Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 5, 2023:

• Genesis 12:1-4a 
• Psalm 121 
• Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 
• John 3:1-17 or Matthew 17:1-9

POTENTIAL LENTEN PRAYER ACTIONS: Perhaps one of these will stir an opportunity for prayer enhancement during Lent 2023?

• Guidepost FREE Lenten prayer daily email HERE 
• With all that’s going on with refugees in our world, “40 Prayers in 40 Days” HERE **
• Lenten Prayer by Rev. Dr. LP Jones HERE

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“Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul.” ~ Psalm 103:22

“Oh Lord We Bless Your Name” is a song by Pastor Gregory Chandler and performed by The Chandler Family. You can have a listen HERE. It’s a wonderful composition with vocals that lift praise and honor.

Blessing God’s Name in the Cincinnati area is a passion for Pastor Gregory Chandler. He is Founder of Whole Again (details HERE), an important non-profit group working to alleviate childhood hunger in the Cincinnati area for the past 17 years.

On this day Whole Again leadership will be brainstorming next steps for strengthening and growing that ministry. May the results of those efforts only further God’s very apparent blessings to the community…

Enjoy the day while blessing our Creator’s name, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 26, 2023:

• Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 
• Psalm 32 
• Romans 5:12-19 
• Matthew 4:1-11

POTENTIAL LENTEN PRAYER ACTIONS: Perhaps one of these will stir an opportunity for prayer enhancement during Lent 2023?

• Guidepost FREE Lenten prayer daily email HERE 
• With all that’s going on with refugees in our world, “40 Prayers in 40 Days” HERE **

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According to the Guideposts webpage HERE regarding the Lenten season:

The word “Lent” comes from the Old English word lencten, meaning “spring.” The word is also connected to the Germanic word for “long.” According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word most likely refers to the lengthening of days during the springtime. Therefore, it is called the Lenten season because it always begins in the spring.

While not pretending to know Dan Fogelberg’s religious leanings, perhaps we could adopt his song “Longer” when thinking about Lent? 🙂  Listen HERE. Certainly lots of good imagery there that fits whether with human relationship or Lent! 🙂

Longer than there’ve been fishes in the ocean
Higher than any bird ever flew
Longer than there’ve been stars up in the heavens
I’ve been in love with you

As we consider the lengthening of light during the days of this Lent 2023, perhaps it offers the opportunity to spend those extra minutes of light in gratitude with our LIGHT, the Creator? Whether in the enjoyment of nature and/or other Lenten practices, this season can provide time for wonderful reflection.

POTENTIAL ACTIONS: many providers share “prayer a day for Lent” approaches. Perhaps one of these will stir an opportunity for prayer enhancement during Lent 2023?

• Guidepost FREE Lenten prayer daily email HERE 
• With all that’s going on with refugees in our world, “40 Prayers in 40 Days” HERE **

Enjoy the day, stirred by the Spirit!

** thanks for making us aware of this one, Steven!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 26, 2023:

• Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 
• Psalm 32 
• Romans 5:12-19 
• Matthew 4:1-11

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When international tragedies occur, groups like Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) come to the scene in various ways. It’s inspiring to know what people around the world are doing to bring lightness during such dark times.

The prayer HERE by PDA’s Director Rev. Edwin González-Castillo** shares a wide scope perspective regarding the Turkey/Syria earthquake. The closing shares empowerment

We pray that you may guide us as we look for ways to share your compassion and hope with those who suffer. That we may be ambassadors of your peace, your mercy, and your abundant love.

 

Through Jesus, who weeps with those who weep and heals every heart, amen.

PRAYER: Creator God, as we continue our individual journeys, empower us to indeed “look for ways to share your compassion and hope with those who suffer,” loving recklessly in Christ-like manner…

Enjoy the day, stirred by the Spirit!

** thanks for making us aware of this one, Toni!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 19, 2023:

• Exodus 24:12-18 
• Psalm 2 or Psalm 99 
• 2 Peter 1:16-21 
• Matthew 17:1-9

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“If love is who I am
Then this is where I’ll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back”

On this Valentine’s Day, what if we could recklessly share love with the whole world at a Christ-like level?

I want to show the world the love You gave for me

The lyrics above are taken from the Sidewalk Prophets song Live Like That. Brother Thad shared this several years back and mentioned it as his aspirational “theme song” with inspirational music as well. Lots of wonderful meaning in the song (full lyrics are HERE!)

POTENTIAL ACTIONS: enjoy a break during this day and listen to Live Like That (version HERE for your listening pleasure)

PRAYER: Creator God, as we journey on this Valentine’s Day and in the days ahead, empower us to blast through situations, finding more opportunities and varied ways to love recklessly in Christ-like manner…

Enjoy the day, stirred by the Spirit!

P.S. continuing joys of Christian Playbook posting efforts include getting reactions, songs, stories, references and more from precious family members and friends. Many thanks!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 19, 2023:

• Exodus 24:12-18 
• Psalm 2 or Psalm 99 
• 2 Peter 1:16-21 
• Matthew 17:1-9

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Mitch Albom has written a number of wonderful books. His sharing of the relationship with his mentor Morrie S. and those impacts in Tuesdays with Morrie makes that book a classic. Wonderful insights in there – thanks Mitch!

The Guideposts article HERE describes aspects of Mitch Albom that many of us may not know, including perspective on 5 Spiritual Lessons he has learned. The lesson below seems “spot on” when we begin feeling TOO sorry for ourselves if/when a treasured one has passed or is dealing with major health challenges:

In The Stranger in the Lifeboat, there’s a part where the God character says, “Why is that when somebody dies everyone asks, ‘Why did God take them?’ A better question would be: ‘Why did God give them to us? What did we do to deserve their love, their sweetness, these wonderful moments?’”

Why Did God Give Them To Us? WOW. A nice reminder to examine the fabulous impacts on our lives, thanking our Creator for including these cherished others on our journey.

May we continue to recognize the incredible blessings we encounter each day with neighbors,**  stirred by the Spirit to show our appreciation in novel-to-us ways…

**whether known for the very first time in that moment; for a lifetime or for anywhere in between…

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 12, 2023:

• Deuteronomy 30:15-20 or Sirach 15:15-20 
• Psalm 119:1-8 
• 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 
• Matthew 5:21-37

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Years ago, Chris Thile showed incredible physical and musical energy racing along the Tall Stacks stage in Cincinnati. He shares some of that same energy and imagery in the song Here and Heaven, co-written with Aoife O’Donovan. The music video HERE is wonderful, especially with its introduction, showing the “tuning up” necessary.

The harmonies, instrumentation and lyrics (HERE) share a wonderful tale that stirs the soul

…With an arrow and bow and some seeds left to sow
we are staking our claim
On ground so fertile we forget who we’ve hurt along
the way

and reach out for a strange hand
to hold someone strong but not bold enough to
tear down the wall…

~ lyrics from Here and Heaven song

Each of us will likely take away different meanings from the lyrics and the song. Could this involve the wall between Here and Heaven? Can we reach out to strangers for help and to help? Is the strong, strange hand imagery for the Creator?

May we continue to recognize the fertile ground we encounter each day as we continue in our own winters, springs, summers and falls, stirred by the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 12, 2023:

• Deuteronomy 30:15-20 or Sirach 15:15-20 
• Psalm 119:1-8 
• 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 
• Matthew 5:21-37

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Harold Kushner is well-known for his book When Bad Things Happen to Good People. When people of faith begin to doubt, this book is a frequent reference.

A Cliff Notes-like internet effort by SuperSummary shares a summary on Kushner’s book HERE, including this commentary (with gender-neutral alterations)

Rabbi Kushner’s main idea is that God cannot, or will not, intervene to protect people from tragedies, nor will God punish or reward them for their actions, preferring that humans use their free will without interference. Thus, bad things can happen to good people by accident or from malicious people, and in remedy God offers only support and love. People must find meaning and purpose from their own strength and resolve in overcoming adversity.

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 5, 2023:

• Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12)
• Psalm 112:1-9 (10)
• 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16)
• Matthew 5:13-20

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