cake, but not necessary for satisfaction.
Satisfaction comes from putting things in my life in the right perspective. Relationships and gratitude to God for the ability to play, and the surroundings as I go, are the most important, scoring is secondary. I know my game is not first class anyway, and it does not get any better as I get older, so it is time to enjoy the game and the situation that surrounds it. Should have been doing this all along.
How about the rest of today?
I have not lived it yet, and I trust that the Scripture and its message for me will be placed in my mind and path for the other hours until sleep comes again.
So my prayer is for right priorities and the right order of the same in my life, for the rest of today, and all of the days to come. I pray for remembrance of what I am shown by this one verse, and the desire to live it.
Thank You God for what You put out there for me....
The very end of a Psalm reading, number 17, for today states:
"As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness;
I will be satisfied [d]with Your likeness when I awake."
And I think, when I come to the end of this day, what will I look back on and be satisfied? But that is not the only question. The verse says that when I wake up, I will be satisfied if You are there. Then I question, what does that look like in my life as I go out early today?
For one thing, thinking about this verse puts the Scripture forefront in my life, and I find that it comes to my mind several times during the day. One satisfaction is the knowledge that the Scripture can be brought back to my senses, and the question enters at that point asking "is what you are doing right now bringing satisfaction?"
I write this just after coming home from a round of golf with 3 friends. As I remember what I had read this morning and read what I wrote earlier in the day, I ask myself about satisfaction so far this day. If I do not take my golf too seriously, I find that I can be satisfied with the other things that go along with the outing. Friendship, discussions, the beautiful day and the physical activity are all important parts of those hours on the course. Now a good golf score is like icing on a great cake, but not necessary for satisfaction.
Satisfaction comes from putting things in my life in the right perspective. Relationships and gratitude to God for the ability to play, and the surroundings as I go, are the most important, scoring is secondary. I know my game is not first class anyway, and it does not get any better as I get older, so it is time to enjoy the game and the situation that surrounds it. Should have been doing this all along.
How about the rest of today?
I have not lived it yet, and I trust that the Scripture and its message for me will be placed in my mind and path for the other hours until sleep comes again.
So my prayer is for right priorities and the right order of the same in my life, for the rest of today, and all of the days to come. I pray for remembrance of what I am shown by this one verse, and the desire to live it.
Thank You God for what You put out there for me....
Thursday, January 24, 2013
A Word For Thursday (and the 2 emotions that follow)
Here is the verse from Psalm 37 this morning:
"The Lord knows the days of the blameless,
and their heritage will remain forever;"
There are two words that stick out in this verse, blameless and heritage. I know the definition of blameless, but I also know that is not me, so I'll pass on that one and go on to the word heritage.
The dictionary defines the word like this:
So when I think about what all of this means in my life, I realize that I stand right in the middle of the definition. I am the recipient of what has gone on before, and I also have the power and ability to pass things on down the line, to those who will come after me. Realizing this, I have two emotions that strike me; gratitude and responsibility, and I find that both of these are powerful motivators in my life.
Gratitude to those who have preceded me, those that are part of my family and those that have just influenced my life from the past. Gratitude for those who have made it possible for me to live in the political and spiritual circumstances that surround me today. Gratitude for ideas, character traits and examples of how to live and what for. Gratitude for all the positives that encircle me where I live in this year of 2013, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Right here as I stand today, I know that I am the product of all of this that I had no part in creating, and I can reap the benefits of other's work and sacrifice. Their heritage, passed down to me.
Then there is that other word, responsibility. I'm not even sure it is an emotion, but it is something that I feel, and, even if it does not fit in the definition, it should. Responsibility also begs the question, "How can I live today to make sure that I pass down the right heritage to those who follow me?"
What attitudes can I have and what actions can I do that show what is important in life, really important? How do the various roles that I play each day, especially in relationships, give me the opportunity to be the conduit of the heritage that God ordains for each person that follows?
I believe, first of all, that I have the responsibility to be the husband, father, grand father and friend that God calls me to be. I need to seek His face each day to be the best I can be in each of these roles. I need to be the example of all the good and right things that have been passed down by others and entrusted to me, both for my benefit and those who follow.
One word "Heritage" and two more that follow; "Gratitude" and "Responsibility", followed by still another, "Challenge".
"The Lord knows the days of the blameless,
and their heritage will remain forever;"
There are two words that stick out in this verse, blameless and heritage. I know the definition of blameless, but I also know that is not me, so I'll pass on that one and go on to the word heritage.
The dictionary defines the word like this:
| "anything that has been transmitted from the past or handed down" |
So when I think about what all of this means in my life, I realize that I stand right in the middle of the definition. I am the recipient of what has gone on before, and I also have the power and ability to pass things on down the line, to those who will come after me. Realizing this, I have two emotions that strike me; gratitude and responsibility, and I find that both of these are powerful motivators in my life.
Gratitude to those who have preceded me, those that are part of my family and those that have just influenced my life from the past. Gratitude for those who have made it possible for me to live in the political and spiritual circumstances that surround me today. Gratitude for ideas, character traits and examples of how to live and what for. Gratitude for all the positives that encircle me where I live in this year of 2013, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Right here as I stand today, I know that I am the product of all of this that I had no part in creating, and I can reap the benefits of other's work and sacrifice. Their heritage, passed down to me.
Then there is that other word, responsibility. I'm not even sure it is an emotion, but it is something that I feel, and, even if it does not fit in the definition, it should. Responsibility also begs the question, "How can I live today to make sure that I pass down the right heritage to those who follow me?"
What attitudes can I have and what actions can I do that show what is important in life, really important? How do the various roles that I play each day, especially in relationships, give me the opportunity to be the conduit of the heritage that God ordains for each person that follows?
I believe, first of all, that I have the responsibility to be the husband, father, grand father and friend that God calls me to be. I need to seek His face each day to be the best I can be in each of these roles. I need to be the example of all the good and right things that have been passed down by others and entrusted to me, both for my benefit and those who follow.
One word "Heritage" and two more that follow; "Gratitude" and "Responsibility", followed by still another, "Challenge".
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Real People, Real Lives...
As I sit here this early morning, I think of two sets of people, whose lives entered mine on yesterday. But first let me set the stage.
On Sunday, after church, we traveled to Chattanooga, where we both grew up, to primarily see a lady that had been our friend for many years. We spent the day Monday visiting with her and some others that are important in our lives. We tried to cram in as much as we could in those hours, because we travel back home today. A short time, but an important one for us.
Our primary visit was to a rehab facility where our 93 year old friend was recovering from a fall and a resultant broken hip. We feared for what we would find, for we knew that having this happen that late in life, the results are many times less than hopeful. We found a lady doing her best to be cheerful in spite of the circumstances, relating with kindness to those around her, not only friends, but staff trying to help her. Her life has always been marked with concern for others, and this setback has not seemed to dim all of that.
Then we went to have lunch with a couple that seem to always want to do something for us when we are in town. She fixed a great lunch and insisted that we join them, where we shared the friendship that we had enjoyed for many, many years. We ate and laughed together, and it was a great time.
Then on to another visit with a family member who was in an assisted living facility close by. Even if her memory was not as sharp as it used to be, she was in good spirits and she was glad to have us put some diversion into her normal day.
Our last stop was to see some folks with whom we had partnered in ministry with for many years. They are still active in a work that is important in the spreading of the Gospel via television and the internet. Sometimes, when we get older, the purposes of our lives get lost in wonder as to why we are still on this earth, but not these people. They are active and busy with the role God has given them to play in His kingdom..
After a snack supper, as we were still full from the great lunch, we sat and watched an episode of a PBS show that we had gotten involved in over the past month. Downton Abbey, a BBC production and a story of an English family after World War I, had occupied some of out thoughts for a few weeks now, and we wanted to see how they sorted out some of their many problems. We had been drawn into those lives portrayed on the screen, just as we had those others, those real people, during the Monday we had spent here in Tennessee.
How easy it is to get caught up in fictional lives, lives that do not really mean anything to us, and let the real people and real lives take a back seat. How easy to let our lives be transported into another world, one that is entertaining to us, but not really ours, and forget the story that we are living in, a place that God has placed us in for His purpose.
All this is not to say that we should not be moved by characters on a small screen, God may have placed that story in our lives to show us something, too, but the stories of those real people, ones that we actually know, are far more important. We can interact with them, and we can be used in those lives to make a difference, just as they can in ours. God has coordinated those encounters for a purpose, both for them and for us, and it seems up to us to at least give those the importance they deserve.
As I think of those real people that occupied a place in our day yesterday, I read again the Psalmist's prayer of this morning.
"The Lord is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever."
I would wish the same for those folks in the television story also, but, alas, theirs is happening in the past, not the present, and I surely can't go back and live there, even if I had a notion to.
Mike and Martha or Matthew and Mary? I'll take the ones that fixed the real lunch.
On Sunday, after church, we traveled to Chattanooga, where we both grew up, to primarily see a lady that had been our friend for many years. We spent the day Monday visiting with her and some others that are important in our lives. We tried to cram in as much as we could in those hours, because we travel back home today. A short time, but an important one for us.
Our primary visit was to a rehab facility where our 93 year old friend was recovering from a fall and a resultant broken hip. We feared for what we would find, for we knew that having this happen that late in life, the results are many times less than hopeful. We found a lady doing her best to be cheerful in spite of the circumstances, relating with kindness to those around her, not only friends, but staff trying to help her. Her life has always been marked with concern for others, and this setback has not seemed to dim all of that.
Then we went to have lunch with a couple that seem to always want to do something for us when we are in town. She fixed a great lunch and insisted that we join them, where we shared the friendship that we had enjoyed for many, many years. We ate and laughed together, and it was a great time.
Then on to another visit with a family member who was in an assisted living facility close by. Even if her memory was not as sharp as it used to be, she was in good spirits and she was glad to have us put some diversion into her normal day.
Our last stop was to see some folks with whom we had partnered in ministry with for many years. They are still active in a work that is important in the spreading of the Gospel via television and the internet. Sometimes, when we get older, the purposes of our lives get lost in wonder as to why we are still on this earth, but not these people. They are active and busy with the role God has given them to play in His kingdom..
After a snack supper, as we were still full from the great lunch, we sat and watched an episode of a PBS show that we had gotten involved in over the past month. Downton Abbey, a BBC production and a story of an English family after World War I, had occupied some of out thoughts for a few weeks now, and we wanted to see how they sorted out some of their many problems. We had been drawn into those lives portrayed on the screen, just as we had those others, those real people, during the Monday we had spent here in Tennessee.
How easy it is to get caught up in fictional lives, lives that do not really mean anything to us, and let the real people and real lives take a back seat. How easy to let our lives be transported into another world, one that is entertaining to us, but not really ours, and forget the story that we are living in, a place that God has placed us in for His purpose.
All this is not to say that we should not be moved by characters on a small screen, God may have placed that story in our lives to show us something, too, but the stories of those real people, ones that we actually know, are far more important. We can interact with them, and we can be used in those lives to make a difference, just as they can in ours. God has coordinated those encounters for a purpose, both for them and for us, and it seems up to us to at least give those the importance they deserve.
As I think of those real people that occupied a place in our day yesterday, I read again the Psalmist's prayer of this morning.
"The Lord is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever."
I would wish the same for those folks in the television story also, but, alas, theirs is happening in the past, not the present, and I surely can't go back and live there, even if I had a notion to.
Mike and Martha or Matthew and Mary? I'll take the ones that fixed the real lunch.
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