Have 4 minutes for a good listen? HERE is a recent Our Daily Bread (ODB) devotional in audio form.

It’s great when the Spirit works in mysterious ways. This ODB devotional fits our life very well. Today, Kim and I hit another growth spurt in life – melanoma procedures for me as outpatient surgery. In this ODB devotional, Randy Kilgore mentions an important message his wife shared:

“I think God wants us not to forget in the light what we’re learning in this darkness.”

In a somewhat similar messaging, the song Blessings shares this message: “What if trials of this life, are your mercies in disguise.”

Our faith is made stronger because of our experiences and those our elders and mentors shared – and are sharing – with us. I hope and pray that the growth spurt Wednesday at the hospital (and the recovery days that follow) will make me a better instrument of Christ’s love here on earth too!

ACTION: Reflect on a recent darker period of life. What are some positives that arose?

PRAYER: Creator God – strengthen me. Christ – guide me. Spirit – MOVE ME! Amen.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, September 9, 2018:

• Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 and Psalm 125
• Isaiah 35:4-7a and Psalm 146
• James 2:1-10, (11-13), 14-17
• Mark 7:24-37

Song lyrics and tunes can invade our lives when we least expect them. Marchaé Grair in the UCC devotional “Whisper a Prayer,” is reminded of this tune and lyrics. A nice reminder about prayer morning, noon and evening!

There are many impactful sentences in Marchaé’s devotional, but these closing ones are particularly good:

Setting aside time for the renewal of the mind through prayer is a revolutionary act. It gives us the spiritual capacity to seek revolutionary change in the world by first healing and transforming ourselves.

A nice reminder to be revolutionary in a very different way…  🙂

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, September 2, 2018:

• Song of Solomon 2:8-13 and Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9
• Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 and Psalm 15
• James 1:17-27
• Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

The recent Guideposts post HERE shares ideas about labyrinths. It’s well worth a read.

“Walking a labyrinth”  can be a powerful experience and you don’t even necessarily need to walk a step! There’s much more about labyrinths – including pocket labyrinths – on the Christian Playbook HERE.

I especially like the idea of this “Faith Step” from the Guideposts post above

“Faith Step: Invite a friend to join you as you walk an unfamiliar path or trail. Talk about ways Jesus has guided you through the unexpected curves life has handed you.” ~ (Guideposts post of 8/7/18 HERE )

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, September 2, 2018:

• Song of Solomon 2:8-13 and Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9
• Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 and Psalm 15
• James 1:17-27
• Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

I have a confession. Rather than rush around to get ready for church this Sunday, I just didn’t make it there.

God works in mysterious ways and this Sunday morning was no different.

Around 11 AM, when church was starting, I began my church for the day …

• opening the previous Christian Playbook post and re-read the jail ministry story
• listening to Our Daily Bread’s daily audio story
• reading the Lectionary on the Vanderbilt website (listed below, as it is each CP post)
• reading Psalm 84 in the Lectionary prompted me to go to the Internet and look up the song How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place
• hearing that song reminded me to look out the window, listen to the wren and realize how lovely is my dwelling place
• praying time included prayers for each of you Christian Playbook readers who periodically open our devotionals and share spiritual experiences
• praying using the thematic prayer on the Vanderbilt site which did a nice job of tying things together nicely
• then the “Jones benediction,” inspired by LP and Nancy was a nice conclusion

“Friends, life is short, and there is precious little time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us. So make haste to be kind and be quick to love, for in every act of love and kindness, the God who first formed us, transforms and reforms us, now and forever. And for these blessings, the people of God say … Amen.”

May you have such a joy-filled hour at some point in the weeks ahead, even if it DOESN’T include missing formal worship!   🙂

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 26, 2018:

• 1 Kings 8:(1,6,10-11), 22-30, 41-43 and Psalm 84
• Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18 and Psalm 34:15-22
• Ephesians 6:10-20
• John 6:56-69

Amazing how The Holy Spirit can move a group of men over the course of one short hour!

Here’s a reminder of one such situation…

In August of 2016, three of us arrived at the jail, greeted by 31 men for worship. Early on we did Amazing Grace – it’s a frequent starting tune for worship because most everyone knows it.

Yet on this day, virtually no one was singing; a troubling sign, for sure …

A transformation happened over the course of our scripture-prayer-song formatted worship … by the time we were done the men encouraged one another to stand while praying the joys and concerns. The final song – If I Had a Hammer – was enjoyed with virtually everyone singing along, including some dancing with all energized.

A magical hour of worshiping God, fueled by the Spirit, for sure!

Even on those days when the Spirit doesn’t immediately seem to be working through you, have confidence and persevere, knowing that your love and caring can shine through in the most unexpected ways and circumstances…

Enjoy the day, filled with the amazing Spirit and unbridled love that can come so abundantly to “Jesus people”…

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 26, 2018:

• 1 Kings 8:(1,6,10-11), 22-30, 41-43 and Psalm 84
• Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18 and Psalm 34:15-22
• Ephesians 6:10-20
• John 6:56-69

The song Say a Little Prayer for You shares a message about the number of opportunities to say prayers for others, putting “pray without ceasing” in a context of activities of a typical day. A beautiful rendition of this song is HERE, performed by Aretha Franklin.

ACTION: Who in your life is particularly needing your prayers today? Think of an activity you’ll do several times during your day and each time you do that activity, “say a little prayer” for that person.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 26, 2018:

• 1 Kings 8:(1,6,10-11), 22-30, 41-43 and Psalm 84
• Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18 and Psalm 34:15-22
• Ephesians 6:10-20
• John 6:56-69

Riding the Rapids is the title of the Our Daily Bread devotional HERE. My kayaking style is definitely to go for the rapids, but only with proper preparation and a dose of caution. Maybe that’s why the article resonates so much with its description of preparations of weight distribution, detailed directions, etc..

Which detailed directions would we describe as being helpful while riding the lifetime of rapids as Christians?

Finding your community of Christian friends?

Developing a daily prayer time?

Continuing education and growing your faith?

Seeking experiences that allow for incremental strength of character and Christian witness?

May we each develop and enhance those detailed directions in our lives this day and in the days ahead…

ACTION: Ask a friend or two which “detailed directions” she/he has found most helpful in strengthening their faith? Which activities would you like to take on or enhance in the months ahead as you continue thinking about “What would Jesus have me do?”

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 19, 2018:

• 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 and Psalm 111
• Proverbs 9:1-6 and Psalm 34:9-14
• Ephesians 5:15-20
• John 6:51-58

The title “Brighten the Corner Where You Are” gives a nice hint of where Ina Mae Duley Ogdon wants Christians to make a difference – right where you are! Charles Hutchinson Gabriel provides a pleasant, speedy melody to highlight the brightening aspect.

Take a listen HERE.

A mighty fine example of a person who takes this song to heart is our mom. As Krista Tippett described in the podcast referenced in the last CP post, our mom is heavily informed and yet still has plenty of joy to share where she lives.

This past week our mom had minimally-invasive heart surgery and it resulted in lots of prayers, prayerful activities and discussions. We were blessed with a wonderful, skilled group of medical professionals working with us and the surgery appears to be a complete success. Praise God, that we have this wonderful example continuing to brighten the corner where she lives.

ACTION: Consider 1-3 actions that might brighten this day for you and others in your path. Among the possibilities: 1) smile and/or wave to someone as you walk past; 2)

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 19, 2018:

• 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 and Psalm 111
• Proverbs 9:1-6 and Psalm 34:9-14
• Ephesians 5:15-20
• John 6:51-58

Based on the last Christian Playbook post, our good friend Joan sent along this Krista Tippett 9 minute interview as part of the OnBeing podcast. Krista mentions a regular practice of partaking of the news and at the same time limiting her exposure so the 24 hour news cycle doesn’t occupy her full-time. Otherwise it can overwhelm: “we are analog creatures in a digital world.” She also discusses embodying joy-filled and hope-filled practices as a way to balance the sobering news.

So taking a pause is important. Maybe we Christians could go so far as to say that the Spirit automatically equips us with joyful opportunity if only we’ll engage it? Those moments of silent contemplation can go a long way to helping…

ACTION: If you’re in the mood, take a listen to Paul Thorn singing Don’t Let Nobody Rob You of Your Joy. One line is “let the light of love shine in.” [Great lyrics, Paul, and a wonderful message!!!]

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 12, 2018:

• 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 and Psalm 130
• 1 Kings 19:4-8 and Psalm 34:1-8
• Ephesians 4:25-5:2
• John 6:35, 41-51

Jesus said to them, “You cannot make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? ~ Luke 5:34

Expressing joy is the focus of THIS 2016 DEVOTIONAL from Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, IL. Written by Shannon J. Kershner, Pastor, it describes a challenge many have experienced on occasion in church. WHERE IS THE JOY?!?

This reflection reminds me of two books in my bookcase: Jesus, Man of Joy by Sherwood E. Wirt and The Humor of Christ by Elton Trueblood. Both books provide – as Trueblood’s subtitle suggests – “bold challenge to the traditional stereotype of a somber, gloomy Christ.” If you’re looking for some enjoyable, challenging reading, consider one of these…

May we live this day with the joy of Christ in our hearts and in our actions!

PRAYER: God, fill us with joy as though at a wedding celebration with the bride and groom. Amen

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 5, 2018:

• 2 Samuel 11:26 – 12:13a and Psalm 51:1-12
• Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 and Psalm 78:23-29
• Ephesians 4:1-16
• John 6:24-35