Following our neighbor theme of the last few posts, the Our Daily Bread posting entitled The Privilege of Stewardship seems “just right” (listen HERE to Xochitl Dixon’s passionate reading of her devotional or you can read it HERE)  She tells a story about being good neighbors to sea turtles and then shares this commentary:

When God created the world, He provided a habitat in which each creature could live and thrive (Genesis 1:20–25). When He created His image-bearers, God intended for us to “rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground” (v. 26). He helps us serve Him as responsible stewards who use our God-given authority to care for His vast creation.

May we each use our God-given authority to care for God’s vast creation as good neighbors!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 7, 2022:

• 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

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Talking about missionaries near and far might bring one to consider where the church is ministering for situations like the flash floods in southeastern Kentucky. Well, here is such a person making efforts, David Ehlert

As a Young Adult Volunteer, David mentions in the article HERE:

I found my passion for serving God’s world in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, as well as on the coast of Florida, where I served as an environmental educator for Reef Environmental Education Foundation. I see God in the world around me, as well as in the faces of those around me.

Earth stewardship is a mighty important topic, especially in the hollers of Appalachia where mountaintop removal for coal is contributing to the flash flood conditions. We need the word of God arriving in varying forms during these challenging days. Thanks be to God for folks like David and Mister Rogers, willingly making part of their lives a focus of God’s ministry to others and to Mother Earth!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 7, 2022:

• 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

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Missionaries come in a variety of shapes, sizes, ages and genders. Some think of them as travelers to a foreign land sharing the word of God, sometimes with people seeking/needing foundational knowledge.

Yet many missionaries are right near us, especially valuable given our need for learning and reminders. One such missionary who might not immediately come to mind is a television personality, Mister Rogers. Few have had more impact over a lifetime…

PCUSA has Mister Rogers in the spotlight in the Mission Yearbook of Prayer. At the close of the Mission Yearbook article above comes this statement: “The filmmakers end with Rogers telling his listeners that when the world seems so bad, they should ‘think of someone who has helped you.’ ”

Who is a special someone who has helped you? Spend a few minutes thinking about this – in fact, several folks may come to mind.

ACTION: Can you think of someone needing a little encouragement today? Consider how your special someone might have helped in this situation. Perhaps today offers an opportunity to emulate your special someone in some way?  🙂

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

P.S. And in case you’d like to hear him sing the song, HERE is one rendition of Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 7, 2022:

• 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

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Sticking with the joy theme, we’ll re-visit a post last seen almost 3 years to the day … 

HERE is a Michael Card song 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”

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 31, 2022:

• 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

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In this Guidepost devotional entitled “Important Life Lessons From a Puppy, the author discusses the joy that dogs share unconditionally. She goes on to say:

Even in those times when we may feel as if no one delights in us, we can know Jesus does. When we believe this, we can live with an unwavering sense of joy.

When seeing that wagging tail, the tongue ready to share licks, the bright eyes, etc., we know a dog is joyful in our presence and that can be infectious. The Bible certainly shares prose that reflects a joyful perspective from Jesus amongst his followers and all he met. Jesus’ joy, even in spite of their (and our) shortcomings, can empower us all to a better, more joyful existence.

In the midst of great trials and tribulations, many people inspire us with their joyful perspective on life. Perhaps the joy that Jesus shares with all is coming through these mortal (and canine?) companions in their actions and countenance?

May our journey include recognition and gratitude for the joys that Jesus – and dogs – share with us so fully.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

P.S. Typing the headline above, Charles Shulz comes to mind with “Happiness is a Warm Puppy.”  🙂

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, July 24, 2022:

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

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Anne Lamott’s  “Slow me down, Girlfriend” commentary prompts an updated reissue of this CP post…

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19b NIV).

Simon & Garfunkle’s “groovy song” (as our boys used to call it) fits James’ commentary pretty effectively:  “Slow down, you move too fast”

Why is it that we Christians frequently let the hectic-ness of life take over our focus? And why must we formulate a response even while the other person is still talking?

One objective of the Christian Playbook is to make time for each playbook element, allowing for a slowing of our days so there can be more intentional behavior consistent with our Christ-follower beliefs. Perhaps that even prompts us to abide while listening for God for a good long time before formulating our next responses too?

POSSIBLE ACTION FOR TODAY: in addition to doing the CP efforts (devotional, prayer, study, love, music), take time today to abide, slow down, watch the flowers growin’, stifle hurtful anger and delight more in the day…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, July 17, 2022:

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

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Perspective on prayer in Anne Lamott’s July 8 op-ed in the New York Times is wonderful [thanks to CP friend Rich for sharing the link via her FaceBook page]  The NYT op-ed is well worth a full read – just be sure to have 10 minutes to fully embrace the text! 🙂

Some noteworthy statements include:

• Prayer says to that space, I am tiny, helpless, needy, worried, but there’s nothing I can do except send my love into that which is so much bigger than me.
• “Look — I think we can both see what we have on our hands here. Help me not be such a pill.”
• It is miserable to be a hater. I pray to be more like Jesus with his crazy compassion and reckless love.
• “Slow me down, Girlfriend.” The prayer changes me. It breaks the toxic trance.

As we heard from the Singing Sister last week, Anne reminds us that sometimes we need laughter to help ease the pain.

TIME FOR A SONG? the song Abide with Me comes to mind in the context of this and the last several Christian Playbook posts. Maybe you’re ready for a listen HERE [or on the CP Song YouTube playlist HERE with loads of other good tunes?]

POSSIBLE ACTIONS: During the week ahead, continue looking for the rainbows and opportunities for laughter amidst the clouds and downpours, the darkness and bitterness.

PRAYER: “Slow me down, Girlfriend.” AMEN!

 May times for prayer, laughter and gratitude find you in the most unpredictable moments…

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, July 17, 2022:

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

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Joy is Like the Rain – This song title makes one wonder…exactly how is joy like the rain?

Rains can cause work stoppages and make farm fields into ponds. Not necessarily joy-inducing for outdoor laborers and farmers, for sure. Yet, rains also produce healthy crops, happy animals, radiant rainbows plus conversations while waiting out the storms.

Songwriter, Miriam Therese Winter, describes it this way: “Laughter runs across my pain, slips away and comes again” [full “Joy is Like the Rain” song HERE.] 

Sometimes we need laughter to help ease the pain.

This certainly relates to our Christian lives. If we’re always trying to be “devout as a Pharisee,” how does one make time for the laughter and the joy? Finding the right balance is critical (and yet still worry-inducing for many of us “sparrows.”)

POSSIBLE ACTION: During the week ahead, continue looking for the rainbows amidst the clouds and downpours.

 May joy find you in the most unpredictable moments… Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, July 10, 2022:

• Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82 
• Deuteronomy 30:9-14 and Psalm 25:1-10 
• Colossians 1:1-14 
• Luke 10:25-37

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We return to Guideposts for the Fourth of July perspective HERE.

May we treasure this country and the independence it provides, including the ability to practice whatever faith we choose. Praise God!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

P.S. How is the pruning going (reference to the previous CP post HERE)? And the Abiding? 🙂 Not easy, but important as we each seek to favorably pursue God’s wishes for the creation we are to become…

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, July 10, 2022:

• Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82 
• Deuteronomy 30:9-14 and Psalm 25:1-10 
• Colossians 1:1-14 
• Luke 10:25-37

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Whether you are a gardener or not, the SSJE post HERE about pruning will likely resonate. There are just too many wonderful, important things to pursue in life, plus lots of others that give us additional joy.

It can be too easy to just keep piling on more and more good stuff to the point of near-exhaustion. And even if not exhausting, this “too much of a good thing” gets in the way of other priorities in our faith tradition. With reflection and then sometimes painful trimming, we can continue branching out as a key element of the complex vine.

POSSIBLE ACTIONS: in the week upcoming, consider reading the “Read More and Comment” (HERE) SSJE section, and then taking time as Brother Geoffrey outlines:

I find it helpful to get a big piece of paper and then just write down or draw all the different parts of my life, all my relationships, activities, commitments; gather everything together. Then spend time just looking at it all, with Jesus. … Then, with clippers in hand, ask for the courage – or your worst enemy! – to prune, ruthlessly, that you may bear much fruit, to God’s glory.

Abiding. Pruning. Not easy, but important as we each seek to favorably pursue God’s wishes for the creation we are to become…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit! 

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, July 3, 2022:

• 2 Kings 5:1-14 and Psalm 30 
• Isaiah 66:10-14 and Psalm 66:1-9 
• Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16 
• Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

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