Psalm 3
While I may not have as many personal enemies as the writer of this psalm seems to have, certainly all of us have those things in our life that seen to drag us down physically, mentally, And spiritually. The good news is that God is watching over us. We can Persevere. My thoughts go to those lives disrupted by the Chaos in Joplin, missouri. I know they will persevere as I have witnessed it in my home town of Xenia, oh. God can indeed break the teeth of all situations that stand in Gods way.
Today, I am home doing a honey-do list that needs to be accomplished before I can go on my hike. It is important to make sure my wife does not have to struggle with issues during my absence. So I am putting up the gazebo on the back patio which offers some great shade for the evening and a great view of our Peonies which are currently in full bloom.
Lord,
Help me to lay every obsticle at your feet this day as I prepare for next weeks walk in the Smoky Mountains. Help me get those tasks done which need to get done before I go.
Amen.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
May 20,2011
May 20, 2011
Psalm 2
OK, I am down to 12 days before I begin my sabbatical. While I love the book of Psalms in general, there are still individual Psalms that give me issues. Psalm 2 would be one of them. This Psalm seems more like a threat from a God who is "quick to anger." I realize there are those who picture God in this way, but it goes back to that understanding that if you do wrong "God is going to get you. (Punish you)" The book of Job was written to despel such thinking. The better image for me comes from Exodus 34 where we discover a God who is SLOW to anger and abounding in steadfast love. This image seem closer to my experience. While because of my relationship with God, I am compelled to act morally, it is not out of fear of an angry God who will punish me if I don't act right.
God, I thank you for a relationship based on care, love, and trust and not one based on fear and intimidation. Help me to sow the seeds of love in all I do this day. Amen.
Psalm 2
OK, I am down to 12 days before I begin my sabbatical. While I love the book of Psalms in general, there are still individual Psalms that give me issues. Psalm 2 would be one of them. This Psalm seems more like a threat from a God who is "quick to anger." I realize there are those who picture God in this way, but it goes back to that understanding that if you do wrong "God is going to get you. (Punish you)" The book of Job was written to despel such thinking. The better image for me comes from Exodus 34 where we discover a God who is SLOW to anger and abounding in steadfast love. This image seem closer to my experience. While because of my relationship with God, I am compelled to act morally, it is not out of fear of an angry God who will punish me if I don't act right.
God, I thank you for a relationship based on care, love, and trust and not one based on fear and intimidation. Help me to sow the seeds of love in all I do this day. Amen.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
May 19, 2011
May 19, 2011
Psalm 1
13 days and counting. I have opted to begin my reading of the Psalms today and begin with Psalm 1. In my New Revised Standard version it is labled "The two ways" It's focus is the difference in the two ways of life: The righteous and the wicked. This sounds pretty simple doesn't it. Yet in reality it is much more difficult. All day today I encountered those who knew their way to be the one and only "right" way. All other ways are evil. How easy it is to dismiss those who disagree with us. We know that we are on "God's" side. So if we are on "God's" side and they are not "with" us, then they must be on the side of the wicked. Isn't this the world we live in? It is a world filled with "Us" and "them."
Yet as I look at the Gospel, I find a God who continues to redefine who the "Us" of the Gospel includes. In fact, maybe, the Gospel calls us to include all of the "thems" of the world.
Lord Jesus, Thank you for setting the example of welcoming the "thems" of your world and making them a part of "us." Open my eyes, heart, and hands to the "thems" of my world. Help me to reach out like you and make them a part of "us." Amen.
Psalm 1
13 days and counting. I have opted to begin my reading of the Psalms today and begin with Psalm 1. In my New Revised Standard version it is labled "The two ways" It's focus is the difference in the two ways of life: The righteous and the wicked. This sounds pretty simple doesn't it. Yet in reality it is much more difficult. All day today I encountered those who knew their way to be the one and only "right" way. All other ways are evil. How easy it is to dismiss those who disagree with us. We know that we are on "God's" side. So if we are on "God's" side and they are not "with" us, then they must be on the side of the wicked. Isn't this the world we live in? It is a world filled with "Us" and "them."
Yet as I look at the Gospel, I find a God who continues to redefine who the "Us" of the Gospel includes. In fact, maybe, the Gospel calls us to include all of the "thems" of the world.
Lord Jesus, Thank you for setting the example of welcoming the "thems" of your world and making them a part of "us." Open my eyes, heart, and hands to the "thems" of my world. Help me to reach out like you and make them a part of "us." Amen.
Friday, May 6, 2011
May 6, 2011
How appropriate as I prepare for this big hike to read Psalm 121. I will lift up my eyes to hills -- from where does my help come? I have been in the deep valleys of the Appalachian Hills looking at the trail that is leading up a 4000 climb. Looking up from the bottom with 40lbs on your back and knowing to have to climb this beast. As you climbs past the first point of exhaustion you realize that indeed "My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth."
Some of my favorite music comes from this Psalm. There is a Chorus from the Handel's "Messiah" that simply uses the words, "He Watching over Israel, slumbers not nor sleeps." What assurance that while I am climbing, God is climbing with me.
One of the opening pieces to Bernstein's Mass (Simple Song)exclaims: "For the Lord is my shade, is the shade upon my right hand,
and the sun shall not smite me by day, nor the moon by night.
Blessed is the man who loves the Lord, Lauda, Laude, and walks in his ways." It is a song of trust and yes even a song of friendship.
People often ask me, "Are you going alone?" No, I have a welcome companion who will be with me every step of the way.
Lord,
Thank you for the music of poets who knew your presence as that were about to begin difficult tasks. Help me as I prepare to this journey, to know you are with me each step of the way. On those days when the journey seems long and hard, give me the words to this songs that I might sing them all the way to the top of the mountain. Thank you for your never failing presence. Amen
Some of my favorite music comes from this Psalm. There is a Chorus from the Handel's "Messiah" that simply uses the words, "He Watching over Israel, slumbers not nor sleeps." What assurance that while I am climbing, God is climbing with me.
One of the opening pieces to Bernstein's Mass (Simple Song)exclaims: "For the Lord is my shade, is the shade upon my right hand,
and the sun shall not smite me by day, nor the moon by night.
Blessed is the man who loves the Lord, Lauda, Laude, and walks in his ways." It is a song of trust and yes even a song of friendship.
People often ask me, "Are you going alone?" No, I have a welcome companion who will be with me every step of the way.
Lord,
Thank you for the music of poets who knew your presence as that were about to begin difficult tasks. Help me as I prepare to this journey, to know you are with me each step of the way. On those days when the journey seems long and hard, give me the words to this songs that I might sing them all the way to the top of the mountain. Thank you for your never failing presence. Amen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)