Thursday, July 28, 2016

Rich in Things; Poor in Soul

Luke 12:13-21
Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions."
Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' Then he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry." But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."

Lord,
I am rich in so much:
a loving family,
a safe home,
a good job,
a strong church,
money in savings,
reliable cars,
technology at my finger tips...

I work at all these things...
I work to keep them and get more...

But I wonder --
Am I poor in what really matters?
Love for you,
Love for my neighbors (all of them!),
Generosity to those in need,
Hospitality to others,
Grace in ungracious times,
Humility in the face of pride,
Boldness in times of crisis,
Faith in you in the uncertainty,
Self-giving service,
Reconciling ministry,
Campassion for others...

I'm reminded of words from the hymn:
"God of Grace and God of Glory"
Cure Thy children’s warring madness,
Bend our pride to Thy control.
Shame our wanton selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.
Help me work for the heavenly treasures
that have eternal signifance.
Amen.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Called to be Peace

Lord,
We really need you
to intervene.

I am not chicken little
I do not believe "the sky is falling"
or that the world is coming
to an apocolyptic end -- not yet.

But recently I was reminded
of a popular song
from my high school days:
"It's the end of the world
as we know it..." -- sung by REM.
They went on to sing, "And I feel fine..."
But I don't.
I feel scared, worried,
overwhelmed and uncertain.

You ARE still in charge right?!?
You do hear our cries for help?!?

A conversation with a mentor reminded me
that there have been aweful times before:
the aweful blood shed of brothers in the Civil War,
the extreme poverty of the great depression,
the death and violence in Nazi gas chambers,
the world changing destruction of the atomic bombs dropped,
the assisnation of presidents of the USA,
the assisnation of civil rights pastors,
never mind the Roman Occupying armies in Israel,
Lord, when you are walking on earth.

Through it all,
you were weeping for your world,
calling for peace,
raising up leaders to embody peace...

I pray you are doing the same now.
But I am scared
that you are calling me
to be one of those leaders.

Help me,
together with your disciples,
your church,
to be your peace for the world.
United amidst our disagreements.
Arm in arm in our diversity.
Praying and working together for peace.
Amen.

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Work in Progress: God IS at Work

Psalm 66:1-6
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth!
Sing praises to the glory of God's name!
Make glorious his praise!
Say to God:
"How awesome are your works!
Because of your great strength,
your enemies cringe before you.
All the earth worships you,
sings praises to you,
sings praises to your name!"
Come and see God's deeds;
his works for human beings are awesome:
He turned the sea into dry land
so they could cross the river on foot.
Right there we rejoiced in him!

God has been at work this week
throughout the Middle School Conference,
throughout each of the lives in the group, and 
God will continue to be at work when we get home!
  • What's one place in your life where God has been at work?
  • What does it mean to claim that we are all “works in progress”?
  • How has this theme shaped the way you feel about who you are and who God calls you to be?
  • Has this theme helped you to experience God in a new way?


Lord,
thank you for the opportunities this week
to be challenged,
refreshed,
changed and
motivated.
Give us the courage
to go home and
make a difference
in your world.

Thank you
for constantly working
in each of our lives.
Amen.

________
This week students and adults from Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church are on engaging with God and each other while on retreat! It's a powerful time to ask BIG questions, connect with God in new ways, and grow in faith.  Pray for us!

Friday, July 22, 2016

Work in Progress: The Work is Messy

Matthew 21:12-17
Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, “It is written,
‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’;
but you are making it a den of robbers.”
The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became angry  and said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read,
‘Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies
you have prepared praise for yourself’?”
He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.


We talked about how sometimes the stories of our lives and the stories of those who lived during Biblical times get messy and complicated.
  • How has God been at work in the messy places of your life?
Trust that God can and does
redeem the messes in our lives
and creates beauty.

I'm reminded of a song that is my prayer today:


https://youtu.be/1spkhp41ig4

All this pain
I wonder if I'll ever find my way?
I wonder if my life could really change at all?
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found?
Could a garden come up from this ground at all?

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
________
This week students and adults from Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church are on engaging with God and each other while on retreat! It's a powerful time to ask BIG questions, connect with God in new ways, and grow in faith.  Pray for us!

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Work in Progress: We are Called

Isaiah 43:1-2
But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.

The theme for today was “We are Called.”
We began working through the theme today by recognizing that God has called each one of us to this place and we each have something to share.

Ask the following questions:
  • How have you felt called to this place today?
  • How do you feel God is working in you?
  • Is it comforting or scary to know that God has called you and is at work in your life?
Lord,
you know me.
You made me.
You love me!
Help me hear your voice 
calling me 
to make a difference 
in my circle of influence.
Amen.

________
This week students and adults from Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church are on engaging with God and each other while on retreat! It's a powerful time to ask BIG questions, connect with God in new ways, and grow in faith.  Pray for us!

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Youth Retreat Bound!!

Lord,
it's time --
time to go to
Montreat Youth Conference.
As a student,
I loved it --
laughing,
singing,
reflecting on my faith,
connecting with you, Lord in new ways!

As an adult,
I love it --
laughing,
singing,
reflecting on my faith,
connecting with you, Lord in new ways,
and watching faith grow
in the lives of students!!

Be with us Lord.
Keep us safe in travels.
Keep our families close to you.
Meet us on the mountain top
so that we may
know you deeper,
love you more,
and follow you more closely every day.
Amen.

Here's a video highlighting the Montreat Middle School retreat:
https://youtu.be/2kwq2jOVxgc

________
This week students and adults from Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church are on engaging with God and each other while on retreat! It's a powerful time to ask BIG questions, connect with God in new ways, and grow in faith.  Pray for us!

Monday, July 18, 2016

A Song, A Prayer, for Peace

Lord,
my heart breaks.
I just can't understand it.

Why kill another?
Why all this death?

Grief,
Tears,
Violence,
Fear...

How long, O Lord?!?
How long
will we kill each other?!
seeking revenge
but finding only rage.

I pray for peace.
I am reminded of the hymn,
"Song for Peace"
This is my song,
O God of all the nations,
a song of peace
for lands afar and mine.
This is my home,
the country where my heart is;
here are my hopes, my dreams,
my holy shrine;
but other hearts
in other lands are beating
with hopes and dreams
as true and high as mine.

Below is one of my favorite renditions.
The Zehnder twins add the "Salaam, shalom" refrain.
"Salaam" is peace in Arabic.
"Shalom" is peace in Hebrew.

Today this is my prayer:
https://youtu.be/iXaOynkWi8Y


Friday, July 15, 2016

Be

Psalm 46:10-11
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
I hear you, Lord,
speaking to my heart:

"Be.
Just be with me...
For a while
Let go
of your hurry
your worry
and
be...

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Be still

Psalm 46:8-10
Come, behold the works of the Lord;
see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”

God,
quiet in us
any voice
but your own.

As a loving parent
hold a fusy baby,
calm us,
hold us,
lovingly quiet us...
Hush little baby...
quiet now...
Shhh...

As Jesus said
to the storming waves,
"Peace, be still!"
so now, Lord,
say to my soul:
"Be still"

"Be still"
Breathing in and out,
Still,
Quiet,
Calm,
Silent,
Listening,
...





"Be still"
Amen.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Be still, and know

Psalm 46:6-7,10
The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”
Lord,
today I want to
"Be still, and know".
I want to know you.
I want to know you fully,
even as I am fully known by you!

Your command to "know" you
is the same Hebrew word used
to say, "Adam knew his wife, and she bore him a son"
That kind of intimate personal knowing.
You want that kind of intimacy 
in my relationship with you.

If my work and study of marriage counseling is right,
that kind of intimacy 
comes from a combination
of risk and trust,
vulnerability and commitment,
displayed and honored over time.

Help me commit 
to "knowing" you that way.
Daily.
Giving myself.
Being vulnerable to you.
Trusting you with my best and my worst.
Confident that you will receive my gifts,
forgive my worst,
celebrate my best,
and commit to be with me through it ALL.
(You have already!)

"Be still and know."
Thank you!
Amen.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Be still, and know that I am

Psalm 46:4-5,10
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”

"Be still, and know that I am"
"I am"
that's who You are, Lord.
It's the name you told Moses
from the burning bush, "I AM"

You are.
You are "being" itself.
You are existence.
"I AM"

I remember of the times
Jesus used that phrase:
I am the Good Shepherd.
I am the Bread of Life.
I am the Light of the World.
I am the Sheep Gate.
I am the Resurrection.
I am the Way, the Truth, the Life.
I am the True Vine.

You are the great, "I AM".

Today I seek to
"Be still, and know that I am"
Amen.

Monday, July 11, 2016

Be still and know that I am God

Psalm 46:1-3,10
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult. 
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”
Lord,
this is hard for me.
"Be still, and know that I am God!"
Being still is hard.
The culture I live in
suggests that "being still"
is the same as "being lazy"
or "being nonproductive".

I hear myself and my friends saying
(almost bragging to each other)
"Rest?! What's that??!!"
"Why, 6 hours of sleep at night is a vacation?!"

And yet, one visit to the doctor,
one step on the scales,
one check of our blood pressure...
shows that we are stressed out and sleep deprived!

Oh, Rest, come and save us.
Save us from ourselves, our busy-ness,
our competitive need to produce and feel important.

Teach us to unbusy our lives.
Teach us about Sabbath --
one day set aside, a weekly reset of priorities,
a regular reminder that YOU
are the God who makes the planets spin...
I am NOT! (but I sure live like I do...)

Help me
"Be still and know that I am God!"
Amen.

Friday, July 1, 2016

Freedom!

Galatians 5:1, 13-15
For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

Lord,
July 4th is coming
--the day when my country,
The United States of America,
celebrates its Independence.

This year I am mindful of
"Freedom".
It seems to me
most recently
the culture I live in
defines freedom:
"I can do what I want,
when I want to,
and no one can tell me otherwise."
But that definition seems not to be "freedom"
but rather "self-centered" or "selfish" living.

Freedom suggests being freed from something.
AND being freed FOR something.

The Apostle Paul writes,
"For freedom Christ has set us free!"
Through Jesus Christ,
We are freed from our past,
and freed for God's future.
We are freed from sin,
and freed for righteousness and justice.
We are freed from alienation,
and freed for intimate community.
We are freed from addiction,
and freed for healthy relationships.
We are freed from selfish, self-centered living
and freed for Christ-centered serving, self-giving living.

Lord,
this July 4th
I celebrate 
this GREAT country that I call home,
and I pray for its future.
And I embrace the freedom you give me in Christ Jesus
--freedom that puts me at the service of my neighbor.
Again the Apostle Paul:
"but through love
become slaves to one another.
For the whole law is summed up
in a single commandment,
'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
That's TRUE freedom.

O Lord,
let THAT freedom ring!
Amen.