Category Archives: faith

Christian, devotion, faith, Lenten Devotion, Parable of the Sower, Sowing Seed, Uncategorized

Glimpse of Grace for the Second Sunday of Lent, 2017

Devotional Reading: Mark 3: 31-4:9. Morning Psalm–84; Evening Psalm–42

Text: “Listen! A sower went out to sow.” (Mark 3: 3)

I’ve always been fascinated by the parables of Jesus. Perhaps you have, too. The thing that I discovered about Jesus’ parables is that they are mirrors reflecting not only the nature of God’s Kingdom, but where we are in life. So many times I’ve approached this parable cautioning listeners not to be like “the path”, “the rocky” ground, or the weedy” patch.  But then I realized a couple of things that I never saw before. First, soil cannot change itself. Second, only the gardener or farmer can change the nature of the soil.

Maybe the point of this parable is not the ground, per se, but the sower. Maybe Jesus is telling us that we are the sowers of the Kingdom presence. Maybe this is a parable about faithfulness; being faithful to our task.  In the parable the sower scattered seed broadly without even thinking about the soil. His job was not to judge but to simply be persistent in sowing seed.

Could it be that that  is what we are called to do, too? Maybe we need to worry less about the soil and leave that to God.

Lord God, make me slow to judge and quick to forgive. Give me the strength to be faithful in sowing the seed of Your Kingdom at all time and places. And if our words fail, let our action proclaim Your Promise. Amen.

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Christian, confession, devotion, faith, Lenten Devotion, sin, Temptation, Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace for the 9th Day of Lent, 2017

Devotional Readings: Hebrews 4: 11-16;  Morning Psalm-22; Evening Psalm–130

Text: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness that  we may receive mercy for our failures and grace to help in the hour of need. (Hebrews 11:15, 16)

    To be reminded of our mistakes, short-comings, indiscretions or whatever we want to call it, is uncomfortable for most people. Like Adam and Eve trying to hide their nakedness, it seems that our default mode of operation is to deny, lie and cover up. All this does, though, is separate us more and more from God.

Each week, at the church I serve, we join together in a Prayer of Confession of Sin. From time to time someone will tell me that the Confession is depressing. Owning our sin is very counter-cultural. We often enter this part of the service by reminding worshipers of the words of  I John.  “If we say we are without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”(1: 8)  The apostle Paul wrote that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3: 23) Whether we like to hear it or not, we are sinners living in a state of sin. Period.

Today’s reading from Hebrews reminds us that sin does not have the last word, though. Like us, Jesus was tempted in every way but unlike us, Jesus did not fall. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness that  we may receive mercy for our failures and grace to help in the hour of need.  As the Incarnation of God, Jesus knows who we really are and has compassion upon us. With the confidence of a child standing before a loving parent, we can confess our sin and the part that we play in the world’s sin knowing that we will receive mercy and grace.

Lord, with David I can ask for Your forgiveness. It is against You and only You that I have sinned. Give me the courage and the wisdom to mend broken relationships without harming myself. Heal my wounds of the spirit and draw me more and more into the likeness of Christ. Amen.

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Christian, devotion, faith, Lenten Devotion, Temptation, Temptations of Jesus, Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace: The First Sunday in Lent, 2017

Devotional Reading: Matthew 4: 1-11

I always thought that temptations were a bad thing. At various times in my life, whenever I faced a major decision and didn’t know which way to go, I would pray, “Lord, if you do NOT want me to do a certain thing, then please don’t tempt me because I am weak and I will fail.” I truly knew what the apostle Paul was talking about when he wrote, “I do not understand my own action. For I do not do what I want, but the very thing I hate.” (Romans 7: 15-20) Like Paul, I stumble a lot.

But then, in reading today’s text, I realized that Jesus was led into the wilderness of temptation by the Spirit–the Holy Spirit. Temptations, then, are not bad. They are clarifying. They help me discover the essence of my character. As an old Country song says, “If you don’t know what you stand for, you’ll fall for anything.” Jesus’ temptations clarified for Him, the Early Church, and us today what gives our lives meaning. In life we “do not live by bread alone”. We must not “put God to the test”. And only one Being is worthy of our worship. (Matthew 4: 4,7&10, respectively).

These are basic principles by which we can live our lives. These are the principles we can use when we face temptation.

Lord, Jesus told us that when we pray we ought to pray not to be led into temptation. But when we are tempted, help us to stop and ponder Christ’s lessons–we do not live by bread alone, we must not put God to the test, and only one thing truly deserves our worship. Amen.

 

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Christian, devotion, faith, Lenten Devotion, The Gospel of John, Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace for the 4th Day of Lent

Devotional Reading for the Day: John 1: 43-51

Text: (Jesus) found Philip …(John 1:43)

I find it interesting that the gospel writer in John made a point of having Jesus find Philip.

When I was a young man there was an evangelism push that swept  America called, “I Found It.” There were billboards, bulletin inserts and even campaign-like buttons. A lot of churches bought into the movement. There was something about it, though, that made me uneasy. Then someone pointed out to me that “It” wasn’t lost. I was. We are lost. It is God who finds us not us who finds God.  This is true from Adam and Eve in Garden onward. “I once was lost but now am found” the old hymn* says.

Philip, like Andrew before him, told other about how Jesus came into his life and changed it. Suddenly, he was on a great journey discovering what it means to be really alive. During this season of Lent, this time of reflection in preparation for the celebration of Easter, we would do well to think about how Christ came into our lives and made a difference. We’d do better by sharing this “good news”–this “gospel”–with someone else.

Prayer: Lord, do not allow me to keep private how you touched my life and opened my eyes to the true reality of life. Give me the wisdom, the words and the courage to share how you changed me with a “Nathaniel”.  Amen.

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Christian, devotion, faith, Lenten Devotion, The Gospel of John, Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace for the Third Day of Lent

Reading for the Day*: John 1: 35-42

The grace seen at the baptismal font, a grace that claims us before we even know that we belong to God, is a lifelong call.

When John the Baptist saw Jesus he said to two of his disciples, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” The two left John, and immediately followed Jesus, not yet as disciples, but at a distance. At this point they were just curious and cautious. “Is this what the Lamb of God looked like? He wasn’t all that different from John, or themselves, for that matter.”

Jesus turned to them and asked what they were looking for. “Where are you staying,” they replied. “Come and see,” Jesus said. Walk with me. Live with me. Learn for yourself Who I am. The walk of Christian discipleship is not about “head” knowledge. It is not about the accumulation of facts or verifiable proofs. It is about experience. It is about a willing commitment that leads to ultimate trust.

One of the disciples, Andrew by name, had a brother named Simon Peter. Filled with insight and excitement he hurried to Simon Peter and said, “We have found the Messiah, the Christ, the Lord.” The discovery of who Jesus is, is found in community though it may appear to be individual revelation.

Jesus’ invitation still echoes. Come and see. Go and serve, to the glory of God.

“Our hearts are restless until they come in rest in you, O Lord.”** Remove our restless hearts, O God. Take away anxious thoughts. Give us wisdom throughout all of the events of today; great and small. Amen.

*These readings are from The Book of Common Worship of the Presbyterian Church (USA). To read the assigned lesson of the day in a devotional manner simply means that you read it not to finish the reading itself but with the attitude that God is speaking to you in the reading. You may not finish the whole reading. A particular word or phrase may give you pause. If that happens, pause and reflect upon it. You need not finish the rest of the reading. Such a pause will not necessarily happen every day but when it does, enjoy the moment.)

**From St. Augustine’s Confessions.

 

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Christian, faith, Lenten Devotion, Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace for the Second Day of Lent 2017

For devotional reading: John 1: 29-34

Jesus essentially said that there are two kinds of people in world; those who see that the quality of our relationship to God is in direct proportion to our relationship to others, and those who don’t. He even once told a parable about this. On the Day of Judgement all of the people of the world will be divided into two groups; sheep and goats. The sheep will be welcomed into God’s kingdom because they fed the Son when he was hungry, clothed him when he was naked and cared for him in his need. They didn’t remember doing any of those things, but when they did it to the least, the last and the lost, they did it to him.  The goats were not welcomed into the kingdom because they did none of those things. Their plea of not knowing made no difference. By ignoring the plight of the least, the last and the lost, they ignored the children of the King.

I’m sure that the second group never thought of themselves as uncaring, calloused, jaded or anything else. They probably saw themselves as good responsible men and women. They were just blind to the face of the Son of Man in the faces of the Least.

Not recognizing someone is not an uncommon human experience. It’s happened to all of us at one time or another.  I imagine that the childhood friends of our President was surprised to think that one of them would grow up to be  the leader of the most powerful nation that the world has ever seen.  John the Baptizer did not recognize who Jesus was at first. He knew Jesus just about his entire life. His mother and Jesus’ mother were kin. It is very reasonable to think that John and Jesus knew each other and probably attended some family functions together.

John knew Jesus but he didn’t really know Jesus. He didn’t know him until it was revealed to him by God. At Jesus’ baptism it was God’s grace that allowed John to see Jesus for who he really is for the very first time. We are reminded of this Grace, this Amazing Grace, whenever we see the baptismal font. The font tells of of a Grace that claims us before we even know God’s claim on our lives. In baptism we are reminded that we love God because God first loved us. (I John 4: 19)

Know that God’s grace and love walks with you in your Lenten journey.

God of grace and love, give us wisdom and courage for the living of these days. Amen.

 

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Ash Wednesday, Christian, devotion, faith, Lenten Devotion, Uncategorized

Glimpse of Grace-Lenten Devotion for Ash Wednesday, 2017

ASH WEDNESDAY March 1, 2017

Suggested reading from the Daily Lectionary, Presbyterian Church (USA): Jonah 3: 1-4:11; Hebrews 12: 1-14; Luke 18:9-14

Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return.  (Genesis 3: 19)

I remember visiting a country cemetery a few years ago, near the first church that I served. In the midst of that cemetery stood a weather-worn obelisk marker. On my most recent visit, some 30 years after the first visit, I saw that the weather and nature completely erased any lettering. It was a sobering moment. And so it shall be with all monuments made with human hands. Despite our best efforts and money, everything is temporary.

Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return.

A part of the funeral liturgy used at the graveside says, We know that if this tabernacle were dissolved that we have a home, not made with human hands, eternal in the heavens. (II Corinthians 5:1)

Our journey into Lent begins with the acknowledgement of the reality that life is both frail and brief. We received ashes to remind us of this. Every day is precious. Every person is precious; yours, mine and theirs.

Lord God, help me to remember that I am the creature and You are the Creator. Open my eyes so that may recognize my commonality with others. Allow me to walk through today with eyes open to the wonder of both the eternal and the temporal. Allow me to be a blessing to others. Grant that today, I may glorify you with my thoughts, labor and acts. Amen.

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Caterpillar, Christian, devotion, faith, Peoria

Glimpse of Grace–“I’m Not Worried.”

“I’m not worried. It’s going to be okay. We’re going to be okay.”

It seems like I have been saying that a lot over the past several weeks. First there were the elections–a cause for joy to some and concern to others. Added to this, recently Caterpillar announced that they were moving their international headquarters from Peoria, where I live, to Chicago. Their decision has far reaching consequences to Peoria. The announcement stunned the community and its civic leaders.Despite promises of maintaining a footprint in Peoria and comforting words, there is a feeling of distrust and uncertainty. Members of the congregation that I serve will be moving to the new corporate offices.

Still, I can say, “I’m not worried. It’s going to be okay. We’re going to be okay. Things will be different, but we will be okay.” Many wonder how I can make that statement with such surety.  I can say it because I am a Christian. I worship a Lord who was crucified, dead and buried. I worship a Lord who rose from the dead on the third day and ascended into heaven where he now sits on the right hand of God.  I can say it because I believe that you and I live under God’s Providential Care.

When I say that things are going to be okay that does NOT mean that things will be the same as always or that things will go back to “normal.” We will learn to live with a “new” normal.  When you think about it, life is about new normals.

We belong not to ourselves but to God. Just as God led the biblical Israelites through the wildness for 40 years until a new generation reached the Promised Land, so God will lead us. Just as God was with the Exiles in Babylon, so God is with us in our times of exile. Just as God was with the faithful who returned to the City of David and saw for the first time Jerusalem’s devastation, so God is with us as we rebuild from the ruins of our lives.

When we get bad news or have a dream crushed by reality, it is going to be okay. It is going to be okay because God loves us. We are sojourners here. In the words of the old hymn, “God is working out his purposes.”

I don’t pretend to know how those purposes are being worked out, and when I am my “best” self, I can step back and say, “God, I don’t know what in the world you are doing, or how this is going to work out, but I know that You’re here somewhere. And because You are here with me, it is going to be okay.”

So, it is going to be okay. Okay does not mean that it won’t be hard. AND it certainly doesn’t mean that God caused the current situation. But, nevertheless, it is going to be okay. Do you know why? Because You and I do not belong to ourselves. We have been purchased with a price. We belong to Another. We belong to God. And, God loves us. Therein lies our glimpse of grace.

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Christian, devotion, faith, Lenten Devotion, The Gospel of John, Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace for the 12th Day of Lent, 2017

Devotional Reading: John 4:  43-54. Morning Psalm–34; Evening Psalm–25

Text: The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way. (vs. 50b)

I think that the hardest thing about faith is believing that our prayers are heard and acting upon that belief. The father’s faith in Jesus is what stood out to me in today’s devotional reading. He returned home to find his son well. Curious, he asked his servants when his son turned the corner to wellness. When told, he realized that it was at the same hour that Jesus told him to go home. Sometimes that has happened to me. More often than not, though, that it not how faith works–or at least my experience of faith. God is not some short of cosmic vending machine or celestial Santa Claus. Faith is not a financial or spiritual exchange. It’s just not.

The verse that has helped me most in my faith journey is found in the letter of James. I tell new followers of Christ–or those taking their first furtive steps in discipleship–that James is Christianity 101. “When you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” (1:6) While this text speaks specifically about wisdom, I believe that it applies to all of our prayers. Ask and then step out in faith. Like the father, walk “home”. Things may turn out as we wish, but ultimately God is faithful. In the words of the Psalmist, “Tears may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” (30:5)  In God’s world, there is always a morning.

Lord, give me the faith of that father who came to Jesus in John’s gospel today. Let me walk home to my fears and troubles confident that somehow you are at work. Wipe my tears away and let me see the light of morning’s joy. Amen.

 

 

 

 

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