Don’t you just love “God moments?”

While reading the October Guideposts magazine, I came to the Pass It On article. Audrey’s efforts with Prayer Bears and the way Karen tells it reminds me a lot about what friend Gail has said about distribution of Pocket Prayer Shawls (PPS) made with love by the MWPC In-Stitches group.

In-Stitches, a small group ministry at Mt. Washington Presbyterian in Cincinnati  makes “crafty items” for various causes, sharing their Christian love. Pocket Prayer Shawls find their way to those needing reminders of God’s love [and we can all use that, right? 🙂 ] You can read a little more about PPS here (http://wp.me/P57JhD-pT).

ACTIONS: 1) There are many ways we can show love – consider one of the “sharing love” ideas listed on the Christian Playbook HERE; 2) Seek out people in your sphere who are sharing their crafty-ness and spend a minute to thank them

May the gifts we share (and make) give a little glimpse of the expectancy we have in re-visiting the Christmas story during this Advent season. Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, December 3, 2017:

• Isaiah 64:1-9
• Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
• 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
• Mark 13:24-37

Some Christian Playbook devotionals during Advent 2017 will use an approach on the basis of the book Behold by Pamela C. Hawkins. More on the book and Hawkins’ approach HERE.

As we approach the first Sunday in Advent, read the Mark 13 reference in the Lectionary (link to this reading is below.) Reflect on the word Expectancy, which is the word that Hawkins uses for this week. How does this scripture speak to you about expectancy in life then and now?

As you consider the expectancy of the season, consider checking out the words and music to Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus HERE

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, December 3, 2017:

• Isaiah 64:1-9
• Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
• 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
• Mark 13:24-37

The officiant at our older son’s wedding this past weekend, Pastor Roger, said that this event held several firsts including the number of kilts, a groom with a recent knee surgery (and still using crutches and a cane) and the bridal party coming down the aisle to the song Somebody to Love by Queen.

About the song Somebody to Love, the website Songfacts.com says: “Freddie Mercury wrote this. The lyrics reflect a man calling out to God, asking why he works so hard, but can’t find love. At the end of the song, he finds hope and decides he will not accept defeat.”

Pastor Roger gave an inspiring talk about marriage and went on to talk about parallels between the song and one or more of the Psalms. I didn’t commit the Psalm reference to memory, but maybe Pastor Roger was referencing this one?

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story – those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. ~ Psalm 107:1-7

Most of us at times feel we’re wandering in the desert. For our family, we are thankful that our son has found somebody to love who loves him (and he loves,) the way the Psalmist and Freddie Mercury wrote.

May each of us in our Thanksgiving week be cognizant of the many reasons we have for thanks, including the loves in our lives.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, November 26, 2017:

• Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 and Psalm 100
• Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 and Psalm 95:1-7a
• Ephesians 1:15-23
• Matthew 25:31-46

Most of you likely recognize those words since In The Garden is a beloved song by many. In fact, on an afternoon this week a 100 year-old woman nicknamed Bunny asked our Joyful Noise Boys group to sing it.

Songfacts.com mentions this about the song and the author of it, C. Austin Miles (1868-1946):

“Miles went on to recount how he had a vision, in which he could see and hear Mary Magdalene weeping outside the tomb of Jesus as the resurrected Christ appeared to her. He recalled how he “became a silent witness to that dramatic moment in Mary’s life, when she knelt before her Lord, and cried, ‘Rabboni!'” Miles then described how: ‘I awakened in full light, gripping the Bible, with muscles tense and nerves vibrating. Under the inspiration of this vision I wrote as quickly as the words could be formed the poem exactly as it has since appeared. That same evening I wrote the music.’ “

You can get a lot more detail about the song HERE

Many artists sang this song. Here is Elvis’ rendition…

While we can’t all experience what Miles did in the way of a vision and basically finishing a song in one day, we all have a chance to walk with Christ.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, November 19, 2017:

• Judges 4:1-7 and Psalm 123
• Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18 and Psalm 90:1-8, (9-11), 12
• 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
• Matthew 25:14-30

This Guideposts web exclusive shares perspective on managing our time. Nice fit with the Christian Playbook, don’t you think?

Great scripture there too:

You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna. Nehemiah 9:20 (NIV)

Check the ground for that manna…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, November 19, 2017:

• Judges 4:1-7 and Psalm 123
• Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18 and Psalm 90:1-8, (9-11), 12
• 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
• Matthew 25:14-30

On this Veteran’s Day, it’s nice to review pictures of family veterans in uniform

Does one look a little “out of place?”

My brother Andy was stationed in the country of Togo, West Africa in the Peace Corps in the mid/late 1980s. When he went off to do his service I was not sure what he was up to and the value of the experience. Over thirty years later, I GET IT! He and so many other veterans have shared the love of the American people worldwide by “working side by side with local leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges of our generation” ~ (taken from the Peace Corps mission statement)

Isaiah 2:4 mentions “beating our swords into plowshares.” In Togo, they did that quite literally by instructing the people to plow with oxen (plus teaching math, English and many other activities!) Whatever the role in-country, it is tough work for the PC volunteer and the people in-country they work with daily. The result? Even 20 years later, these PCV are recognized and welcomed with open arms (I had the pleasure of experiencing these greetings first-hand in 2009 – – many Togolese thought I was my brother! 🙂 )

We are blessed to have people willing to serve in such ways in the Peace Corps.

Could I say a lot about the blessing of what our military personnel have done for us, including my Uncles Fred and Jack (pictured above?) Absolutely, but I’m betting you’ll read a lot more about military folks like them in the popular press today so I’ll leave it here.

ACTION: Let’s honor and remember our veterans today in one or more ways such as

• trip to a park or cemetery where a veteran’s memorial exists
• attending area events honoring these brave men and women (and animals – K9 corps and others) veterans
• watching a show in a war setting (PBS series on Vietnam is now out, for instance)
• watching videos of Peace Corps volunteers sharing experiences HERE

PRAYER: God, we are blessed to have military veterans and currently-serving personnel who hopefully ultimately have made and are making our world a more peaceful place. We are equally blessed to have Peace Corps veterans and volunteers working for a more peaceful world. We remember and honor their efforts and sacrifices for such peaceful long-term priorities. Strengthen and support all of them – and us – in our roles of becoming better peace-makers worldwide!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, November 12, 2017:

• Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 and Psalm 78:1-7
• Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16 or Amos 5:18-24 and Wisdom of Solomon 6:17-20 or Psalm 70
• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
• Matthew 25:1-13

Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her. One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for she will be found sitting at the gate. To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding, and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care, because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought. ~ Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16

Wow, a second reading of the passage is attention-grabbing. Rise early. Seek freely. Be vigilant. Remain available.

Do you ever remember reading this passage? For many of us, the book Wisdom of Solomon will be foreign – it’s from the Apocrypha, which since the 19th century does not usually show up in Protestant Bibles. I like what this online OLLI document says:

“Like the “begats” in the Bible, some of the hidden books would put almost anyone to sleep. Others will keep you on the edge of your seat.” ~ James L. Crenshaw

As you see Apocrypha books show up in the Lectionary listings in the weeks ahead, maybe this will prompt a reading of a few lines? If so, maybe you’ll end up with edge-of-your-seat experience … or a solution for insomnia? 🙂

ACTION: In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, may we rise early; seek freely; be vigilant; remain available.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, November 12, 2017:

• Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 and Psalm 78:1-7
• Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16 or Amos 5:18-24 and Wisdom of Solomon 6:17-20 or Psalm 70
• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
• Matthew 25:1-13

Alive Now shared many wonderful practices and one of these is Welcoming Prayer. This approach can be helpful when needing to center our thoughts and abandon our needs for control.

Many of the Welcoming lines resonate, among them “I accept what is, trusting that God will be with me no matter what happens.” This reminds me of the Footprints story (and song) and the comfort this visual and music provides me. If you haven’t seen this story or song before, or reviewed it in a while, maybe today is the day?

ACTION: When encountering “lower light” places in life, maybe revisiting the Welcoming Prayer can be part of our adaptations along with the visual of Footprints in the Sand as God walks with us?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. …  she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought. (Wisdom of Solomon 6:12, 16)

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, November 12, 2017:

• Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 and Psalm 78:1-7
• Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16 or Amos 5:18-24 and Wisdom of Solomon 6:17-20 or Psalm 70
• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
• Matthew 25:1-13

Today’s highlight is from the Saint John’s Bible project with subtle and vivid visuals to help conjure up new insights. Here’s an example at the start of the book of Matthew. Spend a few minutes with the pictures first – what catches your eye? Then, perhaps you’ll want to read a little bit of the description for the picture that is directly below the pictures?

POSSIBLE ACTIONS:

• How does this visual approach help (or not help) your appreciation of the scriptures. Spend a minute doodling about a portion of this week’s Lectionary reading…

O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God. ~ Psalm 43:3-4

• Consider listening to today’s Daily Prayer Audio with a focus on thanksgiving

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, November 5, 2017:

• Joshua 3:7-17 and Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37
• Micah 3:5-12 and Psalm 43
• 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
• Matthew 23:1-12

The saints in our lives are numerous: those who have passed, those still with us and those we never knew except through writings, word of mouth and …

Here is the Shepherds-focused prayer from the Daily Prayer Audio webpage. Part of the focus for this 6 minute audio is to remember people in your early Christian development. Who were your important saints growing up?

ACTION: On this All Saints Day, pray for those saints in your life today, that they might feel strengthened and supported for efforts with you and so many others that their lives touch.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, November 5, 2017:

• Joshua 3:7-17 and Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37
• Micah 3:5-12 and Psalm 43
• 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
• Matthew 23:1-12