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Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for July 19, 2017

Devotional reading from the Daily Common Lectionary: Mark 2:1-12

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

No one becomes a serious follower of Jesus on their own. They have been touched by God multiple times along the way.

My parents were among my earliest touches. Each night they knelt beside my bed to lead me in prayer; the “Our Father” as well as “Now I lay me down to sleep…” Other touches were the volunteers at the first Vacation Bible School I attended at a neighborhood Free Methodist church. Then there were the after-school ladies who led a “Good News Club” program. They were probables Assembly of God or Baptist.

In my “home” church I had three memorable Sunday school teachers. One was a man named Mr. Cation, an elderly widower who brought us homemade brownies or cookies to eat at the end of class. Mr. Koch always gave me the shortest verses to read, I presume because he knew that I am a stutter. There was also a young teacher who was expecting her first child. At Christmas, as we studied the birth of Jesus, I asked the question that was on the other kids’ mind; “What is a womb?” (The child in Elizabeth’s womb jumped at the sound of Mary’s voice, you may remember.)

Not a single one of those people ever encouraged me to become a minister. All led me to taking Jesus seriously. Theirs was a cumulative affect by God.  Yes, No one comes to Jesus on their own. Like the four friends in today’s reading, someone carries us with loving arms.

Who carried you?

Lord, thank  you for the people who led me to You for You help me carry my burdens. Amen. 

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Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for July 15, 2017

Devotional Reading: Mark: 14-28

Text: And immediately they Neff their nets and followed Him. (v. 18)

I wish I would have …

I should have …

You can fill in the rest of the sentence. Missed opportunity. 

I remember a treasurer whom approached me in the last week in December saying that our not-for-profit was going to have an unexpected $50,000 surplus. All year long the budget was tight so all departments tightened their belts accordingly. Many opportunities had to be declined. So when the treasurer asked, “What didn’t we do that we can do now?” Inthought of the missed opportunities that came up in the previous months. Sadly I replied, “it’s too late. What we should have done in June or July we can’t do now because now it’s too late.”

Their is an immediacy to Opportunity. Throughout the gospels we see that there is also an immediacy to God’s callings. And the proper response is, “immediately”. Immediately they dropped their nets and followed Him.

 Now is the time to hear the Voice. Now is the time follow. Not tomorrow or the day after. Not after you retire or you finish this or that. Now.

Lord, help me remember that You ask for discipleship now; not on our time schedule but Yours. Let me respond to Your invitation to discipleship today and every day of my life. Amen.

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Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for July 13, 2017

Devotional Reading from the Daily Common Lecionary: Acts 10: 17-33

Text: Now Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of the vision that he had seen … (48)

What was the vision that puzzled Peter? It was “a trance”, a dream, a vision, an insight that he never before experienced. It called him to eat that which he always believed to be unclean…forbidden. 

In the birth of Jesus God was doing a new thing. In the Resurrection Reality, God was doing a new thing. A new world was being born as the walls that divided people from one another became bridges bringing people together. Jesus was and is that bridge. 

Peter’s “puzzle” did not become clearer until Cornelius appeared. Two seemingly disconnected events came together in the lives of two very dissimilar people. 

It has been said that much of life is “time and chance”, serendipity, luck and a dozen other things. I don’t know what it is. My brain and my imagination are too small to even begin to explain let alone comprehend why and even how things happen. There is always something going on behind the scenes, beyond my understanding. Life is too complex to fully grasp. But I do know this; the longer I live and the more I experience, I see the marvelous insight of The Letter to the Romans being played out. “We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work together for something good and beautiful … From the distant past, God’s eternal love reached into the future.” (Romans 8: 28-29, selected The Voice Bible)

Lord, give me the faith to never lose faith in your goodness and love. Give me courage and a willingness to be open to Your leading as Peter was.  Amen.

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Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for July 12, 2017

Devotional Reading from the Daily Common Lectionary: Luke 24:13-35

Text: Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. (v. 13)

“Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus….”  So begins the story commonly referred to as “the walk to Emmaus”. The two disciples were overtaken by a Stranger who helped them understand all of the events that had occurred over the previous three days, including the unbelievable stories of that first Easter. At the end of the day they invited the Stranger to share a meal with them. At table, the Stranger took the bread and broke it, gave it to them and their eyes were opened. It was Jesus, the Resurrected Lord. No sooner did they recognize Him then He vanished from their sight! 

I believe that the Emmaus story is our story. I believe that the Resurrected One walks into our lives largely unrecognized and more often than we realize. When Holy Stranger touches us, whispers to us, He brings comfort in the midst of our doubts and uncertainties. The Stranger calls us to consider the mysteries of our life experience. When we gather together with other followers and break bread together, sharing with one another, supporting one another, encouraging one another, praying for one another and bathed in their prayers for us, well then, we Experience Him in a new way. 

We cannot follow Jesus alone. That is not how God created us. We must walk with one another sharing joys and sorrows, victories and defeats, life and death. And in the midst of all of this, He is there. The Stranger is there. Jesus Himself is there leading the way with what some call prevenient Grace. 

Lord, thank you for walking this journey we call life with me.  I especially thank You for the fellow travelers that You have placed in my life. Amen.

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Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for July 11, 2017

Devotional Reading from the Common Daily Lectionary: Luke 23: 56b-24:12

Text:  “Why do you look for the living among dead? He is not here, but has risen.” (v. 5b)

I have officiated at nearly 1000 funerals and graveside services during my ministry. That is a lot of sorrow, a lot of tears, and a lot of empty places at dinner tables. Without exception, every family has been very kind and gracious to me. At the service I remind the worshipers of the women’s story when they went to the tomb on that first Easter. Today text are the words spoken by  the “two men in dazzling clothes” who stood beside them. Their next words to the women were, “Remember how”.

Remember how …

The greatest legacy that we leave behind as we pass from this Reality into the Next Reality is the memories, the stories that we leave in our wake, the ones that begin with, “Remember how”, or when, or where.

I believe that we create memories every day, either consciously or unconsciously. I believe that more often than not the memories that “stick” come about serendipitously, totally unplanned. I believe that when we wake up each morning we have some power to decide whether we are going to serve God by serving others or serving ourselves, whether we will live large or small lives.

I don’t know a lot because I am rather simple, but I do know that I have officiated at too many funerals to take any day or any one for granted. I know that each day and each moment and each person is a gift and a wonder. Therefore, I am thankful more often than not. How about you?

Lord, teach me to number my days so that I can gain a heart of wisdom, true wisdom. Amen.  (based on Psalm 90, verse 12)

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Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for July 10, 2017

Devotional Reading: Luke 23: 44-56a

Text: Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, 51had not agreed to their plan and action. (vs. 50-51a)

“Good and righteous”. The words stopped me cold. That is what happens when you read a passage “devotionally”. I pondered those three words for several minutes, mulling them over in my mind and considering my own life and decisions.

Then I read further and saw that Joseph did not agree with “their plan and action.” He went against the crowd! He didn’t “go along to get along”. And what is even more amazing is that he didn’t make a big deal about it. He simply went and did the right thing.

His example reminds me of a biography I read of the Quaker abolitionist, John Woolman. He was a quiet man, a tailor by trade. He was also widely travelled and a welcomed guest in the homes of all he met. He was recognized as a man of impeccable character. One time he was invited into the home of a slaveowner. Seeing the slaves in the role of “finely tailored servants”, he didn’t make a big scene. He just quietly left, totally unnoticed. When the host realized that Woolman was gone, he felt a deep sense of shame for having offended such a great man. It was said that Woolman was more effective in abolishing slavery in New England than any law because he changed hearts and minds.

Joseph of Arimathea did the right thing, even though it was not the popular thing. I hope that I get better at doing that. How about you?

Lord, help me to recognize and do the right thing, even if it is the unpopular thing. Remind me that I serve the Master and am called to do His will. Amen.

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Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for July 9, 2017

Devotional Reading from the Daily Common Lectionary: Matthew 22: 1-14

Text: Then (the king in the parable) said (to his servants): “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthing. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you see to the wedding feast.” (vss. 8&10)

Bypass surgery. Those two words strike fear in many a heart–no pun intended. When there is a blockage of one of the arteries to the heart, it is first treated with medicine. But when an emergency arises in the form of a heart attack drastic measures are taken. The chest is split open, a vein is taken from an arm or a leg and reattached to the main artery “bypassing” the blockage. When it goes well–as it more often than not does–health is restored but lifestyle changes are in order.

In today’s reading, a parable, a king sends out invitations to a wedding feast for his child. It was not a general invitation but a very specific one to particular individuals. But they were so preoccupied with themselves that they declined the invitation. So, the king “bypassed” them and invited others to take their place.

I believe that God also practices bypass surgery. When God calls an individual or a church to a particular task God believes that they are well suited for the task. They need to accept the invitation. If they refuse, their place in God’s Purpose will not go empty for God’s Will will be done. Another is simply invited in their place.

I do not pretend to know what the ultimate consequences are for individuals who do not respond to God’s call–God’s nudge, but I do know of many churches that ceased to exist because rather than “serving” they became “self-serving”. As a consequence, they disconnect themselves from “the vine” of Christ, withered and died.

Here’s a question to consider; what is God calling you or your congregation to do? Are you listening? Are you responding? I hope so, if for no one sake but your own.

Lord, I await your invitation. Tell me what to do, show me how to do it and give me the courage to do Your work. Amen.

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Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for July 8, 2017

Devotional Reading from the Common Lectionary: Acts 9: 10-19a

Text: Now there was a disciple in Damascus name Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” (v. 10)

Prayer is dangerous. True prayer, that is. Prayer involves two things, one of which is listening for God’s answer. And all too often, God’s answer is not the answer that we want to hear.

God told Ananias to get ready to receive a persecutor of the Early Church; a man whose very name invoked fear. I can almost hear Ananias saying to God, “You’ve got to be kidding!” But that is one thing that God never does. God has a sense of humor but God never plays with you. Ananias was to help Saul “see”, truly see. God called Ananias to remove the scales of prejudice, experience, tradition, culture and all the other things that separate us from one another from Saul’s eyes. Ananias was to give Saul, soon to be know as Paul, his “God sight.”

I believe that prayer is still dangerous business. I believe that God still calls us to do things that we would rather not do. I believe that God still uses us to give “God eyes” to the spiritually blind. I believe that there is no greater or more important calling.

God, let me be fearful in prayer and courageous in response as I commit myself to do Your will as I understand it. Amen.

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Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for July 7, 2017

Devotional Reading: Acts 9: 1-9

Text: Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heave heaven flashed around him. (v. 3)

The Scots say that there are “thin places” in this world; places where heaven and earth touch. I believe that there are such places. Often they have been sanctified by generations of prayer.

I also believe that there are mystical experiences; times when we are touched by the Eternal in a very special and inexplicable way. I have had two. I seldom share them because they are simply too holy. But Kweisi Mfume, previously known as Frizzell Gerald Gray, wrote of his mystical experience in his autobiography No Free Ride. In the briefest of moments, out of the clear blue, his life was forever changed. His name change symbolized  a new beginning, a new life. I shared his story with a group of teens in a residential treatment center. It gave them pause and a new vocabulary.

Today’s reading is about Saul’s mystical experience. Over the years I have learned four things about such experiences. They come when you least expect it. They cannot be wished for or manufactured. They change your life for the better. Finally, they can only be validated within a community of faith.

In following Jesus there is no such thing as a Lone Ranger.  God created in plurality. Jesus called individuals into a community. We find ourselves, our true selves, only when we are in communion with others. We cannot go it alone. Nor were we ever meant to.

Lord, guide me to the community in which I can be my true self; the community that will challenge me and help me grow, that will challenge me to use my talents to glorify You. Amen.

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Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for July 6, 2017

Devotional Reading from the Common Daily Lectionary: I Samuel 13: 5-18

Text: but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people began to slip away from Saul. So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the offerings of well-being.” And he offered the burnt offering. (vss 8b-9)

One of my biggest spiritual struggles is with Patience. I have to constantly remind myself to be patient. I don’t know if I’m worried that I will miss out on something or what the deal is, but I am pretty impatient.

Saul lost his kingship because of impatience. The prophet Samuel told Saul to wait for him to present an offering to the LORD before going into battle. Samuel did not show up when Saul expected, and Saul saw that his army was “slipping away” from him. He had to do something, soooo he presented the offering. Big mistake.

In his “spiritual” autobiography A Way Out of No Way Andrew Young wrote about a lesson in learning Patience. At first he thought that spending time singing hymns, praying and witnessing was wasting time. They gathered to march in an effort to desegregate. But then he discovered that gathering to worship was not a waste of time but a time of spiritual preparation.

Wait for the LORD, the Psalmist wrote. (Psalm 27:14) Wait in Jerusalem until you are clothed from on High, Jesus instructed His disciples.

Some things just cannot be rushed. God may not “come” when we expect but God is never late. God is always on time because all Time is God’s time.

Lord God, teach me the discipline of Patience. Help me to listen as well as speak, wait as well as act so that I may glorify You in all things.

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