Category Archives: Uncategorized

Christian, devotion, Matthew, Mustard seed, Parable, Presbyterian Church (USA), Sowing Seed, Uncategorized, United Church of Christ (UCC)

Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for July 25, 2017

Devotional Reading from the Daily Common Lectionary: Mark 4:21-34

Text: (Jesus) also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs.” (vss. 30-32a)

Several years ago I received a text message from a parishioner in a former parish. She ran into a friend of her now adult son. The friend went on one summer senior high mission trip with us in 2003. That trip, he said, changed his life! I’m embarrassed to say, that I don’t remember him as that was the only thing that he joined us in doing. But God knew that the trip was just what the young man needed.

There are no small events in life. As a matter of fact, often the most important events that occur in our life are things that were unplanned or even forgotten. A chance encounter leads to a new opportunity or a new life!

I believe that we can do no small acts if we live our lives to the glory of God. Everyday we sow little mustard seeds of God’s kingdom, and they spout in the most unlikeliest of places and in the most surprising ways.

Lord God, help me to never thing that something I do does not have eternal consequences. Life if too important and You are too great. Amen.

Standard
Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for July 24, 2017

Devotional Reading from the Daily Comon Lectionary: Mark 4:1-20

Text: Listen! A sower went out to sow.

Have you ever wondered why some people take Jesus seriously and others don’t? I have. So did the first followers of Jesus after the Easter experience. 

Jesus once told His disciples that not everyone who hears about God’s love is able to receive it.  Like various kinds of soil, people have varying receptiveness to His’ message. 

Some have been so hardened by life’s rocky experiences that they find it hard to understand unconditional love, let alone accept it, because they never experienced it. Others are simply too busy. Still others are led astray by bad examples and teachings. And then there are those who have not been hardened by life, who have learned to distinguish the urgent from the important and who haven’t been led astray.  They are the lucky who cling to His love like a drowning sailor clings to life raft.

In the midst of all of this Jesus said that His disciples must not forget their “why”. Our job is to sow the seed of God’s love near and far and to leave the results to God. Just be faithful in sowing the seed. 

Lord God, let me not forget my call to share Your love in word and deed to those both near and far. Amen. 

Standard
Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace Daily D got ion for July 12,2017

Devotional Reading from the Daily Common Lectionary: Matthew 25:14-30

Text: For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them (v. 14)

My wife and I have a cat. Our extended family decided to take us on an “anniversary” vacation. We needed to find someone who would “watch over” our cat–food, water and a little attention. We didn’t feel comfortable just asking “anyone” because her care included “cleaning out” her liter box every day for the 10 days we’d be gone. When we finally found someone to ” fill the bill,” I must admit that I was a bit nervous as to whether or not they would follow through.

Today’s reading is about a man who went on a journey and entrusted his home affairs to others. They would act on his behalf and care for his things as much as he cared for them. This was more than a job, it was a “calling”. 

The parable that Jesus told was obviously about God and “us”. While God is not “away”, the Almighty has entrusted those who take Jesus seriously to do the things that He would do. We are stewards of God’s creation Which includes one another. And God has given to each of us  responsibilities commensurate to our talent or ability. God does not ask more of us than we are capable of giving. Sometimes our “talent” is in a “raw” stage and needs a bit of “polishing”, but the more we trust, listen and follow God’s lead, the more Joy, Peace, Hope and Love we experience. And through it all, God is glorified.

Lord God, give me ears to hear, a discerning mind, and a will to follow Your call. Amen.

Standard
Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for July 22, 2017

Devotion Mal Reading from the Common Daily Lectionary: Mark 3: 10b-35

Text: When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.”

If you take Jesus seriously sooner or later people are not going to understand you. This is because following Jesus is truly counter-cultural. 

It is counter-cultural because it cares for the least, the last and the lost while the world says that you have to take care of number 1. It knows that in this life you gain nothing if in the pursuit of success you lose your soul in the process. Serious followers of Jesus know that winning isn’t everything, let alone the only thing. It cares for the alien and dispossessed because it remembers that our spiritual forebearers were wandering refugees in a foreign land. Yes, taking Jesus seriously is counter-cultural and you will be misunderstood, just like Jesus.

But here’s the thing, taking Jesus seriously is the only thing that can put Joy, Hope, Peace and Love into your life. Taking Jesus seriously is the only way to find true contentment in all circumstances. It is the only way to take one more step when more more step seems impossible to take. 

Taking Jesus seriously has an eternal quality about it. 

Lord, give me the courage to take You seriously and to go wherever You lead. Let my life glorify You. Amen.

Standard
Christian, devotion, Holy Whisper, Mark, Presbyterian Church (USA), Uncategorized, United Church of Christ (UCC)

Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for July 21, 2017

Devotional Reading from the Daily Common Lectionary: Mark 3: 7-19a

Text: He (Jesus) went up to the mountain and called to Him those whom He wanted, and they came. (v. 13)

Sometimes you have just got to get away.

I am on the final days of a two week summer vacation. It is good to get away from the daily circumstances of life in order to reconnect with yourself. It is also good not to wait for a vacation to do this but to take a few hours away each day or at least each week to just think. Thinking is perhaps one of the most important things that we do.

Thinking, I believe, is different than worrying or fretting. To me thinking incorporates both prayer and silent listening to that Still Small Voice that spoke to the prophet so long ago.

Jesus had a habit of withdrawing from the crowds. In today’s text He goes to a mountain–the place where God is often met in Scripture–and He calls “those whom He wanted.” I believe that He calls to you and me every day. He calls us to go to the mountain with Him and to listen to what He whispers.

I believe that God whispers because in the din of the modern world, it is only a whisper that can make it through the noise. To hear a Holy Whisper one has to block out distractions and listen very attentively, very carefully. And then, hearing the Voice and validating it among other followers of Jesus, we do.

Have you taken time to listen for the Still Small Voice today?

Lord God, speak for your servant listens. Amen.

Standard
Christian, devotion, Mark, Presbyterian Church (USA), Uncategorized, United Church of Christ (UCC)

Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for July 14, 2017

Devotional Reading from the Daily Common Lectionary: Mark 1: 1013

Text: And the Spirit immediately drove Him (Jesus) out into the wilderness. 

I am fascinated by the Spirit driving Jesus into the wilderness so that He could be tested. In Mark’s gospel there is no other detail. Very simple. Very straight forward.

I remember a teacher who never gave quizzes or tests. He gave “knowledge finders.” I adopted his practice when I taught confirmation classes. Knowledge finders are an attempt to find out if the information shared becomes “knowledge” in the minds of students. More than once I would have to re-teach a lesson because if hadn’t turned into “knowledge”.

The other synoptic gospels say that Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. Depending upon the context, “temptation” and “testing” can be used interchangeably throughout Scripture. We are never tempted by something we do not desire. Jesus time in the wilderness was the time clarified His ministry. In the wilderness Jesus discovered what he stood for and, just as importantly, what He stood against.

Maybe we need a bit more time in the wilderness.

Lord, lead me not into temptation but if I must be tempted, let me not succumb to the temptation and fall. Amen.

Standard
Christian, devotion, Mark, Presbyterian Church (USA), Uncategorized, United Church of Christ (UCC)

Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for July 18, 2017

Devotional Reading: Mark 2: 1-12

Text: Then four people came to Him (Jesus) carrying a paralyzed man. (v. 3)

No one becomes a Jesus follower on their own. Throughout our lives God touches us with touches that are often too gentle and too mundane to even be noticed.

I’ve been touched multiple times. The first touch that I remember was that of my parents. At night they would kneel with me beside my bed as we’d say our prayers.
“Now I lay me down to sleep…”  “Our Father, who art in heaven,  …”

Later I was touched by a Sunday School teacher named Mr. Cation. He was a widower. Each Saturday afternoon he’d bake brownies or cookies to share with us at the end of class. One Sunday he wasn’t in class, and we learned a hard reality of life; Mr. Cation died the night before. Blessed in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints. (Psalm 116:15)

After Mr. Cation there was a Mr. Koch. He had thick glasses and blond hair. We met in the minister’s office, five of us sitting in a circle. Somehow he always arranged for me to read the shortest verse in the lesson. I think that it was because he knew that I am a stutter and sometimes it was hard for me to verbalize, especially under pressure.

I had a young Sunday School teacher whose name I do not remember. But I do remember how she didn’t shrink from hard questions. I was in 4th or 5th grade with a very curious mind. I once asked her “If Adam and Eve were the first people and if they had two sons, does that mean that there was incest?” She neither blushed not stumbled but simply said that it was a very good question and that I should ask our minister. I did. Then, later, around Christmas, when we read the Christmas story in Luke’s gospel, I asked, “What’s womb?” We had just read how the baby in Elizabeth’s “womb” leaped at the sound of Mary’s voice. She very gently patted her enlarged tummy and said that it is the place where the baby grows in a mommy’ tummy. Question answered. Faith shared.

I had many other touches in life along the way. No one comes to Jesus on their own. We are carried by others, just like the paralyzed man in today’s text and reading.

So, who are the people who touched your life? Whose life are you touching?

Lord, thank you for those saints who helped mold my faith. May I touch another so that they can know You better. Amen.

Standard
Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for July 16, 2017

Devotional Reading from the Common Daily Lectionary: Matthew 23:29-39

Text: How often I have wished to gather you under my wings as a hen gathers her brood, but you would not. (v. 37b)

I believe that often God looks upon the human family and tears well up in the Divine’s eyes. The Scottish poet Robert Burns had it right when he wrote, “Man’s inhumanity to Man”, a paraphrase of Samuel Pufendorf’s “More inhumanity has been done by man himself than any other of nature’s causes.”

I think of the abandoned and run away children living on the streets of cities throughout the world, refugees trying to get away from war or seek opportunity, mothers and fathers who worry that their son will be killed before the day is done, the parents of missing children … The list is endless.

And then I read Jesus’ lament over the city of Jerusalem before He enters it one more time. Looking down on the majestic city He sees an unwillingness to recognize our common humanity and our willingness to accentuate our differences to the point of death and destruction. It breaks it His heart because it was never supposed to be that way. But it is.

Blessed are the peacemakers, Jesus said earlier in Matthew’s gospel, for they shall be called the sons and daughters of God.  This world sorely needs a few more people to take Jesus seriously. We need more people who are willing to dare to give peace a chance.

Lord, let their be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Amen. (From the folk song by the same title written by Jill Jackson & Sy Miller)

Standard
Uncategorized

Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for July 17, 2017

Devotional Reading from the Daily Common Lectionary: Mark 1:29-45

Text: But he (the healed leper) went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word (about the Jesus)…(v. 45a)

When was the last time that you were so excited about something or someone that you told others about it? Was it a recent movie? I told a lot of people about Wonder Woman and more recently The Big Sick. Maybe it was when you had an insight that completely changed your understanding of people or the world? I told a lot of people about “family systems”.  But, were you ever so touched by Jesus that you someone else how you are different because of Him? The thing that I’ve noticed is that most of the Jesus followers I know simply don’t tell others how Jesus changed their life. 

A few years ago I produced a short film of faith. Privately people shared moving stories of their faith journeys with me but in front of a camera they didn’t refer to their faith even once. I was disappointed. 

When I graduated from seminary the school’s president told us that God does not want “undercover disciples”. We are to be the light of the world shining forth the glow of God’s love. We are to be lamps of holy love on a light stand. 

We don’t have to pass out tracts or preach on street corners or put on false airs. We simple need to be genuine, honest, open, giving and loving. We need to touch the proverbial lepers, the untouchables of this world, for the glory of God. 

Lord, give me the courage to tell others how my life is different since You came into it. Amen. 

Standard
Christian, devotion, Mark, Presbyterian Church (USA), Uncategorized, United Church of Christ (UCC)

Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for July 20, 2017

Devotional Reading from the Caily Common Lectionary:  Mark 2: 23-3:6

Text:  Then He (Jesus) said to them, “The sabbath was made for man (and woman), not man (and woman) for the sabbath. (v. 27)

Whenever I eat at a restrauant or buy something on a Sunday or holiday, I always thank my server for giving me their most precious commodity; their time. I know that often they really don’t have a choice in the matter, but still.

Today’s text is one that I dearly love and often quote. The “blue laws” of my youth are long gone and largely forgotten. But at one time, stores could not open on a Sunday. Later this standard was relaxed by allowing stores that sold necessities to open at noon. Now, its an “free” range.

Jesus’ comment to His critics reminded them that when God created the sabbath the Almighty did so as an act of grace. We humans need to keep and ever-changing balance between work and play, labor and relaxation. Otherwise we get out of sync and bad things happen to our health and relationships.

The sabbath is not a set day or time. Some people become almost pharisaic in keeping a sabbath. They become like Jesus’ critics. That said, though, there does need to be a time to allow our “spirits to catch up with our bodies”.

I am not a good “sabbath” keeper, but I keep trying. By the grace of God I will find that balance so that I can be my best self. I hope that you reach this balance sooner than I do.

Lord, help me to find the balance in my life that glorifies You. Help me distinguish the important from the urgent, and keep the flexibility that allows me to be responsive to Your call while caring for my spirit. Amen. 

Standard