HERE is an article with background and then a prayer you might say on a bad day. Julia brings us to this prayer: “Lord, what do you want me to learn?”

Sounds like good advice. Prayer can especially help in the dark times.

Maybe the same prayer can be similarly effective in the good times too? 🙂

PRAYER: “Lord, what do you want me to learn?” Help me to allow the Spirit to move me in that direction… Amen

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Church announcement humor:  Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house… Bring your husbands.

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 25, 2019:

• Jeremiah 1:4-10 and Psalm 71:1-6
• Isaiah 58:9b-14 and Psalm 103:1-8
• Hebrews 12:18-29
• Luke 13:10-17

“Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.” ~ Romans 15:2

The ODB posting (HERE) discusses President Abraham Lincoln and mixes in a nice, Christian message.

Great as he was, Lincoln would describe melancholy times in his life. In addition to the affirming people around him, those newspaper clippings were some of the neighborly, positive messages to help Lincoln through tough times. What a blessing to have “neighbors” who are living out the Romans 15:2 message!

POSSIBLE ACTION: Are there some people you will encounter – intentionally or unintentionally – who can use a little building up today? Look for those opportunities to live out Romans 15:2!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 18, 2019:

• Isaiah 5:1-7 and Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19
• Jeremiah 23:23-29 and Psalm 82
• Hebrews 11:29-12:2
• Luke 12:49-56

Church Signs – #7: Store the Bible in your heart, not on a shelf.

“Summer Has Come and Past” is a lyric from Green Day in their beautiful song Wake Me Up When September Ends… The song’s author would like to sleep away all of September.

Our mom has been known to say “don’t wish your life away.” Most of us do not really want to sleep through a particular month or season, but at times it might sound appealing to sleep through troublesome times… Hopefully your summer is continuing to go well and you’re not wishing for the next season just yet.

As summer has come – and not yet passed fully – we have the opportunity to enjoy some summer prayers, courtesy of Bob Hostetler and this Guideposts post.There are several written prayers and also this 99 second video prayer with music, pictures and words.

May this summer day find you enjoying conversation with God using one of these prayers and/or any of your effective connection approaches…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 18, 2019:

• Isaiah 5:1-7 and Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19
• Jeremiah 23:23-29 and Psalm 82
• Hebrews 11:29-12:2
• Luke 12:49-56

Church billboard: “Jesus does not save halfway.”

Cousin Nancy forwarded this YouTube video a few days back with the comment “this was beautiful.” We usually agree and this was no exception: beautiful photos, words and music in this “Interview with God!”

What questions would you ask God, given the opportunity? Maybe give it a try…   🙂

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Seen on church billboard: “The fact that there’s a highway to hell and only a stairway to heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers.”

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 11, 2019:

• Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 and Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23
• Genesis 15:1-6 and Psalm 33:12-22
• Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
• Luke 12:32-40

Some churches display the saying “All Are Welcome Here.” Yet skeptics among us may wonder if some of the congregants might want to express their love like in the comic strip HERE.

Pearls Before Swine followers recognize that Rat might be finding quite a few “unfriendly ones” to be hitting with a stick. It’s important for all those with life challenges – and don’t we all have some form of faith challenge? – to realize that we are welcomed into Christ’s church.

ACTION OPPORTUNITY: in the days ahead, can you extend the Christian hand of friendship/welcome to someone you might not ordinarily seek out?  [No sticks allowed! 🙂 ]

Prayer: Dear God, help me to be more loving and more Christian “inna my heart.” Amen

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Seen on church billboard: “Pray all the time; use words if necessary!”

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 4, 2019:

• Hosea 11:1-11 and Psalm 107:1-9, 43
• Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 and Psalm 49:1-12
• Colossians 3:1-11
• Luke 12:13-21

Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” ~ Matthew 14:28-33

This post on the UCC devotional site is too good NOT to share. As Vince says, discerning the time for specific care is the tricky part.

ACTION: May each of us feel empowered to make a suitable number of mistakes in the pursuit of “so many ways to get care right.”

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 4, 2019:

• Hosea 11:1-11 and Psalm 107:1-9, 43
• Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 and Psalm 49:1-12
• Colossians 3:1-11
• Luke 12:13-21

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ~ Colossians 3:1

Lectionary texts for the week appear to be focusing us on the challenges of an earthly life. The opportunity to “seek things that are above” is worthy. It’s mighty difficult at times, isn’t it?

We hear of families fighting over inheritances, people so caught up in making money they cannot help those in need and oh so many other cases of building up earthly wealth only to have Luke 12-like** situations arise. As we consider God’s love, may we share some of our many gifts – financial and other – with those all around us…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

** But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.” ~ Luke 12:20-21 

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 4, 2019:

• Hosea 11:1-11 and Psalm 107:1-9, 43
• Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 and Psalm 49:1-12
• Colossians 3:1-11
• Luke 12:13-21

He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” ~ Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

Angels on Wheels is what Edward Grinnan describes in this Guideposts article ; folks who brought his mom meals while she was dealing with Alzheimer’s issues at home. His mom wouldn’t eat, he says and “When we told the volunteers this, they were wonderfully wise and pretty soon they got Mom to eat.”

Our family has been blessed by our mom’s example in empowering others to be angels on wheels. She helped orchestrate the Bowling Green “Meals on Wheels” initial program over 40 years ago – – she still drives meals around today. What a wonderful example of the Matthew 13 mustard seed of an idea that is now a tree, continuing to thrive!

As we seek to do God’s work in this world today, may we help seed ways to “help bring others nourishment” – whether of a physical, spiritual or other nature!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, July 28, 2019:

• Hosea 1:2-10 and Psalm 85
• Genesis 18:20-32 and Psalm 138
• Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19)
• Luke 11:1-13

Sticking with songs and the joy theme…

HERE is a Michael Card tune called Joy in the Journey which includes these lines:

“There is a joy in the journey,

There’s a light we can love on the way.

There is a wonder and wildness to life

And freedom for those who obey”

– Michael Card’s Joy in the Journey

The lyrics go on to talk about the challenges and still the joy. A little like what we read in these verses from Matthew

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

– Matthew 11:28-30

May good perspective be with us, enabling us to be more Christ-like and providing more joy in the journey even when the traveling is hazardous…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, July 28, 2019:

• Hosea 1:2-10 and Psalm 85
• Genesis 18:20-32 and Psalm 138
• Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19)
• Luke 11:1-13

Songs can be powerful, whether singing, saying or mouthing along. Lillian Daniel makes great, quick points about music in this article Sing Once, Pray Twice, or Just Sing Already

Lillian closes with this prayer:

“How often making music we have found,

a new dimension in the world of sound,

which leads us to a more profound

Alleluia!”

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, July 21, 2019:

• Amos 8:1-12 and Psalm 52
• Genesis 18:1-10a and Psalm 15
• Colossians 1:15-28
• Luke 10:38-42