Psalms of ASCENT: 120, 121, 122, 123, 124 125, 126
Zechariah (THE PROPHET OF THE LONG VISION) 11:4-17
1 Corinthians 3:10-23
Luke 18: 15-30
Dear God, it is cold outside. Even if, I managed to put on enough
clothes, it will not change the temperature. Let me cocoon myself in the
stillness of a childlike spirit.
Remind me to sing as my feet trudge, but my heart runs up the
mountain toward the quietness of your presence and protection. Help me twirl
with outstretched arms as you raise me out of the broken snare that is my body,
into your high and holy city of absolute freedom.
Turn my supply of useless emptiness
into tears of overflowing joy, according to your promises. Jesus, touch me with
your cleansing, quieting, illuminating, reassuring and liberating hands. Help
me find that place of humility and understanding necessary to seeing, hearing
and feeling your arms of mercy.
Make me responsive and teachable, so that in being weighed and measured,
I may be found understanding, forgiving, peaceable, considerate, submissive,
and merciful. For those are the ways I want to be; even when it is hardest to
be among others.
I know that I am not only
expected to learn, but to educate as your collaborator, even if I never say a
word. Let others see only you. May my spirit be only a window throughwhich others
see beyond me to you. Amen.
Lewis, Troy. AnotherSecond Chance: God’s Story. Writing Career Coach Press. November 30,
2011. Paperback: 220 pages, $14.95. July 18, 2012. EBook: 726KB, $7.77ISBN-10:
0983360774 ISBN-13: 978-0983360773 ASIN: B00954GKEC Text to
Speech Enabled.
Everyone, at
one time or another, questions God. Oftentimes, like Job, we examine the why.
Why me? Why now? God, where are you going with this? God always has a solution.
Often it is not the one expected nor the key for which one even hopes.
Paul sought the
answer in Romans 8:18 by comparing present suffering and future glory. “I consider that our present
sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
Lewis sought
the answers by writing this book “In my darkest moment, as I lay on death’s
doorstep. Hope showed up in a miraculous way.” This is a story that is the
reader’s, as well as the author’s. We all deal with health issues, the loss of
loved ones, the changing of a career or some other difficulty that was unexpected.
The reader can enter his or her private moments of fear, possible loss, pain,
heartbreak, defeat and ultimate success.
Suffering
from a rare and incurable kidney disease, Iga Nephropathy, Lewis, at age 40,
became a member of the 20% of those with the disease who fall into kidney
failure and end up needing a transplant. At first he tried to keep his chin up,
but he like others got to a place where he could not do it anymore.
The first
miracle was a brother whose kidney was a match, but then the realization that
his brother had an aneurism and could not donate. Would God put a second
miracle kidney in time? Lewis’s kidney function was deteriorating rapidly. Even
glimmers of hope could only see him to a place where he could wonder when it
was all going to end. “Just when I counted on a brother's love to save me, it
was a Father’s love that saved us both. A thousand miles away, a stranger
stepped up and courageously gave with nothing expected in return.”
“From time to
time, [God] would peel back the curtain and let me see pieces of the plan. He
would let me see sparkles of hope. He’d show me a reason for living. He’d create
those miracles that let the process jump ahead. All of it brought us to [a
place where were we discovered the answer to the ultimate question]. In our
sacrifices lies our own deliverance. In our giving we get our return. In our willingness
to serve, we are served.”
Lewis’s short
paragraphs make this book easy on the eyes, and easy to read, a necessity when
the pain, the loss, the unforeseen has one in its grips. The story must have
been told many times, honing its design and power orally before it was written
down. Even if, God’s miracle is future glory, the power is not diminished. The
simplicity and understatement of the tone and style makes the book accessible
even when attention and concentration are at a minimum. While not downplaying
the costs and difficulties, Lewis convincingly encourages trust and confidence.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
All Saints
Nov 1
Psalms
am: 111, 112
pm: 148, 150
Neh 4:1-23
am: Heb 11:32-12:2
pm: Rev 21:1-4, 22-22:5
2012/Year B
Psalm
111:7-10 (MSG)
He
manufactures truth and justice; All his products are guaranteed to last— Never out-of-date, never obsolete, rust-proof. All that he makes and does is honest and true: He paid the ransom for his people, He ordered his Covenant kept forever. He’s so personal and holy, worthy of our respect. The good life begins in the fear of God— Do that and you’ll know the blessing of God. His Hallelujah lasts forever!
Psalm
112-4-6
Light arises in the darkness for the upright,
gracious, compassionate, and just [who are in right standing with God].
5 It is well
with the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with
justice.
6 He will not
be moved forever; the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright, in right
standing with God) shall be in everlasting remembrance.
First there was Prevenient Grace. All the people, places and things God placed in my path. The nouns that caused me to stop and turn to see who was REALLY tapping on my shoulder
Next there was Saving Grace. The mystery of faith. Christ came, Christ died, Christ rose, Christ is coming again. All the verbs that caused me to stop and turn and place my life, my being in the hands of God.
Next there is Sanctifying Grace. All the adjectives and adverbs that give faith it's meaning. From Paul and the apostles I learned it is sanctification by grace not works. From Luther I learned it is the working out of my faith. From Wesley I learned the theology is in the hymnal. For me it is learning to be rather than to do. But out of the abundance of my heart, I give and give and give. Until there is less of me and more of Him.
32-38 I could go on and on, but I’ve run out of time. There are so many more—Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets. . . . Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms, made justice work, took the promises for themselves. They were protected from lions, fires, and sword thrusts, turned disadvantage to advantage, won battles, routed alien armies. Women received their loved ones back from the dead. There were those who, under torture, refused to give in and go free, preferring something better: resurrection. Others braved abuse and whips, and, yes, chains and dungeons. We have stories of those who were stoned, sawed in two, murdered in cold blood; stories of vagrants wandering the earth in animal skins, homeless, friendless, powerless—the world didn’t deserve them!—making their way as best they could on the cruel edges of the world.
39-40 Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours.
Discipline in a Long-Distance Race
12 1-3 Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! (MSG)
Some days, the work seems too hard, too scary, too far to go. But I am reminded over and over again. Do not look at the work or the adjectives or the adverbs. Look only to the goal.
I only know that every morning I wake up it is because God must have something more for me to do. More prayers to pray, More cards to send, More love to give, More blogs to write. More books to read. Whatever it takes to draw nearer to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The New Jerusalem
21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.[a]4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
