With postings like this one – A Blessing of the Empty Space – Beth Richardson continues to bless us. The whole post is worth a read if you have a few minutes. The way she describes the emptiness left by the death of her dad “rings true” for many

“Left with the emptiness,

The space that can never be filled

In quite the same way.” ~ Beth Richardson in the book

Christ Beside Me, Christ Within Me: Celtic Blessings

This is a sentiment that frequently finds its way into sympathy cards. We know we want to enjoy every minute with our loved ones and when they leave our mortal presence there is an emptiness that can never be completely filled.

This message is also a reminder of the Blessings song that Christian Playbook referenced earlier in the week. While trials of life are challenging and sometimes almost overwhelming, they are blessings all the same, as the song describes.

ACTION: How can you be blessing to another in your midst this week? It’s not always apparent that there are troubling times afoot for that person, but invariably we’re all undergoing some type of challenge…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

“…grief is the tax we pay on loving people.” ~ Thomas Lynch as quoted in the book Life of Meaning p. 87

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, December 10, 2017:

• Isaiah 40:1-11
• Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
• 2 Peter 3:8-15a
• Mark 1:1-8

Have you heard the song “Blessings” by Laura Story? You can hear it HERE

This song was recommended to me by a friend. I promised to work it up for this Christmas-time so we could sing it. This past week while listening to the song, it is clear to me why he and so many of us like it. Plus the timing is particularly good given a “blessing” he is dealing with today…

“What if trials of this life…are your mercies in disguise?”

May you feel the peace that passeth all understanding, especially while dealing with the storms, the trials, the blessings of this life…

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, December 10, 2017:

• Isaiah 40:1-11
• Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
• 2 Peter 3:8-15a
• Mark 1:1-8

The Behold! theme word for this week is Preparation (in the book Behold! by Pamela C. Hawkins.) Pamela relates a story about her aunt’s gardening practices – hard-working part of the year and then waiting for the preparation that our earth needs during fallow times.

She also references a beautiful song: Hail to the Lord’s Appointed. The words are HERE and you can hear the St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal congregation sing it HERE. The third verse of that hymn is:

He shall come down like showers
upon the fruitful earth;
love, joy, and hope, like flowers,
spring in his path to birth.
Before him on the mountains,
shall peace, the herald, go,
and righteousness, in fountains,
from hill to valley flow.

May our preparations this week and throughout the season be a combination of hard work and expectancy in all that happens even without us!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, December 10, 2017:

• Isaiah 40:1-11
• Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
• 2 Peter 3:8-15a
• Mark 1:1-8

Does the Christmas season sometimes feel like you’re on a runaway train? The parties, the purchases, the entanglements of our material world can sometimes be overwhelming. Paraphrasing one favorite pastor: when I’m busiest is when I know I most need to slow down and be with God.

Today’s d365.org devotional includes this

“Today we remember that Advent is a season of waiting, and Isaiah is inviting us to wait for God. We wait for God when things are going smoothly and we wait when things are falling apart.” ~ Erendira Jimenez

Waiting isn’t easy but slowing down frequently helps. And typing that line, I can’t help but smile and think of religious scholar, Jim Ignetowski from the TV show Taxi (okay, maybe he was NOT a religious scholar!) Here’s a humorous snippet from an episode that deals with slowing down…

ACTION: Take a little time on this day to slow down and spend time waiting with God whether through music, prayer, study or whatever allows you to take some deep breaths and enjoy this wonderful season upcoming.

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

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