Daily Scripture Readings Epiphany
(January 6) and Ordinary Time until Lent, (March 8, 2013)
January 10, 2013
Psalms
138, 139, 147
Old
(Hebrew) Testament Isaiah 65:1-9
Epistle
Revelation 3:1-6
Gospel
John 6:1-14
As
I Live and Breathe
So
often the scriptures that are God-breathed, remind us every
breath that leaves our body should be an expression of praise, gratitude and
confession.
At
Wanda’s voice lesson yesterday, we started the process of review of what we’ve
learned, and of looking forward to what is next. As I looked back through her
folder, I noticed, as I have with every voice student over the years, just how
much time and energy in our lessons and in her practice assignments is devoted
to learning to breathe.
And,
as the time goes by, we spiral deeper and deeper into how to use the breath to
produce a better sound, a better blend, a better ability to make the voice do
what we want it to. But, always before we can apply the breath, we must learn
to breathe in deeper using muscles that must be exercised to be used on demand.
One
of John Wesley’s core terms was “Spiritual Respiration.” Our need for God can
be compared to our need for air. Our connection to God should be as intimate
and constant as our need to breathe.
“When
God fills our lives the way our air fills our lungs, we are refreshed, alert and
energized for God’s work. If we stop breathing God, we will lose the connection
essential to our daily lives.”
Each
of my children, when they left the birth canal, had to breathe in before they
could make their first lusty cry.
Our
relationship with God is not automatic the way their physical breathing became.
We have to concentrate on it through prayer, Bible study and other practices to
cultivate our spiritual lives.
We
must practice breathing deeper and deeper so our songs of worship and praise
are filled with substance, well blended, and lusty! To be God’s voice in our
world.
“Wake
up, and strengthen what remains…” Jesus says to the church at Sardis. Jesus distributes the five barley loaves and
two fish to the 5000. He gives himself in extravagant abundance.
Lord,
help me take it deep, deep within, so I can give it back. May it be a sweet,
sweet sound in your ear.
These
readings are adapted from The Book of
Common Prayer, Daily Readings for Year One. http://www.crivoice.org/epiphany1.html
My personal study
bible for this Liturgical Year is The Wesley Study Bible, New Revised Standard
Version, Abingdon Press, 2009
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