Psalm 56:3 Whenever I am afraid I will put my trust in thee.
Mister Rogers’ mother told him: "Whenever you see something bad is happening watch for the helpers."
On March 30, 2002, a firefighter searching for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, discovered a burnt Bible fused to a piece of steel. The barely legible top page is open to the Sermon on the Mount fromMatthew 5, where Jesus speaks of “an eye for an eye” followed by “resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other."
My sister sent me the lyrics to the song "These Are the Women We Come From." It made me cry as I thought of my mother who is 88 and struggling from day to day. I never hear the pain or fear when I talk to her on the phone. Occasionally I see it when I go to stay with her.
I, too, struggle to be strong, to look beyond my pain. I try to be present in every moment, but find it easy to slip down and want to give in and give up. Then I read Psalm 136 and am reminded "His love endures forever." I read Psalm 91 and remember: because I love God, He will rescue me. Because I acknowledge His name, he will protect me. When I call upon Him, and He will answer me, He will be with me in trouble.
Paul reminds Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5) that the faith that lives in him first lived in his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice.
When pain is the definer of life and living, it is so easy to sink. The energy required for life is limited by the challenges I face. I need to find balance among the requirements of family, faith, function, and fun. It used to be simple to incorporate all four at the same time and bounce quickly from one to the other. Today, I have to choose, and I hate it. In not choosing, I choose. In choosing, I may miss the important people and moments of a day. This amount of focus creates the slide into the "slough of despond." (John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress)
If I am focused on myself, things slip by. I don't look ahead, nor am I present in the moment. I whine (more than my allotted two minutes per day). I cannot help others in my need to be still. I can read, but I will not remember what I read. I become so aware of everything that increases my pain; I forget there are things other than drugs that can decrease it.
I found an easier way. Decrease the number of choices to two: inward or outward. Inward seems focused on self. Outward seems focused on others. But in reality, it can be the other way around. Whether mental, physical, spiritual, whether work or play, I know how much energy will be required. I see what I can delegate and what I must do myself. I find that when I push, I must pay the piper.
Jesus, in his life of chronic pain, used inward and outward focus on balancing his days. He withdrew to the desert, to the mountaintop, to the water to be alone, to pray early in the morning and late in the day. Outward focus on his relationship with the Father and on those to whom Jesus and his disciples would touch. Then he focused inward drawing on the strength of that time with God to teach, to heal, to minister to others.
Thank you, Faith and Georgia, for reminding me this week of the power of looking outward in prayer and inward in finding strength to minister to others. I have kept a prayer journal most of my life. I have lists of names on the backs of envelopes, 3"x5" cards, napkins, church bulletins, all stuffed in my bibles. Whatever was handy at the time to record the names and needs to include in my prayers. Stilling my heart, quieting my mind, focusing on the needs of others keeps me on the edge of the abyss.
Some days, when my body requires stillness to battle, I can take the time to read through all the names aloud. Other days when my body requires busyness in battle, the most I can do is place my hand on my lists and know that God knows who most needs my focus. My willingness to conserve to spend or to push and pay becomes a blessing regardless. Either way, inward or outward, I always begin my day putting on the full armor of God so that I can stand fearlessly. (Ephesians 6:10-17)
Somewhere along the line, someone – probably several someones – since I am a bit of a slow learner – I discovered the power of using God's words, straight from scripture to frame my prayers, to bind Satan, to prepare myself to be emptied and poured out for others. One day at an inter-squadron baseball game, the wife of one of my husband's commanders shared with me the prayer she prayed daily for her children.
This prayer, I pray daily for all my children home-grown and accumulated, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, cousins, in-laws, nieces, and nephews. . . I use these words to pray for friends and friends of friends, for allies and foes. Because this was first the apostle Paul's words of prayer for the church in Ephesus, I know it meets Christ's qualifications for agreement. "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19) I use these words to pray for you.
"For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. And pray you will know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to the One who can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Faith and Georgia, and all those who feel called to pray for me, I like Paul ask only for prayer "that whenever I open my mouth [or take up my pen] words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel." (Ephesians 6:19).
1 My song is love unknown, my Savior’s love to me. Love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be. Oh, who am I that for my sake, oh, who am I that for my sake my Lord should take frail flesh and die?
2 He came from heaven’s throne salvation to bestow; but they refused, and none the longed-for Christ would know. This is my friend, my friend indeed, this is my friend, my friend indeed, who at my need, his life did spend.
3 Sometimes they crowd his way and his sweet praises sing, resounding all the day hosannas to their King. Then, “Crucify!” is all their breath, then, “Crucify!” is all their breath, and for his death they thirst and cry.
4 Why, what has my Lord done to cause this rage and spite? He made the lame to run and gave the blind their sight. What injuries, yet these are why, what injuries, yet these are why the Lord Most High so cruelly dies.
5 With angry shouts they have my dear Lord done away; a murderer they save, the Prince of Life they slay. Yet willingly, he bears the shame, yet willingly, he bears the shame, that through his name all might be free.
6 Here might I stay and sing of him my soul adores: never was love, dear King, never was grief like yours. This is my friend in whose sweet praise, this is my friend in whose sweet praise I all my days would gladly spend.
Oh, Lord, please break my heart as my body is broken, that I might see the gift of your Salvation. May I recognize my frailty as an opportunity to show ways I might run though lame, might see though blind, might be free though bound. Let me see the willingness of the Prince of Life to set aside his throne, take on the frailty of human life, and willingly allow Himself to be broken so I might be free. Let me find the freedom beyond my pain in praise. I would gladly spend all my days lost in wonder and praise. Amen.
Barnabas, whose name means “son of encouragement,” is first made known in scripture when he sells his field and brings all the proceeds to the apostles to encourage the spread of the Good News of Jesus' death and resurrection. As the Acts of the Apostles continues to unfold, Barnabas becomes the disciple of second chances.
Paul comes to Jerusalem to seek the blessing of the Apostles. Only Barnabas is willing to listen to Paul’s story, take him before the Apostles, and vouch for him. Paul a “second chance” to carry the Good News beyond the Jewish community. Barnabas and Mark go with Paul on his next missionary journey. Part way into the trip, Mark turns around and goes home.
Paul considers Mark as undependable. It is Barnabas, who gives Mark a “second chance.” Rather than go with Paul, Barnabas goes on a missionary journey with Mark. Paul subsequently asks for Mark to be warmly received because he has been useful in ministry.
I think of the many “second chances” my parents, my husband, my children, my friends have given me. We all fall short. We take a wrong turn and end up somewhere we didn’t plan to go.
We tell a little lie that doesn’t stay so small. We hurt our friends and blame others for actions we have willingly and knowingly taken. We fail to keep our word because it seems too costly. We take bribes, just to get a little bit ahead of our neighbor. We cut a corner here or there.
Oh, that we could all be a Barnabas. Son of encouragement. Giver of second chances.
Prayer: We thank you for the second chances we received today and yesterday. We are thankful for Barnabas, who reminds us we serve a God of second chances. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Each morning during the season of
Pentecost, I am reminded of God’s creative power. Of the Holy Spirit that
“moved over the face of the waters to bring light and life to God’s creation.”
I begin by asking God to “pour out His Spirit on this day that I might walk as
a child of light.” I am reminded to watch as the “Spirit of God fills the whole
world.” (Morning Prayer, Monday - Pentecost)
What power, what grace, what joy is
mine. I do not walk alone in the darkness.
I need not shuffle, barely moving my feet. In one sweeping Word my Lord and
Savior “forgives all my sins and heals all my infirmities.” Does that mean all
pain is swept away? No, but by focusing on His light and my lightness in each
new day, I can set my pain aside. I can concentrate on His goodness. (Psalm 103)
This morning, and every morning,
the shades are drawn back so I can see the power of God in my life where I find
forgiveness for my anger, healing for my anxiety, a way out from my depression.
I can raise my head. I need not watch my feet. I can stand tall holding not
just my walker, but grasping God’s steadfast love and mercy.
I am reminded God’s Pentecostal
power opens His this day and every day love and mercy. I can be a mirror, a
reflection of His forgiving nature. I can choose to hold on to the creative
power of decency, kindness, honesty, and integrity. When I walk as a child of
the light, that should be what
others see: Him in me.
Smile; don’t frown. Laugh; don’t
cry. Sing; don’t whine. Be a window for His goodness. Be door to his
righteousness. The path is well-lighted. I am His and He is mine. He renews my
strength for each baby step I take this day.
