November 8
When I was growing up in Rhode Island there was a small pear tree and a large apple tree in our yard. All we had to do was pick and enjoy the fruit at the end of the summer and rake the leaves at the end of the fall. God did all the rest.
Our family, friends and neighbors enjoyed plenty of tasty fruit throughout our eighteen years there. It wasn’t until long after we moved that I thanked God for the bounty from those trees.
“Others fell on good ground and yielded a crop of a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears let him hear.” (Matthew 13:8-9)
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
The Meaning of Life
November 6
What is the meaning of life? Isn’t this the question of man down through the ages?
A local camera crew went to the person in the street to find out. Some quotes: “The meaning of life is to have fun and love others.” “Avoid Death!” “Sex” “Darn if I know.” “Take care of Mother Earth.” What is your response?
Jesus answered the question this way:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind. This is the first commandment. The second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew (22:37-40)
What is the meaning of life? Isn’t this the question of man down through the ages?
A local camera crew went to the person in the street to find out. Some quotes: “The meaning of life is to have fun and love others.” “Avoid Death!” “Sex” “Darn if I know.” “Take care of Mother Earth.” What is your response?
Jesus answered the question this way:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind. This is the first commandment. The second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew (22:37-40)
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Names and Addresses
November 5
Joy and I join others at the front of the church. The visiting preacher and the regular senior minister hand out 3x5 cards and pencils and asks each of us to print our name and address. We all pray together. The ministers vow to pray for each of us by name everyday for a month. They ask us to pray for them daily. We say we will. The cards are placed on a table at the foot of a small wooden cross.
God doesn’t need our names and addresses God knows where to find us. The cross is there so we can find God.
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." (Mark 8:34)
Joy and I join others at the front of the church. The visiting preacher and the regular senior minister hand out 3x5 cards and pencils and asks each of us to print our name and address. We all pray together. The ministers vow to pray for each of us by name everyday for a month. They ask us to pray for them daily. We say we will. The cards are placed on a table at the foot of a small wooden cross.
God doesn’t need our names and addresses God knows where to find us. The cross is there so we can find God.
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." (Mark 8:34)
Feeling helpless
November 4
Joy feels upset and helpless with her dad until she talks with his granddaughter who works in the mental health field. “Mom, he’s not angry with you or the nurse. He is angry with the helplessness of his situation.”
We pray for peace and comfort for him.
A few days later her dad says, “You know I can’t go back to my apartment. I can’t live alone anymore.” Joy finds an affordable rest home and her dad receives a warm welcome. Now he has a comfortable place to live
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
(Matthew 9:28)
Joy feels upset and helpless with her dad until she talks with his granddaughter who works in the mental health field. “Mom, he’s not angry with you or the nurse. He is angry with the helplessness of his situation.”
We pray for peace and comfort for him.
A few days later her dad says, “You know I can’t go back to my apartment. I can’t live alone anymore.” Joy finds an affordable rest home and her dad receives a warm welcome. Now he has a comfortable place to live
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
(Matthew 9:28)
Give It Away
November 3
He has been stuck since his last operation. He is on disability, is ending rehab and is totally depressed. I pray for guidance.
At lunch he says, “I’m challenged physically but I’m ok mentally and spiritually.”
“You are not OK!” I retort. “ You are caught up in your pain and fears and it is consuming you and you are not using your God-given talents."
He stares at me."You just crossed a line you know." I stare back.
“What you are saying is that I have the grace but I’m keeping it to myself. I need to give it away.” I nod. We stand and hug.
“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to Me.” (Acts 1:8)
He has been stuck since his last operation. He is on disability, is ending rehab and is totally depressed. I pray for guidance.
At lunch he says, “I’m challenged physically but I’m ok mentally and spiritually.”
“You are not OK!” I retort. “ You are caught up in your pain and fears and it is consuming you and you are not using your God-given talents."
He stares at me."You just crossed a line you know." I stare back.
“What you are saying is that I have the grace but I’m keeping it to myself. I need to give it away.” I nod. We stand and hug.
“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to Me.” (Acts 1:8)
Monday, November 2, 2009
Perfect Gentleman
November 2
He is a perfect gentleman,” Joy says. “He is gentle, patient and kind. When I make a mistake he doesn’t throw it in my face. He lets me be me. That is a real gentleman.”
“How can anyone who demands things be done his way be a perfect gentleman,” I ask.
“You don’t understand me but he does.”
I’m feeling totally inadequate now. “I try to be a gentleman,” I suggest.
“You are.” she says, “But you are not a perfect gentleman-- “ only God is the perfect gentleman.”
“As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” (2 Samuel 22:31)
He is a perfect gentleman,” Joy says. “He is gentle, patient and kind. When I make a mistake he doesn’t throw it in my face. He lets me be me. That is a real gentleman.”
“How can anyone who demands things be done his way be a perfect gentleman,” I ask.
“You don’t understand me but he does.”
I’m feeling totally inadequate now. “I try to be a gentleman,” I suggest.
“You are.” she says, “But you are not a perfect gentleman-- “ only God is the perfect gentleman.”
“As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” (2 Samuel 22:31)
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Choices
November 1
A lady calls seeking a title for the church bulletin. I blurt out “Choices.” So that is the topic for my talk on Layman’s Sunday. Later I realize that the message I delivered that day was intended for me. I need to make the right choices in my life. I am a pretend Christian, going to church and saying the right things but not walking the walk. I needed to choose God as the priority in my life. I began by heeding the scripture read at that layman’s service.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be open to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
A lady calls seeking a title for the church bulletin. I blurt out “Choices.” So that is the topic for my talk on Layman’s Sunday. Later I realize that the message I delivered that day was intended for me. I need to make the right choices in my life. I am a pretend Christian, going to church and saying the right things but not walking the walk. I needed to choose God as the priority in my life. I began by heeding the scripture read at that layman’s service.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be open to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
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